Forty days to Mid-Sha’baan …

Imam Jawaad, Mohammad son of Ali, (SBUH) was asked regarding the benefits of loving and following them, the AhlulBayt (SBUT), for those who do so; The Imam (SBUH) in response narrated a story from his forefather Imam Saadeq (SBUH):

A wealthy man from Khoraasaan left for Medina to see Imam Saadeq (SBUH). Arriving in Medina, he knocked on the Imam’s door, his servant told him that the Imam (SBUH) was not home. So the man went to the Masjid.

There, by the door of the Masjid, he found a ready young man waiting next to a riderless mule. He asked the young man regarding the Imam. He replied that the Imam (SBUH) was in the Masjid praying. The young man also said that he was a servant of the Imam.

The Khoraasaani man decided to take advantage of the opportunity, so he informed the young man that he had abundant wealth and he was willing to give it all to the young man in return for his position as a servant of the Imam (SBUH).

The young man said that he had to ask his Imam for the matter, so he went inside the Masjid while feeling shy. He, in a humble manner, asked the Imam whether he was going to prevent him from a good thing befalling him.

The Imam (SBUH) kindly told him that they (The AhlulBayt) always benevolently wished the best for them, then how could they prevent them from good things?

The young man then narrated the whole story for the Imam; and the Imam (SBUH) told him that there was no problem, and if he had become tired of being with the Imam, he could leave and accept the Khoraasaani man’s offer.

The young man bid farewell and moved toward the door of the Masjid. As he was leaving the Imam called and told him that because of the time he spent with him, the Imam was going to offer him an advice. The Imam (SBUH) said:

When comes the Day of Qiyaamat (Resurrection), on Mahshar (the scene of gathering of all people …) a Light from Allah will appear, then my ancestor the Rasool of Allah (SBUH&HA) shall move toward that Light, and my forefather Ali son of AbiTaaleb and the other Imams (SBUT) will stand behind him. Then our Shi’ah and those loving and following us will stand behind us. Wherever we shall go, we will take them with us and will set them in our status.

The young man thought for a moment and said that he would stay with the Imam and would not separate from him … .

(Behaar al Anwaar (Bihar al Anwar), vol. 50; …)

*****

Do not know about you … but it has happened to me quite often … every time I wish to do some thing in the cause of Saaheb al Zamaan (SBUH), be it so little, the world has offered to buy my serfdom … AAAAAHHHHH! So many opportunities, I have sold so cheap …

We are getting close to forty days to Mid-Sha’baan …

For forty days, let us not sell our serfdom of Hadrat Mahdi (SBUH) …

For forty days let us serve him wholeheartedly …

By always being with Wodu …

By reciting the Faraj Prayer before each meal, and before each Wodu …

By reciting the Surah Yaa-Syn daily and offering it as a gift to Hadrat Fatemah Zahra (SBUH) …

By at least fasting on the first, middle and end days of Rajab and Sha’baan …

By reciting the Rajab and Sha’baan supplications as prescribed by the Infallible Ones (SBUT) …

By staying up the 15^th night of Sha’baan and praying for his Appearance and for all Believers and their needs …

By arranging a small … celebration for his birth anniversary on Mid-Sha’baan …

By publishing and spreading books, leaflets … about him …

By spreading prayers of Infallible Ones regarding him …

By going door to door, offering our felicitations on his birthday, giving small gifts and introducing him …

By spreading heart-touching writings about him …

By offering flowers and sweets … in our houses, places of work, to our family and neighbors …

By loving him …

By truly anticipating him …

By …

…O our beloved Mahdi! O the last reminder of Mohammad, Ali, Fatemah and … (Salaam Be Upon You)! We surely do not deserve your love … but we do love you … though we do not show it well …

COME BACK MAULA …