(The answer to such a request) is in the Holy Quran
The book of Allah begins,
after the al-Hamd (first) Chapter, with the following verse:
"In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful
Alif. Lam. Mim. This book, there is no doubt in it, is a guidance for the pious.
It was requested to speak about the conditions for establishing a connection with the Imam of our time, the Imam Zaman.
(The answer to such a request) is in the Holy Quran
The book of Allah begins,
after the al-Hamd (first) Chapter, with the following verse:
"In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful
Alif. Lam. Mim. This book, there is no doubt in it, is a guidance for the pious.
Those who believe in the unseen and keep up prayer and spend out of what we have provided for them;
and who believe in that which has been revealed to you and that revealed before you (to other messengers)
and they are certain about the hereafter."
This noble verse
is the (guiding) model for (attaining) bliss in this world and in the hereafter.
A detailed exposition of this verse requires an entire book.
After Allah describes the greatness of the Qur`an
with a pronoun:
"This book, there is no doubt in it,..."
Then, he allocates the guidance of this book to a specific level.
These rays (of the Qur`anic verse) illuminate an (entire) universe.
However, without eyes one cannot see that sun (that produces those rays).
If there are eyes, but there is a cover on those eyes,
again the rays will not be seen.
For one interested in seeing the sun, two conditions are necessary.
First, eyes that can see. Second, removal of any screens and coverings (that are on those eyes).
If there are no eyes, he/she is deprived of seeing the sun.
If there are eyes but those eyes are behind a cover,
he/she is also deprived.
Only those eyes can see the sun
that do not have a screen on them.
The sun of existence is the book of Allah.
Allah has two books:
One the textual book, the honourable Qur`an.
The other, the book of creation.
That means, the person who embodies the Qur`an
and all the realities of the Qur`an,
the esoteric and inner aspects of the Qur`an and the exoteric and apparent aspects of the Qur`an.
The insights into Qur`anic verses are concentrated in his logic.
The ethics and morals of the Qur`an are embodied in his characteristics.
All Qur`anic commandments are reflected in his deeds.
He is the speaking book of Allah, the master of our era and time.
Establishing a connection with these two suns,
firstly, requires the eyes of reason and thought.
Secondly, sinning should not cover the eyes of logic.
(Only) such a person deserves
to use the intricacies contained within the Qur`an,
(and) also benefit from the grace of the Imam of our time.
You who are all here,
you are in a stage in your life
where you do not know the value of this blessing.
This youthful stage is the spring in human being's life,
just as this world has a spring season.
The seeds should blossom in spring.
Then, by the next winter, all produce must be picked,
and it is not the time for the seed to blossom.
You are now in that season
in which the seeds of knowledge and action is blossoming in your selves.
You must know the value of this grace!
If you act according to this program,
you will ensure the happiness of this world and the world to come.
Having a connection with the imam of our times is not done by seeing him.
This door and wall that you see,
are facing the Sun from dawn till dusk.
What profit have they gained (from the Sun)? Nothing!
But in the depths of mountains, seventy or even a hundred meters in the depth of the earth
That turquoise stone has never seen the Sun,
but has acquired all the necessary rays
and it has become a shining gem.
This door, wall and stone faces the sun,
but where is the benefit?
This turquoise, in the depth of the mountain, is not near the sun,
but it has received the mysterious rays of the Sun.
If you also tread this path
you will use the rays of the Imam of our time.
First you must know the Imam of the times.
All of you, pay attention!
We hear (the words) 'Imam of the times',
but understanding the matter, understanding the greatness (of what 'Imam Zaman' means),
It is outside of the scope of the intellect of the entirety of human beings.
Shi`ah and Sunni have reported this narration.
The logic will be astonished.
The narrtion is this: The prophet (s) stated,
"The person about whom Allah has stated,
and (he) does not speak out of desire,
it is naught but revelation that is revealed to him.' (Sura Najm, Ayah 3-4)
That Hadith that has also been narrated by the Sunnis is this:
"Al-Mahdi is the peacock of the people of paradise."
To say it is easy,
but to understand it is of the utmost difficulty!
Paradise is the focal point of beauty.
The paradise in which
the face of Joseph (peace be upon him) shines like the moon of the fourteenth night (of the lunar calendar);
(in which there) is the appearence of Moses (peace be upon him), the son of Imran (peace be upon him);
the beauty of Jesus son of Mary;
(in which there) is the face of Abraham (peace be upon him), the friend of the merciful (God).
Despite all this, the peacock of paradise is the Imam of our time (al-Mahdi)!
How is his inner (self) if his outward characteristics are as such?
We spent our life speaking of the Imam of our time.
But where did we recognize him.
This issue is so important that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said,
"On him are the cloak and garments of light."
Hujat ibn al-Hasan is covered with the garments and cloak of light.
Those clothing of light which
is lit from the rays of the illuminating Holy One.
In conclusion, the Imam of the time (Imam Zaman) is a jewel who is connected to,
"Allah is the light of the heavens and the Earth.
A likeness of His light is as a niche in which is a lamp.
The lamp is in a glass.
The glass is as it were a brightly shining star,
lit from a blessed olive tree,
neither eastern nor western.
Whose oil (is so pure that) it would almost glow (of itself) without coming into contact with fire.
Light upon light.
The Imam of the time whose date of birth is mid-Shaban,
is such a gem.
Fortunate is he/she who
finds the (correct) path and adopts piety,
and becomes the subject of his grace!
If you do your prayers at the beginning of its appointed time,
this is the first word (of advice),
perform what is obligatory,
abstain from what God has forbidden,
(and) do not forget to seek intercession (tawassul) to the Imam of the time every day.
(Only then), that (illuminating) ray which
the Prophet (s), himself, claimed to be in his soul
will shine on your soul.
When it shines, its elixir will fundamentally change (the soul)!
What will follow is enough (for comprehending the matter at hand):
Husayn ibn Ruh was the representative of the Imam of the time.
This means that the 'breath' of the Imam of the time has reached him.
I will narrate this incident,
you draw conclusion's yourself.
Sheikh Saduq , the chief of narrators (in the science of narration),
(narrates from) from Muhammad ibn Hasan Sayrufi.
This man is from Balkh.
The Shi`ah of Balkh would gave assets related to the Imam
to this man so that he can take it to Baghdad and
hand it over to the representative of Imam Zaman.
He said, "I have turned these assets into bullions."
Meaning that he has turned it into gold and silver bullions.
"I brought them with myself from Balkh."
(Imagine distance wise) where Balkh is located and where Baghdad is located!
Especially in those times. He said, "I reached Sarakhs.
I came from Balkh to Sarakhs.
I setup my tent on top of a small raised plane.
Those bullions that belonged to the Imam,
I lost one of them in the small plane."
He has come from Balkh to Sarakhs.
In Sarakhs, he lost a bullion.
He said, "I reached Hamadan."
Now compare (the distance between) where Sarakhs is located and where Hamadan is located!
"When I reached Hamadan
I thought this property belongs to the Imam, entrusted to me and I have to (make sure) it gets to its owner.
I made one bullion from my own property
in (exactly) the same scale of the one
that I lost in the debris in Sarakhs.
I insert it between the other bullions.
I reached Baghdad.
I went to meet Husayn ibn Ruh.
When I placed the bullions in front of him,..."
That which baffles and astonishes the mind of any wise man,
the intellect of any jurisprudent is this;
What (high) rank is this?!
He said, "I put these bullions in front of Abul Qasim Husayn ibn Ruh.
He examined all of them one by one.
He said, 'This bullion does not belong to us.'
He took the one which I had made in Hamadan.
He said, 'This belongs to you.
You made it to replace the other (bullion).
That (bullion) which belongs to us
was lost in the small plane in Sarakhs
among the gravel.'"
Now what kind of (miraculous) comprehension (of reality) is this (that the deputy of the Imam had)?!
What (an amazing) soul is this?!
What kind of heart is this?!
What kind of awareness is this?!
"'When you go back from here,
you will go to the same debris on which you setup your tent.
There, you will search and you will find the bullion.
When you have found it,
next year, you will return to Baghdad.
However, when you come back you will not see me.
Hand the bullion over to the next deputy.'"
This is the servant of the Imam of our time!
This is Husayn ibn Ruh who
had a special deputyship from the vicegerent of (our) era.
When the rays of the Imam of the time shined on his heart
his soul comprehends everything from Baghdad to Balkh.
This is how great this soul had become.
This is the meaning of 'the Imam of our time'.
Who came to know him?
Who was able to reach him?
But if you perform your prayer at the beginning of its appointed time,
persevering on this right course,
avoid (committing) sins,
perform what (religion) requires from you,
then, his gracious hand
will bestow his favours on you in a way
you will then know of what is going on.
But it is we who must tread the path
and then see when we will reach the destination.
One cannot reach one's destination until they walk (towards that).
Regretfully, our age has passed.
We don't know the value of the blessing (of life).
Those who in the time of (the major) occultation
do as I have just said
will reach such a rank.
That is, each of you has this opportunity.
Try not to let this opportunity slip away from your hands.
This is a narration that has been stated by
the proof and sign of Allah (upon mankind), the master of those who prostrate, Zain al-Abedin,
which Saduq narrated,
"Those who in the time of (the major) occultation
stay faithful to this creed
and not lose their belief,
every one of them will get the reward of a thousand martyrs
from the martyrs of Badr and Uhud.
Your position is such a position!
Now what is the way? This is the way:
From today prefer prayer to other acts.
This is the first word (of advice).
Keep your relation with Allah.
Don't compare prayer to anything else.
This is the first condition.
Every day after dawn prayers,
located at the end of Mafatih is the `Ahad prayer (Du`a),
read that prayer.
Don't look at 'Na Mahram' (those who you are forbidden to look at) women.
Protect your stomach from what is forbidden.
Perform the obligatory duties (you have to Allah).
All of you, your names are written in a book
at the beginning of which
is the name of Habib ibn Mazahir
and the name of Hur ibn Yazid Riyahi.
This is the way to bliss.
The Imam himself has stated the verse:
"This book (i.e., Qur`an), there is no doubt in it, is a guidance for the pious.
Those who believe in the unseen..."
The unseen (mentioned) in this verse
is Hujjat ibn al-Hasan (Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him).
Well then, our gathering (majlis) began with the name of the Imam of our time (Imam Zaman).
It should also end in that name.
It is near noon (time).
We hope that all of you from this gathering,
with this program (outlined for gaining bliss) and the special favour of the Imam of our time
will return to your homeland.
Try, every day, without exception
to read a part of the Qur`an, at least fifty verses.
If you want ten blessings
to be yours in this world and in the hereafter,
begin from today,
every day recite the chapter called Yasin.
Because we are in the time of the year dedicated to the Imam of our time,
that chapter of Yasin, that you read everyday,
give the rewards and blessings of to the Imam of the time (peace be upon him).
God willing with this program
you will secure your bliss both in this world
and in the hereafter.
O Allah, for Your representative, the Hujjat (proof), son of alHasan, send Your blessings on him and his forefathers in this hour and in every hour as (our) guardian and protector and a leader, a helper, a proof, and a source of guidance, until you place him on Your earth (as the head of a just government) and bestow him an extended stay.
