Our Role in Hastening the Advent of the Savior: Cultivating Awareness and Inner Transformation to Fulfill the Divine Promise
As world conditions become increasingly difficult and complex, the idea of the advent of the Promised Savior is no longer just a religious issue exclusive to a specific faith or creed. Global crises, such as economic instability, health challenges, and medical crises, along with the widespread and the inhumane injustice of selfish superpowers, have awakened the need for a savior in the hearts of people everywhere. Today’s conscious and free-thinking individuals realize that only a divine, knowledgeable, expert, and infallible savior can pull the world out of this quagmire.
This savior is the one who can revive the lost humanity within the people of the world. Only under the leadership of the most perfect human being can humanity fully cultivate the human and divine dimensions of the heart. However, the crucial point is that to reach this destination, the greatest and most difficult goal in the universe, one cannot merely rely on a wish, a heartfelt desire, or even a slogan. Rather, our role in hastening the advent is far more profound. Fulfilling this goal requires great effort and struggle.
We might initially think these efforts are only about the external world and the divine global revolutions. While this assumption is partially true, and a global revolution and collective movement are absolute prerequisites for the advent of Imam Mahdi (Peace be upon him), the truth of the matter and the most critical part of this event are rooted in the human heart. It is not limited to words or outward actions. We might express revolutionary ideals in both word and deed, and even strive for the advent of the Savior; however, if we do not truly understand our role in hastening the advent, the inner truth of our hearts will not align with our intentions, nor will we be attuned to the purity and sanctity of this movement. Consequently, our actions will not be very effective. The advent of the Savior is a phenomenon that occurs as a result of a spiritual journey that primarily and fundamentally takes place within our hearts and, if guided correctly, results in the advent. Therefore, until our role in hastening the advent is deeply understood and we recognize our place within this spiritual revolution and rule, the advent will not occur.
The Essence of the Global Revolution Leading to the Advent of the Promised Savior
The world that takes shape after the advent of the Promised Savior is one designed and implemented based on the pure fitrah of human beings and in accordance with the soundness of their hearts. Thus, to lay the groundwork for establishing this human- centered government, the human heart must first move away from the darkness of spiritual diseases, impurities, and sins toward purity, cleanliness, and soundness. Otherwise, the Promised Savior will not be able to establish the Noble Rule of the Righteous. How can a world designed for the formation and elevation of human hearts embrace hearts that have previously acquired no specific preparation for this growth and elevation? Before the advent, the human heart must have learned and practiced the basics of acquiring spiritual health. This is the only way to help bring about the advent and heal the heart’s wounds and infections under the Noble Rule of the Righteous.
The coming of the Imam is the result of understanding our role in hastening the advent and sparking the inner revolution of hearts. Through this revolution, hearts are transformed and healed, actively seeking a path toward the governance of the pure. Until this concern and revolution happen in the hearts of those of us awaiting the Savior, and until we set ourselves on a true path for self-improvement, the advent will not take place. This holds true even if we rise up for months and years, fighting militarily, politically, and globally against the arrogant oppressors of the world.
The issue of the advent is a matter of the heart that must first be realized within people’s hearts, not just in their outward appearance. The true place of the Promised Savior’s advent is within human hearts, not just on the physical Earth. Since the Promised Savior is the embodiment of purity, soundness, and Heaven, he cannot manifest in a heart burning in the fire of the diseases of the soul and moral vices, as there is no harmony between them. Our role in hastening the advent is so profound and sensitive that a heart still filled with the fire of vices and sins, such as resentment, anger, sorrow, fear, and so forth, cannot become the dwelling place of the Savior, nor can it fight and strive to establish a world full of peace and soundness.
The Secret to the Savior’s Advent
The most important condition for those who wish to be among the righteous of the End Times is self-improvement, guarding the heart, and purifying the soul. If we fail to understand our role in hastening the advent and lack these traits and spiritual struggle, even if we conquer the entire world, we will have prepared a hell for ourselves as vast as the world itself, because our intentions are not adorned with purity and piety. Sooner or later, we ourselves will become part of the very tyrants who have obstructed the path of the advent.
Since the advent of the Promised Savior is an internal and human revolution, the smallest deeds, if done with the intention of self-improvement and purification of the heart and the soul, are far more effective than the grandest actions done without self-improvement and purity of intention. Thus, for the advent to occur, the journey of self-improvement, inner correction, and purification of the heart must be guided in a righteous and humane direction. Achieving this goal requires a proper understanding of our role in hastening the advent. Until we confront the roots rather than merely the surface appearances of this revolution, and until we embrace our primary responsibility in hastening the Savior’s advent, the current tyrants and arrogant powers will remain unchallenged. Neither will the promised Noble Rule of the Righteous, meant to elevate humanity as Allah’s deputies on Earth, come to fruition. God determines human destiny based on their decrees, efforts and lifestyles, and the Noble Rule of the Righteous is a destiny granted to individuals in exchange for their efforts to achieve a sound heart. The destiny of individuals and their achievements are the result of what arises from their hearts and actions. The extent of our role in hastening the advent is not exempt from this rule; it influences the advent of the Savior of the world in proportion to the soundness of heart we have acquired throughout our lives.