Symbol of Waiting

Question: What is the symbol of waiting among Shiites?

Answer: First of all, let us know what a symbol is.  A symbol is a sign which shows or represents the content and nature of something. All the political, social, moral and ideological concepts are manifested and displayed within the framework of symbols. As a valuable concept, waiting (intezar) manifests itself in the form self-construction, reform of society, prayer, supplications and respecting the sites (places) which are ascribed to the Imam of Age. We shall explain the above briefly as under:

A) Self-construction

One of the most important symbols of waiting is piety and bearing good moral qualities. Imam Baqir (a.s.) says: "Observe piety and fulfill the duty of waiting with the help of piety, continence and endeavor in devotional acts and being obedience to God."[1]

The Imam of Age (ajt) has called upon all the waiting men to do good deeds at the time of occultation: "Each one of you must do such acts that satisfy us and stay away from doing acts that displease us because our orders come about all at once and in that time, repentance and return would be of no avail to anyone and regretting over a sin will not save anyone from our punishment."[2]

Bearing good moral virtues is not only a duty of the waiting believers but it is also counted as one of the most important symbols of waiting. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says: "Whoever wishes to be counted as one the companions and friends of the Qāim (ajt), he must be an expression of good Islamic morals. If such a person dies before the rise of the Qāim, he has died the death of the people who have seen and met the Qāim."[3]

B) Reform of the Society

The reform of the society is also one of the most important symbols of waiting. The awaiters should, in addition to reconstructing themselves, endeavor to reform the society, establish justice and eradicate oppression and transgression. That is to say, he who is waiting for the reappearance of the Global Reformer, himself should be righteous and a reformer in the first place.

Speaking about the importance of enjoining good and forbidding from bad (al-amr bil ma'ruf wan-nahy 'anil munkar), the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: "You must enjoy good and forbid from bad, or else God will make the worst and the most wicked of you dominate over your good and pious ones and He will not answer the prayers of your good ones."[4]

The pleasure and satisfaction of the Mahdi (ajt) lie in the materialization of the "good" and avoidance from the "bad". Thus, the awaiting man must endeavor to reform his society and in doing so, he should follow his Imam because the Imam himself is, in the time of presence, the biggest enjoiner to good and the biggest forbidder from bad. An awaiting society is a society which seeks the satisfaction of the Mahdi (ajt) and follows him and who selflessly endeavors towards the establishment of God's laws.

C) Supplications and Benediction

1. Nudbah Supplication: This supplication is one of the most manifest symbols of awaiting amongst the Shiites and it has long been drawing their attention. Those awaiting the rise of the Owner of Time (ajt) have solaced their impatient hearts with the Nudbah Supplication. In fact, Nudbah Supplication is a condensed explanation of the history of the presence of divine proofs and saints in the entire universe, a hierarchy which begins from Adam and continues until the reappearance of Mahdi (ajt), the last divine proof.  

Whoever gets familiar with this supplication and comes to know about the sufferings which the successors of the holy Prophet (pbuh) went through, the love for Wilayah will become aflame in him. He will feel the need for God's proof (hojjat) with all his being. The reader of the supplication will feel the depth of the calamity that has befallen the human society as a result of the absence of the last proof of God.  He will realize the greatness of the tragedy inflicted upon humanity as a result of their deprivation from the last Infallible Imam (a.s.). For this reason, he does not see any alternative but to invoke and implore, and to weep for the calamities which he is afflicted with. However, these implorations and beseeching are but a protest and an objection to those who created the ground for the occultation of the last Imam, and also a gesture of readiness for preparing the ground for the reappearance of the Infallible Imam (ajt) on this earth. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) taught the supplication of Nudbah to his companions and followers[5] and advised them to recite it on Eidul Fitr, Eidul Adhaa, Eid Ghadir and on Fridays. Also, as per the instruction of Imam Sadiq (a.s.), we are duty-bound to tell the secrets of our hearts to the Imam of Time (ajt) by reciting this supplication and pray to God for his advent.

2. Prayer for Well-being and Early Reappearance of the Imam:

Another symbol of 'waiting' is to pray for the well-being and early reappearance of the Imam of Time (ajt). Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says: "Whoever says after Morning and Noon Prayers: "O Allah, send greetings to Muhammad and his family and hasten his reappearance, he will not die until he sees the Qāim."[6]  Prayer for the reappearance of the Imam of Time (ajt) helps a person get delivered from the mischief of the age of occultation. Imam Hasan Askari says: "By Allah, during the occultation of Mahdi (ajt), only those will be saved from destruction whom God has kept steadfast in their promise about the Imamate and whom God has granted success to pray for his reappearance."[7]

In a sealed letter to Ishaq bin Ya'qub, Imam has called upon the Shiites to recite Du'a-e Faraj (special supplication for the reappearance of the Imam of Time): "Pray for the early reappearance profusely for your easement lies in the reappearance."[8] Therefore, prayer for the reappearance of the Imam (ajt) is not only a fulfillment of his order but it is also an easement in our matters. The awaiters, in addition to praying for his early reappearance should also pray for the Imam's well-being because our prayers are a sign of our love for the Imam of Age (ajt) and care towards fulfilling his rights.[9] In addition, the supplicant will gain more than eighty worldly and heavenly benefits.[10]

D) Respecting the Places Attributed to the Imam of Age (ajt)

Many places are ascribed to the Imam of Time (ajt) each of which has turned today as a symbol of 'waiting'. The awaiting Shiites have been highly advised to visit those places and utter their grievances to the Imam of Time (ajt) concerning his long absence and the chaotic situation of the world and to pray to Allah for his early reappearance. Some of the places attributed to the Imam of Age (ajt) are briefly introduced as follows:

1. The Kufa Mosque:

The Kufa Mosque is one of the holy places and the most manifest symbol of waiting for reappearance. This holy mosque will be a propagatory place for the Imam of Time (ajt) during the time of reappearance. As the lovers and devotees of the pure family of the Prophet (pbuh) used to gather in the great Kufa Mosque and listen to the sermon of the Commander of the Faithful and benefit from his word, in the time of reappearance also, they will gather around the pulpit of the last Imam of Light and will benefit from his speech. This reality in reflected in Imam Sadiq's saying as such: "It seems as though I am looking at Qāim who is standing on the top of the Kufa Mosque with his 313 followers around him who are the flag-bearers and divinely appointed commanders on the earth amongst His servants."[11]

Imam Baqir (a.s.) also describes this important occurrence in another way: "Mahdi (ajt) enters Kufa. Three warring groups stand up in the same line. He mounts the pulpit, delivers a sermon and the people shed so much tears of joy that they do not take notice of his speech."[12]

The significance of worshipping in Kufa Mosque: Imam Baqir (a.s.) said about the significance and virtue of the Kufa Mosque: "If people were aware of the significance of the Kufa Mosqaue, they would take provisions and from very long distances ride a vehicle and travel there."  [The he said:] Offering an obligatory prayer therein is equal to one hajj and offering one nafilah prayer therein is equal to one Umra"[13] He also said: "Offering one obligatory prayer in the Kufa Mosque is equal to one accepted hajj and offering one recommended prayer in it is equal to one accepted Umrah."[14]

2. The Sahla Mosque:

This mosque is the most important mosque after the Kufa Mosque.  It is located nearly 3 kilometers northwest of the Kufa Mosque (in Iraq), and it is considered to be another symbol of 'waiting' for reappearance. The waiting devotees gather in the Sahla Mosque which is the house of the Rising Imam (ajt) and pray to God, the Exalted, for his early reappearance.  There is a tomb in the Sahla Mosque which is known as the "Station" (Maqam) of Mahdi. It is recommended for the awaiters to visit this holy place. According to some books written on pilgrimage, it is befitting to visit this place and invoke the Imam of Age by reciting "salāmullahil kāmelit tāmmish-shāmilil 'aam wa…"[15]

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: "It seems as though I am seeing the Qāim in the Sahla Mosque with my family." Then he said: "No prophet was designated for prophethood except that he offered prayers in this mosque." One of the companions of the Imam called Abu Basir asked: "Will the Rising Imam (ajt) always be in this mosque?"  The Imam said: "Yes, the Sahla Mosque is the house of the Rising Imam (ajt)."[16]

The righteous ones, the scholars and the awaiting Shiites have always been appealing God to grant them the honor to meet the Imam. Some of them would even walk for forty nights from the Kufa Mosque to Sahla Mosque or they would stay in the Sahla Moque for forty Wednesday nights in Sahla Mosque engaging themselves in invocation, imploration and worship so as to be bestowed with the honor to meet the Imam of Time [17]and whisper his grievances to him.

3. The Holy Jamakaran Mosque:

The holy Jamkaran Mosque is situated six kilometers from the holy city of Qom towards the Kashan highway.  This holy place is under the special attention of the Imam Time (ajt).  He himself has appealed the Shiites to visit this place and respect it. The Imam said to Hasan bin Muthlah: "Tell the people to take interest in this place (Jamkaran Mosque) and hold it dear…" Then he taught him the Tahiyat prayer and the special prayer of the Imam of Time (ajt) and said: "Whoever offers these two prayers shall gain the reward of offering prayers in the Ka'bah."[18]

The awaiting lovers and devotees of the Imam of Time have long been gathering in the holy Jamkaran Mosque from all over Iran and the Islamic world on the night preceding Tuesday with their eyes full of tears and hearts replete with the love of the Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.); they perform the recommended acts of the Mosque, engage in praying and murmering their grievances to the Imam (ajt) about the delay in his reappearance, the injustice levied against the Shiites and the chaotic situation of the world. They resort to him (do tavassol) for the solution of the problems faced by the Islamic communities and for the recovery of the patients and pray to God for his early reappearance.

5. The Sa'sa'ah Mosque:

This is one of the holy mosques of the city of Kufa. A group of the awaiters, saw the Rising Imam (ajt) in that holy mosque in the month of Rajab. They saw him offer two Rak'ats of prayers followed by this du'a (supplication): "Allahuma ya zalmannis-Sābeghat-e wal-aalā'il wāze'ah…" It appears that in the same way that the Sahla Mosque has its own special acts and duas, this supplication is specially for the Sa'sa'ah Mosque and it is one of its mustahab acts. However, since the Imam had read this supplication in the holy month of Rajab, according to some scholars it is likely that the supplication is part of the supplications of month of Rajab. For this reason, this supplication has been mentioned in supplication books as a part of the recommended acts of the month of Rajab.[19] The awaiting devotees also come together in the Sa'sa'ah Mosque; they engage in praying and imploring shedding tears while praying to God hasten the reappearance of the Imam.

Further Reading

1.      Ali Akbar Mahdipoor, Reading Nudbah Supplication on Friday Morning,

2.      Hussein Karimi Beidguli, The Awaited Culture, p.223.

A Closing Hadith

"Pray for the early reappearance profusely for your easement lies in the reappearance."[20]