1) Familiarity with the status of the Imam(AS)

Familiarity with the characteristics and qualities of the Imam of the Age (AS) and paying attention to the greatness of this personality are important factors and motives in creation the state of Anticipation.

Noting that all over the universe, in the entire created world, there is no one worthy of leading and reforming the world except him, attracts man to the Imam (AS). This great personality is the last divine store and the only remainder of the leaders (Amirs) of the world, about whom Amir al Mu’minin (AS) has said:

     عِلْمُ الاَنْبِيَاءِ فِي عِلْمِهِمْ وَ سِرُّ الاَوْصِيَاءِ فِي سِرِّهِمْ وَعِزُّالاَوْلِيَاءِ فِي عِزِّهِمْ، كَالْقَطْرَةِ فِي الْبَحْرِ وَ الذَّرَّةِ فِي الْقَفْرِ.

 “The knowledge of the Prophets in comparison to his knowledge, and the secrets of the (Walis) guardians in comparison to his secrets, and the honor of the saints in comparison to his honor are like drops in the ocean and grains in the desert.”[1]

Now that we are in the period of the last of the great personalities, considering his excellence and by following his guidance, we can save ourselves from darkness and ignorance and while anticipating the coming of his government, count down the days (i.e.) wait anxiously until that flag of guidance and justice will be flown in the world.

If someone becomes familiar with this great personality, in these times and becomes aware of the help of the Imam of the Age (AS) in the period of occultation and the changes which will take place around the world and within man himself at the time of his reappearance, he will always remember him, and in the same way that it has been ordered[2] will always bask in the sunrise of Anticipation of Wilayat.

The knowledge of such a person removes the rust of ignorance from his heart and replaces it with purity and light. Consider the interesting tradition, which shows the unseen help of the Imam (AS) in the period of occultation. Jabir Ja’fi from Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari relates from the Holy Prophet (SAW) that he said:

ذَاكَ الَّذِي يَفْتَحُ اللهُ تَعَالي ذِكْرُهُ عَلَي يَدَيْهِ مَشَارِقَ الاَرْضِ وَ مَغَارِبَهَا ذَاكَ الَّذِي يَغِيْبُ عَنْ شِيْعَتِهِ وَ اَوْلِيَائِهِ غَيْبَةً لايَثْبُتُ فِيْهَا عَلَي الْقَوْلِ بِاِمَامَتِهِ اِلاَّ مَنْ اِمْتَحَنَ اللهُ قَلْبَهُ بِالاِيْمَانِ قَالَ: فَقَالَ جَابِرُ: يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ فَهَلْ يَنْتَفِعُ الشِّيْعَةُ بِهِ فِي غَيْبَتِهِ؟ فَقَالَ(ص): اَيْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَنِي بِالنُّبُوَّةِ اَنَّهُمْ لَيَنْتَفِعُوْنَ بِهِ وَ يَسْتَضِيْئُوْنَ بِنُوْرِ وِلاَيَتِهِ فِي غَيْبَتِهِ كَانْتِفَاعِ النَّاسِ بِالشَّمْسِ وَ إِنْ جَلَّلَهَا السَّحَابُ، يَا جَابِرُ، هَذَا مَكْنُوْنُ سِرِّاللهِ وَ مَخْزُوْنُ عِلْمِهِ فَاكْتُمْهُ اِلاَّ عَنْ اَهْلِهِ.

 “He (Hazrat Mahdi [AS]) it is by whose hands Allah expands the lands of the East and West. He it is who will become hidden from his early Shi’as such that there will be no real base for belief in the Imamate, other than for someone whose heart Allah has tested for faith.

Jabir Ja’fi says that Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari said to the Prophet (SAW), O Prophet of Allah, would the Shi’as benefit from him in the period of occultation? The Prophet (SAW) answered, Yes, I swear by Allah who has commissioned me with the message, they will benefit from him in the period of occultation and will be enlightened by the light of his Wilayat in the same way that people benefit from the sun even though it is covered by clouds. O Jabir, this is of the divine secrets and of His storehouse of knowledge. Therefore hide it from all but those are not part of it.”[3]

By swearing, the Holy Prophet (SAW) in this tradition emphasizes that the Shi’a will receive light form the Imam (AS) at the time of his occultation.

At the time of the occultation, even though the Imam (AS) is absent, in actuality, the veil of absence is in our hearts Rather Imam (AS) is a shining light and this is clear to anyone whose heart is capable of seeing, even if he is apparently blind.[4]

Considering this fact, man can be guided to the position of Wilayat and to the power of this great personality and the love of the Imam of the Age (AS) can intoxicate hearts and create the manifestation of the world government within man’s heart.