Foreword by the Publisher

Introduction by the Author

Responsibility 1: Ma’rifat of the Imam (as) Part 1

Responsibility 2: Ma’rifat of the Imam Part 2

Responsibility 3: Ma’rifat of the Imam Part 3

Responsibility 4: Ma’rifat of the Imam Part 4

Responsibility 5: Fulfilling the Rights of the Imam

Responsibility 6: Inviting People to the Imam

Responsibility 7: Relating the Merits and Qualities of the Imam

Responsibility 8: Taking Part in Religious Gatherings

Responsibility 9: Arranging Religious Gatherings

Responsibility 10: Written Propagation of the Imam

Responsibility 11: Absolute Obedience to the Imam

Responsibility 12: Giving the Imam Priority in our Lives

Responsibility 13: Knowing the Scholars of the Faith

Responsibility 14: Imitating Those Spiritually Close to Allah

Responsibility 15: Rejecting the Imposters

Responsibility 16: Praying To Allah for the Noble Traits

Responsibility 17: Acquiring the Noble Ethical Traits Part 1

Responsibility 18: Acquiring the Noble Ethical Traits Part 2

Responsibility 19: Fulfilling the Rights of the Believers

Responsibility 20: Enmity for the Enemies of the Imam Part 1

Responsibility 21: Enmity for the Enemies of the Imam Part 2

Responsibility 22: Keeping a Distance from People of Ill-Reputation

Responsibility 23: Being Ready & Equipped to Assist the Imam

Responsibility 24: Achieving Closeness to the Imam

Responsibility 25: Getting Spiritually Closer to the Imam Part 1

Responsibility 26: Getting Spiritually Closer to the Imam Part 2

Responsibility 27: Getting Spiritually Closer to the Imam Part 3

Responsibility 28: Praying for the Protection of the Imam Part 1

Responsibility 29: Praying for Protection of the Imam Part 2

Responsibility 30: Giving Charity on Behalf of the Imam

Responsibility 31: Vigilance in Mentioning the Imam

Responsibility 32: Observing Proper Manners Part 1

Responsibility 33: Observing Proper Manners Part 2

Responsibility 34: Observing Proper Manners Part 3

Responsibility 35: Showing Humility & Humbleness Part 1

Responsibility 36: Showing Humility & Humbleness Part 2

Responsibility 37: Love for the Imam Part 1

Responsibility 38: Love For the Imam Part 2

Responsibility 39: A Desire to Meet the Imam Part 1

Responsibility 40: A Desire to Meet the Imam Part 2

Responsibility 41: Visiting the Places the Imam Visits

Responsibility 42: Grief and Sorrow Due to Separation Part 1

Responsibility 43: Grief and Sorrow Due to Separation Part 2

Responsibility 44: Making Others Cry for the Imam

Responsibility 45: Supplicating for the Imam

Responsibility 46: Remembering the Imam Frequently Part 1

Responsibility 47: Remembering the Imam Frequently Part 2

Responsibility 48: Thanking Allah through Supplication

Responsibility 49: Assisting the Imam Part 1

Responsibility 50: Assisting the Imam Part 2

Responsibility 51: Assisting the Imam Part 3

Responsibility 52: Assisting the Imam Part 4

Responsibility 53: Assisting the Imam Part 5

Responsibility 54: Pledge of Allegiance to the Imam

Responsibility 55: The Wilayah of the Imam

Responsibility 56: Protecting Ones’ Spiritual Rank Part 1

Responsibility 57: Protecting Ones’ Spiritual Rank Part 2

Responsibility 58: Protecting the Imam, His Religion and Sunnah

Responsibility 59: Serving the Imam

Responsibility 60: Awaiting the Advent

Responsibility 61: Making Supplication for an Early Advent

Responsibility 62: Preparing for the Advent

Responsibility 63: Not Making Haste in the Advent of the Imam

Responsibility 64: Safeguarding One’s Faith Part 1

Responsibility 65: Safeguarding One’s Faith Part 2

Responsibility 66: Praying for the Imam’s Victory

Responsibility 67: Not Uprising

Responsibility 68: Not To Specify a Time for the Advent Part 1

Responsibility 69: Not To Specify a Time for the Advent Part 2

Responsibility 70: Purification of the Soul

Responsibility 71: Being Cautious Around Others

Responsibility 72: Bearing Difficulties with Patience

Responsibility 73: Encouraging Others to Patience

Responsibility 74: Good Thoughts of the Awaited Imam

Responsibility 75: Remaining Unknown and Anonymous

Responsibility 76: Protecting Ones’ Self

Responsibility 77: Emulating the Imam in Manners

Responsibility 78: Offering a Gift to the Imam

Responsibility 79: Pleasing Other True Believers

Responsibility 80: Giving Gifts and Presents to the Shi‘a

Responsibility 81: Giving Precedence to the Imam Part 1

Responsibility 82: Giving Precedence to the Imam Part 2

Responsibility 83: Not Hurting or Upsetting the Imam

Responsibility 84: Respecting Those Close To the Imam

Responsibility 85: Respecting Things Related To the Imam Part 1

Responsibility 86: Respecting Places Related to the Imam Part 2

Responsibility 87: Visiting Masjid Jamkaran

Responsibility 88: Respecting Things Related to the Imam Part 3

Responsibility 89: Respecting Things Related to the Imam Part 4

Responsibility 90: Respecting Things Related to the Imam Part 5

Responsibility 91: Respecting Things Related to the Imam Part 6

Responsibility 92: Performing Good Deeds on Behalf of the Imam

Responsibility 93: Donating the Reward of Good Deeds

Responsibility 94: Greeting the Imam Every Day

Responsibility 95: The Ziyarat of the Imam for Friday

Responsibility 96: Visiting the Righteous Lovers of the Imam

Responsibility 97: Sending Prayers and Salutations upon the Imam

Responsibility 98: Fulfilling the Financial Rights of the Imam

This work authored by Sayyid Ridha Husayni Mutlaq, presents ninety-nine
rights and responsibilities which the true believers have to the Living
Imam. The author demonstrates that the best way which one can fulfill
such responsibilities is through purification of the soul and in
addition, a spiritual change must take place within each person and we
must seek to maintain closeness to Allah.


The Last Luminary and Ways to Delve Into the Light

Responsibility 62: Preparing for the Advent
===========================================

Another responsibility is to prepare for the advent of the Imam and we
must perform those actions which should be carried out during the period
of awaiting the Imam.

It is clear that if a person is awaiting something to come about or
waiting for a friend to arrive, one will prepare himself accordingly.
Thus, one who is awaiting Imam al-Mahdi (ajtf) must prepare himself to
meet the Imam and be ready to accept the Imam and follow his commands
and this cannot be accomplished except through purification of the soul,
guiding others and following the appropriate people (the scholars of the
faith).

During this period, one must also strive to attain the praiseworthy
ethical traits which cannot be achieved except through piety, reaching
the level of wara’ (a stage even higher than taqwa in which even the
mubah acts are not performed) and in striving to follow all of the
commandments of Allah.[^1]

Imam Ja’far b. Muhammad as-Sadiq (as) has said:

<blockquote dir="rtl">
  <p>
مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْقَائِمِ فَلْيَنْتَظِرْ وَ
لْيَعْمَلْ بِالْوَرَعِ وَ مَحَاسِنَ الأَخْلاَقِ وَ هُوَ مُنْتَظِرٌ
  </p>
</blockquote>

“A person who would like to be among the companions of al-Qa\`im (ajtf)
should be in a state of waiting and perform all of his actions with
piety and with the most beautiful etiquette and only then, will one be
counted as being in a state of waiting.”[^2]

[^1]: Of course there are people who, in regards to this issue, do not
possess the correct understanding and belief and thus have been
misguided from the truth and have not considered that this preparation
and purification of the soul and seeking guidance and enlightenment from
others as being something necessary and some have actually outright
denied this requirement!

[^2]: al-Ghaybah of Nu’mani, pg. 200, no. 16


