The greatest characteristic of this belief among Shias is that it engenders hope. The Shia community is not only reliant on its past history. It is hopeful about the future as wel
A person who believes in the issue of Mahdaviat on the basis of Shia ideology does not empty his heart of hope even in the most difficult circumstances.
There is always a ray of hope in the heart of such a person.
They know that this dark era and this era of oppression and illegitimate domination will definitely come to an end. This is one of the most important results and achievements of this belief.
Of course, Shia belief in the issue of Mahdaviat is not confined to this point: "People all over the world feed from his blessings and the heavens and the earth gain strength thanks to his existence" [Commentary on Usul al-Kafi, Vol. 1, p. 4].
Belief in Mahdaviat is like this. This bright flame and this shining light has existed in Shia societies in the course of past centuries and it will continue to exist. By Allah's favor, the anticipation era will come to an end.
Imam Khomeini in this regard said as following:
The Noble Prophet is ruler over the entire creation; similarly, Imām Mahdī is ruler over the entire creation. The former is the Seal of the Prophets while the latter is the Seal of the Imāms. The former is the general guardian by nature while the latter is the general guardian by delegation.
(Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol.20, page 233)
It is not such that when we wait for reappearance of the Imām of the Time (PBUH), we should sit at home, pray for his reappearance. His reappearance should be hastened through your struggle... To prepare the ground is achieved by bringing Muslims together and get them united. God willing, he will reappear.
Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol.18, page 221
The essence truth of the caliphate and guardianship is the emergence of divinity, and that is the principle of its existence and perfection, and every being has a specific share, and the divine mercies and decencies are recorded throughout the universe from the unseen worlds to the end of witnessing abode for all.
(Disciplines of prayer page 141)
Being the proof of God and Infallible doesn’t mean that Imam is assigned only with expressing the rulings, because the words of disciples like Zurarah and Muhammad ibn Muslim are also proof and no one has the right to reject and not act on their narrations, and this is clear. Rather, the meaning of the authority of Imam al-Zaman and his noble forefathers are of such a statues that God Almighty made them criterion and a role model for His servants in all aspects of their lives including existence, manners, behavior and speech.
(Kitab al-Ba’ei, Volume 2, PP. 474-475)