The Significance of Hadith One Who Dies without Knowing the Imam of his Age is like one who died at time of jahiliya (ignorance of pre-Islamic Arabia)"from the Perspectives of Sunni and Shiite Islam

It can be deduced from the Hadith of "one who dies..." that the Imam cited in this hadith due to the responsibilities he has undertaken is endowed with characteristics of his own not common to other rulers. Therefore, any failure or transgressing of such Imam would result in death of jaheliya sort. Characteristics and qualifications of Imam are stated in this hadith and other reliable sources. Reflection on this hadith and its implications without any prejudices will provide theoretical and practical results for Muslims.