Being that the day of Imam Mahdi's (may Allah hasten his reappearance) birth anniversary is close, it is important to remember His Eminence and mention some matters about him that will help us improve and grow. Allama Majlisi has related the following narration about Imam Mahdi in Bihar al-Anwar:

Awaiting' (Intezar) is the result of two conditions. Firstly, he is not satisfied with the present circumstances and secondly, he expects the improvement in his circumstances. If either of these conditions are not fulfilled then it is not awaiting and the person concerned is not an 'awaiter' *(Muntazir).

For the Sunni brothers, there are six major collections of traditions based on the Sunni standards for verifying the authenticity of a tradition. These six books are: Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sahih al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Dawud, and Sahih al-Nisa'i.

Shaykh Mufid, a distinguished Shi'ite scholar, also wrote in al Irshad: "When Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.), passed away, the caliph of that time, pursued his son because the Shi'ite Imamiyyah's belief was famous and was spread about that the Shi'ites were awaiting His Eminence."

If the Imam is the leader of the people he should be present among them. What is the benefit of having an Imam who lives an invisible life? What is the use of having an Imam who lives in the state of occultation for centuries without fulfilling any of the functions that he normally under takes: such as propagating religion, solving the problems of society, responding to the attacks of his opponents, commanding the good and forbidding the evil, helping the poor and redressing the wrongs committed against the downtroddens upholding the ordinances of God by instituting proper penalties and explaining the lawful and the unlawful to the people, and so on.

In many religions there is an expectation for a savior to come and help the release from injustice.

This article addresses the necessity of the existence of the Representative of Allah on the earth at any time. The opponents of Shia protest that although Shia consider the Imam necessary in order to expound the injunctions and verities of religion and to guide the people, the occultation of the Imam is the negation of this very purpose, for an Imam in occultation who cannot be reached by mankind cannot be in any way beneficial or effective. The opponents argue that if God wills to bring forth an Imam to reform mankind, He is able to create him at the necessary moment and does not need to create him thousands of years earlier.

The figure more legendary then that of the Mahdi, the Awaited Saviour, has not been seen in the history of mankind. The thread of the world events have woven many a fine design in the human life but the pattern of the Mahdi stands high above even other pattern. He has been the vision of the visionaries in history. He has been the dream of all the dreamers of the world for the ultimate salvation of mankind he is the pole star of hope on which the gaze of Humanity is fixed.

Based on the narrations that are available to us, he will reappear in Mecca. After the elite of his followers join him there, they will then advance toward 'Iraq, Sham (the present day Syria), and from there toward Jerusalem...

Awaiting' (Intezar) is the result of two condi­tions. Firstly, he is not satisfied with the present circumstances and secondly, he expects the improve­ment in his circumstances. If either of these condi­tions are not fulfilled then it is not awaiting and the person concerned is not an 'awaiter' *(Muntazir).

History of both minor and major occultation’s is a witness to the fact that anyone who sought guidance received it, From Imam (A.S.). Today also if anyone sincerely, seeks guidance will receive it from 'Imam (A.S.)'

Up to now we have seen that the prolongation of life is scientifically possible. But let us suppose that it is not, that the process of old-age and decrepitude is quite rigid, that it cannot either now or in the long run overcome nor alter its conditions or circumstances - what will this mean?