Believing in Imam Mahdi (a.s.) does not men adopting seclusion
Believing in Imam Mahdi (a.s.) is not equivalent to seclusion. Deviated movements before the revolution advocated-- and some are still promoting in some areas today-- that Imam Mahdi (a.s.) will come and resolve the problems; so we would we need to do anything! This is like avoiding to turn on the lights at dark nights because the sun will come out the next day and lighten everywhere. Tomorrow's sun has nothing to do with today’s conditions of you and I. Today, we see there is oppression, injustice, discrimination, domineering anywhere in the world—and these are the same predicaments that Imam Mahdi (a.j.) will come to combat. If we claim to be soldiers of Imam Mahdi (a.j.), we should prepare ourselves to fight against them. The most important duty of those who await Imam Mahdi (a.j.) is to prepare themselves in areas of spirituality, ethics, religious practice, and to develop religious, and friendly bonds with other believers; as well as prepare themselves for confronting the domineering powers… anyone who awaits the great redeemer should prepare in themselves the basis for redemption, so they can endure establishing redemption in the world.