Traditions about the era of major concealment can be divided into four groups:
1) Traditions that talk about the spread of oppression, tyranny, immorality, prevalence of polytheism and sins, corruption and crime, isolation of Islam and Qur’an.
2) Traditions that speak of the signs before his manifestation (Zuhoor), like the revolt of Sufyani, the heavenly cry, split in the earth etc.
3) Traditions that describe the qualities of faithful believers of that time.
4) Traditions that enumerate the duties of Shias during that era.
Now, we shall set forth a tradition for each of the above groups:
1) Imam Hasan-ibn-Ali (a.s.) said:
“The case that eyes await shall not occur until the time when each will grow weary of one another, and one would spit over the other. Everyone would charge the other with infidelity, and some among you would curse the other.”
I said: Wouldn’t there be any goodness at that time?
He said: The entire goodness can be found at that time because our Qaem would arise and destroy all wicked people.”[189]
The holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) said:
“How would it be during the era when your wives would turn impure, your children corrupt, and you would refrain from enjoining the good and forbidding the evil?”
They said: O the Messenger of Allah would it ever happen!?
He said: Yes, even worse. How would it be when you would enjoin the evil and forbid the good?”
They said: O Messenger of Allah, would it ever happen!?
He replied: Yes, even worse would occur. How would it be when good will be acknowledged as evil and evil, as good!?”
2) Muhammad-ibn-Moslim says, ‘Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said:
“Before the coming of our Qaem, there would be certain signs from the Almighty Allah for the faithful ones” .
I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you, what are those signs?
He said:“Allah says, ‘And surely We shall test you… (referring to the believers before Imam’s manifestation) with fear, hunger, and loss in wealth and life. Glad- tidings are for the patient ones.’ Allah says, ‘Verily, I shall test you with fear from so and so Bani….kings at the end of their rule, and shall test you with hunger arising from exorbitant prices and with loss in wealth due to corrupt trade. Similarly, we shall test you with loss in life (referring to sudden death) and loss in fruits arising from loss in first crop. Glad tidings for the patient ones for our Qaem’s manifestation during that time…..” [190]
Also, Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said:
“Before the rise of the Qaem, there would be five signs: The revolt of Yamani, the revolt of Sufyani, the heavenly cry, split in the earth and the killing of Nafs-e-Zakiyah.” [191]
3) One day, the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) said:
‘I wish I could meet my brothers!’
Abu-Bakr and Omar said: ‘Aren’t we your brothers? We who have brought faith in you, and migrated along with you?
He said: ‘You are severe Muslims who have indeed migrated. But I wish I could see my brothers!’
Once again the same question was repeated. The holy prophet said:
‘You are my companions. My brothers are those who will come after you. They would have faith in me, and would love and assist me though having not seen me at all. Thus, I wish I could see them!”[192]
4) Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said:
The one who dies with faith in our affair (Imamate) is like the one who has set up his tent besides the ‘Qaem’; rather he is like the one who fights on his side; rather like the one who achieves martyrdom on his path. Instead, his position is like the one who achieves martyrdom with the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.).[193]
Also, Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said:
“Piety, chastity, morals,… and patiently awaiting for ‘Faraj’ are parts of the religion of the Imams.” [194]
The aforesaid traditions clarify the severity of the“concealment period” and the heavy responsibility of a Shia during this era.
Therefore, we have been trained to pray:
اللهم عرفني حجتك فانك ان لم تعرفني حجتك ضللت عن ديني