The signs preceding the appearance

I asked Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “When will the deliverance of your Shia come?” He said: “When the Abbasids disagree, their rule will become weak, those, who have never thought of the rule, will seize the opportunity to gain their (the Abbasids’) rule, the Arabs will become uncontrolled, as-Sufyani will rise, al-Yamani will come with his army, al-Hasani will move with his troops and then al-Qa’im will appear in Medina and move towards Mecca with the heritage of the Prophet (S).” I said: “What is the heritage of the Prophet (S)?” He said: “The heritage of the Prophet (S) is his sword, armor, turban, garment, banner, stick, horse and saddle.”

“I asked Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “When will the deliverance of your Shia be?” He said: “If the Abbasids disagree, their rule will become weak…until the end of the previous tradition. Then he added…until he (al-Qa’im) stops at the outskirt of Mecca. He will take the sword out of its sheath, put on the armor, spread the banner and the garment, put on the turban, hold the stick with his hand and will ask Allah permission to appear. He will inform some of his guardians of that. He will go to inform al-Hasani. Immediately al-Hasani will rise but the people of Mecca will kill him and send his head to Sham. Then al-Qa’im will appear. People will pay homage to him and follow him. The ruler of Sham then will send an army to Medina but the will of Allah will make them perish before reaching Medina. Then all of Ali’s progeny in Medina will flee to Mecca and join al-Qa’im. Al-Qa’im will move towards Iraq and send an army towards Medina ordering its people to go back to it.”

“Before the appearance of al-Qa’im, the war of (tribe of) Qays will break out.”