1. Importance of Belief in al-Mahdi
TheOccultationoftheImamisatimeoftrialforthebelievers.Butbelief
inImamal-Mahdiisveryessentialforsalvation.ImamHasanal-‘Askari
(a.s.)said, “Isee thatafter medifferences willappearamong youcon-
cerningtheImam afterme.WhosoacceptstheImams aftertheProphet
ofGodbutdeniesmysonislikethepersonwhoacceptsalltheprophets
butdenies the prophethoodof Muhammad,the Prophet of God, upon
whom be peace and blessing. And whoso denies [Muhammad] the
ProphetofGodislikeonewhohasdeniedalltheprophetsofGod,forto
obeythelastofusislikeobeyingthefirstandtodenythelastofusis
likedenyingthefirst.Butbeware!Verilyformysonthereisanocculta-
tion during which all people will fall into doubt except those whom
Allāh protects.”