Facebook post by Sayyed Watheq Alhusaini

The mention of a fire rising from the direction of the East—as a sign of imminent relief and prior to the appearance of the Riser (the Mahdi)—appears in reliable narrations among the Shia, including the following:

Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: “When you see a fire from the East that resembles a large turmeric-colored blaze rising for three or seven days, then anticipate the relief of the family of Muhammad (expect the relief through the appearance of the Riser), God willing. Verily, God is the Mighty, the Wise” (Al-Ghaybah [The Occultation], al-Numani, 262).

Imam Al-Sadiq, (peace be upon him), said: “When you see a sign in the sky—a great fire rising from the East for several nights—then at that time, relief will come to the people” (Al-Ghaybah [The Occultation], al-Numani, 274).

This sign is also mentioned in Sunni sources:

Nuaym ibn Hammad reports that Khalid ibn Madan said: “A sign will appear—a pillar of fire rising from the East, which will be seen by all the inhabitants of the earth. Whoever witnesses it, let him prepare a year’s supply of food for his family” (Kitab al-Fitan [The Book of Tribulations] by Nuaym ibn Hammad al-Marwazi, 132).

These blessed texts indicate several key points:

1. The Fire’s Direction: The East
   Identifying the direction from which the fire emerges (the East), as stated in the narrations (hadiths) of Imam al-Sadiq and Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon them), who lived in Medina. From their geographical location, the East refers to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, and similar eastern regions. These areas will play a central role in the events surrounding the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him)
   
   Specifying the East indicates both the direction from which the fire will appear and to the identity of those who will ignite it: the people of the East.”
   
   
2. The Description of the Fire
   The fire is described as “great” or like “a large turmeric-colored blaze,” indicating a yellow or reddish hue.
   
   The fire is immense—rising from earth to sky—horrifying in appearance and immense in impact.  It will signal relief for the believers and mark the end of a crisis that people have been suffering from. This great fire will grab the whole world’s attention indicating that its cause is not natural, but the result of a major war in which the Easterners are key players.
   
   This matches exactly the reality of the current war between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the axis of evil represented by Israel and its allies. The fire described in the narrations aligns precisely with the rockets launched from Iran (“the East”), appearing as pillars of fire striking the strongholds of the occupying entity, whose tyranny and evil have long tormented the region. 
   
   The Imams (peace be upon them) used the word “fire” symbolically, since the people of their time would not have understood modern rockets or missiles, as such technology did not exist yet. Therefore, the Imam (peace be upon him) used language that suited the understanding of his audience. The vicegerents of God speak to people according to their capacity to comprehend. Symbolic language is found in many narrations describing end-time events.
   
   
3. The Duration of the Fire
   The narrations mention the fire continuing for a few days—three or seven. This is precisely what happened, as the war only lasted a few days.
   
   Some might object and say: “Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said three or seven days, but the war lasted longer, so these narrations do not apply here.”
   
   The response: Taking the numbers in such narrations literally is a grave mistake. Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) did not specify three or seven days as a definitive duration for the appearance of the fire or the war. Rather, he meant that the duration would be short: days, not weeks or months.
   
   This narration and other, similar narrations speak of unseen matters, and speaking in detail about the unseen is not permitted for the Imam—even if he has knowledge of it. Therefore, he offers hints and indications instead of precise, detailed reports. Nonetheless, what he says still serves as a form of revelation about the unseen for those who understand it—namely, the believers who are familiar with the language of the Imams (peace be upon them). It is enough, for example, that the Imam (peace be upon him) refers to “days” for the believers to understand that he means a short period of time that will soon come to an end.
   
   Although the current situation pointed to a prolonged war, God ensured that everything foretold by the family of Muhammad (peace be upon them) came to pass. The fire from the East lasted only days—just as they foretold. This is what God and His Messenger promised us. And God and His Messenger spoke the truth.
   
   The fulfillment of the unseen prophecies reported from the Messenger of God and his family (peace be upon them) is evidence of the truth of this religion and the truth of this school of thought.
   
   
   

4. Visible to the Entire World
   
   The Sunni narration says that “all the inhabitants of the earth will see it.” This was fulfilled through the internet and television which did not exist a thousand years ago.
   
   It is a report of the unseen, indicating the authenticity of the narration and that it originates from those whom God has informed of His unseen. These reports were transmitted by the Sunnis from the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and their fulfillment is the best proof of their authenticity.
   
   Moreover, the narration mentions that all the people of the earth will witness this event, indicating that it is of great importance that will capture the world’s attention, and this is precisely what happened during this war.
   
   

5. Preparation for Calamity
   
   The narration from Nuaym also includes: “Let him prepare a year’s supply of food for his family.”
   
   This points to future calamities: wars, plagues, and famine.
   
   Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said:
   
   “There must be a year of hunger before the appearance of the Riser.” (Al-Ghaybah by al-Numani, 259)
   
   However, when Imam al-Sadiq and Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon them) mentioned the eastern fire, their emphasis was on the most significant outcome that follows it: the nearness of relief, through which the nation’s hardships will be lifted and hunger will come to an end.

6. The Greatest Point: The Fire is a Sign of the Riser’s Near Appearance
   
   This fire from the East is one of the signs indicating the nearness of the Riser’s emergence, and it will occur shortly before his rise. With his rise, oppression and corruption on land and sea—caused by human hands—will end, and God’s promise with the establishment of the state of divine truth and justice will be fulfilled.
   
   The purpose of mentioning this pivotal sign is to signal the nearness of relief and awaken a spirit of anticipation and readiness in the hearts of believers — which itself is a profound form of relief and among the greatest of deeds. It encourages believers to strengthen their faith, trust in God, uphold His religion, exhibit noble character, exercise patience, reform themselves, give glad tidings of the promised Imam and prepare—spiritually and practically—to meet him when he appears in the promised land.
   
   Since this sign has now occurred, the glad tidings of relief and the establishment of the Riser’s rule are near. Every believer who loves the Imam of their time must now assume responsibility and prepare for what is to come.
   
   As for those who try to distance people from the signs of the appearance and object to identifying these signs despite their clarity, claiming they can happen at any time or cannot be identified, and insist that the Mahdi will not appear for another thousand years, their claims are completely unfounded.
   
   Anyone who examines the words of the Prophet and his family (peace be upon them) regarding the conditions and signs of the end times will find that they were deeply committed to instilling hope and optimism in the hearts of their followers—encouraging them to await relief, prepare themselves, and be ready to support their awaited Imam. This is evident in their detailed mention of signs that identify the era of his appearance, signs that signal his appearance, signs that identify him and distinguish him from false claimants, signs that identify his forerunner, and signs that identify his enemies, and so on. All these signs were not given in vain. The family of the Prophet are the wise, knowledgeable, guiding, and rightly guided ones—the vicegerents of God who speak with His authority.
   
   Among the most important inevitable signs identified by the family of Muhammad (peace be upon them) is the appearance of the Promised Yamani. They detailed his identity and made it obligatory to follow and support him, as he is the primary forerunner for Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him) and the axis around which the relief revolves.
   
   He possesses such decisive evidence that no group—no matter how powerful or influential—can refute it. Yet despite all this, the objectors opposed him, attributing every flaw they could to him, belittling his mission, and inciting the people against him.
   
   Another sign is the Sufyani—the opposing force at the time of appearance who represents falsehood, the enemy of the Prophet’s family (peace be upon them) who rises to seek vengeance against their Shia (followers) and whose only concern is to eliminate and wipe out all trace of them. The Prophet’s Household (Ahl al-Bayt) identified him in advance—his origin, his rule, its duration, and its nature. The clearest sign of his presence today in Syria is the revival of the Umayyad legacy and rule in their name after over a thousand years of obscurity. Despite the clarity of all this, the objectors, as always, deny and ridicule, pulling people toward worldly distractions and away from their awaited Imam, who awaits the supporters and helpers.
   
   Those who deny we are in the time of appearance and who object to identifying its signs are implying that the signs and celestial and earthly portents mentioned in the narrations are of no use. This would mean the words of the Prophet and the Imams are meaningless or pointless—which is inconceivable. These people are either ignorant of the implications of their words, or they are individuals with worldly status or religious authority that would be threatened by the Imam’s appearance. They deny the signs not because of a lack of clarity, but because their hearts detest the rise of the Riser.
   
   How can a person indulging in status, position, and worldly pleasures—and who claims, without any proof, to hold a general deputyship on behalf of Imam al-Mahdi (as is the case today)—how can he possibly wish for or desire the appearance of the rightful Master, whose coming would remove him from the very position he occupies?

We ask God to hasten the relief through His entrusted guardian and the Riser by His command, to grant him a mighty victory, to open the way for him to a clear and easy conquest, and to guide the people to support him, and to make us among his helpers, supporters, and those who strengthen his authority.

He is our Master and He supports the righteous.

Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.