The Aroma of Mercy

From this hadith stated above, we understand and conclude that the Prophet is comparing the one who does not know the Imam of his time with the atheists who deny God and the pagans who worship idols, since he states that such a person dies the death of jahiliyya (period of ignorance before Islam). The Prophet associates such a person with the pagans to demonstrate that not knowing the Imam of one's time results in transgression and deviation from the straight path. The more one deviates from the right path and ambles aimlessly in life, the more one becomes distant from the target, so much so that one eventually ends up where the people of the jahiliyya did- ascribing partners to God. Therefore, based on this awareness and understanding it becomes mandatory on us to strive and make the effort to know the Imam of our time. By doing so, we will save ourselves from going astray and salvage our souls from being at peril.