Social functions of believing in Intiẓār to realize the Imam’s advent from the viewpoint of Ayatollah Ṣāfi Golpāyegāni

"Intiẓār" (Awaiting the advent of Imam Mahdi) is a phenomenon with a functional and active role in human life. Contrary to the current view that considers Intiẓār as a reprehensible and undesirable thing, the Muntaẓir one, who is expectant and prepared for the advent of Imam Mahdi, during the continuation of the Imam’s occultation, seeks help from the blessing of Intiẓār for self-refinement and, accordingly, the social foundation of the appearance of the Imam until the realization of world government. To clarify the view of Ayatollah Ṣāfi Golpāyegāni, as one of the religious authorities of Shia and one of the best experts in the field of Mahdism and social functions of Intiẓār, is of double importance. According to him, Intiẓār is the guarantor of the survival of the Shiite society and the realization of the rule of global justice. This article is written to analyze the social functions of waiting in the thoughts of Ayatollah Ṣāfi Golpāyegāni. Some of the important results of this research about the social functions of Intiẓār, are as follows: realizing social justice in the society, preventing any regression towards the culture of Ignorance, resistance and stability against corrupt leadership, and fighting against all kinds of deviations. This article has been compiled in a library method and written in a descriptive-analytical way.