“Rabi al-Awwal: A Call to Justice and Awakening”

Dear Readers,

By the grace of Allah SWT, last week we celebrated the blessed birth anniversaries of our beloved Prophet and the Sixth Divine Imam (peace be upon them). We now find ourselves in the third week of the great month of Rabi al-Awwal.

As it has been beautifully stated:

“This month, as its name suggests, is the spring of all months, for it is when the signs of God’s mercy are most apparent. The treasures of divine blessings and the radiant lights of His glory descend upon the earth during this time. The birth of the Prophet of God (peace be upon him and his family) occurred in this month, and it is said that since the creation of the world, no mercy like this has ever descended. This mercy surpasses all others, just as the Prophet himself surpasses all other creations.”

In these challenging times, it becomes the responsibility of religious scholars and leaders to awaken humanity to the importance of justice, laying the groundwork for the universal government of the Ultimate Saviour, Imam Mahdi (aj). Only then can the hopes of all peace-loving people around the world be realized.

This month also marks the beginning of Imam Mahdi’s divine leadership, whose primary mission is to restore peace to the earth by establishing a universal government founded on true divine principles such as justice and equality. For this divine government to emerge, three critical conditions must be met:

The existence of a sublime plan that, with the right structure, can establish true justice in the world and bring happiness and perfection to humanity.

The presence of a great, worthy, and infallible leader, appointed by God.

A group of faithful, pure-hearted, and self-sacrificing individuals who live at the height of piety and are fully prepared to support the programme of the infallible Imam (AS). Narrations describe the special qualities of Imam Mahdi’s companions and their pivotal role in his uprising and the Mahdavi state.

Without a doubt, these conditions must be fulfilled for the emergence to take place. Revelation and numerous authenticated narrations testify to the fulfillment of the first and second conditions:

The first was realized with the prophethood of the Seal of the Prophets (peace be upon him and his family).

The second was fulfilled with the birth of the son of Imam Askari (peace be upon him) in 255 AH.

What remains is the third condition. It is incumbent upon us to work towards its fulfillment by nurturing ourselves and others and cultivating the readiness for this momentous event.

Moreover, additional conditions may exist, all of which must be fulfilled to prepare the world completely for the emergence of this divine government. Prayers and supplications at the divine threshold are immensely beneficial in hastening the fulfillment of these conditions and bringing about the ideal time for the emergence. The infallible (peace be upon them) have strongly encouraged believers to engage in prayer for this cause.

The question remains: What role do we play in this process? The answer lies in our present circumstances, and it is up to each of us to discover and act upon it.