What are your eminence’s guidelines for believers regarding their duty towards Imam al-Mahdi (may God hasten his return)?
The best way to obey the Imam, become closer to him, and gain his satisfaction is by adhering to the sacred laws of Islam, adopting virtuous qualities, and staying away from vices. The [only] recourse for believers in matters of religion during the time of occultation is the pious scholars. Among the most important duties of the believers during this time is to be very cautious and cognizant of everything related to him, his reappearance, and the ways to connect with him; this is one of the most difficult challenges and a source of trials during the era of occultation. Our religious stance towards those who claim that they have met the Imam during the time of occultation, either directly or through a vision (dream), is to deny what they say and reject their claims and anything they attribute to him. Rather, whatever they attribute to the Imam, such as [his putative] words, are known to be false and should be denied.