The Holy Prophet (S) said: "The person who dies and has not known the Imam of his time (Imam Mahdi (‘a) is that of the present time) has died the same as one who died during the Age of Ignorance." Musnad-i-Ahmad-ibn-Hanbal, vol. 2, p. 83; vol. 3, p. 446 & vol. 4, p. 96: Sahih-i-Bukhari, vol. 5, p. 13 & Sahih-i-Muslim vol. 6, p. 21, No.1849. In addition to 25 other references introduced by Sunni scholars.