From Hasan ibn Salih al-Bezzaz: Hasan ibn Ali Asqari (as) said: “THE TRUTH IS THAT MY SON IS THE QAIM [HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)] AFTERWARD. THE SUNNAH OF THE PROPHETS WILL BE UPON HIM [HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)] IN HIS LONG LIFE AND DISAPPEARANCE. SOME HEARTS WILL GROW AS HARD AS STONE AND SAY THAT THIS PERIOD HAS GONE ON TOO LONG. APART FROM THOSE IN WHOSE HEARTS ALLAH INSCRIBES FAITH AND SUPPORTS WITH HIS MERCY THERE WILL BE NO ONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM [HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)].” (Qamal al-Deen, p. 526 and Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 51, p. 224) |
As with the other prophets, Hazrat Mahdi (as) will have a long and trouble-filled life. There will be a time when Hazrat Mahdi (as) disappears, and this period, when Hazrat Mahdi (as) is not recognized will be long, and the fact that his appearance takes longer than some people imagine will cause the hearts of some people weak in faith to harden. For that reason, the number of believers in Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be as low as 313. These will be people in whose hearts Allah has specially written, very honest people.