Praying for early reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.)
Dear Children,
We always pray for those people we love. For example we pray for our parents’ health and well being. We also pray for our friends and relatives. If someone falls ill, we pray to Allah to grant him Shifaa (cure him).
Do you know why do we pray for them?
We pray for them because they love us and take care for us and we also love them. For example our parents educate us, teach us good manners. Our friends help us in studies and play with us.
Do you know there is someone who loves us more than our parents?
Do you know who he is?
He is none other than our 12th Imam, Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.).
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says:
“An Imam is a kind friend, a loving father, an affectionate brother and like a kind mother to her infant.”
So when Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) loves us so much, then we should also love him and pray for his well being, safety and his Zuhoor as much as we can.
Also, praying for Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) is one our duties towards him during his Ghaibat.
Praying for Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) has lot of benefits for us. There is one interesting incident of Abdul Rahman Isfahani.
Abdul Rahman Isfahani lived during the time of our 10th Imam, Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.). He lived in Isfahan, a city in Iran. He was a non-Shia but later on, became a Shiah. One of his friends asked him the reason for becoming a Shia. He said, ‘It is a very interesting story’ and it goes as follows:
I was very poor and had taken a lot of debt from people. I could also not provide food to my family. The people who had given me their money were asking me to return the same. Since I was not able to do so they were angry with me.
In this condition, I did not know what to do. I decided that I should go to the king of the time i.e. Mutawakkil and ask him to help me. With this intention I set out for Baghdad.
On reaching Baghdad, I straight away went to meet Mutawakkil and reached the gate of his palace.
On reaching there, I found that a lot of people had gathered outside his palace. I also stood there to see what is happening. After some time, the soldiers of Mutawakkil brought one person to take him to the king’s court.
I asked one person standing next to me. Who is the person whom the soldiers are taking to the court and why are they doing so?
The person replied: “He is the Imam of the Shias. Mutawakkil has called him to order his soldiers to punish him”.
I looked at the person very carefully. He looked like a very righteous and a kind person and his face was shining. I felt in my heart such a person will not do any sin or harm anyone. I also felt love for him in my heart.
Without saying anything to anyone I prayed to Allah:
“O Allah! Save this person from Mutawakkil.”
After sometime, the soldiers brought him to the place where I was standing. The person was walking quietly. However, when he reached near me and looked at me, he told me something which completely surprised me.
He told me: “Allah has accepted your prayer. He has granted you long life, lot of wealth and children.”
On hearing this, I was shocked and fell unconscious. I could not understand as to how the person knew that I prayed for him.
When he entered the court, Mutawakkil did not do him any harm. Instead he honoured him very much and requested him to proceed to his home. Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.) then returned to his home.
After sometime I returned to Isfahan. Since I prayed for the safety of Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.), Allah solved all my problems. I repaid the debt of the people and today I have 10 Lakh dirham in my home and I also have 10 children. All this is because I had prayed for Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.). I also became a Shiah and lover of Ahlebait (a.s.).”
Dear children, we learn from this incident that we receive innumerable benefits when we pray for our Imam. Abdul Rahman Isfahani was a Sunni but because of praying for Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.) he was able to repay his debt, became wealthy and also got children. Moreover he also was guided and became a Shiah.
Let us also pray for the safety, well being and reappearance of our present Imam, Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.). Some of the benefits of praying for Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s) are: Allah forgives our sins, increases our sustenance and keeps our anger in control.