There is no verse or tradition saying that Imam (a.t.f.s.) would cast aside advanced technology, or whenever he reappears the technology at man’s disposal would fail to function. Besides, it wasn’t the practice of holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Imams (a.s.) to avoid using technology or craft prevailing at their respective times. So Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) too would follow the practice of his forefathers.
On the basis of traditions that talk about the power and strength of Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) and his companions, we can say: Other than the unseen powers, they would also benefit from prevailing means. But we can not pass any definite judgement in this regard. For instance, we read in one tradition:
“He (in whatsoever part of the world he may be residing) would establish contact with each of the agents and members of his government (who are 313 in number). He would see them and converse with them.” [67]
From this tradition, we draw the probability that Hazrat’s companions would employ new and advanced crafts. Another tradition says:
“When Imam (a.t.f.s.) rises, he would lean upon the holy Ka’ba and then say:
آلا يا اهل العلم ! بقية الله خير لكم إن كنتم مؤمنين و انا بقية الله
“And Hazrat’s voice would be heard by all the people of the world.” [68]
From this tradition too we can draw this conclusion that he would probably employ mass media and his voice would reach the whole world. However, in all Imam’s affairs, there also exists the probability of usage of Unseen powers.
About the query whether progress and advancement would continue during Imam’s time or not, traditions say that during his time, knowledge and know-how would advance by leaps and bounds. However, whether knowledge would definitely move in direction of high technologies or in some other direction is not precisely clear.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said:
“Ilm (knowledge) consists of twenty-seven parts. All the prophets and Imams have brought two parts of Ilm and when our Mahdi comes, he will bring the other twenty-five parts of it.” [69]
Please ponder over the contents of this tradition. It’s not that Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) knows twenty-five parts of knowledge and the prophets and other Imams were unaware. Rather it says,“The entire knowledge brought by prophets are two parts from the twenty-seven parts and Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) shall bring twenty-five parts.”
The matters revealed by the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.), Amir-ul-Mu’minin (a.s.) till Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.), Hazrat Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all preceding prophets were two parts from the twenty-seven parts. Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) shall bring the other twenty-five parts of knowledge. If we take into account this proportion, it shows whatever Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s) would bring would be something extraordinary in all fields of knowledge.
Besides this noble tradition, we have another tradition narrated from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.):
“When our ‘Qaem’ shall come, he shall place his hand over the head of (Allah’s) slaves and their intellect shall turn perfect and their ethics completed.” [70]
Also, Imam (a.s.) says:
‘When Hazrat reappears, the earth shall emit out its bounties.”[71]
What are the earth’s bounties? They are treasures, precious stones, useful and needed growths all over the earth. Besides, one cannot neglect the divulgence of spiritual bounties. It’s come down in a tradition that:
“At the time of ‘Zuhoor’, there would be no land but fruitful and flourishing.” [72]
To sum up, various traditions show the existence of extraordinary progress and unparallel spread of knowledge during Imam’s time. But it’s not clear whether it would be definitely due to technology and with today’s concept in mind or not.