Ayatullah Sayyid Mujtaba Nur Mufidi: The Encompassing Care and Watchfulness of the Imam of the Age (may Allah hasten his reappearance) over Humanity

Since in this class we usually read a narration on Wednesdays, and now it is also close to the middle of Sha‘ban… there is a narration from the Imam of the Age (may Allah hasten his reappearance) in which he says: «إِنَّا غَيْرُ مُهْمَلِينَ لِمُرَاعَاتِكُمْ وَ لَا نَاسِينَ لِذِكْرِكُمْ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَنَزَلَ بِكُمُ اللَّأْوَاءُ وَ اصْطَلَمَكُمُ الْأَعْدَاءُ» — “We are never remiss in caring for you, nor do we forget to remember you. Were it not for this, hardship would descend upon you and enemies would destroy you.” That is, if we were to forget you or be remiss in caring for you, so many afflictions and problems would befall you that your enemies would completely annihilate you and uproot you entirely.

This statement is highly effective, both as a bearer of glad tidings and as a warning. On the one hand, it gives hope to a person that the Imam will not abandon his followers, devotees, and Shi‘as. Not only does he not abandon them, but he says: “We do not forget to remember you.” This is very important—that each and every one of us should feel that we are in the remembrance of the Imam of the Age (may Allah hasten his reappearance). For example, if a teacher were to tell you right now, “I never forget you,” how much joy would it bring you to know that you are, after all, somewhere in the back of that person’s mind? Imagine if a marja‘ of emulation, or the leader of a country, or the axis of all possibilities in the universe were to tell us, “We do not forget to remember you.” To think how it is possible that they do not forget all these people, with all these followers, devotees, soldiers, and lovers—this is nothing for a personality with the existential breadth of the Imam of the Age (may Allah hasten his reappearance). We have existential constriction and cannot hold many things together. Does Allah become heedless of the state of His servants? Is the flight of a bird or a mosquito beyond the scope of divine power? The same applies to the perfect human being. The perfect human being, according to his existential breadth, does not have oversight over all possible things—because he is the most noble of all.

Thus, when he says, “We do not forget to remember you,” this is a reality. This is very hope-giving for a person. «إِنَّا غَيْرُ مُهْمَلِينَ لِمُرَاعَاتِكُمْ» — “We are never remiss in caring for you.” This is very hope-giving: that the Imam both remembers us and watches over us, like a father who constantly watches over his children. However, we think that their care means that every wish we have should be fulfilled.

At the same time, however, it is also a warning and a caution: that he has full knowledge of our going astray, whether to the left or to the right. He sees our mistakes. God forbid, if we commit a sin, violate a right, or speak improperly, this is not hidden from their eyes. Indeed, the Imam himself says: «فَإِنَّا يُحِيطُ عِلْمُنَا بِأَنْبَائِكُمْ وَ لَا يَعْزُبُ عَنَّا شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنْ أَخْبَارِكُمْ» — “For our knowledge encompasses your affairs, and nothing of your circumstances escapes us.” This is the Imam’s explicit statement. If we think that expressing love, affection, and devotion to the Imam of the Time (may Allah hasten his reappearance) is sufficient, this is wrong. If we suppose, God forbid, that the Imam does not know of our errors and lapses, and that this much is enough to express our devotion, we are mistaken. No. All our errors and lapses are within the knowledge and awareness of the Imam. We must both be happy and be watchful; we must both be concerned and be joyful. Concerned about our own actions, conduct, and speech, and watchful and vigilant regarding the path of our lives. Not only our outward actions, but also our inward actions are not hidden from them. Whatever passes through our minds and hearts—God forbid, moral vices, jealousies, grudges, suspicions, ill intentions—all of these are, ultimately, manifest on the page of existence and are seen.

May Allah grant us the success to make our actions and conduct pleasing to that sacred being.