We need to keep hope for divine relief, await the reappearance of al-Qa'im (PBUH) at any moment, and truly believe that Imam al-Mahdi (PBUH) is the only solution for our tragedies in the world. According to the traditions, this is the most virtuous struggle (Jihad) of the believers.
A person faithfully living in expectation of Imam al-Mahdi (PBUH) works constantly at improving his spiritual state by acting upon the instructions of Ahl al-Bait (PBUT), working hard in obedience, and observing piety. In this manner, he persistently and increasingly makes himself more eligible to receive al-Qa'im (PBUH). The following Mutawatir Hadith is narrated with all these three wordings:
The Apostle of Allah (PBUH&HF) said, "The best worship/deed/Jihad of my community is awaiting the relief." 74 It is also narrated that:
Imam Musa al-Kadhim (PBUH) said, "... and the most superior worship after the recognition is waiting for the relief." 75 Moreover, Abu Basir narrated:
? Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) narrated from his father from his ancestors from the Leader of the Faithful (PBUH) who said, "The taker of our command shall be with us tomorrow in the divine sacred courtyard (i.e., our place in Paradise). He who awaits our command/kingdom is like the one who is rolling on his blood in the path of Allah." 76
Being patient and remaining in a state of expectation are not easy tasks, and are much more difficult than making haste, because they require holding back and controlling one's desire. This is the greater Jihad and the best deed and worship. If one continues to be in such state, Allah has guaranteed deliverance for him. Abd al-Hamid al-Wasiti narrated:
I said to Imam al-Baqir (PBUH), "We leave our marketplace while we wait for this kingdom." The Imam (PBUH) replied, "O 'Abd al-Hamid, do you think Allah will not make an opening for him who controls himself for His sake? By Allah!
Allah shall certainly make an outlet for him. May Allah have mercy on him who holds back his soul for our sake? May Allah have mercy on him who revives our matter?" I asked, "What if I die before I receive al-Qa'im (PBUH)?"
The Imam (PBUH) replied, "Anyone of you who says, 'Had I met the Qa'im of the family of Muhammad (PBUH&HF) I would have helped him', he is like the one who is striking (the enemies) with his sword at the side of al-Qa'im (PBUH). Nay! He is like the one who has been martyred beside him." 77
Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Abi Nasr narrated:
Imam al-Ridha (PBUH) said, "How praiseworthy are patience and awaiting the relief! Have you not heard the saying of the righteous servant (mentioned in the Quran), 'and watch for I too am watching with you,' (11:93) and, 'You await and I too am awaiting' (7:71)?
Thus, be patient, for relief will come after (people's) despair. Certainly, those who were before you were more patient than you... What is the matter with you that you do not possess your souls and do not have patience until Allah, the Glorious, brings what you want? Verily this command/kingdom does not come in the way that people want.
It is the command/kingdom of Allah, the Glorious, and His decree and (it will happen with) patience. Certainly only he who fears to lose would hasten." 78
In addition, Abu Basir narrated:
Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) said, "Do you want me to inform you about the things without which Allah shall not accept any act from His servants?" Abu Basir said, "Yes".
The Imam (PBUH) continued, "To bear witness that there is no god but He, Muhammad (PBUH&HF) is His servant and His Apostle, to acknowledge what Allah commanded, to believe in our exclusive guardianship, to disassociate from our enemies, to submit to the Imams, to have piety (against sins) and hard effort (in obedience) with peace of heart, and to await al-Qa'im (PBUH).
Certainly, we will have a government that Allah shall bring it when He wills. Whoever is delighted to be of the companions of al-Qa'im (PBUH) should wait, and should act with piety and good morals while he waits? If he dies before the advent of al-Qa'im (PBUH), he will have the reward of him who has received al- Qa'im (PBUH). Thus, try hard (in obedience) and wait. May you taste its sweetness, O the group that is robed in (Allah's) mercy?" 79
The above tradition proves that awaiting the relief should be accompanied with hard effort in fulfilling one's duties. Those truly living in expectation of al- Qa'im (PBUH) act upon what the Ahl al-Bait (PBUT) have commanded and avoid what they have prohibited them even if these commandments and prohibitions have conflict with their personal wish, ideas, and desires.
In this manner, they demonstrate that they are the true followers of al-Qa'im (PBUH) and are ready to take his command when he commands them. In another interesting tradition, Abu Khalid al-Kabuli narrated:
Imam Ali Ibn al-Husain (PBUH) said, "The disappearance of the twelfth Wali of Allah among the executors of the Apostle of Allah (PBUH&HF) shall be prolonged. O Abu Khalid! Certainly, those of people of the time of his disappearance who adhere to his leadership and wait for his manifestation are more superior to people of every era. This is because Allah has granted them so much of understanding, comprehension, and recognition that have turned the disappearance for them into the status of attendance. Allah has given them the status of warriors of the Apostle of Allah (PBUH&HF) by sword.
They are the real devotees, our true Shia, and the callers to the path of Allah inwardly and outwardly." He (PBUH) then continued, "Waiting for the relief is of the greatest relief." 80
The very act of waiting for divine relief is one of the greatest manifestations of relief in our personal life, even before the time of the manifestation of universal relief. This is the state in which Allah expects to see His servants at all times. The condition of waiting should be viewed as a major goal of life in this world, not a secondary or circumstantial issue.
Allah wants His servants to come to the understanding that they put all their hope in Him and constantly expect relief only through His hand. Therefore, this state is, by itself, a great relief, and guarantees salvation. Growing this way of thinking in the societies along with hard effort in fulfilling the instructed duties will also pave the way for the universal relief.
Notes:
74. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 50, p. 318, Hadith 14; vol. 52, p. 125, Hadith 11; vol. 52, p. 145, Hadith 65; vol. 74, p. 143, Hadith 1.
75. Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 403; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 75, p. 326, Hadith 4.
76. al-Khisal, p. 625; Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 115; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 10, p. 104.
77. Kamal al-Din, p. 644, Hadith 2; al-Kafi, vol. 8, p. 80, Hadith 27 (similar narration); Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52, p. 126, Hadith 16.
78. Qurb al-Isnad, pp. 168-169; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52, pp. 110-111.
79. al-Ghaiba, al-Nu'mani, p. 200, Hadith 16; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52, p. 140, Hadith 50.
80. Kamal al-Din, p. 320, Hadith 2; al-Ihtijaj, vol. 2, p. 318; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52, p. 122, Hadith 4.
