Recourse to someone denotes to use him/her as a means in order to gain something, and with this description, recourse to Imam Mahdi peace be upon him, first of all, is using him to realize God’s sovereignty and establish the pure religion in the world, which is obligatory for all Muslims; because His Excellency, based on the Mutawatir news from the Prophet peace be upon him and his family, is the Caliph of God on earth and therefore, he is the only source available to realize the sovereignty of God and establish the pure religion in the world, and there is no alternative for him to make people needless from him, and considering such a description, it is obligatory for all Muslims to use him, although it requires preparing for his advent and this is the point that His Excellency Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani (may God protect him) has explained in detail in the topic “Incumbency of appearing Mahdi on people” in the noble book “Return to Islam”[1].

Additionally, recourse to Imam Mahdi peace be upon him is recommended, when it denotes using His Excellency as a means for forgiveness of our sins by God due to the fact that he is the Caliph of God on earth, rather it is likely to be obligatory for Muslims; because using the Prophet peace be upon him and his family as a means for forgiveness of sins by God as His Caliph on earth, was recommended, rather it was obligatory; as God has said in His Book: ﴿وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذْ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَحِيمًا﴾[2]; “And if they came to you when they have oppressed themselves, so they asked God’s forgiveness and the Prophet asked forgiveness for them, they would indeed find God, a kind accepter of repentance” and He has said: ﴿وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا يَسْتَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَوَّوْا رُءُوسَهُمْ وَرَأَيْتَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ وَهُمْ مُسْتَكْبِرُونَ﴾[3]; “And when it is said to them: come, God’s Messenger will seek forgiveness for you, they nod their heads and you see them holding back in pride”! Of course, the purpose of this recourse -as it is clear- is that Muslims come to the Caliph of God on earth and ask him to ask forgiveness for them from God, not to sit in a corner far from him, and call him with whisper or loud voice so that he fulfills their needs in the presence of God; because this work, despite its prevalence among the public, does not have a basis in the religion and is contrary to the moral of wise men; regarding that religion has considered the knowledge of the unseen and fulfillment of the hidden needs from the characteristics of God, and it has not considered them necessary for His Caliph on earth, and for example has said: ﴿قُلْ لَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ﴾[4]; “Say I do not tell you that God’s treasures are at my hand and I do not know the unseen” and has said: ﴿قُلْ لَا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لَاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِيَ السُّوءُ﴾[5]; “Say I do not own any profit and loss for myself unless what God wills and if I knew the secrets, I would increase the Good and would not be harmed”, and wise men also do not call each other in absence, rather they go to each other and express their need in person. Hence, it is obligatory for Muslims to go to Mahdi peace be upon him and ask him to pray for them and ask for their forgiveness, and if this is not possible for them at the moment, it is because of their own fault in providing its arrangements and therefore, it is obligatory for them to immediately prepare its arrangements, not be satisfied with sitting in a corner and calling Mahdi peace be upon him from far away, and providing its arrangements is possible with a community of a sufficient number of them to protect and support His Excellency, which Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani (may God protect him) has raised its flag and invites to it.

Yes, the prayer of Muslims in the presence of God by using the credibility and reverence of Mahdi peace be upon him, in a way that asking God to forgive their sins and fulfill their desires by his Excellency’s credibility and reverence, is not wrong; because it is his Excellency’s credibility and reverence to God which cause the recommendation and obligation of asking prayer and forgiveness from him and with this description, using them in praying to God, is not contrary to intellect and religion; except that no special and valid prayer for this work has been narrated and the existing prayers often lack documentation; regardless of some strange prayers that have been provided appointing to Mahdi peace be upon him and are mostly fabricated, and it is not permissible to read them with the belief that they have come from His Excellency or his great fathers, but rather using them as a worshiping act is one of the examples of heresy, and considering such a description, it is better for every Muslim to pray in the presence of God with their own words and ask Him to forgive their sins and fulfill their needs by the credibility and reverence of Mahdi peace be upon him; just as it is appropriate for them to pray in the presence of God with their own words and ask Him to protect Mahdi peace be upon him from all problems and evilnesses by His glory and mercy and guide Muslims to prepare the grounds for his advent as soon as possible; because He is so beneficent and merciful and there is no end to His benefaction treasures.