Mahdaviyat Chp 14

Chp 14 - Our Responsibilities

Now that we have studied the Rights which Our Imam (atfs) has upon us, do we have certain Responsibilities towards our Imam (atfs)?

Let's find out!

Recap of Chp 13

Following are some of the types of Rights that our Imam (atfs) has upon us:

1. Right of Guiding and Teaching

2. Right of Parents

3. Right of Governance and Caliphate

Mikyal ul Makarim

Since this Chapter talks about Our responsibilities in this era of occultation, it is important to discuss the book Mikyal ul Makarim fii fawaaed id-Dua lil Qaem (atfs). The Author Muhammad Taqi Musavi Isfahani (ar) has mentioned EIGHTY responsibilities that we need to fulfill.
-All brothers are requested to bring ONE responsibility as homework for next week

Book Introduction

LOVE

• Today the son of the Prophet (sawa), the most ashraf, and the family of the Holy Prophet (sawa) is Imame Zamana (atfs). If we love the Holy Prophet (sawa), then we must love Him (atfs) more then our selves and our family.

Responsibility #1

LOVE

• In the night of Me'raj Allah (swt) says "....O Muhammad! You love him because I love those who love him"

• True love has some characteristics, because Love is an internal thing which is found in the heart of the human being and it is manifested in his actions:

  1. Submission

  2. Friendship with the friends of Imam (as) and enmity with his enemies

  3. Changes the person (eg: of a Hen)

Responsibility #1

LOVE (Cont'd)

4. Attachment

5. Sad when the loved one is away (Ghaibat is an examination for us also)

This love and affection can be increased through constant contact and incessant reference. So, if we refer to the books concerning Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.), read the miracles and extraordinary feats performed by him and see how he has helped his Shias and solved their difficulties in different situations, then definitely our love for him will increase.

Responsibility #1

Supplication (Dua)

• Imam Mahdi (atfs) has himself ordered us in one of his Tauqee to pray excessively for his early reappearance:
  

Responsibility #2

-Kamaal ud Deen, Vol 2, pg 484, H. 4

Multiple Select

Which of the following are duas NOT related to Imam e Zamana (atfs)?

• Dua e Kumail

• Dua e Nudbah

• Dua e Ahad

• Dua e Taubah

• Dua e Yastasheer

Our responsibilites - Continued

Awaiting (Intezaar)

• The best deed today that we can perform is to await Imam’s (a.t.f.s.) reappearance. For, numerous traditions have deemed it to be the best worship and the best action. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) declares,
  

Responsibility #3

-Behaarul Anwaar, vol.52, chapter 22, Trad. 2, 7, 11, 21, 33 and 56

Masad said: I was in the company of Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) when a very old man taking the support of a walking stick, came there, saluted and Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) replied to him. The man said: O son of Allah’s Messenger, give me your hand so that I may kiss it. So His Eminence gave his hand and he kissed it, then he began to weep. His Eminence, Sadiq (a.s.) asked: O elderly man, why do you weep? He replied: May I be sacrificed on you, O son of Allah’s Messenger, I have waited a hundred years for the advent of your Qaim, saying it would be this month, this year even though I have reached old age and my bones have weakened and my death has come near and I have not yet seen that which I hope for you. I have seen you all being killed and rendered homeless while your enemies scaled heights of power, so why should I not weep? The eyes of His Eminence, Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) filled with tears and he said: O elderly one, if Allah keeps you alive till you see our Qaim, you will have a great status and if your death comes, on Judgment Day you will be raised with important trusts of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and we are his important trusts….

Story of 6th Imam (as) & the old man

-Behaarul Anwaar, Vol. 36, Pg. 408, Tr. No. 17

• Intezaar means to wait restlessly for the establishment of truth, the desire to see the government of Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) and to feel the pain of being deprived of his presence.

• Has it not ever happened that when you wait anxiously for a dear one or a close friend, you look around everywhere in desperation, look at your watch frequently, vow to recite salwaat or laanat, etc.?

• We have to be restless in this very manner due to our separation from our beloved Imam (a.t.f.s.).

• And then the obvious consequence will be praying and invoking for his reappearance, keeping away from sins & being prepared for his advent.

Why so much imp to Intezaar? What's Intezaar?

Attachment (Raabeta)

• The Holy Quran has talked about the duty to connect with our Imam (as):

Responsibility #4

-Surah Ale Imran (3): Verse 200

• On the day of Festivals? - Dua e Nudbah on Eid

• Whenever there is a problem? - Talk to Imam e Zamana (atfs) everyday in the morning for 15 minutes

• You are happy when your brother is happy, you are sad when he is sad.

• When he is in difficulty you pray for him and do sadqa on his behalf. - Pray for relief from Ghaibat.

• We should remember our Imam (atfs) the most, at all times, and pray variuos duas prescribed for him. - Discussed some previously in responsibility #2

How will I connect with a brother who is far ?

May Allah the Almighty grant all of us the taufeeq to discharge our duties towards Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) and let his prayers be our protector,
in every journey and on every path!