HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) HAS BEEN AWAITED SINCE THE TIMES OF THE PROPHET ADAM (AS)
He is expected to come in the times of the Prophet Abraham (as). You ask, “Do the Jews anticipate his coming?” Of course the Jews await him since his coming is heralded in the Jewish sources, in the Torah as well. The Prophet Abraham (as) waited, so did the Prophet Noah (as). Listen, it is interesting that the Prophet Adam (as) also waited to see him. Moshiach, the Mahdi was expected to arrive as of the time of the Prophet Adam (as). Think about the thousands of years that have passed. The Messenger of God (saas) loves Hazrat Mahdi (as) very much. That is why he talks about him quite often. He always says, “Mahdi, Mahdi, Mahdi.” His companions also love the Mahdi (as) so much. Hazrat Ali (ra) loves him since he is of his progeny. But the hypocrites hold a deep grudge; they form an organization among themselves. The Shi’a then continued as a sequence of Muslims that nurtured an intense resentment against their persecution. The Sunni also suffered, went through anguish and oppression but they reasonably waited for the Mahdi in a more tranquil and more sensible manner. But the Shiites await him with great excitement.
KEEPING HYPOCRITES ON THE STRAIGHT PATH IS AS HARD AS HOLDING A PILE OF ASH STRAIGHT. THEY SPEND EVERY MOMENT IN VILLIANY AND IMMORALTY
In the 118th verse of Surah Al ‘Imran, God says “You who have faith! Do not take any outside yourselves as intimates” that is, those who are immoral, hypocrites or psychopaths. “They will do anything to harm you.” The verse continues: “They love what causes you distress. Hatred has appeared out of their mouths.” The hypocrites are indeed spiteful. Keeping hypocrites on the straight path is as hard as holding a pile of ashes straight. They are prone to resorting to their hypocritical ways at any time as they spend every moment in villainy and immorality. It is very difficult to keep hypocrites in balance, and since their heart is in alliance with satan they can hardly desist from committing foul deeds and will try to do so at the slightest opportunity. Listen, “Hatred has appeared out of their mouths, but what their breasts hide is far worse.” That is, Almighty God says that hypocrites harbor an immense hatred and resentment like a volcano.