Will any needy individuals remain after his rule has been established?
After the Imam rises and establishes the rule of justice, the earth will yield to him her treasures of mineral deposits and crops. The shares that rightfully belong to the destitute and poor will be exacted from the rich and the oppressors to be justly distributed, as the result of which no poor person will remain, to the extent that there will be no use for charities and Zakat. Imam Ja’far b. Muhammad al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) says, “The world will be revitalized by the implementation of justice, the sky will send down abundant rain, trees will reveal their fruit, and the earth will deliver her plants, embellishing herself for her inhabitants.”
People will be so well-off that it has been narrated that on one occasion Imam Zaman will order the announcer to inform the people that whoever is in need of financial aid should stand up. From among the entire population only one person will stand up, proclaiming his need. Imam Zaman will tell him, “Go to the treasurer and tell him that Mahdi commands him to provide you with some money.” At conveying the Imam’s message to the treasurer, the latter will tell him, “Bring me your garment.” Then the treasurer will fill it full. When the poor man turns away to leave, he will regret his request, saying to himself, “Why should I be the greediest of the nation of Muhammad?” So he will return it to the treasurer, but it will not be accepted, and Mahdi will tell him, “What we have granted, we will not take back.”
In describing the time of Imam al-Mahdi’s rule, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said, “People will be searching for someone poor who would accept charity or gifts from them, to no avail; they will put aside the Zakat of their wealth, but they will not find anyone to give it to, for all will be made well-off by Allah grace.”
