The Advent of the Proof (a): The Revolution of Imam Hussain (blessings of Allah upon him)

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When we review the narrations transmitted from the era of Adam (a) up to the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad (s), and his pure successors, we find a remarkable connection among three principal axes:

• The glad tidings of the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (s), which the preceding prophets foretold.
• The revolution of Imam Hussain (a) and his martyrdom.
• The advent of the Proof (a) at the end of time.

The narrations affirm this profound interconnection among these three axes.

The Three Axes in the Holy Quran

In Surah al-Hadid, Allah (swt) says: ❬We have certainly sent Our messengers with clear proofs and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance so that people may maintain justice.❭ This verse reveals two fundamental truths:

• First, that the goal of all the prophets is the establishment of justice on earth.
• Second, that the establishment of justice is not the responsibility of the prophets alone — rather, the people have a pivotal role in realizing this goal. For the verse did not say "so that they may establish justice" — meaning the prophets alone — but rather said "so that people may maintain justice," which signifies the participation of humanity in this great mission.

The Three Elements for Establishing Justice

The establishment of justice in human life requires three essential elements:

• A complete divine law: We need a religion capable of meeting all the requirements of human life at every level, and this is what we believe is embodied in the Final Law brought by Prophet Muhammad (s).
• A divinely appointed, infallible leader: There must be an infallible Imam who is able to apply that law in human life — and this is something unavailable to any other than the infallible Imam.
• The culture and readiness of the people: Humanity must reach a degree of maturity and receptivity in which it is capable of fulfilling its divinely assigned role in the establishment of justice.

Where Do We Stand in Relation to These Elements?

In the era of Prophet Muhammad (s), the Final Law was present, and the divinely appointed leader was there. But many people did not draw upon this leader to apply the Law in their lives — rather, they killed these divinely appointed leaders, or marginalized them from governance and the administration of Muslim affairs. The same repeated itself with the eleven Imams (peace be upon them).

Today, the Law is present, and Imam al-Mahdi is present — but the third element, namely the readiness and culture of the people, is still in need of being built and cultivated.

Who Is the Truly Awaited One?

Here, some of the eminent scholars of spiritual knowledge mention a subtle truth: we ought not say of Imam al-Mahdi that he is merely "the awaited" (al-muntazar) — rather, we ought to say that he is "the one who awaits" (al-muntazir). For he awaits us, so that we may become qualified and capable of accepting his leadership and responding to it. And the question that presents itself is: who qualifies this humanity? Who brings it to the degree of maturity and receptivity so that it becomes capable of fulfilling the role required of it?

The Husayni Role in Qualifying the Nation

Here comes the answer: the culture of Imam Hussain (a) and the culture of his great revolution are what bear responsibility for this mission. This splendid role was begun by Hussain (a) before his martyrdom, and it has continued to this very day — for we find that the culture of the Husayni revolution, wherever it takes root, brings about a revolution in people's lives, creates movement in life, and produces a reality that demands justice and equity.

And this culture is not confined to Muslims alone — it has extended beyond them to others. When we review the words of great non-Muslim figures, we find them focusing on the matter of the Husayni revolution and its great human dimensions.

The Relationship Between the Revolution of Hussain and the Advent of the Mahdi (atfs)

This explains to us why Imam al-Mahdi (a), when he appears, will raise the banner "O avengers of the blood of Hussain!" This banner signifies that there exists an inseparable bond between the Husayni revolution and the advent of Imam al-Mahdi. Therefore, educating the nation with the culture of Hussain (a) and the role of his revolution will hasten the relief of Imam al-Mahdi (a).

On this basis, the companions of Imam al-Mahdi (a) must necessarily be "Husaynis" — meaning the upbringing and culture of Hussain (a) are what raise his awaited ones and qualify them to become supporters of the Awaited Imam (a).

The Responsibility of the Believing Community Today

Our responsibility as believers toward Imam al-Mahdi is to deepen our understanding of the revolution of Hussain (a), to spread its culture throughout society, and to raise ourselves and our children upon its principles. For the more our awareness of the true nature of this revolution increases, the more our receptivity to welcoming the Awaited Imam and supporting him increases.

Among the manifestations of this upbringing is supplicating for our master the Lord of the Age (a) on the Day of Ashura, the day of the martyrdom of his grandfather Imam Hussain (a). It is narrated from 'Abdullah ibn Sinan, who entered upon Imam al-Sadiq (a) on the Day of Ashura, and the Imam conveyed this great act of worship, which is performed after the prayer of the Day of Ashura — wherein the worshipper raises his hands in supplication and says:

"O Allah, hasten the relief of the family of Muhammad, and make Your blessings be upon him and upon them, and rescue them from the hands of the misguiding hypocrites and the rejecting disbelievers, and open for them an easy opening, and grant them ease and imminent relief, and appoint for them from Yourself, against Your enemy and their enemy, a supporting authority."

This supplication expresses the organic connection between Ashura and the Advent, and between the blood of Hussain and the rise of the Mahdi (peace be upon them both).

It must also be noted that the path to supporting Imam al-Mahdi is not strewn with roses — it is a path of trial and severe tribulation. Allah (swt) says: ❬Alif, Lam, Mim. Do people think that they will be left to say, "We believe," without being put to the test?❭ Trial and testing are therefore inevitable — and especially so at the end of time, where many narrations indicate sifting and refinement. Our master Abu 'Abdillah (blessings of Allah upon him) said: "The people must inevitably be refined, distinguished, and sifted, and many a creation will fall out of the sieve." And our master Abu Ja'far (blessings of Allah upon him) said: "O Shi'a of the family of Muhammad, you will be refined as kohl is refined in the eye — for the owner of the eye knows when kohl falls into his eye, but does not know when it leaves it. Likewise, a man may spend the evening holding to a tenet of our command and wake up having departed from it." The alert believer must therefore prepare himself for this divine trial, and hold fast to the Two Weighty Things — the Quran and the family of Muhammad (peace be upon them) — lest he be among those who fall out of the sieve and are left behind the caravan of the Proof (a).

Conclusion

The secret between prophethood and the Reappearance is that the believing nation is called upon to carry the banner of Hussain (a) and spread his culture, so that it may be worthy of receiving Imam al-Proof (atfs). Only then will the divine promise be fulfilled and the earth be filled with equity and justice, just as it had been filled with oppression and tyranny.

May Allah make us and you among the sincere awaiting ones who honor their covenant with Allah and His awliya.