When personal desires take precedence over divine law: Are we paving the way for Imam al-Mahdi – or delaying his reappearance? Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammad Taqi Bahjat (r.a.) once offered a profound reminder: "How difficult it is for this state not to become a rooted trait within us: that before taking any action, we first ask ourselves, 'Would Imam Sahib al-Zaman (may Allah hasten his reappearance) approve of this, or not?' Our greatest concern in everything we do should be to seek his pleasure and bring joy to his heart." This raises several questions that everyone must have the courage to confront: If we truly seek the pleasure of the Imam of our time, do the religious additions and customs we introduce truly bring joy to his heart – or do they cause him distress? What need would people have for an Imam whose teachings align with their personal desires? What would they want from a leader who merely approves of the religious customs they have grown accustomed to, even when these customs contradict Allah's rulings? Some have lived for years in ways they justified in the name of religion. Having grown accustomed to following their inclinations, they might find it unbearable when someone comes and calls for a return to the truth. I would not be surprised if some, instead of welcoming the guidance of the Imams, would say to him: "Go back to where you came from!" Some might even wish for his death, for when a soul becomes deeply accustomed to sin and self-indulgence, it may develop an intolerance even for a single word of truth – let alone an Imam who comes to confront it with a reality that people have spent years hiding. Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) has remained in occultation for centuries, awaiting Allah's command and the emergence of sincere, steadfast believers ready to stand by his side. But this leaves us with deeply troubling questions: