Al-Mahdi (a.s.)

these were some of the effects which would arise from the act of 'intezar' (awaiting) - if at all 'intezar' is done in its true sense. besides, intezar discovers good and pleasing qualities which are as follows:

firstly, it explores the perfection of wisdom and verity of perception because a 'muntazir' (i.e. an awaiter) believes that an imam should exist at all times and knows that the imam of today is Mahdi. thus he brings faith in Mahdi without having seen him. in short, one could believe in hazrat without coming into contact with him.

secondly 'intezar' for deliverance discovers such affairs as love for establishment of truth and justice, implementation of divine commands and limitations, execution of the affairs on the basis of a correct and fundamental pivot and man's achievement of the goals for which he has been created.

thirdly, it would reveal the veracity of man's love and friendship towards ahl-e-bayt and kin of the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) because it is by Mahdi's emergence that the government of ahl-e-bayt will be embarked upon, the act of command and prohibition will be at their liberty and their rights will return back to them.

fourthly, it reveals the veracity and virtue of man's faith in Mahdi and his filling of the earth with equity and justice and in his imamate.

fifthly, it reveals man's affection towards his fellow creature and his desire for rectifying them because the goodness and prosperity which would arise from Mahdi's emergence would be experienced by all the creatures.

most of the points that we have mentioned have come down in traditions too such as: important affairs which arise from 'intezar' (awaiting) of Mahdi's emergence and the good qualities which are discovered by means of his emergence. mentioning one of the traditions or rather one sentence of it causes great surprise in me.

in the book 'kamaluddin', shaikh saduq has narrated from ammar sabaaty' a lengthy tradition where imam sadiq (a.s.) says: 'ibadat' (worship)during the rein of a wicked government is better and more virtuous than worship during the rein of a right government. moreover, reward of worship is much more under a wicked government than under a right government.

ammar says: i told imam: 'may my life be sacrificed for you. is it that we should not desire to be amongst the qaem's companions at the time of the emergence of truth? is it that our actions under the bond of your leadership and obedience is more virtious than the actions of companions during the true government!?

imam sadiq (a.s.) replied: 'glory be to Allah! do we not wish that Allah, the blessed, the sublime should make the truth and justice appear in the lands? that the common condition of the people improves? that Allah should cause (people's) speech to harmonize and that Allah should invite the diverse hearts of people? that they should not disobey Allah on the earth? that his restrictions should apply among his creatures and that Allah should return the rights to his people so that it may become manifest, so that nothing of the truth might be concealed through fear of any one of (his) creatures......