The Growing Number of the Righteous and Stricter Tests as the Reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ) Draws Near

What is the most prominent characteristic of those awaiting the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ)?

How and through what mechanisms do the righteous come to power on the threshold of the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ)?

Given the mixture of truth and falsehood as well as disbelief and belief in the End Times, is it possible to distinguish the righteous from the unrighteous?

The reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ) is an international and global event which affects human life in all its individual and social dimensions, establishing a new civilization with novel components. It is evident that changes of this scale and impact cannot occur in a short period. The groundwork for these events requires profound and fundamental transformations that begin gradually long before his advent, intensify as the time approaches, and ultimately culminate on the promised day with the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ) from the Kaaba and with his companions pledging allegiance to him.

Continuing this series on the future of the world from the perspective of the Quran, this article aims to examine several other important verses about the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ), the characteristics of his companions, and the events surrounding this great occurrence.

Moderation and Balance, Characteristics of the Companions of Imam Mahdi (AJ)

Every harm that befalls humanity is rooted in excess and neglect in various aspects of life. Excess and neglect are among the most significant afflictions that threaten the well-being of human life in this world and hinder the human journey toward eternity and the hereafter. If someone wishes to be a true supporter of Imam Mahdi (AJ) and play an influential role in his advent, he must choose the path of moderation and balance and avoid overindulgence or laziness in various matters, both material and spiritual.

In multiple verses of the Quran, God introduces Islam as the religion of moderation and the nation of Prophet Muhammad (AJ) as a moderate nation. One of these verses is verse 143 of Surah Al-Baqarah, which states: “…We have made you a moderate and balanced nation so that you may be witnesses over people…” If someone moves on the straight path and truly applies the principles of Islam in his life, both his worldly and otherworldly  affairs will be well managed. He will be blessed with both material abundance and spiritual and religious fulfilment. Respecting all the dimensions of his existence and attending to their needs, he will always be happy and at peace. Conversely, someone caught up in excess or neglect constantly experiences spiritual turmoil and unrest. He has overindulged one part of his life, making it sluggish and bloated, while leaving other areas starved and lacking

Such a lifestyle is never endorsed by Islam, and those who adopt this way of living lack the capacity for great and global movements. For this reason, God introduces the future-building nation as one that maintains its balance on the straight path, avoiding extremes of hurry or delay: “Say ‘Each is waiting, so keep waiting! You will soon know who is on the Straight Path and is [rightly] guided.’”[1] The phrase “so keep waiting” is an imperative, suggesting that God is directing human beings toward the future.

Imam Kazim (PBUH) relates from his father in the interpretation of this verse that the straight path refers specifically to Imam Mahdi (AJ), and that a person who follows the path of guidance is one who adheres to the Imam’s commands.[2]

The Rising Strength and Growing Influence of the Righteous in the Era of the Promised Future

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, the appearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ) is a civilization-building event that uproots the foundations of the degenerate animalistic civilization and establishes a new civilization based on the true and divine essence of human beings. It is clear that bringing about such a remarkable occurrence cannot be achieved by a small and limited population, and the front of truth must increase in number to reach this level of capability. God announces this in verse twenty-four of Surah Al-Jinn, stating: “[Disbelievers continue their disobedience] Until when they see what they are promised, then they will know who is weaker in helpers and fewer in number.”

A clear example of the empowerment of the front of truth and the weakening of the front of falsehood in our era is the Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. No one thought that this event, initiated by a small group, could mobilize the entire world against oppressors. It is true that the number of fighting individuals in Gaza and Palestine is small, but tens of millions of people around the world, with various religions, beliefs, and nationalities, held large gatherings and marches in favor of Palestinian people after the Al-Aqsa Storm; this is while, until now, no such diverse and numerous gathering has occurred anywhere in the world in support of global arrogance and its policies.

Another example of the empowerment and increase in the number of the righteous in the End Times is the grand Arbaeen walk, where millions of people from various religions and sects gather around a divine leader. The Arbaeen Walk has proven to everyone that Imam Hussain (PBUH), despite having been martyred centuries ago, still possesses the charisma and power to gather tens of millions of devoted individuals from around the world and to establish bonds of friendship and love among them. This is an astonishing event that has no precedent anywhere in the world for any figure. Naturally, when a martyred Imam can unite people in such a powerful manner, this phenomenon is even more pronounced and steadfast in allegiance to a living Imam.

The global solidarity created among people as a result of the Al-Aqsa Storm event has demonstrated that the culture of Arbaeen can transcend the borders of a country and spread throughout the world. The Arbaeen Walk and the Al-Aqsa Storm have shown that there is a possibility for unified gatherings in the world, and that the majority of people desire to stand together against oppression and tyranny. The massive movement stemming from the closeness of hearts among the people worldwide is gaining momentum day by day to prepare the ground for the final uprising and reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ). Such a movement cannot be stopped or reversed by any means, and no matter how much the forces of tyranny try, they cannot stop this advancing movement, just as censorship and media blackouts could not prevent the immense presence of people at the global Arbaeen Walk. This is the will of God to realize the bright future of history.

The Difference Between the Pure and the Impure at the Onset of the Advent

In verse seventeen of Surah Al-Hadid, God speaks of the revival of the earth after its death, stating: “Know that Allah revives the earth after its death. We have made clear to you the signs, so that you may understand!” In the interpretation of this verse, it is narrated from Imam Sadiq (PBUH) that the revival of the earth after its death refers to the establishment of justice after oppression. Imam Baqir (PBUH) also has a similar interpretation, in which disbelief is identified as the cause of the earth’s death, while the establishment of justice by Imam Mahdi (AJ) is seen as the cause of the earth’s revival. Other interpretations from the Ahl al-Bayt also indicate that the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ) is what brings new life to the earth.

These interpretations show that with the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ) as the Promised Savior of all religions, disbelief and oppression will completely disappear from the world, making way for peace, justice, and friendship to prevail. However, the total eradication of disbelief and oppression, along with the destruction of disbelievers and oppressors by Imam Mahdi (AJ), will only happen when a clear boundary is established between these individuals and the believers and the righteous. As long as this separation is not complete, and as long as there is still the possibility of guiding even a single disbeliever or the potential for the birth of even one believer among disbelievers, God will refrain from sending down His punishment: “Had those [unknown] believers stood apart, We would have certainly inflicted a painful punishment on the disbelievers.”[3] This is God’s unchanging law; God is pure mercy and justice and does not wrong any of His servants.

But one important question: How is this categorization done and based on what criteria? What factors cause the veil of hypocrisy to be lifted and the boundary between believers and non-believers to be clearly revealed? Understanding the answer to this question hinges on knowing the law of filtering. God’s filtering system is one of the important divine laws. God consistently places individuals in circumstances that unveil their inward self and bring their inner thoughts to light,  allowing those who possess any light within—despite being on the side of falsehood due to ignorance—to discover the path to guidance. Conversely, if someone has positioned himself among the people of truth through hypocrisy, the veil will be lifted from his face, and his vile inward state will be exposed. This filtering becomes increasingly intense in the End Times, to the extent that the boundary between the front of truth and the front of falsehood becomes completely evident, paving the way for the uprising and reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ). According to great scholars, one of the criteria for distinguishing between truth and falsehood in our era is the issue of Palestine. Palestine is a clear battleground for the confrontation between the two fronts of truth and falsehood, and an individual’s stance regarding the atrocities committed by Israel in this land reveals which front his heart aligns with.

In the subsequent articles, we will review some other verses from the Quran regarding the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ).

[1]. Quran, 20:135

[2]. Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 24, p. 150.

[3]. Quran, 48:25