The Mahdi Times April 2012 | Page 20

dictionary the following definitions can be found: to die down, subside, abate, let up and also it says this context of the word is similar to "sakan" and "hada” both meaning to calm down or to quieten. And so this context of the word could be used to give another meaning "and he does not reach it until he dies down" (die down: to subside, diminish). More specifically, the subsiding of his wrath, and this is of course when Allah (swt) Places Mercy in his heart, as narrated from Imam Baqir (a.s): "He will place the sword on his shoulders for 8 months [it will be] turmoil and pandemonium until Allah is pleased." I said: 'How will he know that Allah is pleased?' He said: 'Allah (swt) will cast mercy into his heart.' " Ghaibata AlNu'mani, p.164. This wrath that will go on for 8 months is very intense, such that the people will complain and say if he was actually from the children of Fatima (a.s) then he would have mercy, as narrated from Ali (a.s): "Allah releases the trials through a man from us, he will afflict them with destruction/humiliation, he will not give them anything except the sword, he will place the sword on his shoulder for eight months, until they say: 'By Allah, this person is not from the children of Fatima (a.s), if he were from her (a.s) children, he would have surely had mercy on us.' " alA'raf alWardi fi Akhbar alMahdi, (1/109), Hadith 130. The concept of the 12 Mahdis (a.s) has been