Praying for Imam az-Zaman (AJ) comprises of advantages for both this world as well as the hereafter. Here, we shall mention a few of them, albeit briefly.

A) Worldly Benefits In Praying For Imam Az-Zaman (AJ)

The worldly benefits in praying for Imam az-Zaman (AJ) are as follows:

1) Longevity as it (supplication) is a form of maintaining relations with Allah’s Messenger (S), for Imam al-Baqir (‘a) says,

“Maintaining (or patching) relations purifies actions, multiplies wealth, dispels calamities, simplifies accounting and postpones death.”1

2) Repels difficulties and increases sustenance.

3) Acceptance of other invocations.

4) Readies oneself for seeing Imam’s (‘a) whether in sleep or awakening.

5) Augmentation of bounties.

6) Guarantees divine help for the one who prays and domination over his enemies. The evidence for this belief is the saying of Allah the Almighty,

…إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ…

“If you help (the cause of) Allah, He will help you.” (Holy Qur’an, 47:7).

7) Returning to this world at the time of his reappearance as we recite during the recitation of Du’a al-Ahd.

8) Ensures steadfastness on faith and safety from the mischief and destruction of the last era.

9) Keeps away divine punishment and chastisement.

10) Preparation and continuous asking of the believers for the reappearance of our master Imam az-Zaman (AJ) from Allah the All-Powerful, the Obliger, is definitely a cause for the nearness of his reappearance and the quickness of his advent, as has come down in traditions.

B) Benefits In The Hereafter

Allama Sayed Muhammad Taqi al-Isfahani (a.r.) in the fifth chapter of his book, ‘Mikyal al-Makarim’, has discussed numerous advantages for praying for Imam al-’Asr (‘a). Here, we shall discuss a few of them, while keeping brevity in consideration:

1) Success in achieving the intercession of the Holy Prophet (S) and his holy progeny (‘a) on the Day of Judgement, and this is due to invoking the early reappearance of his son, Hazrat Mahdi (AJ).

2) The intercession of Hazrat Mahdi (AJ) himself on the Day of Judgement.

3) Rewarding the labour of prophethood of Allah’s Messenger (S) and arriving with his love.

4) Forgiveness of sins.

5) Reward for avenging the blood of Imam Husayn (‘a), the martyr, the oppressed.

6) Guidance through the light of the Holy Qur’an.

7) Becoming the most beloved creature of Allah, the High.

8) Intercession of seventy thousand sinners.

9) Contentment of heart on the Day of Judgement.

10) Equal to the reward of twenty Hajj and Umrah.

11) Fulfillment of a thousand desires on the Day of Judgement.

12) Angels pray for the forgiveness of the one who prays for the reappearance of Imam az-Zaman (AJ).

13) Instills fear in the accursed Shaitan and breaks his heart.

14) Obtaining one-third reward of all the creatures.

15) Glad-tidings and leniency at the time of death, Barzakh and resurrection.

16) Reward of the one who is martyred under the standard of Hazrat Al-Qa’im (AJ).

17) Any gathering in which reappearance of Hazrat Al-Qa’im (AJ) is invoked is attended by the noble angels.

18) According to reliable traditions and authentic narration, supplicating for him in his occultation is much better than praying for him after his reappearance.2

• 1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 74, p. 111, narrating from al-Kafi of Kulayni.
• 2. Mikyal al-Makarem, vol. 1, p. 298-515. Online at: https://www.al-islam.org/mikyal-al-makarim-fi-fawaid-al-dua-lil-qaim-vol...