Awaiting for Imam Mahdi(a.s)

THE HOLY QURAN SAYS

"And say to those who do not believe that you act as much you can. We are also trying. You all await and surely we all are awaiting."
It is an open challenge for the enemies, that let them make their best efforts. In the light of this challenge can anyone say that awaiting implies sitting idle and remaining oblivious ? Or awaiting means to remain always alert and defeat enemies on every front. Of course, it necessitates that a believer should never exult on his strength but should always rely on Allah. Because reliance in Allah gives victory to weaklings over their stronger adversaries.

Imam Mohammad Baqir (A.S.) said:

"If you act on our advices and teachings and remain in the same conditions, then whosoever dies before the advent of our Qaem (A.S.) will attain martyrdom."

(Beharul-Anwar, Vol. 52, Chap. 22)

Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S.) said :

"The one who desires to be among the companions of Hazrat Qaem (A.S.), then he must wait, adopt piety and behave courteously. If he dies in such a condition before the advent of Qaem (A.S.), then his reward will be similar to the one who attains his (Qaem's (A.S.)) era. Hence strive vigorously, await his arrival congratulations to you all for your relentless awaiting".

(Ghaibat-e-Nomani, Chap. 11, Hadith 16)

While the first tradition calls for complete emulation ofAhle-Bait (A.S.) so that human thinking and beliefs may not be distracted from the right path the second tradition exhorts for adopting piety and doing good, so that even in the field of practice, their should not be any aberration. The following tradition further clarifies that awaiting does not mean remaining idle and careless. It never purports mere verbal claim without practice but it signifies endless efforts and incessant endeavors as Hazrat Mahdi (A.S.) himself says :
"Then all of you must do such deeds which draw you nearer to our love and affection. And refrain from such acts which evokes your anger and displeasure"


He is the true awaiter who always seeks to please his Imam (A.S.). His every effort is directed at achieving the invaluable pleasure of Imam (A.S.) and it is but evident that the pleasure of Imam is in abiding by the tenets of Islam and not in its sacrilege. It is a command for us and our Imam has encouraged us and has instilled enthusiasm in us through these words :

"We are not negligent of your affairs and are not forgetful of your remembrance. Had it been so, then terrible calamities would have struck you and your enemies would have destroyed you. Fear Allah, strengthen your hands, so that we may relieve you of the tribulations that have afflicted you"

Awaiting is the best deed for us during the period of ghaibat,we should remember our Imam in the heart of days and in the darkness of night,our heart should never be devoid of his(a.s) love because with his(a.s) love we would attain elegance.This is the holy month of Shaban, soon would come the blessed night of 15th Shaban when his(a.s) feet first touch this earth,what more of a blessing can we get from Allah(s.u.b.t) that we are allowed to witness one more 15th Shaban, many who got this blessing last year are not so lucky this year,but if Allah wills we will get another chance and we should use this night to get close to Allah( s.u.b.t),to our beloved Imam(a.s),and we should promise our Imam that for your love we would remove every bad thing in our character and replace it with the flower of  good taught by Ahlulbayt(a.s).