*Advent of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (ATFS)

Ali and his family were very pious and religious people, they would
visit Islamic Center's and Masjid's every Thursday and Friday, they
would seldom missed any opportunity as far as"rights of Allah" like
performing prayers and other mandatory religious requirements was
concerned but the same could not be said when it came to the rights of
the oppressed. Not that they did not like to help the oppressed
buttheir "hectic schedule" and "low priority" prevented them from
making the necessary effort in that direction.
It was the auspicious night of 15th Shab'an thebirth anniversary of
Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (ATFS) and Ali was extremely please with
himself as he was able to joined the congregation at the Islamic
Centre to celebrate the occasion and to perform special prayers,
including the supplications invoking Allah (SWT) to hasten the advent
of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (ATFS). After staying awake throughout the
night in prayers and assuming close proximity of Imam Mehdi (ATFS), he
peacefully went to sleep.
Ali woke up on a bright, sunny morning and looked out of the window.
It looked like a perfectly normal day, but then he remembered it
wouldn't be as perfect as he would've liked it to be. Just this past
week, the sun had started risingfrom the west and setting in the east.
The meteorologists at NASA kept saying again and again on the news
mediathat it was only the dust from the severe earthquakes occurring
around the world that was causing this outstanding mirage. Thatit
wasn't the only thing making 'top headlines' on the news though. A
powerful man was slowlytaking over the world under the guise of "war
on terror". Could he be the prophesized"Sufiani" Ali wondered, the
evil person appearing before the advent of Imam Mehdi (ATFS) as he sat
in his bedtrying to remember where he had heard about him before. Was
it in one of the Islamic speeches or at "Sunday Madrassa", Yes, he
said tohimself it was at "Sunday Madrassa" that's where he had heard.
But what did they warn us about"Sufiani"? He is a rich, powerful man
with plenty of resources. He will buy the high profile people from the
Muslim Ummah to promote his evil plan while the majority will remain
completely oblivious to what is really going on, their primary and
only concern would be to satisfy their desires whatever that may be,
consumption, sex, love, status, money, etc. In the mean time, Sufiani
and his army shall be pulling the strings and profiting from global
exploitation with no resistance because the masses were simply
mindless zombies.
Ali was just getting readyto get out of bed when he heard a loud voice
saying that the one who will rid the world of injustice has come. Just
as the voice stopped speaking, Ali heard another voice that spoke to
him softly, in a very soothing tone that immediately made him feel
very sleepy. "Go backto sleep" it said. "There isno one here your mind
is playing tricks on you. Think of how tired you are and how warm your
bed is. Go on back to sleep." Like a fool, Ali listened to the voice
and went back to sleep.
The sound of the doorbell woke him up, Alitried to ignore it but the
persistent ringing convinced him that whoever was there was not going
away. Finally Ali dragged himself out of the bed to open the door. He
saw a handsomeyoung stranger staring athim with kindness. The stranger
greeted him in an extremely polite way. Ali usually wouldn't
invitestrangers in his house, but something about thisman made him to
invite him inside. As the stranger stepped in, he said "are you ready
to join me in my struggle to spread justice in this world". On hearing
this, Ali was baffled, confused and perplexed, gatheringenough courage
he asked, "Who are you?" The stranger politely replied, "you always
stood-up whenever my name was uttered as a indication of joining me in
my struggle, on hearing my name you would place your right hand on
your head as a sign of offering your head in my cause" - The time has
come, Islam needs your sacrifice in order to restore the justice and
peace". He further continued "I am preparing an army that will help us
get rid of these evil people, and restore peace and justice". On
hearing his words, rush of adrenaline soared through Ali's vein,
comprehension dawned on him as he realized that he was in the presence
of his Imam. Ali's knees felt weak as relief washed over him.
Ali replied, "O my Imam, I have patiently waited foryou all along
during these hard times and I would be highly obliged to join your
army if you could solve my simple little problems, you see I just
bought my first big house and to pay the"mortgage" for this I and my
wife have to work round the clock. The big house without the furniture
was worthless so we bought new furniture's. In this new neighbourhood
all my neighbours had new latest car so we got new cars. To watch the
annual Hajj Pilgrimage live from Makkah and Ashura live from Karbala
we bought new plasma TV, all this recent expenditures has put us in
tremendous debt. Than we have this"recurring" expense of my children's
that are undergoing graduation, can you help me with thissmall
problem. The Imam stood in silence, he did not speak......
Ali continued......if my problems could be solve, I would gladly
joined you. I know I am sounding similar to my forefathers that left
your forefathers stranded before but let me tell youthat my
forefathers were wrong because they had more time then we have, you
see we are terribly swamp at times for weeks together I don't get time
to see my wife or my children's we just exchange messages on"voice
mails" and"emails". If I had time I would have gladly joinedyou
however I promise you that every evening I will perform additional
prayers for your success, please consider me with you spiritually and
financially. The Imam looked at Ali walked away towards the door
saying, "You are the real cause of my delay, you are still not ready
for my mission".
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar! Ali opened his eyes, he was jolted awake by
the sound of the adhan emanating from his digital alarm clock. He sat
up in his bedand looked around his master bedroom. His heart was still
beating fast as he realized that it was a tragic dream. A dream that
has shattered all his hope, all along he has thought that he was
waiting for his Imam but his dream has proved otherwise. He had
gathered enough "signs on the appearance" of Imam but failed to meet
the "conditions of appearance" he realized how unprepared he was for
his Imam's advent, he cried from the depth of his heart, he fell to
the floor crying in shame andsaying "O Allah let this tragic dream
become wake-up call for my preparation, give me courage and hope to
work for the condition that will result in the final uprising of Imam
Muhammad al-Mahdi (ATFS)".