Another responsibility which lies on the shoulders of the believers is that if a person tries to set a specific time for the return of the Imam, he must be called a liar, he must be introduced to the community at large as a liar and one who commits fraud and deceit! In this regards, Imam Ja’far b. Muhammad as-Sadiq (as) has said:
مَنْ أَخْـبَرَكَ عَنَّا تَوْقِيتاً بِوَقْتٍ لاَ تَهَابَنَّ أَنْ تُكَذِّبَهُ فَإِنَّا لاَ نُوَقِّتُ لِأَحَدٍ وَقْتاً
“Whoever reports to you from us regarding a specified time (for the advent of the Imam), do not hesitate to belie him, for we have never specified the time (of the advent) to anyone!”1
- 1.al-Ghaybah of Nu’mani, pg. 289, no. 3