Peace be upon you and God's mercy. Is what has been reported about the narrations and news of the end times and the signs of the appearance true, especially the non-inevitable signs? If so, why don't we, as Shiites, prepare for their occurrence or attempt to realize them, such as the sign of the 'Call of Victory in the West of Sham' or the descent of the Turks in the island? Shouldn't we prepare ourselves for a battle there, if we are, and God willing, among the people of the sacred time of appearance?
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1 Answer
Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
There has been discussion among scholars regarding the signs, and this is all dependent on examining the narrations; the research is not theoretical or rational, or something similar.
It is generally known among them that there are five inevitable signs.
While the non-inevitable signs are more numerous.
On one hand, a number of scholars believe that the obligation of the individual is not related to the sign; rather, its occurrence is linked to the will of the Almighty. The believer awaits its occurrence to join the divine ranks of the Imam of the Time, Al-Mahdi (may God hasten his appearance).
On the other hand, some scholars argue that perhaps the intention behind some signs is to encourage Muslims to realize the sign, meaning to prepare the means and lay the groundwork for it. They see that the term 'those who prepare' refers to those who play a significant role in preparing the ground for the appearance and support of our Imam Al-Mahdi (may God hasten his appearance).
His occultation was only for a wisdom necessitated by divine will, and he will rise in the end times carrying the banner of success and reform to fill the earth with justice and fairness after it has been filled with oppression and injustice.
Scholars have clarified in their books the reasons for his occultation, including that the preparation of the means to realize and fulfill the divine promise through him can only occur after the testing that God uses to examine His righteous servants, to extract from them individuals who will be the leaders of his army (may God hasten his appearance) and those who prepare for his appearance, who are the nucleus of the ideological and faith-based army that Imam Al-Mahdi (may God hasten his appearance) will lead in his struggle against oppression.
It is worth noting that the term 'those who prepare' has references in the books of narrations, including what has been narrated in the sources of hadith among the Twelver Shiites.
There are also narrations from the Sunni sources that refer to the locations of the 'preparers' in the East, Khorasan, Yemen, Qom, and Ray. Below, we present to the esteemed reader excerpts from the narrations among both the general and specific sources that indicate what we have mentioned, including what was reported by the Prophet in Mustadrak al-Sahihain by Al-Hakim Al-Nishaburi: Hadith 4464.
He (peace be upon him) said: ... until black banners rise in the East, they will ask for the truth but will not be given it, then they will ask again and still not be given it, then they will fight and be victorious. Whoever among you or your descendants reaches them should come to the Imam of my family, even if crawling on the snow, for they are the banners of guidance...
Among them is what was mentioned in Kashf al-Ghummah 2: 473, from the forty of Abu Na'im, Al-Burhan / Al-Mutqi Al-Hindi: 148 / 5.
From Thawban, he said: The Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) said: The black banners will come from the East, as if their hearts are like iron plates. Whoever hears of them should come to them, even if crawling on the snow.
And Al-Allama Al-Majlisi mentioned in Bihar al-Anwar - Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52, p. 243:
From Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) he said: "I see a people who have come out from the East seeking the truth but are not given it, then they seek it again, and when they see that, they place their swords on their shoulders and are given what they want, but they do not accept it until they give it only to your master (i.e., Imam Al-Mahdi, may God hasten his appearance), and their slain are martyrs."
And from Imam Ali (peace be upon him):
He said: "Then a banner will emerge from Khorasan that will defeat the followers of Al-Sufyani until it descends at the Holy House to prepare for the authority of Al-Mahdi."
And it was mentioned in Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 57, p. 216:
A man from Qum will call people to the truth, and a group will gather with him, their hearts like iron plates, the storms will not sway them, nor will they tire of fighting, nor will they be cowardly, and they rely on God, and the outcome is for the righteous.
And from Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) regarding the leadership of the Yemeni before the appearance of the Imam (may God hasten his appearance): "There is no banner more guided than the banner of the Yemeni; it is a banner of guidance because it calls to your master."
And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure family.