Living Faithfully: A Brief Reflection 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-Zaman (peace be upon him), and examines the various dimensions of patience and success from the perspective of the Noble Qur’an. It examines verses from Surah Āl ʿImrān and the blessed Surah al-ʿAṣr as two important passages that particularly emphasize the subject of awaiting and patience. This study shows that patience, mutual steadfastness, and vigilance during the occultation of Imam al-Zaman (peace be upon him) are among the principal foundations for attaining success and salvation. It also emphasizes that faith and righteous deeds alone are not sufficient to attain success; qualities such as enjoining one another to truth and collective patience are also necessary. The article specifically addresses the fact that during the occultation, Muslims must collectively proceed along the path of preserving faith and strengthening the awaiting of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him). This is the first installment of the analyses on this subject, and the second part will follow.

Keywords: Awaiting, occultation, success, patience, mutual steadfastness, vigilance, Surah Āl ʿImrān, Surah al-ʿAṣr, Imam al-Zaman (peace be upon him), the Noble Qur’an

One of the essential and fundamental issues that arises in the minds of Muslims during the occultation of Imam al-Zaman (peace be upon him) is determining their religious duties in this period. In examining Islamic history, when Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) began his movement toward Karbala, Muslims clearly knew their duty and were required to hasten to the Imam’s aid on the path of jihad and self-sacrifice. At that time, the duty of every capable Muslim was to join Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) and accompany him in this sacred movement. From a religious perspective, this duty was explicitly and clearly defined.

However, the question that arises for Muslims during the occultation of Imam al-Zaman (peace be upon him) is: what is their duty in this period? When the infallible Imam is in occultation, is the duty of Muslims during the occultation likewise as clear as it was during the presence of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), when the obligation to follow and accompany him was evident?

The answer to these questions lies in religious and Quranic teachings. During the Occultation, the Qur’an and the hadiths of the Infallible Imams (peace be upon them) instruct Muslims to patiently await the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him) and to fulfill their duties in this period, foremost among them patience and steadfastness in the face of oppression and corruption. Indeed, during the Occultation, “awaiting” is regarded as one of Muslims’ greatest acts of worship and religious duties.

Although the concept of awaiting is not in itself vague or unclear, it requires greater precision and reflection. Awaiting has been a subject to which the Prophet (may Allah bless him and his family) drew attention in every era, not only during the Occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him); it is not confined to the time of Occultation. The elements of awaiting have always been present throughout history in Islamic teachings.

Nevertheless, during the Occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him), the concept of awaiting acquires greater importance and depth. This is because access to the Infallible Imam is not possible in this period, and the particular conditions of Occultation intensify the social and political pressures and the many tribulations faced by the followers of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him). Under such circumstances, oppression and tribulations impose greater hardships and pressures on the Muslim community; therefore, patience, solidarity, and striving for prosperity and salvation become vital matters.

This article examines the elements of salvation from the perspective of Quranic verses. Various verses of the Qur’an, which emphasize patience, steadfastness, and readiness to preserve faith, specifically show Muslims the proper way of awaiting. In this period, awaiting does not merely mean watching and waiting; rather, Muslims are asked to take steps, amid this turbulent time, with patience and firmness on the path of safeguarding themselves and the community of faith.

According to religious teachings, during the occultation of Imam al-Zaman (peace be upon him), Muslims are commanded to be patient. This concept is expressed especially in the final verse of Surah Al ‘Imran in the Holy Qur’an. In this noble verse, instructions are given concerning patience in difficult and arduous times, and these instructions can specifically be applied to the period of occultation as well. The verse in question clearly shows that patience, steadfastness, and piety in this period are among the principal foundations of prosperity and salvation.

The verse found in Surah Al ‘Imran is one of the key verses in the discussion of patience, waiting, and salvation. In this verse, God says: «O you who have believed, be patient, urge one another to patience, remain steadfast before your enemies, and be wary of God, so that you may prosper.»

This verse specifically sets out three principal duties for Muslims that they must observe on the path to prosperity and salvation: patience, mutual perseverance, and vigilance. These commands clearly indicate the difficult and turbulent circumstances that the people of faith will face throughout history, especially during the occultation of Imam al-Zaman (peace be upon him). These circumstances may endanger the prosperity and salvation of believers; therefore, God has prescribed instructions as a path to deliverance and prosperity. Undoubtedly, these hardships have existed and will continue to exist for believers in this period until the divine promise is fulfilled and fear is transformed into security.

Therefore, this noble verse encompasses one of the most important duties of Muslims during the period of occultation. Those awaiting the appearance of Imam al-Zaman (peace be upon him) must take these duties seriously and exert every effort to act upon these instructions. These instructions are, in fact, practical guidelines for prosperity and salvation during the occultation.

This verse is presented as a comprehensive guideline for difficult and turbulent times, especially the period of the occultation of Imam al-Zaman (peace be upon him). In this period, Muslims must confront problems and tribulations with patience and steadfastness and, at the same time, pursue the path of prosperity and salvation through piety. During the occultation, when the infallible Imam (peace be upon him) is beyond the people’s reach, awaiting the appearance of حضرت Mahdi (peace be upon him) becomes one of the greatest acts of worship and duties of Muslims.

The noble verse emphasizes that patience is one of the most important duties of Muslims during the period of occultation. Along with «صابروا» and «رابطوا», these principles must be regarded as fundamental means of prosperity and salvation in this period. Indeed, this Qur’anic verse does not merely command individual patience; it also calls Muslims to collective cooperation and social steadfastness in preserving faith and strengthening the expectation of Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him).

In this verse, the Qur’an’s answer to Muslims is clearly given: be patient. Yet this does not mean merely individual patience. In this verse, God not only speaks of patience but also uses the word “ṣābirū” (صابروا). The concept of “muṣābarah” (مصابره) mentioned in this verse occurs only once in the Qur’an and does not appear in this form in its other verses. The word “muṣābarah” derives from the root ṣabr (patience), but it differs from “iṣbirū” (اصبروا). “Iṣbirū” plainly and directly calls for patience, whereas muṣābarah simultaneously entails both calling others to patience and being called to patience.

Muṣābarah, in fact, does not merely mean individual patience. It is presented as a fundamental pillar of the prosperity and salvation of Muslims, because it emphasizes the importance of social cooperation in strengthening faith and preparing for the advent of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him).

In this verse—“اصبروا و صابروا و رابطوا و اتقوا الله لعلکم تفلحون” (“Be patient, urge one another to patience, remain steadfast, and fear Allah, so that you may prosper”)—Muslims are directly commanded to be patient, to call one another to patience, and to persevere in the face of tribulations. This verse is especially important during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him), because it specifically shows that in such times individual patience is not enough. During this turbulent period, the Islamic community must also practice muṣābarah.

In addition to patience and muṣābarah, this verse also refers to “rābiṭū” and “ittaqullāh.” The concepts of rābiṭū and ittaqullāh in the verse are directly connected with prosperity and salvation. Here, rābiṭah means the bond and cooperation among Muslims, who must move together toward strengthening faith and steadfastness in the face of tribulations.

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

Ultimately, this verse clearly shows that awaiting and patience during the period of occultation, as necessary and fundamental acts for attaining success and salvation, must be understood and practiced within a collective and social process. Awaiting in this period does not merely mean individual patience; rather, Muslims must specifically invite one another to patience and, on this shared path, draw upon piety and cooperation in order to attain success and salvation.

Likewise, the phrase «لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ» at the end of the verse explicitly states that observing these principles leads to success and salvation. This expression clearly shows that if Muslims observe these principles and values, they will attain success and salvation. Therefore, observing these commands is necessary as the primary condition for realizing success and salvation during the occultation of Imam al-Zamān (peace be upon him).

In the Noble Qur’an, the discussion of patience and success is once again clearly stated in Sūrat al-ʿAṣr. This sūrah says: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَالْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. By time, indeed mankind is in loss.”

At the outset, this verse places all human beings in a state of “loss” and then presents certain exceptions. As the verse states, the “human species” is in a state of loss. In other words, all people, without exception, are subject to this loss unless they possess particular characteristics.

Now the question is: what are these characteristics? In the continuation of the verse, God says: «إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ» “Except those who believe, do righteous deeds, and urge one another to truth and urge one another to patience.”

Four distinct qualities are identified that save a person from loss:

These four qualities are the foundation of prosperity and salvation. Therefore, in this Qur’anic verse, humankind is generally in loss, except for those who possess these qualities. In fact, if a person does not possess these qualities, he will suffer loss; and if he possesses them, he will attain prosperity and salvation.

This surah and verse have similarities with verse 200 of Surah Āl ʿImrān, where the importance of patience and exhortation to patience is likewise emphasized. In both verses, patience is presented as one of the principal pillars of prosperity and salvation. Especially in Surah al-ʿAṣr, it is clearly shown that those who neglect to fulfill these qualities will suffer loss.

In another Qur’anic verse, found in the blessed Surah al-Muʾminūn, prosperity and loss are likewise compared through the scales of deeds: " فَمَنْ ثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِينُهُ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَازِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ خَسِرُوا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فِى جَهَنَّمَ " “Whoever’s scales of deeds are heavy—they are the ones who have attained prosperity; and whoever’s scales of deeds are light—they are the ones who have lost themselves in Hell.”

In this verse, loss is set against success. When a person's deeds are light, meaning that they have few righteous deeds or none at all, such a person will ultimately be among the losers. But if a person's deeds are weighty and their righteous deeds prevail over their negative deeds, they will attain success and salvation.

Verse 200 of Surah Āl ʿImrān and the blessed Surah al-ʿAṣr each present a path toward success and freedom from loss. More specifically, verse 200 of Surah Āl ʿImrān directly outlines the path to success, whereas Surah al-ʿAṣr points to the path of avoiding loss. In other words, both verses show paths to attaining specific goals; reaching success and preventing loss are possible only by traversing these paths.

A very important point is that these two noble verses have significant semantic and conceptual similarities. In Surah al-ʿAṣr, God commands mutual exhortation to truth and mutual exhortation to patience. By contrast, Surah Āl ʿImrān commands patience, steadfast perseverance, and vigilance.

Indeed, patience and steadfast perseverance are presented in both verses as foundational principles for attaining success and avoiding loss.

These conceptual similarities between the two verses indicate the close connection and alignment of these Qur’anic instructions.

In light of the verses of the Qur’an, patience and mutual exhortation to patience are among the principal pillars of success and salvation. In Surah al-ʿAṣr, humanity is described generally as being in loss, except for those who, by observing qualities such as faith, righteous deeds, mutual exhortation to truth, and patience, can be saved from this state and attain success. During the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him), Muslims are obliged to await the Imam’s appearance through patience, mutual exhortation to patience, and mutual exhortation to truth, and to prevent loss through righteous deeds. These verses show that no one can easily attain success unless they fully embody these qualities.

All people who are in loss lack four characteristics. These characteristics have been clearly identified in the Qur’an. A person may be among the people of faith, but if they do not possess righteous deeds, they will in fact be among the people of loss. For example, imagine someone who has faith, yet no righteous deeds, enjoining of truth, or patience are seen in them. In that case, such a person is certainly among the people of loss.

This point, though it may appear simple on the surface, is very profound in meaning. Many people who consider themselves among the people of faith may ultimately fall within the circle of loss, because loss is not confined to disbelievers alone. Those who have faith and practice religion, yet are deprived in practice of the characteristics of prosperity, may find themselves on the path of loss. This may happen unknowingly to anyone. The fundamental question is: to what extent is it likely that people who consider themselves among the people of faith will ultimately be included among “lafī khusr” [surely in loss]? It seems that the likelihood of this occurring is greater than is usually imagined. Especially with the passage of time, the possibility increases that people, even while possessing faith, may enter the path of loss because they lack certain essential characteristics. This point must be regarded as a serious warning.

According to the verses of the Qur’an and careful analyses, anyone who does not possess the characteristics of prosperity will ultimately be on the path of loss, even if they have faith. This matter is clearly emphasized, especially in the verses of Sūrat al-ʿAṣr and other Qur’anic verses: faith and righteous deeds alone are not sufficient for prosperity and salvation. These verses emphasize the importance of characteristics such as enjoining truth and patience. Therefore, if these characteristics are absent from a person, they may unknowingly and without prior intention be placed among the people of loss.

This analysis teaches us that, in order to attain prosperity and salvation on the religious path, faith and righteous deeds alone are not sufficient; other characteristics mentioned in the Noble Qur’an are also necessary. These characteristics include calling to truth and patience, which must be actively observed in individual and social life. Failure to uphold these principles, even if a person is committed to faith and righteous deeds, can divert them from the path of prosperity and lead them toward loss.

In the Holy Qur’an, prosperity (falāḥ) and loss (khusrān) are explicitly connected to specific qualities. According to various Qur’anic verses, patience, faith, righteous deeds, and exhorting one another to truth and patience are among the fundamental pillars of prosperity and salvation. Especially during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him), awaiting and patience are not merely individual duties; rather, they are social responsibilities that must take shape through cooperation and solidarity among Muslims.

The verses of Sūrat Āl ʿImrān and Sūrat al-ʿAṣr clearly set out paths to prosperity and freedom from loss. In Sūrat Āl ʿImrān, there is a specific command to be patient, to persevere in patience, and to remain steadfastly stationed; these commands are especially important during the 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 avoiding loss. Both surahs jointly emphasize that whoever lacks these qualities will suffer loss.

Therefore, in order to attain prosperity and salvation during the occultation, Muslims should not be content merely with faith and righteous deeds. Rather, they must actively observe qualities such as exhorting one another to truth and patience in both their individual and social lives. Neglecting these qualities, even alongside faith and righteous deeds, can divert a person from the path of prosperity and lead him toward loss.

Accordingly, awaiting during the occultation does not merely mean waiting expectantly; Muslims must adopt solidarity, steadfastness, and collective cooperation in preserving faith, strengthening the community of believers, and preparing for the advent of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him). These verses guide Muslims in the era of occultation so that, by observing these principles, they may attain prosperity and salvation.

This article examined the discussion of prosperity and loss, the qualities of patience and perseverance in patience, and the responsibilities of Muslims during 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.

Part One: Why do some people become lost during the Occultation?

Part Two: Approaches to Faith and Deviation during the Occultation

Part Three: Let Us Find the Path of Hope in the Heart of Darkness

Part Four: Living Faithfully—A Brief Reflection on the Qur’anic Concept of Waiting (1)

Part Five: Living Faithfully—A Reflection on the Qur’anic Concept of Waiting (2)

Part Six: Living Faithfully—A Reflection on the Qur’anic Concept of Waiting (3)