One of the duties of God’s servants is to look forward to the Emergence, every moment. It’s the anticipation of the emergence of Imām Mahdī (mGehr)’s dominant and worthy reign (pbuh&h).
There, the earth will be full of justice and fairness. Furthermore, the strong religion [Shi’a] will prevail the whole religions.
Yes, The Almighty God informed His holy Prophet [pbuh&h], promised and gave good news to all prophets and Imām (pbu th), that there will be such a day on which people will not worship anything but The Almighty God. Moreover, there is no part of religion that should be hidden for fear of others.
In this regard, in the pilgrimage of His Excellency Mahdī Ale Muḥammad (mGehr), it reads:
(اَلسـّلامُ عـَلَى الْمـَھْدىِّ الَّذى وَعَدَاللّهُ بِهِ الاُمَمَ اَنْ يَجْمَعَ بِهِ الْكَلِمَ وَيَلُمَّ بِهِ الشَّعَثَ وَ يَمْلاَءَ بِهِ الاَرْضَ عَدْلا وَ
قِسْطا وَ يَنْجِزَ بِهِ وَعْدَ الْمُؤ مِنین
Yes, this great Emergence was promised to happen in 70AH. Also, in “Kharaij,” Shaykh Rāwandī narrated from Abi Ishaq Samiii. He narrated from “Amroo ibn Hamq” that was of the four people who kept the secrets of Amīr al Muʾminīn (pbuh). He mentioned:
Well, meanwhile [Imām] Alī (pbuh) was stricken by the sword [of Ibn Muljam], I went to his house. Then I said to the Sir, “There is no harm in you; it’s just a scratch [it shows the Sir’s strength].” But the Imām stated, “I swear by my life, that I will separate from you!”
Yet he continued, “There will be calamity until 70AH.” And he repeated it three times. So I asked, “Is there any relief after the calamity?” Well, he answered me and became unconscious!
After he was conscious again, I repeated, “O, Amīr al Muʾminīn (pbuh)! You verily told it would be until 70AH. Will there be peace after calamity?” He stated, “Yes, it is true that after the calamity, there will be peace! Yes, God removes what He wills, makes what He wills stable, and he has ‘the Mother of the book [Qurˈan][1].”
Moreover, in the book “Ghaybah” by Shaykh Ṭūsi and in “Kāfī” by Shaykh Kulaynī, it was narrated from Abu Hamza Thumālī who mentioned:
[Once,] I told Abu Jaʼfar (pbuh) that Alī (pbuh) verily had stated that there would be calamity until 70AH, and after calamity, there will be peace. But seventy years passed, and we did not experience any peace!
There, Abu Jaʼfar (pbuh) stated:
O, Thābit! Indeed, the Almighty God had set the time for this matter in 70AH. But when Huṣayn (pbuh) was killed, God’s anger against the people of the earth became intense; so, He delayed it until 140AH. But as I informed you, you spread our news and revealed the secret! So, the Almighty God delayed it, and did not inform us to set the time for it.
[And he recited:]
وَ يَمْحُو اللّهُ ما يَشاءُ وَ يُثْبِتُ وَ عِنْدَهُ اُمُّالْكِتاب
[Surah Raˈd, Verse 39]
Allah makes to pass away and establishes what He pleases. And with Him are the bases of The Book.
Abu Hamza continued, “I told Imām Jaʼfar Ṣādiq (pbuh) the news and he stated, ‘It was verily true!”.
In addition, in the book “Ghaybah,” Shaykh Nu’mani narrated from Ala ibn Sayābah who narrated from Abi Abdullâh Jaʼfar ibn Muḥammad (pbuh) that he mentioned, “Whoever among you dies while they have been looking forward to the Emergence, they will be as the ones who stay in the tent of His Excellency Qa’im (mGher).
Also, the Shaykh narrated from Abu Basīr, who narrated from the Imām, that he stated, “Do you like to be informed of the thing without which, God doesn’t accept the deed of the servants?” We reacted, “Yes!” Then, the Imām stated:
شـَھـادَةَ اَنْ لا اِلهَ اِلا اللّه وَ اَنَّ
مـُحـَمَّدا عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ
Testimony that there is no God but Allah and that Muḥammad is His servant and messenger.
And acknowledging what God has commanded, our love and hatred of our enemies, namely the [infallible] Imāms in particular, and submission to them, and piety, diligence, tranquility, and looking forward to the Emergence.”
In fact, we have the wealth that has been brought by God whenever He wants.
And he continued:
Whoever loves to be of Qa’im (mGehr)’s companions, they need to look forward to the Emergence, obey piously, and follow,
So, whoever looks forward to the Emergence and acts with piety and good morals while he is waiting, then if they die and the Imām (mGehr) emerges after him, then for him, the reward is like that of someone who has met that Sir. So, strive and look forward.
Congratulations, congratulations!
In addition, in “Kamāl al Dīn,” Shaykh Ṣadūq narrated from the Sir, that he stated, “A part of [infallible] Imām’s religion, is being pious, chaste, righteous, and looking forward to the Emergence of Āle Muḥammad [Imām Mahdī] (mGehr).”
Also, they narrated from His Excellency Riḍā (pbuh) that he stated, “The Messenger of God (pbuh&h) stated, ‘The best actions of my Ummah is looking forward to the emergence and asking God for it.’’
And they narrated from Amīr al Muʾminīn (pbuh), that he stated, “The one who looks forward to the Emergence is such as the one who is drenched in his own blood for the sake of God.”
Moreover, in “Ihtijāj,” Shaykh Ṭabarsī narrated as follows:
Muḥammad ibn Uthmān found a letter from His Excellency Sāhib al Amr [mGehr]. In the end of the letter, the Imām advised, ‘Pray a lot for hastening the Emergence; it’s verily your relief!’
Also, in “Ghaybah,” Shaykh Ṭūsi (mGbhs) narrated from Mufaḍḍal, that he mentioned:
[Once,] we were in the presence of His Excellency Abu Abdullâh [Imām Ṣādiq (pbuh)] and we talked about Qa’im (mGehr) and about one of our friends who would look forward to the Emergence, but he died. There, he stated, ‘When Qa’im (mGehr) emerges, a creature will come to any believer’s grave and call:
O, such a man! In fact, you Sāhib [al Amr (mGehr)] has emerged! If you would rather join him, you can. But if you prefer to rest in God’s blessings, so do it!
Moreover, in the book “Muhāsin”, Shaykh Barqī narrated from the Sir as follows:
[Once,] he stated to a man of his companions, ‘If any of you dies while they have love Ahl al Bayt [pbu th] and have been looking forward to the Emergence, they are considered as the people who will be with Qa’im (mGehr), in his tent!
In one other narration, it is mentioned that “Such people are considered as the ones who will be with the Messenger of God (pbuh&h)!
Furthermore, another narration refers to them as the ones who will become martyrs in the presence of the Messenger of God (pbuh&h)!
Muḥammad ibn Fadhil narrated as:
Once I asked Imām Riḍā (pbuh) about the Emergence. He stated, ‘I’m not looking forward to the Emergence, [your] emergence itself?! The glorious and Majesty God stated:
فـَانْتَظِرُوا اِنّى…
مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الْمُنْتَظِرينَ؛
… Therefore wait– surely I too, with you, am of those who wait. (the Surah Yunus, (Jonah) the Verse 102)
Look forward to the Emergence! In fact, I am one of the ones who look forward too!
It connotes, look forward to the Emergence [of my Hujjah (proof)]. And I am looking forward to the high time which is proper for it.
In addition, they narrated from the Sir [Imām Riḍā (pbuh)], that he stated, ‘How nice is the patience with looking forward to the Emergence! Haven’t you heard God promised:
فـَارْتـَقـِبـُوا اِنّى مَعَكُمْ رَقیبٌ
…So wait, for I too am waiting (The Surah Hūd, the Verse 93)
وَانْتَظِرُوا اِنّى مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الْمـُنـتـظـريـن
… Say: Wait then; surely I too am with you of those who wait. (The Surah Hūd, the Verse 102)
Now, you are expected to be patient, since the Emergence will happen after hopelessness! In fact, there were some people before you who were more patient than you!
1- Qur’an is the master source, which is within God’s presence.