Q: So, is it necessary to attain the gnosis of Imam Mehdi?
How will you attain the gnosis of Imam Mehdi?
How Can One Attain the Gnosis of Imam Mehdi?
Q: Imam Muhammad Baqir (a) has a saying.
What does this saying of his mean in regard to humans recognising Imam Mehdi (as)?
What is the gnosis of Imam Mehdi?
To recognise Imam Mehdi.
If someone says, ‘I couldn’t recognise Imam Mehdi for this or that reason’,
this excuse will not be acceptable.
God sent Imam Mehdi for your sake and you’re making excuses for not recognising him?
Why didn’t you recognise him?
You would have found out had you tried, had you made an effort.
If you need to go to another country,
you will ask around, ‘I need to go there, how can I go?’
Someone will tell you that you need to get a visa.
Have a passport made, get a visa, buy a ticket,
book the hotel, sit on the plane and you’re there.
Now, if you wish to know about the Ruling Imam, the Imam of the Times, the Imam of the Last Times, Imam Mehdi (as),
if you wish to dig into their identity, where they are and who they are,
then you should come across some form of clue about them, right?
For instance, the signs of the era of Imam Mehdi (as) or the signs of the personality of Imam Mehdi (as).
You need to find these things out.
If you have the quest and begin to conduct a thorough research,
then God shall surely help you and lead you towards the truth.
Now, if you say,
‘We were waiting for the celestial announcements to be made in order to recognise Imam Mehdi (as)’,
the thing is that call, my dear brother, will not be heard by the common people.
The call will be made.
The narrations state that an angel - Gabriel - will make an announcement,
but how many other times have you heard the calls of Gabriel?
Are you even able to hear when God descends and speaks on special nights,
since you think you will be able to hear the announcement of Imam Mehdi?
The hadith which states there shall be a proclamation,
Gabriel shall make an announcement
and a small cloud shall hover above Imam Mehdi -
- all of these scenes and those voices shall only be witnessed by those who have spiritual sight,
those with ethereal vision, the people of the heart.
The spiritual people whose ethereal eye is opened,
whose ethereal ears and hearing is opened,
those who have established a connection with God and the Messenger of God;
those who are aware of the comings and goings of Gabriel.
They know that it was Gabriel who just crossed paths a few moments ago.
Obviously, those who know about the whereabouts of Gabriel, when he goes here and there,
wouldn’t they be able to hear the announcements made by Gabriel?
Everything mentioned in the ahadith is not completely straightforward,
rather they are indications.
For example, there is a hadith which states,
‘The letters kaaf (k) and fey (f) will be visible on the forehead of the antichrist’.
This doesn’t mean ‘kafir’ will literally be embossed on his skin.
Kufr on his forehead means that he shall reject witnessing of the divine splendour.
He shall reject the knowledge rendered in order to witness the divine splendour
although it is written in the Holy Qur’an,
‘Man kaana yarjoo liqa allahi - whoever wishes to turn towards God,
whoever wishes to meet God…’
‘they should make a habit of abundant zikr’.
This is in Surah Ankabut verse 5.
God says, ‘man kaana yarjoo liqa 'allahi -
- for those who hope to meet with Allah…’
and then, ‘fa inna ajal allahi la'ati -
- the promise God has made is imminent…’
And the promise is what Prophet Muhammad (s) declared,
‘In the near future, you shall witness your Lord…’
And then God said, ‘wa huwass sameeul 'aleem -
- and God is all hearing and all knowing’.
And then in Surah Al-Ahzab,
‘laqad kaana lakum fee Rasoolil laahi uswatun hasana’.
‘Certainly, the character of beloved Prophet Muhammad (s),
his temperament and his personality,
is an excellent example for you’.
What do we learn?
You are to do exactly as the Prophet (s) does.
This is what ‘excellent example’ means.
Meaning, the Prophet (s) is leading you by example.
So, what is it to lead by example?
To lead by example means: ‘I have done it.
So, you do it the way I have done it’.
This is ‘uswatun hasana’, an excellent example.
So, God said that the best example,
the most perfect person for you to follow
is Prophet Muhammad (s). You should follow Prophet Muhammad (s).
You should do whatever he does.
And then God said, ‘liman kaana yarjul laaha wal youm al akhira -
- one who wishes to meet with God,
one who wishes betterment in the hereafter…’
‘wa zakaral laaha kaseeraa - they engage in abundant Zikr Allah’.
Let’s return to the question.
Q cont: So, is it necessary to attain the gnosis of Imam Mehdi?
How will you attain the gnosis of Imam Mehdi?
You first have to establish a connection with Imam Mehdi
before you can know who they are.
The most beneficial advice that I have witnessed in regard to the recognition of Imam Mehdi -
- this is the most beneficial advice that I have ever received and it came from Sarkar Gohar Shahi themselves:
'Those whose hearts shall have divine light shall recognise [Imam Mehdi]'.
I have never come across better advice than this.
I mean with such clarity.
Now, a thousand signs on one side and this one piece of advice on the other
because even after reading a thousand books, there is no guarantee
that you shall certainly find Imam Mehdi in light of these signs.
But this criterion, divine light entering the heart,
what does it mean? With this, you will recognise God, the Messenger of God,
the saints, the fakirs, and the dervishes.
And with this, you will recognise Imam Mehdi.