ORGANIZING GATHERINGS FOR SUPPLICATION.

(REQUESTING FOR THE HASTENING OF THE APPEARANCE OF IMAM MAHDI)

    It is possible to organize prayers collectively just like individual, that is by organizing gatherings in remembrance of Imam (peace be upon him). Such gatherings in addition to the prayer we offered for the Imam (peace be upon him) there are other good things that is included, like reviving the issues of the Imams and mentioning their traditions (peace be upon them) and so on.

The writer of Al-Mikyal (may Allah raises his position) includes organizing gatherings in remembrance of the Imam among the duties of the creatures during the occultation of Imam (may our soul be sacrificed for him) mentioning during the gathering his virtues, merits, praying for him and spending our lives and money in this respect because that is among propagation of Islam, announcing the words of God, assisting good and faith, glorifying the signs of God and helping the friends of God.

In addition to the aforementioned points and those valuable significances that can be counted for the organization of these gatherings, the saying of Imam Sadiq (A.S.) – narrated in the book ‘Wasaelush Shiya’and other books – also implies on this point that:

تزاوروا، فإنّ في زيارتكم إحياءا لقلوبكم و ذكرا لأحاديثنا، و أحاديثنا تعطّف بعضكم على بعض، فإن أخذتم بها رشدتم و نجوتم، و إن تركتموها ضللتم و هلكتم فخذوا بها و أنا بنجاتكم زعيم‏

       “Visit each other, as these visitations result in the revival of your hearts and the remembrance of our narratives; our narrations and speeches will create additional love and kindness between some of you towards others. If you accepts our words and act upon them, you will surely be guided and delivered; and if you ignore our words, you will be misguided and destroyed. Therefore, accept our words and speeches and act upon them, and I am the guaranter of your deliverance”.[1]

This narration implicates on our point in the following way:

       The reason behind the command given by Imam (A.S.) to the Shias for visiting each other is the initiation of an urge and medium for reviving their affair (Imamate) and for the remembrance of their narrations. Hence, we conclude that doubtlessly, organizing such gatherings in which his virtues are remembered and all those affairs related to his holiness hold great importance and are highly recommended, and our Imams (A.S.) appreciate it.

In the Hadith of ‘Arba’ Meaa’, Imam Ali (A.S.) also mentions such points which are related to our topic of discussion:

إنّ اللّه تبارك و تعالى إطّلع إلى الأرض فاختارنا، و اختار لنا شيعة ينصروننا، و يفرحون لفرحنا، و يحزنون لحزننا، و يبذلون أموالهم و أنفسهم فينا، اولئك منّا و إلينا، الخبر

       “Indeed the Almighty Allah, through His awareness with regard to the Earth (and its creatures), chose us and also chose our lovers and followers for us, so that they help us, and become happy for our happiness and aggrieved by our grief and sorrow, and generously spend their wealth and lives in our path. They are from us and towards us..[2]”

CAUTION: Sometime such gathering may become compulsory if such gathering can serve as an avenue to bring back to guidance and right path those that are exposed to deviation and straying from the right path, base on the law of enjoining people to good and abstaining them from bad (Amr bil Ma'ruf wa Nahyi anil Munkar) like wise the law of guiding an astray person and abstaining people from innovation. Allah the Most High is the Protector in all condition.[3]