SOME MUSLIMS, WHEN they see all the problems and chaos in the world today, say things like: “These are signs of the end of time. Only the Mahdi and Isa (as) can fix this.”
But this fatalistic way of thinking is unIslamic and unbecoming of a Muslim.
Yes, we believe in the Mahdi and the return of Isa (as), just as the Messenger ﷺ told us in many authentic hadith. But using that as an excuse to do nothing, to not try to help the Ummah, unite the Muslims and restore Islamic governance and Khilafah, is wrong. It shows laziness, fear, ignorance and irresponsibility.
We should not confuse those ahadith which are informative in nature (such as those which talk about events at the end of time) and those which carry commands.
Yes, there are hadiths about the Mahdi and Isa (as), but there is no command telling us to wait for them and do nothing. We cannot blame those who came before us for our predicament or wait for those who come after us to change our situation!
Instead, the Qur’an and Sunnah clearly tell us to act and do our best, wherever we are and with whatever we can.
Allah says:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ
Indeed, Allah would never change a people’s state until they change their own state. (ar-Rad 11)
Muslims have to strive hard to change their situation out from a state humiliation, and implement all means that will ensure that Allah’s deen is dominant.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُۥ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُشْرِكُونَ
He is the One Who has sent His Messenger with (true) guidance and the deen of truth, making it prevail over all others, even to the dismay of the polytheists. (at-Tawbah 33)
وَلَن يَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلًا
And Allah will never grant the disbelievers a way over the believers. (an-Nisa 141)
إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتَابُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلصَّـٰدِقُونَ
The (true) believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger—never doubting—and strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah. They are the ones true in faith. (al-Hujurat 15)
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًۭا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟
And hold firmly together to the rope of Allah and do not be divided. (ale Imran 103)
Such ayat and more command us to always strive and struggle and not sit passive in the face of evil and difficulty.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Strive for that which will benefit you, and seek the help of Allah, and do not be helpless.” (ibn Majah).
He ﷺ said: “Even if the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, let him plant it.” (Musnad Aḥmad)
He ﷺ said: “Whoever among you sees evil, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot do so, then with his tongue. If he cannot do so, then with his heart, which is the weakest level of iman.” (Muslim)
The Messenger ﷺ didn’t sit back and wait for miracles. He made plans. For example, when he left Makkah (Hijrah), he arranged for a guide, prepared supplies, and even made sure his tracks were covered. At the battle of Badr and during the conquest of Makkah, he made careful plans and wore armour, even though Allah had promised him victory and that his enemies would not harm him. He ﷺ took the means that were available to him and prioritised what needed to be done.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Strive for that which will benefit you, and seek the help of Allah, and do not be helpless.” (ibn Majah).
He ﷺ said: “Even if the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, let him plant it.” (Musnad Aḥmad)
The companions followed his example. When they heard about the Dajjal and that one of his days would feel like a whole year, they didn’t just say: “That’s scary.” They asked: “How will we pray on that day?”, they were thinking about action.
Now imagine if the early Muslims thought like some people do today. Would we even be Muslim now? Would the Mongols have been defeated? Would Jerusalem have been taken back by Salahuddin? Would Constantinople ever have been conquered?
Every Muslim should be unhappy about the state of the Ummah. But emotion is not enough. Each of us is responsible for doing whatever we can to help fix things.
Living For Islam 