Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at a ceremony marking the allegiance of women to Imam Mahdi (AS) at the holy Jamkaran Mosque in Qom, held on the anniversary of the beginning of the Imam's leadership, Mandegari outlined the conditions for true acceptance of the Imam of the Age.
The ceremony coincided with the ninth of Rabi al-Awwal, which marks the start of Imam Mahdi's (AS) imamate nearly 1,200 years ago.
"Today, only those can truly celebrate this anniversary who have accepted his imamate with all their being," Mandegari said. "One may see the Imam and yet reject his leadership, while another may live in the era of occultation without ever seeing him and still embrace the truth of his imamate wholeheartedly."
The cleric described acceptance of the rightful Imam as the criterion for genuine life, citing a distinction between the "horizontally dead" — those buried in graves — and the "vertically dead" — those who walk among the living but have rejected the Imam's authority.
"True life is not determined by one's appearance, social standing, attire or title," he said. "It is determined by accepting Imam Mahdi (May Allah hasten his reappearance)."
Hojatoleslam Mandegari further explained that the truly living are also divided into two groups: the physically alive and the martyrs, whom the Quran describes as "alive, though you do not perceive it."
Quoting the Quran, he said accepting divine leadership brings one out of darkness into light. "A person who does not have the Imam of the Age in his life moves in darkness and cannot see realities. But one who has accepted the truth of imamate walks in the path of light."
Drawing on historical and contemporary events, the cleric said those who fail to see the truth may commit atrocities against the innocent. "The root of such behavior lies in darkness and the inability to see the truth," he added.
Mandegari also spoke of the deep-rooted truth-seeking character of the Iranian nation, noting that the presence of Imam Reza, Lady Masoumeh and other descendants of Imam Musa Kazem (AS) in Iran played a significant role in spreading the culture of the Ahl al-Bayt.
"The Iranian-Islamic civilization is one that rejects oppression, seeks truth and light, and pursues the Imam," he said, warning against efforts to strip the nation of this identity.
The cleric said the path of resistance has reached its peak through the blood of martyrs, expressing hope that the awakening of the people will pave the way for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AS) — contingent upon genuine acceptance of his imamate and acting upon its requirements.
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