Preparation for the Reappearance: Why and How?

It is clear that every revolution, in order for its dimensions to be understood or not to face failure, requires preparation, and although the uprising and revolution of Imam Mahdi is not doomed to failure, in order for its dimensions to be made clear to everyone, it is therefore necessary to prepare for it in advance.
Of course, this preparation began with the Qur’an, then the Prophet and the Infallibles elaborated on its dimensions. The Noble Qur’an, in several verses, has given the glad tidings of the inheritance of the righteous over the earth and has also stated that the rule on earth will be handed over to them in the future, where it says:
“After the Torah, We wrote in the Psalms that My righteous servants shall be the final inheritors of the earth.”⁽¹⁾
And it has also said:
“We wish to bestow favor upon the oppressed of the earth, and make them leaders and inheritors of the earth.”⁽²⁾
And it has said:
“Allah has promised the believers and the doers of righteous deeds that He will make them successors on earth, establish for them the religion which He has approved for them, and change their state of fear into security, so that they may worship their Lord without any fear or anxiety and not submit to anyone other than Allah.”⁽³⁾
The above verses have led people to reflect and ponder as to who these righteous ones are—those who will both inherit the earth and take over the rule, and who will make Islam universal and global, and without any fear or dread, in complete security, will worship God.
They will wonder whether such an event has ever occurred so far or not, and whether such a government has been established on the planet earth or not, and if it has not been established, what has caused its delay.
Following the presentation of these verses by the Lord in the Noble Qur’an, the Prophet from the very beginning informed the Muslims of a global government led by one of his descendants who has the same name and the same kunyah as him,⁽⁴⁾ and the numerous narrations transmitted from him introduced the people and the Muslims to this sacred figure and this divine government, and the Infallibles, by explaining further matters, addressed all its dimensions—such that all Islamic traditions regarding Imam Mahdi are completely related to preparation.

How Should We Prepare?

We have the duty to prepare the grounds for the reappearance of the Imam, and these grounds are many, some of which we will mention:

1- Knowing and introducing the Imam Mahdi

The issue of knowing the Imam Mahdi is one of the essential matters, such that, according to the narrations, if a person does not know the Imam of his time, he will die the death of ignorance.⁽⁵⁾ Knowing the Remnant of Allah (ImamMahdi) is necessary because if we do not know him, not only will our actions be invalid, but we will become deviant and misguided. Imam Musa ibn Ja‘far (PBUH) said:
“The Imam is the proof of Allah over His servants; whoever abandons him will be misguided, and whoever is with him will be saved and will attain success.”⁽⁶⁾ For this reason, we recite in the supplication:
“O Allah, make me know You, for if You do not make me know You, I will not know Your Messenger; O Allah, make me know Your Messenger, for if You do not make me know Your Messenger, I will not know Your Proof; O Allah, make me know Your Proof, for if You do not make me know Your Proof, I will be misguided from my religion; O Allah, do not cause me to die the death of ignorance.” ⁽⁷⁾
In this regard, numerous traditions have been narrated in the books of Shia and Sunni from the Prophet , in which he greatly emphasized knowing the Imam, in such a way that if a person does not know the Imam of his time, he will leave this world with the death of ignorance.

2- Fighting against deviations and deviant paths

One of the wisdoms of the occultation of the Imam Mahdi is the existence of sins that are spread in society. Here, fighting against sins is a means of preparation for the reappearance of the Imam, because one of the very important goals of the Imam is to fight against deviations and corrupt paths and to eradicate corruption. The Imam will come to put an end to oppression and tyranny and to spread justice and fairness on earth. In a prophecy, the Prophet said:
“Allah will, through him (Imam Mahdi), fill the earth with justice and equity just as it had been filled with injustice and oppression.”⁽⁸⁾
Therefore, if we want to prepare the grounds for the reappearance, we must hasten to assist the Imam and accompany him in this work. Here, some people, with their silence and indifference in the face of social deviations and corruptions, may think that one must promote corruption in society or at least remain silent so that corruption in society multiplies many times over, and as a result of its increase, the Imam will reappear. (Website administrator: sects such as Hojjatiyya have held such beliefs) But this theory and idea is completely false and baseless. Because the Imam, after coming, will fill the earth with justice and fairness, not that the Imam will not come until the earth is filled with oppression and injustice. If such a thought were correct, the earth is currently sufficiently filled with oppression and injustice, so why does the Imam not come?

3- The necessity of self-purification

One of the fundamental matters regarding preparing for the reappearance is the issue of self-purification of the companions of Imam Mahdi . Those who want to be among the helpers and companions of the Imam must elevate themselves to a level of refinement, perfection, and self-discipline so that they may deserve to accompany and assist him.
Those who have not gone through the process of self-purification within themselves cannot hope that they have prepared the ground for the reappearance of the savior of the end of time. The helper of the Imam must have reached a degree of perfection and have implemented moral virtues within himself so that he can claim that he will assist the religion of Allah in the company of the Imam.
Certainly, the Imam will be able to eliminate oppression and reform societies with self-purified individuals.

4- Explaining the goals of the Imam

Another issue that prepares the ground for the reappearance of the Imam Mahdi is that after recognizing and knowing the Imam of the Age , we study and examine his goals. For example, the characteristics of the Imam’s government and its distinction from previous governments, and that the government which has been mentioned in the Qur’an and foretold by the prophets will be fundamentally different from all other governments. The government of the Imam of the Age is a global and divine government, a government of religion, the Qur’an, and the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet. It is a government that establishes global security, a government that expands justice, a government that establishes morality and human values. We must know that the Imam will come to accomplish all the unfulfilled goals of the divine prophets; the Imam will come to manifest the highest forms of a progressive government; the Imam will come to lead mankind to its true perfection. In short, what the Imam Mahdi will accomplish has never been achieved by any prophet or ruler in the world throughout history.
Belief in these matters causes us to strive to reach such a government, remove obstacles from the path, and also encourage others, and such actions themselves are preparation for the reappearance.

5- Awaiting the The Reappearance (Faraj)

Among the other means of preparing for the reappearance of the Imam Mahdi is awaiting the Reappearance , an awaiting to which the Prophet and the Infallibles have invited us, an awaiting that in the narrations has been considered the most virtuous of deeds and the best worship of the believers, an awaiting which, according to Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH), “If a person dies while awaiting, he will be (rewarded as) a martyr, even if he dies in his bed.”⁽⁹⁾

6- Knowing the duties and acting upon them

Our great scholars, based on narrations and traditions and the recommendations of the Prophet and the Infallible Imams (PBUT), have stated duties for the people during the Major Occultation, each of which will itself be a means of preparing for the reappearance of the Promised Mahdi . The late “Muhaddith Qummi” (d. 1940 CE) has mentioned several of them:
a) Being sorrowful for that noble one during the days of occultation.
b) Praying for the preservation of the blessed existence of the Imam Mahdi from the evil of the devils among humans and jinn, and asking for the hastening of his the Reappearance , and for his assistance and victory over the disbelievers, atheists, and hypocrites.
c) Giving charity according to one’s ability with the intention of preserving the blessed existence of the Imam Mahdi .
d) Performing Hajj on behalf of the Imam Mahdi , as was customary among the Shia in the past.
e) Standing up out of respect when the blessed name of that noble one is mentioned, especially the blessed name “Qa’im”.
f) Supplicating and asking Allah for the preservation of religion and faith from the manipulation of devils and for deliverance from doubts.
g) Seeking aid, assistance, and help from that noble one during hardships, afflictions, illnesses, doubts, and trials.⁽¹⁰⁾

References

[1]– Qasas, Ayah 5
[2]– Anbiya, Ayah 501
[3]– Nur, Ayah 55
[4]– Tadhkirat al-Khawas (The Memoir of the Notables), p. 362; ‘Uqd al-Durar (The Necklace of Pearls), p. 23; Minhaj al-Sunnah, Vol. 4, p. 211
[5]– Mahasin al-Barqi (The Virtues of al-Barqi), p. 551; Kamal al-Din, Vol. 2, p. 412
[6]– Mu‘jam Ahadith al-Imam al-Mahdi (The Dictionary of the Traditions of Imam Mahdi), Vol. 4, p. 148
[7]– The late Sheikh Abbas Qummi transmitted this supplication from Jamal al-Usbu‘ ibn Tawus al-Hilli
[8]– Ghaybah al-Numani (The Occultation of al-Numani), p. 18
[9]– Al-Shi‘ah wa al-Raj‘ah (The Shi‘a and the Return), Vol. 1, p. 234; also in Sunni books reference is made to awaiting the The Reappearance , e.g., Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir al-Tabarani (The Great Dictionary of al-Tabarani), Vol. 1, p. 421; Musnad Shahab (The Traditions of Shahab), Vol. 1, p. 26; and Tarikh Baghdad (The History of Baghdad), Vol. 2, p. 451
[10]– Muntaha al-Amal (The Ultimate of Hopes), Vol. 2, p. 384

The Twelfth Imam