The Role of Each of Us in the Advent of the Promised One

and that Our forces will certainly prevail.” (Quran, 37:173)

“For it is Our duty to help the believers.” (Quran, 30:47)

“If only our Shia followers- may Allah make them successful in His obedience- had been united at hearts in fulfilling the pledge that is upon them, then the blessings of meeting us would not have been delayed.” Imam Mahdi (pbuh)
–Tabarsi, Abu Mansur Ahmad. Al-Ihtijaj (Argumentation), Vol. 2. Trans. by Saiyyed Amir Husayn Sarkishian. Ansarian, 2017, Qom.

[Ali b. al-Ḥusayn, Zayn al-Abidin. reported:]
“I know of no followers more loyal and more virtuous than my followers nor of any House more pious and more close-knit than my House. May Allah reward you well on my behalf.”
–Al-Mufid, Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Noman, commonly known as Shaykh Al-Mufid. Kitab Al-Irshad. Trans. by I. K. A. Howara B.a., M.a., PH.D. (Lecturer in Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh.)

“I testify to you of submission (to the will of God), honest acceptance as true, loyalty.”
–Ziyarat Hazrat Abbas (pbuh).

“O believers! Whoever among you abandons their faith, Allah will replace them with others who love Him and are loved by Him. They will be humble with the believers but firm towards the disbelievers, struggling in the Way of Allah; fearing no blame from anyone. This is the favour of Allah. He grants it to whoever He wills. And Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.” (Quran, 5:54)

He said: ‘It (mean), they are opened up (exposed) to the straying. Yes, by Allah! They
are destroyed, except three – Salman Al-Farsira, and Abu Zarrra and Al-Miqdadra, while
Ammarra and Abu Sinan Al-Ansari, and Huzeyfa, and Abu Amr joined up with them, so they became seven.’’
-Imam Baqir (pbuh)
–Al-Majlisi, Allama Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 34, The book of Fitna (Strife) and Ordeals.

“‘From Ja’far, quoted his father, ‘Rasool-Allah saying: ‘If the knowledge entrusted with the star, it would be attained by men from Persia.’’
-Prophet Muhammad
–Al-Majlisi, Allama Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 1, The book of intellect, and the knowledge, and the ignorance.

” If knowledge was suspended from the skies, the men of Persia would reach it.”
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),

“If you ˹still˺ turn away, He will replace you with another people. And they will not be like you.” (Quran, 47:38)

AbU Hurairah said: “One day, the Messenger of Allah recited this Ayah: ‘And if you turn away, He will replace you with other people; then they will not be like you.’ They said: ‘And who will replace us?’ So the Messenger of Allah patted the shoulder of
Salman, then he said: ‘This one and his people, this one and his people.”
–Tirmidhi, Abu Isa Muhammad. Sunan Al-Tirmidhi, vol. 5, Islamic Research Section Darussalam

“O Ali, know that, the faith is astonishing and certainty great of those who shall be there in the last period of time. There will be no prophet among them and Divine Proof will be hidden from them in spite of that they will believe in black upon white (writings/books).”
-Prophet Muhammad
–Ibn Babawayh al-Qummi, Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Ali, commonly known as Al-Shaikh Al-Saduq. Kamal Al-din wa Tamam Al-Ni’ma (Perfection of Faith and Completion of Divine Favor), vol. 1, trans. by Athar Husayin S.H Rizvi. Az-Zahra Publications – Mumbai.)

‘The people who have the greatest portion of Islam are the people of Persia.’
-Prophet Muhammad

Ans bin Malik, may God be pleased with him, mentioned the revelation of the Almighty saying: “Indeed, We have given you a clear victory so that God may forgive you” to His Almighty saying: {A great victory} at the beginning of Surah Al-Fath, and that was at the time of the Prophet’s return, may God bless him and grant him peace, from Al-Hudaybiyyah, in the sixth year, and the Companions were pleased with him. God blesses them with sadness and gloom; Because they missed completing the Umrah for which they entered ihram, and they came to perform it, and because of the conditions upon which the peace treaty was concluded, among the conditions that appear to indicate the weakness of the Muslims, even though inwardly they were good for them, as is what happened to them, and as indicated by Surat Al-Fath, and the sacrifice of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. And peace and guidance in Hudaybiyyah, and he told them that a verse had been revealed to him that was dearer to him than the enjoyments of the entire world.
–al-Tabrisi, Shaykh Abu Ali Fadl b. al-Hasan b. al-Fadl. Majma al-Bayan. Generic, 2018.

Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘O Ibn Qays! And if you were to turn back, He would Replace you with another people, then they would not be like you [47:38] – means the sons of the loyalists (slaves) have been liberated’’.
–Al-Majlisi, Allama Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 64.

The Prophet, when non-Arabs were mentioned in front of him, said: ‘ Verily I have more trust in them, or in some of them, than i have in you, or in some of you.
Mohammadi Rayshahri, Mohammad. The Scale of Wisdom: A Compendium of Shi’a Hadith [Mizan al-Hikmah], Volume 3, Hadith 4976, trans. N. Virjee, A. Kadhim, M. Dasht Bozorgi, Z. Alsalami and A. Virjee, ICAS Press, n.d.

The Prophet regarding Persia: ‘You are striking them (with the swords) upon its Revelation, and the world will not expire until they strike you (back) upon its interpretation.
Al-Majlisi, Allama Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar, Vol 64, Ch 9, H 7

“Had We revealed it to a non-Arab, who would then recite it to the deniers ˹in fluent Arabic˺, still they would not have believed in it!” (Quran, 26:198-199)

“If the Quran had been revealed to non-Arabs, the Arabs would not have believed in it… So, this is the virtue of non-Arabs.”
-Imam Sadiq
–Qummi, Ali Ibne Ibrahim. Tafsir Qummi, trans. by Sayyid Athar Husain S.H. Rizvi.

“Along with others of them who have not yet joined them ˹in faith˺. For He is the Almighty, All-Wise.” (Quran, 62:3)

If it is His Will, He can remove you altogether, O humanity, and replace you with others. And Allah is Most Capable to do so. (Quran, 4:133) Al-Baydawi has narrated a tradition in his tafsir that when his verse was revealed, the Messenger of God patted his hand on the back of Salman and said, ” Surely they are his people.”
–Allamah Tabatabai, Muhammad Husayn. Tafsir Al-Mizan, Vol. 9. Tawheed institute Australia Ltd. Second edition 2020. Sydney, Australia.

“Those were the ones to whom We gave the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood. But if these ˹pagans˺ disbelieve in this ˹message˺, then We have already entrusted it to a people who will never disbelieve in it.” (Quran, 6:89)

«قال المجلسي في قوله تعالى: «فَإِنْ يَكْفُرْ بِ‌ها هؤُلاءِ فَقَدْ وَكَّلْنا بِ‌ها قَوْماً لَيْسُوا بِ‌ها بِكافِرِينَ». أقول: فسّر القوم بالشيعة أو أولاد العجم.» (قمی، عباس، سفینة البحار و مدینة الحکم و الآثار مع تطبیق النصوص الواردة فی‌ها علی بحار الأنوار، قم، اسوه، بی‌تا، ج۶، ص۱۶۷)

“If you do not march forth, He will afflict you with a painful torment and replace you with other people. You are not harming Him in the least. And Allah is Most Capable of everything.” (Quran, 9:39)

«وقيل: هم أبناء فارس، عن سعيد بن جبير.» (طبرسى، فضل بن حسن، مجمع البيان فی تفسير القرآن، مصحح فضل الله يزدى طباطبايى و هاشم رسولى، تهران، ناصر خسرو، 1372، چاپ سوم، ج۵، ص۴۷)

“But it was Our Will to favour those who were oppressed in the land, making them models ˹of faith˺ as well as successors.” (Quran, 28:5)

“Allah has promised those of you who believe and do good that He will certainly make them successors in the land, as He did with those before them; and will surely establish for them their faith which He has chosen for them; and will indeed change their fear into security—˹provided that˺ they worship Me, associating nothing with Me. But whoever disbelieves after this ˹promise˺, it is they who will be the rebellious.” (Quran, 24:55)

“He is the One Who has sent His Messenger with ˹true˺ guidance and the religion of truth, making it prevail over all others, even to the dismay of the polytheists.” (Quran, 9:33)

“Surely, following the ˹heavenly˺ Record, we decreed in the Scriptures: “My righteous servants shall inherit the land.” (Quran, 21:105)

The Messenger of Allah said: “People will come from the east and will prepare for the Mahdi.”
al-Majlisi, Allamah Muhammad Baqir. The Promised Mahdi (English Translation of Biharul Anwar, Volumes 51-52-53), Part 1, Chapter six, Chapter 5, trans. S.H. Rizvi, Ja’fari Propagation Centre.

“The best deeds of my nation is awaiting the Faraj.”
–Ibn Babawayh al-Qummi, Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Ali, commonly known as Al-Shaikh Al-Saduq. Kamal Al-din wa Tamam Al-Ni’ma (Perfection of Faith and Completion of Divine Favor), vol. 2. Trans. by Athar Husayin S.H Rizvi. Az-Zahra Publications – Mumbai.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):
“The best jihad of my nation is awaiting the Faraj.”
–Bin Shu’ba Al-Harrani, Abu Mohammed Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Al-Hussein. Tuhaf Al-Uqoul (The Masterpiece of mind). Trans. by Badr Shahin. Ansariyan Publications.

“The best of worship is awaiting the Faraj.”
– The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):
–Ibn Babawayh al-Qummi, Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Ali, commonly known as Al-Shaikh Al-Saduq. Kamal Al-din wa Tamam Al-Ni’ma (Perfection of Faith and Completion of Divine Favor), vol. 1, trans. by Athar Husayin S.H Rizvi. Az-Zahra Publications – Mumbai.

“Of course, we have time and again announced that in our foreign policy we plan to expand the influence of Islam in the world and curb the hegemony of the world-devourers. Now, if American agents label this policy as expansionism and idea of establishing a great empire, we welcome and are not afraid of it. We are in pursuit of desiccating the rotten roots of Zionism, capitalism, and communism in the world. With the help and favor of God Almighty, we have decided to annihilate all systems that are formidably standing on these three pillar; and to propagate Islamic system of the Messenger of Allah (s) in the world of arrogance. Sooner or later, the nations in chains will bear witness to it.”

Imam Khomeini’s Last Will and Testament

“We will try our best to prevent the expansion of black-mail and immunity of American agents even if it takes the form of violent struggle. God willing, we will not allow cry for compromise with America, the Soviet Union, disbelief, and polytheism be shouted at the Kabah and Hajj—this great pulpit that should resound the outcry of the oppressed to be reflected to the entire world and reverberating the call of monotheism. We implore God to grant us the power to toll the death knell of America and the Soviet Union not only at the Kabah of the Muslims but also at the churches in the world.”

Imam Khomeini’s Last Will and Testament

“The Muslims and deprived people of the world should feel a sense of pride and freedom from this endless purgatory our Islamic revolution has created for all world-devourers. Muslims should cry for freedom and liberation in their lives and destinies and salve it on their wounds as the era of impasse, hopelessness and breathing in milieu of disbelief is over. The rose-garden of liberation of nations is blossoming. I hope that Muslims would look to the lovely buds of freedom, fragrant breeze of spring and fresh flowers of love and affection. The limpid spring of your resolution is simmering. We should all come out of the quagmire, silence, and inertia implanted by American and Soviet functionaries who have spread the seed of death and captivity.”

Imam Khomeini’s Last Will and Testament

“We continue upholding restoration of the rights of deprived people in human societies up to the last drop of blood. Today, the world is thirsty of the culture of pure Muhammadan Islam. In a grand Islamic organization, the Muslims will destroy the prosperity, sustenance and luster of the Red and White Houses. Today, Khomeini has opened his breast for the bullets of calamity and difficult events and in facing all the cannons and missiles of the enemies. Similarly, all the lovers of martyrdom are counting days for attaining martyrdom. Our war is an ideological war and recognizes no geography or border. In our ideological war we must undertake a general mobilization of the soldiers of Islam in the world.”

Imam Khomeini’s Last Will and Testament

“And he was called the son of the two chosen ones because of the saying of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh): ‘Verily, Allah has two chosen ones among His servants, one from the Arabs, and they are the Quraysh, and one from the non-Arabs, and they are the Persians.'”
– The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
–Al-Majlisi, Allama Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 46.

“I am with a people that will emerge from the East, seeking the truth, but they will not be given it. They will seek it again but will not be given it. When they see that, they will put their swords on their shoulders and will be given what they asked for, but they will not accept it until they hand it over to the one among you who is the sahib al-amr (Master of the Command). Their slain ones are martyrs. If I lived to see that, I would offer my life to him (sahib al-mar).”
– Imam Baqir (pbuh)
–Al-Nu’mani, Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Ibraheem bin Ja’far. al-Katib Al-Ghaybat Al-Nomani. Ansariyan Publications, Qum.

“A man from Qum will invite people to the right path. A group of people will gather around him who are of iron will and determination and the heavy winds will not deter them and they are not tired of the war and only rely on Allah (SWT) and the righteous will attain salvation.”
-Imam Kazim (pbuh)
–Al-Majlisi, Allama Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 57.

“Qom is the abode of the family of Muhammad and the refuge of their Shia.”
-Imam Kazim (pbuh)
–Al-Majlisi, Allama Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 57.

‘From Abu Al-Hassan Al-Reza-asws having said: ‘There are eight doors for the Paradise, and for the people of Qum there is one of these. Beatitude is for them! Then beatitude is for them! Then beatitude is for them!’’
–Al-Majlisi, Allama Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 57.

The people of Khurasan are our flag-bearers, and the people of Qom are our supporters.”
-Imam Sadiq (pbuh)
–Al-Majlisi, Allama Baqir . Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 57.

And it is reported from a number of the people of Al-Rayy that they entered to see Abu
Abdullah and said, ‘We are from the people of Al Rayy’. He said: ‘Welcome to our
brothers from the people of Qum!’ They said, ‘We are from the people of Al Rayy!’ He
repeated the speech. They said that repeatedly and he answered them with similar to
what he had answered first. He said: ‘There is a Sanctuary for Allah and it is Makkah, and there is a sanctuary for the Rasool and it is Al Medina, and there is a sanctuary for Amir Al-Momineen, and it is Al-Kufa, and there is a sanctuary for us and it is the city of Qum, and there shall be buried a woman from my children named as Fatima-as. The one who visits her, the Paradise would be obligated for him’. The reported said, ‘And this speech from him was before the arrival (to the world) of AlKazim, may the greetings be upon him’’.
-Imam Sadiq (pbuh)
–Al-Majlisi, Allama Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 57.

It is reported by Ali Bin Muhammad Al-Askari, from his father, from his grandfather, from ascension with me to the fourth sky, I looked at a dome of pearls having four corners for it and four doors, as if these were or green brocade. I said: ‘O Jibraeel! What is this dome which I have not seen in the fourth sky any more excellent that it?’ He said: ‘My-as beloved Muhammad! This is an image of a city called Qum. The Momineen servants of Allah will be gathering to it awaiting Muhammad and his intercession for the Qiyamah, and the Reckoning. The sorrows, and the worries, and the grief and the hardships would flow upon them.
Al-Majlisi, Allama Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 57, Ch.36, H.
7, P.213.