Faithful Living: Brief Reflections on the Qur’anic Concept of Awaiting (1)

This article offers a conceptual and Qur’anic analysis of awaiting during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him), and reviews the dimensions of patience and success from the perspective of the Holy Qur’an. It examines verses from Surah Al ‘Imran and Surah Al-‘Asr as two important passages that particularly emphasize awaiting and patience. The article shows that patience, steadfast perseverance, and vigilance during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him) are among the fundamental pillars for attaining prosperity and success. It also emphasizes that faith and righteous deeds alone are not sufficient to attain prosperity; qualities such as exhorting one another to truth and collective patience must also be present. In particular, the article addresses the point that Muslims during the period of occultation must proceed collectively in order to preserve their faith and strengthen their awaiting of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him). This book is the first part of analyses on this subject, and the second part will follow later.

Keywords: awaiting, occultation, prosperity, patience, steadfast perseverance, vigilance, Surah Al ‘Imran, Surah Al-‘Asr, Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him), the Holy Qur’an.

One of the fundamental and deep-rooted issues that arises in the minds of Muslims during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him) is determining their religious duties in this period. Upon examining Islamic history, when Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) began his movement toward Karbala, Muslims clearly knew their duty: they were required to support the Imam on the path of jihad and sacrifice. At that time, every capable Muslim was obliged to join Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) and accompany him in that sacred movement. This duty was religiously clear and manifest.

But the question posed to Muslims during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him) is: what are their duties in this period? When the infallible Imam is in occultation, is the duty of Muslims during the period of occultation as clear as the duty, during the presence of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), to follow and accompany him was?

The answer to these questions lies in religious and Qur’anic teachings. The Holy Qur’an and the hadiths of the Infallibles (peace be upon them) have instructed Muslims during the period of occultation to patiently await the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him) and to fulfill their duties in this period. The foremost of these duties is patience and steadfastness in confronting oppression and corruption. Indeed, during the period of occultation, “awaiting” is regarded as one of the greatest acts of worship and religious duties for Muslims.

Although the concept of awaiting is not in itself obscure or unclear, it requires greater precision and reflection in this regard. Awaiting was a matter to which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) paid attention, not only during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him), but in all periods; it is not exclusive to the era of occultation. The elements of awaiting have always been addressed in Islamic teachings throughout history.

Nevertheless, during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him), the concept of awaiting acquires greater importance and depth. This is because, in this period, access to the infallible Imam is not possible, and the special circumstances of occultation intensify social and political pressures as well as numerous tribulations upon the followers of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him). Under these circumstances, oppression and tribulations impose further hardships and pressures on the Muslim community; therefore, patience, solidarity, and striving for salvation and success become vital.

This article examines the elements of success from the perspective of Qur’anic verses. The various verses of the Qur’an that emphasize patience, steadfastness, and preparedness to preserve faith clarify how Muslims should await properly. Awaiting in this period does not mean mere passive waiting; rather, Muslims are required to take steps, with patience and steadfastness, to preserve themselves and the community of believers in this age filled with tribulations.

According to religious teachings, Muslims are called to patience during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him). This concept is emphasized in the Holy Qur’an, especially in the final verse of Surah Al ‘Imran. In this noble verse, guidance is given concerning patience in difficult and challenging times, and this guidance is particularly applicable to the period of occultation. The verse clearly indicates that patience, perseverance, and piety are among the fundamental pillars of prosperity and success in this period.

The verse found in Surah Al ‘Imran is one of the principal verses in the discussion of patience, waiting, and success. God says in this verse:

This verse clearly sets forth three fundamental duties to which Muslims must adhere on the path to prosperity and success: patience, mutual perseverance, and vigilance. These directives clearly portray the difficult and challenging circumstances that people of faith will face throughout history, especially during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him). Such circumstances may endanger the prosperity and success of believers; therefore, God Almighty has established guidance for salvation and prosperity. There is no doubt that these hardships will remain for believers during this period until God’s promise is fulfilled and fear is transformed into security.

Therefore, this noble verse encompasses one of the most important duties of Muslims during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him). Those awaiting the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him) must take these duties seriously and devote every effort to implementing these directives. These directives are, in fact, practical solutions for prosperity and success during the period of occultation.

This verse is regarded as a comprehensive guide in difficult times filled with tribulations, especially during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him). In this period, Muslims must remain steadfast with patience and integrity in the face of problems and tribulations, while at the same time following the path of prosperity and success through piety. During the occultation, when the infallible Imam (peace be upon him) is not accessible to the people, awaiting the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him) becomes one of the greatest acts of worship and one of the duties of Muslims.

The noble verse emphasizes that during the period of occultation, patience is among the most important duties of Muslims. Moreover, alongside patience and mutual perseverance, these principles must be regarded as essential means of prosperity and success in this period. In fact, this Qur’anic verse does not merely call for individual patience; it calls Muslims to collective cooperation and social steadfastness in preserving faith and strengthening the expectation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him).

In this verse, the Qur’an gives Muslims a clear answer: be patient. Yet this does not mean individual patience alone. In this verse, God speaks of patience, but He also uses the expression “ṣābirū” (persevere with one another). The concept of “muṣābarah” mentioned in this verse appears only once in the Qur’an and does not occur in this form in other verses. The word “muṣābarah” derives from the root ṣabr (patience), but it differs from “iṣbirū.” “Iṣbirū” is a clear and direct call to patience, whereas “muṣābarah” simultaneously entails both being patient and urging others to be patient.

Muṣābarah is not merely individual patience. Rather, it is a fundamental pillar of prosperity and success for Muslims, because it emphasizes the importance of social cooperation in strengthening faith and preparing for the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him).

In this verse—“Be patient, persevere with one another, remain steadfast, and fear Allah, that you may prosper”—Muslims are directly commanded to be patient, to encourage one another to patience, and to remain steadfast in the face of tribulations. This verse is especially important during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him), for it clearly shows that individual patience is not sufficient in such periods. The Muslim community must also practice muṣābarah during this turbulent time.

Alongside patience and muṣābarah, this verse also refers to “rābiṭū” and “ittaqullāh.” The concepts of “rābiṭū” and “ittaqullāh” in the verse are directly connected to prosperity and success. Here, rābiṭū signifies cohesion and cooperation among Muslims, who must work together to strengthen faith and remain steadfast in the face of tribulations.

The conclusion drawn from this verse is that individual patience is not sufficient for salvation during the period of occultation; rather, mutual steadfastness, vigilance, and piety must be among the fundamental pillars of the believers’ strategy in this period.

In the end, this verse clearly demonstrates that waiting and patience during the period of occultation must be understood and practiced as necessary and fundamental deeds for attaining prosperity and success within a collective and social process. Waiting in this period is not merely individual patience; rather, Muslims must call one another to patience, and in this shared journey, they must benefit from piety and cooperation in order to attain prosperity and success.

Moreover, the expression “لعلكم تفلحون” at the end of the verse explicitly indicates that adherence to these principles leads to prosperity and success. This phrase clearly shows that if Muslims adhere to these principles and values, they will attain prosperity and success. Therefore, commitment to these directives is the main condition for attaining prosperity and success during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him).

In the Noble Qur’an, the subject of patience and prosperity is again addressed clearly in Surah al-‘Asr. This surah says:

This verse places all human beings in a state of “loss” at the outset, then mentions exceptions. As stated in the verse, the “human race” is in a state of loss. In other words, all human beings without exception are in this loss, except those who possess certain qualities.

Now the question is: what are these qualities? In the following verse, God Almighty says:

Four qualities are identified that contribute to saving a person from loss:

These four qualities are the foundation of prosperity and success. Therefore, this verse of the Quran states that human beings in general are in a state of loss, except those who possess these qualities. In fact, if a person does not possess these qualities, they will fall into loss; and if they possess them, they will attain prosperity and success.

This surah and verse share similarities with verse 200 of Surah Al Imran, where the importance of patience and the call to patience are likewise emphasized. In both verses, patience is regarded as one of the fundamental pillars of prosperity and success. Especially in Surah Al-Asr, it is clearly indicated that those who fail to fulfill these qualities will fall into loss.

In another verse of the Noble Quran, found in Surah Al-Mu'minun, prosperity and loss are compared through the scale of deeds:

In this verse, loss is set against prosperity. When a person's deeds are light—meaning that they have few righteous deeds or none at all—that person will ultimately fall into loss. But if a person's deeds are heavy and righteous deeds outweigh negative deeds, they will attain prosperity and success.

Verse 200 of Surah Al Imran and Surah Al-Asr each present a path to prosperity and away from loss. In particular, verse 200 of Surah Al Imran directly outlines the path to prosperity, whereas Surah Al-Asr points to the path of avoiding loss. In other words, both verses offer paths toward specific goals, and attaining prosperity and avoiding loss can only be achieved by following these paths.

An important point is that these two noble verses closely resemble one another in meaning and concept. In Surah al-'Asr, God Almighty directs believers to enjoin one another to truth and to enjoin one another to patience. By contrast, in Surah Al 'Imran, there is a command to be patient, to persevere, and to remain steadfast.

Indeed, patience and perseverance in both verses are presented as fundamental foundations for attaining success and avoiding loss.

The conceptual similarities between these two verses indicate the close relationship and parallelism between these directives in the Noble Qur'an.

According to the verses of the Qur'an, patience and enjoining one another to patience are among the essential foundations of prosperity and success. In Surah al-'Asr, humankind in general is presented as being in a state of loss, except for those who, by adhering to qualities such as faith, righteous deeds, enjoining one another to truth, and patience, can escape that condition and attain success. During the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him), Muslims are responsible for remaining in expectation of the Imam's appearance through patience, enjoining one another to patience, and enjoining one another to truth; and through righteous deeds, they prevent themselves from falling into loss. These verses show that no one can attain success easily unless they fully possess these qualities.

All people who are in a state of loss lack four qualities. These qualities are clearly specified in the Qur'an. A person may be among the people of faith, but if they do not have righteous deeds, they will in fact be among the people of loss. For example, imagine someone who believes but displays no righteous deed, no enjoining of truth, and no patience. In that case, that person will inevitably be among the people of loss.

This point, which may appear simple on the surface, carries a very profound meaning. Many people who consider themselves among the faithful may ultimately find themselves within the circle of loss. For loss is not limited to disbelievers alone. Those who believe and follow the religion, yet lack the qualities of success in their conduct, may fall onto the path of loss. This can happen to anyone unconsciously. The fundamental question here is: how likely is it that people who believe themselves to be among the faithful may end up being “in loss”? It appears that this possibility is greater than is commonly imagined. Especially with the passage of time, the likelihood increases that people, even with their faith, may fall onto the path of loss because they lack certain essential qualities. This must be regarded as a serious warning.

According to the verses of the Qur’an and careful analyses, anyone who does not possess within themselves the qualities of success, even if they believe, will ultimately find themselves on the path of loss. This matter has been clearly emphasized in the verses of Sūrat al-ʿAṣr and other Qur’anic verses, where faith and righteous deeds alone are not sufficient for success and salvation. In these verses, the importance of qualities such as enjoining one another to truth and patience has been stressed. Therefore, if these qualities are absent in a person, they may unconsciously and without prior intent fall into the trap of loss.

These analyses teach us that, in order to attain success and prosperity on the religious path, faith and righteous deeds alone are not sufficient; other necessary qualities referred to in the Holy Qur’an are also required. These qualities include calling to truth and patience, which must receive attention in both individual and social life. Failure to observe these principles, even if a person is committed to faith and righteous deeds, may divert them from the path of success and lead them toward loss.

In the Holy Qur’an, success and loss are clearly connected to specific qualities. According to various Qur’anic verses, patience, faith, righteous deeds, and exhorting one another to truth and patience are regarded as the fundamental pillars of success and prosperity. Especially during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him), awaiting and patience become not merely individual duties, but social responsibilities that must take shape within a framework of cooperation and empathy among Muslims.

The verses of Sūrat Āl ʿImrān and Sūrat al-ʿAṣr clarify the paths that lead to success and prevent loss. In Sūrat Āl ʿImrān, commands are specifically given to be patient, persevere, and remain steadfastly prepared, and these commands hold particular importance during the period of occultation in following Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him). Likewise, in Sūrat al-ʿAṣr, faith, righteous deeds, exhorting one another to truth, and patience are presented as essential qualities for reducing loss. Both surahs jointly emphasize that if a person lacks these qualities, they will be in loss.

Therefore, to attain prosperity and success during the period of occultation, Muslims must not limit themselves to faith and righteous deeds alone; rather, they must also actively uphold qualities such as enjoining one another to truth and patience in their individual and social lives. Failure to observe these qualities, even alongside faith and righteous deeds, can lead a person away from the path of prosperity and toward loss.

Therefore, the waiting of Muslims during the period of occultation does not mean mere waiting; rather, cooperation, steadfastness, and collective effort must be realized for preserving faith, strengthening the faithful community, and the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him). These verses provide guidance for Muslims during the period of occultation so that they may attain prosperity and success by adhering to these principles.

This article discussed the issue of prosperity and loss, the characteristics of patience and steadfast perseverance, and the responsibilities incumbent upon Muslims during the period of the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him). Further details of this analysis and the continuation of the discussion will be presented in the second article.