There once lived a great Mujtahid named Allama Majlisi. Once this Mujtahid was asked what to do with the body of a pregnant woman who had died. Should the dead woman be buried as she was or should she be cut open and the child removed, then the woman buried?

Allama decided that the woman should be buried as she was, with the child.

When the people were carrying the coffin to the grave, a horseman appeared and said that Allama had decided that the baby should be removed, this was done.

A few years later Allama Majlisi was visited by a man with a small child. The man told Allama that this was the same child that had been cut from his mother after Allama had sent the horseman telling the people that he had changed his instructions.

Allama immediately realized that the horseman must have been Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (AS) who had come to his help, preventing him making a grave mistake.

From that day Allama stayed in his house refusing to give anymore advice to the people, in case he made another mistake. In a few days he received a letter from Imam (AS) telling him that he should not worry and should continue to guide the people. If by any chance he made a mistake Imam (AS) would come to help him rectify it.

The duties of each and every Muslim in the time of Ghaybat-e-kubra is:

1. To be the caretakers of Islam.
2. To pray for the safety of Imam (AS) and give sadaqa for his safety.
3. Ask Allah to make Imam (AS) appearance soon, so that he may come and fill the world with truth and peace.
4. Whenever the name of the 12th Imam is said, you should stand, placing your right hand on your head and bow your head. You should also recite Salawaat after his name.

Conclusion: The Holy Prophet (SAW) has said that if someone dies without knowing the Imam (AS) of his time, his death is that of an unbeliever. We must therefore carry out our duties to our 12th Imam who is still alive and in Ghaybat (concealment).

Syed Amili searched and searched for the caravan but could not find them. It became dark as night set in. He was all alone in the hot desert, tired, hungry and frightened.

He was about to give up and prepare himself for death when he suddenly saw some water. He went to the water drank some and then did wudhu/ablution and offered his Salaat/prayer.

After his Salaat he did not have any more strength and lay there waiting for death.

All of a sudden he saw a person riding a horse getting closer and closer to him.

When the horse rider reached Syed Amili he said Salaam to him and asked him what the matter was. Syed Amili explained that he had lost his caravan and was hungry.

The rider asked him why then did he not eat the melons that were lying beside him. Syed Amili asked the rider not to make fun of him as he had searched all over for food.

The rider said he was not joking, and to look behind him. Syed Amili looked and there were three melons.

The rider then told him to eat one of them and to take the other two with him and pointed out the direction he was to go in. He also told Syed Amili that at about sunset he would reach a tent and from there he would be guided to his caravan.

Then the rider disappeared. Syed Amili says that was when he realized that it was our 12th Imam, Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (AS).

Syed Amili did as he was told and sure enough the next day at sunset he reached the tent and was directed to his caravan.

Conclusion: Although we cannot see our 12th Imam (AS) he can see us and knows when we are in need of his help and comes to help us.

Suddenly she found that she had lost her mother. She looked every where but couldn't see her so she cried: "O' mum! O' dear mother..."

The people were circumambulating the Holy Ka'aba and were shouting "Here I am." So no one could hear her cries.

So she said to herself: "O' my God! What should I do now"? I can neither go back, nor do I know how to circumambulate the Holy Ka'aba.

Once again she went here and there and looked for her mother hopping that she would be able to find her but it was useless, there were no sign of her at all. She suddenly remembered her aunt who while biding her farewell had told her: "When you reached Holy Ka'aba, extend my greetings to my Master!"

She raised her little hands to the sky and cried out sorrowfully "O' Mahdi, rescue me. O' you, the Expected Imam helps me out."

Suddenly she heard a voice which was calling her by her name.

She raised her head and saw a handsome man in Ihram who was standing before her.

The stranger said: "little girl rise and circumambulate the Holy Ka'aba."

The little girl said: "But I do not know how to Circumambulate. Moreover, I can not circumambulate the Holy of Ka'aba alone among this crowd."

The stranger said: "Come with me and act just as I do." Thus she rose and circumambulated the Holy Ka'aba along with the lmam. When they circumambulated the Holy Ka'aba for the seventh time the stranger told the girl, "Dear little girl! Your mother and friends are there. So hurry up and join them."

She looked that way. Yes, he was right. Her mother was among the women standing there in with dresses, she recognized her mother at first sight so she turned to the stranger to thank him, but had disappeared.

She looked every where, but she could not find him and thus she ran to her mother, embraced her and kissed her face. Her mother said: "Where were you, O' my daughter? I was so anxious about you that I was about to give up my ghost."

The little girl quite happily explained whatever had happened to her for her mother. When she finished speaking, her mother took her in her arms and began to cry. She then said: "O' my dear daughter! You called your Hadrat Mahdi (May God hasten his glad advent) and the Imam helped you. You really met the Expected Imam. O' my daughter!"

"You mean I have circumambulated the Holy Ka'aba along with Hadrat! I do not believe it!"

She suddenly remembered that she had to extend her aunt's greetings to the Imam. Thus she turned to the people who were circumambulating the Holy Ka'aba and shouted. "O' my Master! I beg your pardon! I nearly forgot, my aunt has extended her greetings to you."

He lost his patience because of the great thirst and felt himself somehow on the verge of death. He thought for a while and said to himself: "I must die. Those vultures flying over my head and these ants are all after my dead body. There is no way out and death is irresistible.

Suddenly, he came to himself by the neigh of a horse. Then he gathered all his power to open up his eyes and look at the horizon. Suddenly he saw a hand some young horseman who was coming toward him. He said to himself: "Is it an illusion? Am I dreaming? Is he really coming to help me?"

The horseman approached and gave him a bowl of water. He drank it up and said "What fine water! How cold and sweet it is! Who are you, O man?!"

You actually rescued me!

The stranger answered: "It is me who shall fill the world with justice. This is me, God's true reason and proof for His servants. I am God's Remainder."

All at once the man began to tremble. He felt himself as a drop before an ocean of firmness and generosity. The Imam then told him: "Close your eyes!" He closed his eyes and when he opened them upon the Imam's command, he found himself in front of his missing Caravan. The moment he really came to and looked around to thank Imam Mahdi (AS), he found that the Imam (May God hasten his glad advent) was gone and disappeared.