Question 279 - The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 3

Supporters Response:

In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Intensely Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send His prayers upon Muhammad and his family, the Imams and the Mahdis, and grant them abundant peace. To proceed … From Abu Jafar (a): “… He was called the Mahdi only because he guides to a hidden matter” (^[234]). From al-Sadiq (a), who said: “When the Qa’im rises, he will bring a matter different from what existed” (^[235]). From Abu Jafar (a), who said: “When our Qa’im rises, he will call the people to a new matter just as the Messenger of Allah (s) called to it. Islam began as something strange and will return as something strange, so blessed are the strangers” (^[236]). From the Commander of the Believers (a), in a very long sermon: “… He will reveal to the people a new book, and it will be difficult and severe for the disbelievers. He calls the people to a matter; whoever acknowledges it is guided, and whoever denies it goes astray. Woe, all woe, to whoever denies it …” (^[237]). From Aban ibn Taghlib, who said: I heard Abu Abdullah Jafar ibn Muhammad (a) say: “When the banner of truth appears, the people of the East and the West will curse it. Do you know why that is?” I said, “No.” He said: “Because of what the people will encounter from his household before his emergence” (^[238]). From Abu Jafar (a), who said: “If the companion of this matter were to appear, he would encounter from the people what the Messenger of Allah (s) encountered, and more” (^[239]). Let these reports admonish you against hastening into hostility toward the truth and its people. It was narrated from them (a) that most of the truth lies in what you reject (^[240]). The Exalted said: “But most of them are averse to the truth” (^[241]). In the circumstances of previous nations you have the best lesson and admonition. Do not proceed toward something whose consequence you will milk as fresh blood and thereby have Imam al-Mahdi (a) as your opponent tomorrow. Examine yourselves and ask your Lord, for He is nearer to you than the jugular vein. Do not let blind imitation, desire, love of this world, standing, and leadership turn you away from the truth. Sandals have never beaten behind anyone other than the infallible one without his perishing and causing others to perish (^[242]). The opportunity remains open to you, and opportunities pass like clouds: when they are gone, they do not return. Here is the messenger of your Imam, the Mahdi (a), calling out to you and crying to you for help. Do not forsake him and thereby forsake yourselves and become a curse upon the tongues of generations until the Day of Resurrection. May Allah guide you to support the family of Muhammad and spare you from hostility toward them. Indeed, He is Hearing and Responsive. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send His prayers upon Muhammad and his family, the Imams and the Mahdis, the approved successors. The Scientific Committee Supporters of Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah establish him upon the earth) Sheikh Nazim al-Uqayli