:Imam Hadi(PBUH) said
In the occultation of our Qa’im, if there weren’t any scholars and sages who invite people to Imam Mahdi or any defenders of the religion or helper to save unable people from evil’s and enemies’ traps, all people would stop following God’s religion and would become a pagan
Scholars and sages, who save weak and poor Shia Muslims like a captain who guides a ship, are better and beloved ones for God
Al-Ihtijaj, volume 1, page 18