Welcome Rabi'!

Recently, we started to narrate a Hadith from the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH&HP) in which the loving Prophet stated that the true Believers of the Last Days would have the honor of being considered as his brothers and sisters. In the same Hadith, the Prophet also mentioned another very important issue regarding his adherents in the Last Days -whom we hope to be among them-; the Prophet has said:

… Remaining steadfast and firm in his faith -for each of them (the Believers of the Last Days)- will be harder than picking and removing plants which have thorns, in a dark night, and (harder than) holding scorching and blazing fire in his hand… .

(Behaar-Ol-Anwaar,… )

Let us think about what the Prophet has said; He has prophesied that, remaining a Believer in the Last Days, would be harder than holding burning fire in hands. This statement says a lot about the general conditions and people’s state of mind during the Last Days. Believing in the Prophet Mohammad and his progeny (PBUT) is not just a feeling in our hearts, rather their obedience means that we have to do some things and avoid other things. If we truly Believe in them, then we have to be careful how we earn our money, i.e. we have to avoid the Haraam ways, no matter how profitable they may seem; if we truly believe in them, we have to eat what is Halaal and avoid what is not, no matter how much inconvenience this may cause us in today’s world; if we truly Believe in them, we have to do our obligatory duties such as praying and fasting, no matter what others -sometimes even our own families- may think; if we truly Believe in them, we must not cheat, lie and…, no matter what others do these days; if we truly Believe in them, we should follow the rules of Hijab and looking at others -both men and women accordingly-, no matter how others may think; if we truly Believe in them, we must believe in the Hereafter and the Judgement Day and be fearful of responding to Allah, no matter what others say; … . Disappearance is the specific characteristic of the Final Days, so if we truly Believe in them, we must Believe in the Appearance of Mahdi (PBUH) at any moment and therefore, be ready to face Mahdi and answer to him at any second… .

All of these may cause many problems for us with our families, friends, colleagues, societies and… , we may not have yet even experienced many of the hardships that the Prophet was talking about, but those who remain faithful, no matter what, will have the honor of being considered as the brothers and sisters of the most beloved and perfect creation of Allah; we think that it is worth, what about you?!

In the first night of Rabi’, centuries ago, Ali (PBUH) -he who had the honor of being the selected brother of the Prophet- slept in the Prophet’s place, at Laylat-Ol-Mabit, so that the Prophet may be safe and Allah, pleased. Surely , Imam Ali (PBUH) achieved his celestial goals and Allah has admired him in Qur’an, Surah Baqarah, verse 207, for what he did that unforgettable night ;Yes, there are those who are wiling to do anything to please their Lord and Allah loves them for it and that is the most exalted goal to achieve in the entire Existence.

Today, Mahdi (PBUH) is the closest living relative of the Prophet and the commencement of his Imamat was immediately after the martyrdom of his Father, the 11^th Imam (PBUH); once again we are observing these anniversaries this week and with an ocean of sorrow and hope in our eyes, we pray for his Appearance… .