Al-Qa’im’s aspects and deeds

“Once a man came to Amirul Mo’mineen (as) and said to him: “O Amirul Mo’mineen (as), would you tell us about your Mahdi?” Amirul Mo’mineen (as) said: “If most of you pass away, the believers become rare and the clamorers perish, then he will appear!” The man said: “Where from is the man (al-Mahdi)?” Imam Ali (as) said: “He is from the Hashemites; the top of the mountain of the Arabs (the best of the Arabs), the sea, to which everyone comes ladling, the safe resort and the pure spring when others become turbid. He is from the people, who do not cower when death hastens, do not weaken when the end approaches and do not recede when the heroes clash. He is always a winner like a lion. He will do away with the oppressors and the arrogants. He is a sword of Allah’s. He arises from loftiness. His glory emits from a great glorious family. Let none of those, who hasten towards seditions and who when saying, the evilest of sayers and when keeping silent, fishing in the troubled water, prevents you from paying homage to him.” Then he talked again about the aspects of al-Mahdi (aj) by saying: “He is the most generous, the most aware and the kindest of you to his kin. O Allah, make his advent as deliverance from distresses and make the umma unite by him! O you man, if Allah chooses (that) to you, be determined and do not deviate from him (al-Mahdi) when you are guided to him.” He sighed and pointed at his chest with his hand showing his eagerness to see him.”

Once Amirul Mo’mineen (as) looked at his son al-Husayn (as) and said: “My son is a master as the Prophet (S) has called him a master. Allah will make one of his (al-Husayn’s) descendants, whose name will be like the Prophet’s name and who will be like the Prophet (S) in form and morals, appear while people are in advertence, the truth is suspended and oppression is spread everywhere. The inhabitants of the heaven and the people of the earth will be happy with his advent. He is a man with bright forehead, hooked nose, big abdomen, wide thighs with a mole on the right thigh and with separated front teeth. He will fill the world with justice after it has been filled with injustice and oppression.”

“I said to Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (as): I have come to Medina and I have one thousand dinars in my purse. I have promised Allah either to spend the money a dinar after another at your door or you answer me to what I am going to ask you about.” He said: “O Hamran, ask and I will answer and do not spend your money.” I said: “I ask you by your kinship to the Prophet (S); are you the man of the matter (deliverance)?” He said: “No, I am not.” I said: “May my father and mother die for you! Who is he then?” He said: “It is he, who has a red face, hollow eyes, high eyebrows, wide shoulders, dandruff in his head and a mark in his face. May Allah have mercy upon Moses.”

“I asked Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (as): Are you al-Qa’im?” He said: “The messenger of Allah has begotten me. I am the one, who avenge the blood. Allah does whatever He wills.” I repeated my question. He said: “You have known where to go. Your man is the one with the big abdomen and with dandruff in his head. He is the son of the imams. May Allah have mercy upon so-and-so!”

“Al-Qa’im (as) has two marks; dandruff and a mole on his head and a mole between his two shoulders on the left side. Under the left shoulder there is a mole like the leaf of a myrtle tree.”

We were with Imam ar-Redha (as) in Marw. We met with our companions in the mosque on Friday. They discussed the matter of the imamate. They mentioned how much disagreement there was about this subject. I came to my master Imam ar-Redha (as) and told him of what people had discussed. He smiled and said: “O Abdul Aziz, the people have ignored and have been deceived by their opinions. Allah has not make His messenger (as) die until He has perfected the religion and revealed the Qur’an to detail everything; permissible and impermissible things, judgements and penalties and every thing that people might need in their lives. Allah has said, “We have not neglected anything in the Book,” and He has revealed to His messenger in the last (farewell) hajj this verse, “This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion.” Definitely the matter of the imamate is from the religion and that religion is not perfected without it. The Prophet (S), before leaving to the better world, has declared to his umma the principles of their religion and has showed them the straight path and the clear truth. He has appointed to them Ali as the imam. He has not left anything that the umma need unless he has declared it to them. Then whoever claims that Allah has not perfected His religion denies the Book of Allah and so he becomes unbeliever. Do they know the importance of the imamate and its position to the umma so that they determine as they like? The imamate is much more important, greater in position, higher in rank, more impervious and profounder than to be perceived by their own minds or to be refuted by their own opinions or that they themselves appoint the imam according to their fancies. The imamate is a divine position that Allah has favored Abraham (as) with after prophethood then He has honored him with companionship thirdly. Allah has said, “Surely I will make you an Imam of men.” Abraham said delightfully, “And of my offspring?” Then Allah has said, “My covenant does not include the unjust.” So this verse has annulled every imamate of every unjust one until the Day of Resurrection and it limited the imamate to the choice that Allah has chosen. The choice is the progeny of Abraham (as) that Allah has honored and preferred to all of the human beings. Allah has said, “And We gave him Issaq and Yaqoub (Jacob), a son’s son, and We made (them) all good and We made them Imams who guided (people) by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of the alms, and Us (alone) did they serve.” It has been still in Abraham’s progeny inherited by one after the other and age after age until it has been inherited by Prophet Muhammad (as). Allah has said, “Most surely the nearest of people to Ibrahim are those who followed him and this Prophet and those who believe and Allah is the guardian of the believers.” Then the Prophet (S) has entrusted Ali (as) with it (the imamate) according to the order of Allah and then it has been inherited by Ali’s pure progeny, whom Allah has granted faith, knowledge and wisdom as He has said, “And those who are given knowledge and faith will say: Certainly you tarried according to the ordinance of Allah till the Day of Resurrection.” The imamate has been limited to the progeny of Ali (as) until the Day of Resurrection because there is no prophet after Muhammad (as). Then how can these ignorants choose the imam? Imamate is the rank of the prophets and the inheritance of their guardians. Imamate is the caliphate of Allah and His messenger and it is the position of Amirul Mo’mineen Ali (as) and the inheritance of al-Hasan and al-Husayn (as). Imamate is the reins of religion, the system that runs the Muslims’ affairs, the goodness of life and the honor of the believers. Imamate is the progressive basis of Islam. With the imam prayers, zakat, fasting, hajj, jihad, finance, charities, judgements, penalties and protecting the boundaries become perfect. The imam permits what Allah has permitted and prohibits what Allah has prohibited. He defends the religion of Allah, carries out His penalties and invites to the way of his Lord with wisdom, fair exhortation and with inevitable evidence. An imam is the shining sun that spreads its light allover the world while it is in the sky where neither hands nor eyes can harm it. An imam is a luminous moon, a bright lamp, shining light and a guiding star in the dark nights, in the deserts and in the high seas. An imam is like pure water to the thirsty. He is the light leading to guidance and he is the saver, who saves from perishment. An imam is like a fire on a hill. It is warm to those, who want to warm themselves and it is a sign of guidance to the lost. Who turns away from it will perish. An imam is like raining clouds, like the shining sun, like the shady sky, like plain ground, like a flowing fountain, like a brook and a garden. An imam is like a close companion, a kind father, a good brother and a merciful mother to her child. He is a safe resort to people during disasters. An imam is the trustee of Allah among His people, His authority over them, His caliph on His earth, the advocate of His mission and the defender of His sanctuaries. An imam is purified from sins, free from defects, inspired with knowledge and endowed with discernment. He is the order of religion, the dignity of the Muslims, the rage of the hypocrites and the ruin of the unbelievers. An imam is the only one of his age. He is incomparable and with no like or substitute. He is endowed with all virtues by the Exalted Giver. Who, then, can know what an imam is to choose him? How far! Minds become confused, wise men go astray, discerning people abstain, speechers fail, intelligents ignore, poets become tired, men of letters flop and eloquent people falter to describe one aspect of an imam’s aspects or one virtue of his virtues. How can he be described as all? How can his essence be recognized? Can anything of his affairs be understood? Can anyone replace him? Certainly not! He is like a star to the hands of the catchers! So how can they choose the imam with their fancies or how can minds determine that? Is there another like? Do you think that that is available among other than the Prophet’s progeny? By Allah their minds have cheated them and their false fancies have deluded them and so they put themselves in a very high position, from which their feet will slip to the lowest bottom. They want to appoint the imam with confused or inactive minds and deviating thoughts; therefore they become too far away from him (the imam). They look forward to unattainable thing, say false thing and go astray too far and then they fall into confusion when they turn away from the imam knowingly and when the Satan has encrusted their bad deeds to them to take them away from the straight path. They turn away from the choice of Allah, His messenger and Ahlul Bayt and cling to their own choice whereas Allah has said, “And your Lord creates and chooses whom He pleases; to choose is not theirs; glory be to Allah, and exalted be He above what they associate with Him.” And it behooves not a believing man and a believing woman that they should have any choice in their matter when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter.” And, “What has happened to you? How do you judge? Or have you a book wherein you read? That you have surely therein what you choose. Or have you received from Us an agreement confirmed by an oath extending to the Day of Resurrection that you shall surely have what you demand? Ask them which of them will vouch for that. Or have they other gods? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful.” سَابِقُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ {21} And, “Do they not then reflect on the Qur’an? Nay, on the hearts there are locks,” or, “a seal is set on their hearts so they do not understand,” or “They said, We hear, and they did not obey. Surely the vilest of animals, in Allah’s sight, are the deaf, the dumb, who do not understand. And if Allah had known any good in them He would have made them hear, and if He makes them hear they would turn back while they withdraw,” or, “They said: We hear and disobey,” but it is “The grace of Allah: He gives it to whom He pleases.” How can they choose the imam? An imam is a savant that does not ignore and a guardian that does not wrong. He is the essence of holiness, purity, asceticism, knowledge and worship. He is appointed by the Prophet (S) via revelation. He is from the progeny of the pure Batool (as). There is no defect in his lineage and no one is comparable to him from among all of Quraysh. He is the summit of the Hashimites, the successor of the Prophet (S) and the pleasing of Allah. He is the most honorable of the all. He is with perfect knowledge and discernment. He undertakes the imamate devotedly. He is aware of politics. He is obeyed. He carries out the orders of Allah, directs people to their welfare and guards the religion of Allah. Allah grants the prophets and imams (peace be upon them) with His knowledge and wisdom, which He does not grant anyone else than them with. Hence their knowledge is above the knowledge of the people of every age. Allah says, “Is He then Who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed, or he who himself does not go aright unless he is guided? What then is the matter with you; how do you judge,” and, “…and whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is given a great good.” And He says about Talut, “Surely Allah has chosen him in preference to you, and He has increased him abundantly in knowledge and physique, and Allah grants His kingdom to whom He pleases, and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing.” And He says to His messenger Muhammad (as), “…and Allah has revealed to you the Book and the wisdom, and He has taught you what you did not know, and Allah’s grace on you is very great.” Allah says about the infallible imams of His prophet’s progeny, “Or do they envy the people for what Allah has given them of His grace? But indeed We have given to Ibraheem’s children the Book and the wisdom, and We have given them a grand kingdom. So of them is he who believes in him and of them is he who turns away from him, and hell is sufficient to burn.” If Allah chooses someone to run the affairs of His people, He will delight his heart to be ready to that, grant him with wisdom and inspire him with knowledge that he will never fail to answer any question. Allah assists him and makes him infallible that he does never fall into error, fault or mistake. Allah grants him with all of that to be His authority over His people. “… that is the grace of Allah: He gives it to whom He pleases, and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace.” After all, can they be fit to choose such an imam? Can their chosen imam be with all these virtues that Allah has granted to the imams, whom He has chosen? By the House of Allah, they have trespassed the truth and turned their backs to the holy Book of Allah indifferently. The Book of Allah has the remedy and the guidance but they have neglected it and followed their fancies; therefore Allah has dispraised them, detested them and has made them wretched. Allah has said, “…and who is more erring than he who follows his low desires without any guidance from Allah? Surely Allah does not guide the unjust people,” and “…for them is destruction and He has made their deeds ineffective,” and “…greatly hated is it by Allah and by-those who believe. Thus does Allah set a seal over the heart of every proud, haughty one.”

“Allah the Almighty has declared his religion with the guiding imams of the Prophet’s family (as). He has shone His divine method with them and has uncovered to them the hidden springs of His knowledge. Whoever of Muhammad’s nation knows the right of his imam will taste the sweetness of his faith and find the virtue of the comeliness of his religion. Allah has appointed the imam as a sign to His people and has made him the authority over the believers. Allah has put on the imam’s head the crown of gravity and has shed upon him some of His light. He is the means between the Heaven and people. Nothing of the blessings of Allah is gained except by the means of the imam. Allah does not accept the deeds of His people without regarding (the right of) their imam. The imam is able to answer all the vague problems and is aware of all the ambiguous issues of the Sharia and the confusing questions of religion. Allah has chosen for His people the infallible imams from the descendants of al-Husayn (as) one after the other. He has been pleased with them and He has accepted them for His people. Whenever an imam goes to the better world, Allah appoints another as a guiding imam and a knowing authority to guide the people to the straight path of the truth. The imams are the authorities of Allah, His preachers and guardians, by whom people are guided and nations are refreshed. Allah has made them as the means of life for His people, as the light in darkness and as the pillars of Islam. All that has been determined by the will of Allah. The imams are the preferred choice of Allah, the chosen guides and expected deliverances. Allah has chosen them since the first creation. He has created them as shadows before making them as beings at the right side of His Throne with His care. He has endowed them with wisdom while in the unseen world near Him. He has created them as the pure remainder of Adam, the best of Noah’s progeny, the choice of Abraham’s family, the offspring of Ishmael and the purest progeny of Muhammad (as). They are still under the care of Allah and they are protected by His angels. They are protected from the evil darkness and the evil of every devil. They are freed from handicaps and diseases. They are infallible before all kinds of obscenities. They are endowed with piety and patience. They are granted with abstinence, knowledge and virtue. An imam is entrusted with the position of his father. He keeps silent during the lifetime of his father. But when the will of Allah determines to bring the father to the better world, the son becomes ready to receive the order of Allah. Allah will entrust the son after the death of the father with His religion and make him the authority over His people and the guardian on His earth. He assists him with His angels, grants him His knowledge, entrusts him with His secret, deputes him to undertake the great task, appoints him as the authority over His people, makes him as a light for the believers of His religion and entrusts him with their affairs. Allah is pleased with him as His guardian over His people. He entrusts him with His knowledge, wisdom and religion. He makes him revive His path, obligations and penalties. In his turn, the imam spreads justice when the ignorant become confused, confutes the arguers with the clear proofs and the bright truth of his truthful fathers (as). No one ignores this truth save the wretched, no one denies it save the deviate and no one leaves it aside save the opponents of Allah.”

“The man of this matter has a likeness to Prophet Joseph (as). He is a son of a (black) bondmaid. Allah will make him succeed within a night.” The likeness to Prophet Joseph (as) concerns the disappearance.

I said to Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (as): Does the saying of Amirul Mo’mineen (as) “May my father die for him! The son of the best of bondmaids,” refer to Fatima (sa)?” He said: “Fatima (sa) is the best of free ladies. He (al-Mahdi) is the one with a big abdomen and a red face. May Allah have mercy upon so-and-so!”

Once I came to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as). He said to me: What (news) do you have?” I said: “Good news about your uncle Zayd! He claims that he is a son of a bondmaid. He claims that he is al-Qa’im of this umma and that he is a son of the best of the bondmaids.” He said: “He has told a lie. He is not as what he has said. If he rises, he will be killed.”

“Blessed is the son of the best of the bondmaids! (He means al-Qa’im) He will humiliate the arrogants and water them a bitter nauseous drink. His sword will kill them terribly. Then the arrogants of Quraysh wish if they could redeem themselves with the world and all that it has just to be forgiven. He will not stop until he pleases Allah.”

“He will act as the Prophet (S) has acted. He will annul all what has been established before him as the Prophet (S) has annulled all that has been established in the pre-Islamic age. He will resume Islam anew.”

“His name is like mine.” I said: “Will he act like Muhammad (as)?” He said: “O Zurara, how far! He will not act as the Prophet (S) has acted.” I asked: “May I die for you! Why not?” He said: “The Prophet (S) has acted leniently towards his umma. He has entreated people kindly whereas al-Qa’im (as) will use his sword with them. He has been ordered by the book, which is with him, to do so. He will kill (bad) people without forgiving anyone. Woe unto whoever opposes him then.”

“I could have killed the fleers and finished off the wounded (warriors) but I did not do fearing for the end of my companions that if they might be wounded, they would not be killed. But al-Qa’im (as) is permitted to kill the fleers and to finish off the wounded.”

Once I was sitting with Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) when al-Mu’alla bin Khunays asked him: “Will al-Qa’im (as), when he appears, act unlike the way, in which Ali (as) has acted?” He said: “Yes, he will. Ali has acted with leniency and forgiving because he has known that his Shia are going to be controlled after him. But al-Qa’im (as), when appears, will kill and capture because he knows that his Shia will not be defeated after him forever.”

“I asked Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (as): “When al-Qa’im (as) rises, what will he do to people?” He said: “He will annul all that has been established before him as the Prophet (S) has done and he will resume Islam anew.”

“If people know what al-Qa’im (as) will do when he appears, most of them will wish he would not appear. He kills great numbers of people. He begins with the people of Quraysh. He kills much many of them until many people say: He is not from Muhammad’s progeny. If he is from Muhammad’s progeny, he will be merciful!”

“Al-Qa’im will rise with a new task, new principles and new judgements. He will be severe with the Arabs. He will do not but killing. He will not forgive anyone and he will not care for any blame because he acts for the sake of Allah.”

“Why do you urge on the appearance of al-Qa’im? By Allah, he wears rough cloths and eats coarse food. There will be nothing but the sword and killing under the shadow of the sword.”

“When al-Qa’im appears, there will be nothing between him and between the Arabs and Quraysh except the sword. There will be nothing save killing. So why do they urge on his appearance? By Allah, he wears rough cloths and eats coarse barley. It will be just the sword and killing under the shadow of the sword.”

“When al-Qa’im of Muhammad’s family appears, Allah will support him with His angels. Gabriel will be in front of him, Michael on the right and Israfel on the left. Terror will precede him about a month-travel before him, behind him, on the right side and on the left side. The close angels will be beside him. The first one to follow him will be Muhammad (as) and the second one will be Ali (as). With his sword he will conquer Rome, Daylam, Sind, India, Kabul and the area of the Caspian. Al-Qa’im (as) will not appear unless his appearance is preceded by great terror, earthquakes, seditions, calamities, spread of plague, killing among the Arabs, great disagreements among people, separation in religion and bad conditions until one wishes to die day and night because of what madness he sees among people and their trying to eat each other. Al-Qa’im (as) will appear after people reach a very high extent of despair. Blessed is he, who sees al-Qa’im (as) and becomes one of his supporters, and woe unto whoever opposes him, disobeys his orders and becomes his enemy. He appears with a new method, new principles and new judgements. He will be severe with the Arabs. He will just kill without forgiving anyone and without caring for any blame because he will act according to the will of Allah.”

Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī (as) said to me: "O Bishr, what will be the state of Quraysh when the Qāʾim al-Mahdī comes and brings forward five hundred of them and executes them by beheading? Then he brings forward another five hundred and executes them by beheading. Then he brings forward another five hundred and executes them by beheading." Bishr said: "I said to him: 'May Allah set you right, will their number really reach that amount?' Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī (as) replied: 'Their master (leader) is among them.'" Bishr ibn Ghālib's brother, Bashīr ibn Ghālib, said: "I bear witness that al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī counted six sets for my brother — or he said six exact numbers (the narrations differ on this phrase)."

“Nothing remains between us and the Arabs except slaughter. (He pointed with his hand at his mouth).”

“I met the door keepers (of the Kaaba). I told them about my vow and my bondmaid. Every one of them said to me: “Bring her to me and Allah will accept your vow.” I felt afraid of that. I told one of our companions of Mecca about that and he said to me: “Would you listen to me?” I said: “Yes, I would.” He said: “Look at that man, who is sitting beside the Black Rock surrounded by people. He is Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali bin al-Husayn (al-Baqir) (as). Go to him. Tell him of your story and see what he will say to you and act according to it.” I went to him and said: “May Allah have mercy upon you! I am a man from the Arabia. There is a bondmaid with me. I have vowed to offer her to the House of Allah (the Kaaba). I told the doorkeepers of that and each of them asked me to give him the bondmaid and that Allah would accept my vow. I felt too afraid of that.” Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (as) said: “O you slave of Allah, the House neither eats nor drinks. Sell your bondmaid and look for someone from among the people of your country who has come to offer the hajj and now has no money to go back home. Give him the money so that he can return to his home.” I did as he had said to me. I met the doorkeepers again. They asked me about the bondmaid and I told them what Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (as) had asked me to do. They said: “He is a liar and ignorant. He does not know what he says.” I mentioned that to Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (as). He said to me: “Would you inform of what I tell you?” I said: “Yes, I would.” He said: “Tell them that Abu Ja’far says to you: How about you when your hands and legs are cut and hung on the Kaaba and then you are asked to announce loudly: we are the thieves of the Kaaba?” When I wanted to get up, he said: “It is not me, who will do that, but it is a man from me.”

“A man came to Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (as) and said: “May Allah bless you! Please take these five hundred dirhams from me. They are the zakat of my wealth.” Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (as) said: “You take them and divide them among the poor Muslims of your neighbors and brothers.” Then he said: “When al-Qa’im of Ahlul Bayt rises, he will divide the wealth equally and rule justly over the people. Whoever obeys him certainly obeys Allah and whoever disobeys him disobeys Allah. He is named as Mahdi because he guides to a hidden matter. He takes the Torah and the rest of the divine Books of Allah from the cave of Antakya (Antioch). He will judge among the people of the Torah with the Torah, among the people of the Bible with the Bible, among the people of Psalms (of Prophet David) with the Psalms and among the people of the Qur’an with the Qur’an. The wealth of the world is gathered to him from above the ground and from under the ground. He says to people: Come on to the wrong you have done to your kin! Come on to the bloods you have shed wrongfully! Come on to the sins you have committed! He will offer something that no one has ever offered before him. He will fill the world with justice, equity and light after it has been filled with injustice, oppression and evil.”

“The staff of Prophet Moses (as) was a branch of a myrtle tree planted in Paradise. Gabriel brought it to him when he set out towards Madyan. The staff of Prophet Moses (as) and the coffin of Adam (as) are in the lake of Tabariya. They neither decay nor change until they will be taken out by al-Qa’im (as) when he will rise.”

“When al-Qa’im (as) appears, he will appear with the banner of Prophet Muhammad (as), the ring of Solomon (as) and the rock and the staff of Moses (as). Then he will order his caller to announce that no one is to carry food, drink or hay. His companions will say: “He wants to make us and our cattle die of hunger and thirst.” He and his companions will move until the first house they reach. He will strike a rock and then food, drink and hay will come out of it. They will eat and drink and feed their cattle. Then they will reach Najaf, which is near Kufa.”

“When al-Qa’im appears in Mecca, his caller will announce that no one is to carry with him food or drink. He (al-Qa’im) will carry with him the rock of Prophet Moses, which is as a burden of a camel. Whenever they stop to rest, the rock will well. Hungry and thirsty ones will eat and drink and feed their cattle until they will reach Najaf, which is near Kufa.”

“As if I see your religion agitating in its blood and then no one will restore it as it has been before except a man from us Ahlul Bayt. He will give you two gifts a year and two livelihoods a month. You will be granted with wisdom at his time until a woman can judge with the Book of Allah and the Sunna of the Prophet (S) in her house.”

“The man of this matter will have a house called the house of al-Hamd (the praise). It will have a lamp shining and without being put 0ut since his birthday until the day when he will rise with the sword.”

“While a man is behind al-Qa’im (as) ordering and forbidding, he (al-Qa’im) will say: Turn him! They turn him to be before al-Qa’im (as), who will order to kill him. Then everything in the world will fear him.”

“As a man is behind al-Qa’im ordering and forbidding, he (al-Qa’im) will order that he is to be killed. Then everything in the world will fear him.”

“Prophet Moses (as) looked up in the first Pentateuch what abilities and virtues would be given to al-Qa’im of Muhammad’s family and then he said: “O my Lord, make me al-Qa’im of Muhammad’s family!” It was said to him: “He is from Muhammad’s progeny.” He looked up in the second Pentateuch and he found the same things. He prayed Allah for the same thing and he was answered with the same answer. Then he opened the third Pentateuch and found the same thing. He asked his Lord for the same thing and the same was said to him.”

“Allah has promised to those of you who believe and do good that He will most certainly make them rulers in the earth as He made rulers those before them, and that He will most certainly establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them, and that He will most certainly, after their fear, give them security in exchange; they shall serve Me, not associating aught with Me.” “It has been revealed about al-Qa’im and his companions.”

“And if We hold back from them the punishment until a stated period of time:” “Punishment is the rising of al-Qa’im (as) and the stated period of time is as the number of the companions, who has fought in the battle of Badr, and as the number of the companions of al-Qa’im (as).”

“…therefore hasten to (do) good works; wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together:” “It has been revealed about al-Qa’im (as) and his companions. They will meet together without an appointment.”

“Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them:” “It concerns al-Qa’im (as) and his companions.”

“The guilty shall be recognized by their marks:” “Allah recognizes them. But the verse has been revealed about al-Qa’im. He will recognize them by their marks and then he and his companions will strike them with their swords.”

I said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “With what will the imam (al-Mahdi) be recognized?” He said: “With calmness and gravity.” I said: “What else?” He said: “You will know him by (executing) halal and haram (permissibility and impermissibility), by the need of people to him whereas he will never need any one and that the weapon of the Prophet (S) will be with him.” I said: “Is he a guardian and a son of a guardian?” He said: “He is not but a guardian and a son of a guardian.”

“I said to Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (as): If the present imam of Ahlul Bayt leaves to the better world, with what will the next one be recognized?” He said: “With guidance, calmness, gravity, acknowledging his virtue by Muhammad’s progeny and that he will not be asked about anything in the east or in the west unless he will give the right answer.”

"Shall I show you the shirt of the Qaim that he will rise in?" I said: "Yes." He then called for a container, opened it, and took out a shirt made of coarse fabric. He unfolded it, and there was blood on its left sleeve. He said: "This is the shirt of the Messenger of Allah (saw), which he was wearing on the day his tooth was struck, and it is with this shirt that the Qaim will rise." I kissed the blood and placed it on my face. Then Abu Abdullah folded the shirt and put it away.

Even as your Lord caused you to go forth from your house with the truth, though a party of the believers were surely averse.”

“When al-Qa’im (as) rises, the angels of Badr will descend. They are five thousand angels. A third of them will be on gray horses, a third on piebald horses and a third on red horses.”

“When al-Qa’im rises, the swords will be brought down. On each sword there will be the name of the man, who will use it in fighting, and the name of his father.” O people of understanding! Would you please ponder a little on these traditions that talk about al-Qa’im (as), his conduct, his virtue, the angels, who will support him, his rough cloths and coarse food, his strife to obey Allah, his jihad for the sake of Allah to do away with injustice, oppression and tyranny, and to spread justice, fairness and kindness, the aspects of his companions, who will be three hundred and thirteen men, who will be the rulers of the world and by whom, with the support of the angels, the east and the west will be conquered? It is clear that the high position and honored rank that Allah has granted to Imam al-Mahdi, have not been granted to any of the previous imams (as). Allah has made Imam al-Mahdi (aj) the means that will carry out His promise, which He has promised the Prophet (S) of; to perfect the religion and make it prevail over all religions.

“Once Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) was asked: Is al-Qa’im born?” He said: “No, he is not. If I live until he is born, I shall serve him as long as I live.”