I congratulate the esteemed audience on this auspicious feast and felicitous birth anniversary, and I hope that the favor and grace of that magnanimous Imam will be conferred on all of you.
The birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi (may Almighty Allah hasten his reappearance) is an auspicious feast not only for the Shia, but also for all the justice-seekers and truth-seekers of the world. In fact, the belief in a savior and deliverer of mankind is not only held by the Shia, but by all Muslims as well, whether the Shia or the Sunni. Even non-Muslims hold some kind of belief in a savior.
However, the only difference is that the Shia knows what the name, qualities and characteristics of this savior of mankind are. The Shia also believes that this savior is always ready and prepared to receive the divine commandment and begin his mission. As soon as he receives this divine order, he will embark on his great task of eliminating the afflictions of mankind and administering justice and equity throughout the world. Indeed, one of the most important goals that the savior will accomplish after his reappearance is administering justice in the world.
Today, humanity is expecting a savior who will put an end to oppression and injustice that have always existed in the history of mankind, a savior who will crush the oppressors and dispense justice and equity. This is what those looking forward to the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (greetings be upon him) will expect him to do when he reappears, since the main affliction of mankind is the lack of justice and equity.
In the course of the history of mankind, those wielding power have always oppressed and exerted pressure on the common people and deprived them of their legitimate rights. However, today, oppression and injustice are more prevalent than ever, and mankind is pinning his hopes on the savior more earnestly than ever to eliminate these afflictions.
The first inference drawn on the basis of the belief in the savior is that the elimination of oppression and injustice from the world is not only possible but certain as well. Today, when we talk to the politicians of some other countries about the global oppression and injustice, for which arrogant powers are mainly responsible, these politicians agree that oppression and injustice are prevalent in the world, but they also say that nothing can be done to change this situation!
In other words, these politicians, who are in charge of running the affairs of their countries, are themselves overwhelmed by despair, and they also infuse this despondency into their nations and weaken their hope that the evil and oppressive system currently dominating the world will change some day.
It is clear that despondent and dispirited nations will not be able to take effective action to change the present situation of the world. What inspires human beings to effective action and great efforts is hope and optimism. The belief in the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (greetings be upon him) illuminates the hearts of human beings with the light of hope.
Since we believe that this reappearance is sure to happen, and because we know that changing the evil and oppressive political system that is currently dominating the world is not only possible but also certain to happen, we consider the despair and despondency of others as pointless.
When a nation believes that the present unjust and oppressive world system will not last long, it will be infused with hope, courage and optimism. Therefore, if different nations across the world that are currently under the yoke of oppressive and unjust powers realize that oppression and injustice are not going to last forever, they will become filled with great hope and confidence and will get prepared for the reappearance of the savior, who will raise the banner of justice and equity in the whole world.
