Introduction
Part One - His Position 12
Divine Guidance & Human Purpose 14
The Guides and the Guided 16
The Muqarrabun 17
The Treasurers of Knowledge 19
Hukm 21
Khalifatullah 25
Knowledge of The Names (asma') 32
The Warner and The Guide 36
The Concept of Imam in The Qur'an 39
The Concepty of the Hujjah (proof) 46
The Continuity of the Hujjah (proof) 47
Accessibility to The Hujjah (proof) 49
The Twelve Successors 55
The Twelve Muhaddath 58
Muhaddath and Siddiq 62
The Identity of The Ahlul Bayt 66
A Summary of the Discussion so far 72
The Identity of The Mahdi 73
Traditions About the Occultation 76
Part Two - His Mission 80
A Contextual Perspective 81
Establishing The Book of God 82
The Defining Features of His Time 84
1. Justice 88
2. Increase in Faith and Reduction in Sin 90
3. Affluence 92
4. Security 97
5. The Growth of Knowledge 98
6. One Faith 100
7. Prevalence of Peace 102
8. Universal Altruism 102
9. Care for Nature 103
10. Enhancement of Life 103
Active Hope for The Ease (faraj) 104
Part Three - Our Responsibility in His Absence 107
The Leading Imam 108
Keeping Faith in Mahdi During His Absence 111
Merits of Expectation (intidhar) 113
The Faraj (ease) 117
In Preparation for His Coming 121
Endnotes 126
