The Awaited Imam Workshop
Speaker: ?
Jan. 26, 2025
I think the speaker is from KLC. Need to ask Adeelah Apa
“He who dies and does not know the Imam of his time dies the death of ignorance (jahiliyya).”
يعرف (intimately know) vs علم (surface-level understanding)
من مات و لم يعرف امام زمانة مات ميتة جاهلية
مات - why the word death? because we have time until then.
Qualities of the Imam?
Should be able to pull people out of jahiliyya (ignorance). Higher than the level of the biggest scholars.
The imams gradually prepared us for major occultation.
Having ma’rifa with the Imam of our time:
I need to know…
The Imam very well
What are his aspirations? Personality? What does he like, dislike?
Sahifatul Mahdi
Dua al Ihtimat?
The Imam’s mission
How much can I do for this movement if I don’t know much about it?
My era
Understand the time. What media are people consuming? You can’t copy and paste past instances to today: evaluate the time/era and cater to it.
Who is with the Imam
Know the other team players. Who else is with the movement?
Who is against the Imam
Get to know your enemy.
Think of celebrity culture - people love a person so much, they know everything about them. You want to know if they’re happy, eating well, etc. Apply the same to the Imam - he is basically our “celebrity.” Are we not curious to know what he likes? Are we not concerned if he ate or slept well?
How do I bridge the knowledge gap?
Dua, such as Dua al-Ghaybah
Recite during end times when things get difficult. Very short dua
Know the whole family/lineage to know the current Imam
Tawbah - removes obstacles for Dua
Thinking and imagining
“I wonder if he’s eaten well today. I hope he’s warm in this cold weather. I wonder what he thinks about the new President.”
Stick to “first principles.” Perfect all the basics & focus on that instead of spreading yourself out with mustahabat (recommended actions).
Anyone who strives in Allah (swt)’s way, there is guidance.
Take advantage of existing resources.
Taqwa, take seriously what we already know
Study, consult scholars, respect those near to the Imam
Serve any way I can
“Anyone who applies what he knows, Allah (swt) will show him knowledge of what he doesn’t know.”
Syed Ali Qadhi?
Occultation
Nature of the Imam’s ghaybah (hidden period)
In what sense is he not present?
Absent vs unrecognizable
He is both alive and living on Earth
We do not have ready access to him
Return (different words for it)
إحياء/رجوع = revival (from dead)
نزول = descend (Prophet Isa (as) in end times)
إرسال = wake up (soul is returned after sleep)
Imam’s return is different from these. He’ll just reveal himself like it's no big deal - like clouds moving away from the sun.
Is it possible to visit the Imam during the major occultation?
In a dream
While awake
Without recognizing him
Recognizing him after the meeting
Recognizing him
“I decided to visit him” → not possible
“The Imam permitted the visit/decided to visit me” (i.e. on his own terms)
Important caveats:
During the major occultation, there is no guaranteed way to meet the Imam
If a person sees the Imam, it does not necessarily mean that they are special or pure (there is more responsibility on you after you see him, though).
Seeing the Imam may indeed have its benefits, but we should not aim for it as a priority.
Why did Allah (swt) not send more/infinite Imams? (there’s no definite answer)
Only 12 gives us a sense of urgency. We got only 12 chances and that’s it. It helps us not take things for granted - otherwise we’d procrastinate getting our act together.
It’s the final test to find out who we’re meant to be without direct guidance/ready access.
Maybe only these 12 were most suitable.
If all our rizq/sustenance is because of the Ahlulbayt, how much do we actually appreciate them? Gift them salawats, etc.
If Allah (swt) provides everything, but only a few reach perfection, He continues to provide everything for the sake of those perfect people.
Like a university where only a few put in the effort, so the university stays open for the sake of them.
Analogy to the Ahlulbayt (as)
Characteristics of the Imam
Age: He looks youthful - between 30-40 years old
Luminous face, thick black hair, mole on cheek, beautiful countenance, Roman/prominent nose?, white teeth
He has the staff of Musa, ring of Sulayman, shirt of Yusuf, and the banner, weapon, and turban of Prophet Muhammad (s)
“The peacock of the people of heaven” - Imam Ali (as) in sermon 165.
He resembles the Prophet (s) the most in terms of looks & akhlaq.