Our Qa'im The 12th Imam - Imam Mahdi (mahhr): When he calls, will we be amongst the strange ones? A tradition worth considering soon.

In a long traditional report it is narrated from His Eminence, Abu Ja'far Baqir (as) that he said:

"When our Qa'im rises up he will invite the people to a new faith just as the Messenger of Allah (saw) had done.  And Islam began strange and it would return to strangeness.  Then blessed be the strange ones."

It is reported from Abu Baseer that he quoted His Eminence, Abu Abdillah Sadiq (as) thus:

"Islam began strange and in the end would return to the same condition.  Then blessed be the strange ones." Abu Baseer asked: May Allah bless you, please explain this to me.

He replied: "An inviter from among us will initiate a new call just as the Messenger of Allah (saw) had invited."

Page 102 Mikyal Al-Makarim

Why will it be so strange if Islam today is the fastest growing religion in the world?
What is it that we Muslims, Shias are neglecting to understand?
How can we get back to the original path and in which ways have the majority strayed?

Finally,

If mankind began from a basic point whereby Allah sent Adam (as), Noh (as), Musa (as) etc in definate grades of teaching which if we analyse the people of the time of all the major prophets (as) we can understand the definate strengths and weaknesses of the people of the time of these prophets.  We can analyze their downfalls and the repetitions of their flaws and habits.  What was the difference between the people of one prophet and the people of the next prophet and what is the evolution that took place between the people of each time.

What can we learn if we put in the development of a human being (I like to compare with the chakra system personally but you can choose your own) and what was the strength (and weakness) of the people of the time of our Holy Prophet (saw).  So where does this leave the development of the Ummah from that time to now, what attitudes and behaviors are we as an Ummah replicating and how can we find our individual development in this grand scope of human development.

Should we compare ourselves with the next muslim who is more or less advanced in human development than ourselves and how do we get from here to the next level of human evolution. What are the signs in our lives that tell us which level we may be at?

What were the lessons of each prophet that enables us to understand where those prophets (as) were trying to pull the people.

What can we understand about the communities during the times of each of our Imams (as)?
What was the development that can guide us in knowing from where we personally came and where we personally are heading?

Are we asking the questions that help us in our progress or are we still asking "How many hairs do I have"

Why did Imam Ali (as) say: "Ask me before you lose me"

What are we not asking?

These questions are the questions I personally have pondered that I like to share because sometimes they let us see things in a new light which going by these hadiths are exactly what we may be needing.??