Fourteen Infallibles

Imam al-Mahdi (as); How He Guide us

There was a pious man called Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili who was traveling through the desert with a caravan of people, when he got lost.

Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili searched and searched for the caravan but could not find them. It became dark as night set in. He was all alone in the hot desert, tired, hungry and frightened.

He was about to give up and prepare himself for death when he suddenly saw some water. He went to the water, drank some and then did wudhu (ablution) and offered his Salaat (prayer).

After his Salaat he did not have any more strength and lay there waiting for death.

All of a sudden he saw a person riding a horse getting closer and closer to him.

When the horse rider reached Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili he said Salaam to him and asked him what the matter was. Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili explained that he had lost his caravan and was hungry.

Horse rider asked him why he did not eat the melons that were lying beside him. Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili asked the rider not to make fun of him as he had searched all over for food.

Horse rider said he was not joking, and ask to look behind him. Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili looked and there were three melons.

Imam al-Mahdi (as): How he guide us?Horse rider then told him to eat one of them and to take the other two with him and pointed out the direction he was to go in. He also told Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili that at about sunset he would reach a tent and from there he would be guided to his caravan.

Then Horse rider disappeared. Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili says that was when he realized that it was our 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as).

Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili did as he was told and sure enough the next day at sunset he reached the tent and was directed to his caravan.

The duties of each and every Muslim in the time of Ghaibat-e-Kubra (Major Occultaion) is:

1. To be the caretakers of Islam.
2. To pray for the safety of 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as) and give Sadaqah for his safety.
3. Ask Allah (SWT) to make 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as) appearance soon, so that he may come and fill the world with truth and peace.
4. Whenever the name of 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as) is said, you should stand, placing your right hand on your head and bow your head. You should also recite Salawaat after his name.

Conclusion: Holy Prophet Muhammed (p.b.u.h) has said that if someone dies without knowing the Imam (as) of his time, his death is that of an unbeliever. We must therefore carry out our duties to our 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as) who is still alive and in Ghaibat (concealment).
Although we cannot see our 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as), but he can see us and knows when we are in need of his help and comes to help us.