What is the advantage of knowing about the signs of Imam Mahdi’s reappearance? (question)

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Short Comprehensive Answer

  • Having knowledge of the signs of Imam Mahdi’s reappearance is important because such information carries several applications and advantages for pious believers.[1] The most crucial of these applications and benefits are as follows:
    1. Having knowledge of the truth: The reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a) will happen in a sudden and abrupt fashion. As such, it is of critical significance that we be able to discern and distinguish between this event and others that may be similar to it. The ability to make this distinction is vital because the individual and communal future of all pious believers depends upon it. Obviously, certain preconditions and prerequisites are needed in order for the believers to make any such judgement in total confidence and surety. Just one of these necessary prerequisites is that they must be equipped with adequate knowledge about the signs of Imam Mahdi’s emergence from occultation.[2]
    2. Identifying false pretenders: Throughout history, there have existed individuals and groups who have often exploited sacred matters in order to make personal gain and profit. Some such individuals and groups have also misused the idea and doctrine of Imam Mahdi’s revolution and uprising in order to push forward their own objectives, regarding of whether these objective were selfish or altruistic in nature. In this context, teaching the true believers about the signs of Imam Mahdi’s reappearance allows them to distinguish between the real Imam Mahdi (a) and false pretenders trying to exploit the people’s religious beliefs and sentiments.[3]
    3. Creating and strengthening hope within the hearts of the pious believers:[4] Human beings continue to exist, live and thrive because they have hope for the future. When hope is born, laziness and lethargy are replaced by diligence and hard work. Whenever one of the sign of Imam Mahdi’s reappearance comes into effect, the light of hope is strengthened within the hearts of the pious believers. This leads them to become more resilient and resistant against the hardships and adversities faced by them during the era of Imam Mahdi’s occultation.[5] Therefore, the signs of Imam Mahdi’s return serve to counter and annul the onset of hopelessness and despair.[6]
    4. A warning and cautionary notice for all enemies and deviants: These signs also serve to create fear within the ranks of Imam Mahdi’s enemies and deviant opponents. As such, they dismantle and disrupt the morale of his foes even prior to the commencement of any actual warfare.[7]
    5. Preparedness for Imam Mahdis’ Reappearance: When pious believers see that the prophesized signs of Imam Mahdi’s reappearance are coming into effect, they should naturally boost their spiritual, physical and communal readiness in order to better assist and strengthen Imam Mahdi’s benevolent global government.[8]
    6. Protection for pious believers against perversions and misguidance: Knowing about the signs of Imam Mahdi’s reappearance protects pious believers against the complex calamities and tribulations that characterize the era of Imam Mahdi’s occultation. Especially, having knowledge about certain trials and tribulations that represent some of the signs of Imam Mahdi’s return will definitely help pious believers to better navigate these events with a heightened state of foresight and deep understanding of their reality. This, in turn, will protect them from falling prey to any kind of deviation or misguidance.[9]

References

  1. Muḥammadī Rayshahrī, Muḥammad, Dānishnāma-ye Imām Mahdī bar Pāya-ye Qurʾān, Ḥadith wa Tārīkh vol. 7, pp. 414-417.
  2. Muḥammadī Rayshahrī, Muḥammad, Dānishnāma-ye Imām Mahdī bar Pāya-ye Qurʾān, Ḥadith wa Tārīkh vol. 7, pp. 414-417.
  3. Muḥammadī Rayshahrī, Muḥammad, Dānishnāma-ye Imām Mahdī bar Pāya-ye Qurʾān, Ḥadith wa Tārīkh vol. 7, pp. 414-417; Nuṣratullāh Āyatī, Taʾammuli dar Nishāniha-ye Ḥatmī-ye Ẓuhūr, pp. 19-22; Ramaḍānīyān, Alī Riḍā, Sharāyiṭ wa Alā'im-e Ḥatmī-ye Ẓuhūr, pp. 29-30; Zamani, Sayyid Hasan, Nishānihā-ye Qīyām-e Ḥaḍrat-e Mahdī (a), pp. 13-15; Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 240-242; Shafi'yi Sarwistani, Ibrahim, Pursish az Maw'ud, p. 85; Riḍayī Iṣfahānī, Muḥammad ʿAlī, Mahdawīyyat 1, pp. 101-109.
  4. Ramaḍānīyān, Alī Riḍā, Sharāyiṭ wa Alā'im-e Ḥatmī-ye Ẓuhūr, pp. 29-30; Riḍayī Iṣfahānī, Muḥammad ʿAlī, Mahdawīyyat 1, pp. 101-109.
  5. Zamani, Sayyid Hasan, Nishānihā-ye Qīyām-e Ḥaḍrat-e Mahdī (a), pp. 13-15; Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 240-242; Rijālī Tihrānī, ʿAlī Riḍā, Yikṣad Pursish wa Pāsukh Pirāmūn-e Imām-e Zamān, p. 180.
  6. Mahdī ʿAlīzadih, Nishānihā-ye Yār wa Chakāma-ye Intiẓār, p. 18.
  7. Rijālī Tihrānī, ʿAlī Riḍā, Yikṣad Pursish wa Pāsukh Pirāmūn-e Imām-e Zamān, p. 180.
  8. Zamani, Sayyid Hasan, Nishānihā-ye Qīyām-e Ḥaḍrat-e Mahdī (a), pp. 13-15; Shafi'yi Sarwistani, Ibrahim, Pursish az Maw'ud, p. 85; Riḍayī Iṣfahānī, Muḥammad ʿAlī, Mahdawīyyat 1, pp. 101-109.
  9. Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 240-242.