Imam Mahdi The Promised Saviour

An Inquiry Concerning al-Mahdi

Escape from hopelessness and despair​​​​​​​

In societies where religion plays no role and people are expectant of no greater future, despair in life, murder, bloodshed and suicide are frequently witnessed. This is because people see such negative factors as poverty, oppression, tyranny, infringement and breaking of laws and distrust in man-made laws and they fail to find solutions and means of escape from such darkness. Because of this they become entangled in the difficulties of destructive despair and hopelessness, this being because they have no hope in God and the future and they view suicide as the way out of these problems. And by committing these crimes, they not only draw their present life and the hereafter into ruin but also the future of their spouse, children and relatives also.
But the person who has created the feeling of Anticipation within himself/herself and at every moment is hopeful for the luminosity of the shining light of Wilayat to engulf the universe, is never willing to create such crimes and also is never willing to destroy the lives of many. Therefore, this issue of Anticipation of the reappearance is a relief for him, and prepares a base for escape from despair and ruin. The following tradition is a witness to this truth.

عَنْ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ اَبَاالْحَسَنِ(ع) عَنْ شِيْءٍ مِنَ الْفَرَجِ، فَقَالَ(ع): اَوَلَسْتَ تَعْلَمُ اَنَّ اَنْتِظَارَ الْفَرَجِ مِنَ الْفَرَجِ؟ قُلْتُ: لاَ اَدْرِي اِلاَّ اَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِي. فَقَالَ(ع): نَعَمْ، اِنْتِظَارُ الْفَرَجِ مِنَ الْفَرَجِ.

  “Ḥasan b. Jahm says: I asked a question of Imam Mūsa b. Ja’far about the reappearance. The Imam (AS) replied, “Do you not know that Anticipation of the reappearance is part of the reappearance.” I said, “I would not have known had you not taught me.” The Imam said, “Yes Anticipation of the Appearance is part of the reappearance.” (Biḥār al-Anwār vol 52, p 130)