The Recognition of Imam al-‘Asr: Significance and Obligations

A Final Request

Come, let all of us make a covenant that we shall not attach ourselves to any other door except that of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). (They are the strong rope of Allah (Hablallah), without fastening unto them, salvation is impossible). We shall pray for the safety and security of Imam az-Zaman (a.t.f.s.). We will always remember him and narrate our difficulties to him.

We shall plead to him from the depth of our hearts and seek cure from him for our ailments. O Master! We are ill, weak, poor of memory, backward, harassed, in debts, etc. Master! Your Shia and in such a bad state!

We know that our deeds are presented to you due to which your heart bleeds. You are unhappy and unsatisfied with our actions. We are very, very sinful. We confess to all these but Master! If unworthy children will not find refuge in the house of their father, where will they go? Where shall the subjects go but to the court of the king?

If sinners will not go to their Imam, whose door will they knock? Master! We are disgraced, ignorant and disobedient. But we do not have anybody besides you. You are our refuge, our solace, our shelter. We shed tears for your ancestor and seek apologies from you.

We shall end our brief discussion with the following statement:

The brothers of Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.) were the ones who had thrown him in the well and sold him. Whatever difficulties Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.) had to face were on account of his brothers. Yet, notwithstanding all these atrocities and crimes which they had committed against their own brother, when they came to Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.), who by then had become the King of Egypt, they said,

So when they came in to him, they said: O chief! distress has afflicted us and our family and we have brought scanty money, so give us full measure and be charitable to us; surely Allah rewards the charitable.( Surah Yusuf, 12: 88)

Accepting their brief apology, Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.) excused them.

W e repeat the same apology in the presence of Yusuf al-Zahra, Hazrat Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.):

"O Master! Difficulties and calamities have surrounded us. We have come to you with very few good actions. But please have mercy on us and grant us in full measure .....".