Some of the Duties of the People who Are Expecting Imam Mahdi
· To Love Imam Mahdi
People who are waiting for Imam Mahdi to return should have his love and affection in their hearts all the time. Of course no one could wait for someone else if they do not like him, no matter how well they know him. How could people expect others if they dislike them and how could they get prepared to host them? Therefore, one cannot act like a true believer who expects Imam Mahdi, unless they have the love of Imam inside.
Prophet Muhammad too, appoints this as our duty when Qur’an says, “(O Muhammad): "No reward do I ask of you for this except to be kind to me for my kinship with you."” (Ash-Shura: 23)
· To Try to be More Like Imam Mahdi
True believers who are waiting for the return of Imam Mahdi try to be more like him in thought, attitude, and spirituality. How is it possible to wait for someone and not to be like him? Is it even possible for people to like someone with whom they have nothing in common? One could be more like Imam Mahdi by strengthening his faith, virtues and spirituality. This is the only way people could claim closeness with Imam Mahdi. If people act in a way that pleases Imam Mahdi, then his affection will grow in their hearts and this love will cause this separation and distance more difficult and sorrowful.
As a matter of fact, the more one has in common with Imam Mahdi, the more Imam Mahdi gets to love him and he gets to love Imam Mahdi. Therefore, the true believers should try to perform all the religious and spiritual practitioners.
Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi
Other links:
The Sunni hadith on the Subject of the Mahdi
The Mahdi from among the Descendants of the Prophet
Ibn Khaldun and the Traditions about the Mahdi
The Existence of the Mahdi is certain
People Awaited the Appearance of the Mahdi
