3] The ahaadeeth about the Mahdi and the descent of the Messiah (peace be upon him) areno excuse not to strive and do good deeds

3]Some people understand from the ahaadeeth aboutthe Mahdi and the
descentof the Messiah 'Eesa ibn Maryam (Jesus the son of Mary, peace
be upon him) that these are an excuse not to strive for Islam, so they
should sit and wait until the Mahdi appears orthe Messiah descends for
the glory of Islam and theMuslims to be restored. What is your opinion
on this understanding?.
Praise be to Allaah.
This miserable state that the Muslim ummah is in nowadays is very
shameful. All the Muslims are responsible for settingthings straight,
but some Muslims fail to strive, relying on their hopes andavoiding
correcting the sorry state of the ummah on the grounds that this was
caused by those who came before us and will be set right by those who
come after us. So they do not strive to support the religion of
Allaah, on the grounds that the Mahdi is the one who will do that.
This is escaping into hopes whilst failing to putinto effect the means
prescribed in sharee'ah. Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"It will not be in accordance with your desires (Muslims), nor those
of the people of theScripture (Jews and Christians), whosoever works
evil, will have the recompense thereof, and he will not find any
protector or helper besides Allaah"
[al-Nisa' 4:123]
This negativity which some of the Muslims are suffering from nowadays
can have no basis in the texts of sharee'ah; rather it is due to
misunderstanding, helplessness and laziness, and evasion of
responsibility.
Allaah has commanded the Muslims to strive and work for this religion,
to call people to Allaah, to debate with the kuffaar and call them
with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and to fight them until there
will no longer be any shirk on earth. Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and
polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allaah), and the religion
(worship) will all be for Allaah Alone [in thewhole of the world]. But
ifthey cease (worshipping others besides Allaah), then certainly,
Allaah is All-Seer of what they do"
[al-Anfaal 8:39]
Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Here Allaah commands us to fight the kuffaar until there is no more
fitnah i.e.shirk, and the religion (worship) is all for Allaah, i.e.,
until the religion of Allaah prevails over all other religions.
This command does not apply only to some times and not others, rather
the Muslims of all times and places are commanded to do this.
Undoubtedly working for Islam and to establish it on earth requires
the Muslims to strive hard andpursue the means that lead to that.
Some people misunderstand the ahaadeeth that have beennarrated about
the emergence of the Mahdi and the descent of the Messiah 'Eesa ibn
Maryam (peace be upon him), so they are passive and do not strive, and
they sit and wait for the Mahdi to appear or the Messiah to come down,
and they do not call people to Allaah or strive to make the word of
Allaah supreme. But Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) have commanded us to take the appropriate means
and strive hard on earth.
Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"O you who believe! Take your precautions, and either go forth (on an
expedition) in parties, or go forth all together"
[al-Nisa' 4:71]
"And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds
ofwar (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery) to threaten the enemy of
Allaah and your enemy"
[al-Anfaal 8:60]
"He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you (i.e. easy for you
to walk, to live and to do agriculture on it); so walk in the path
thereof and eat of His provision. And to Him will be the Resurrection"
[al-Mulk 67:15]
"and for this let (all) thosestrive who want to strive"
[al-Mutaffifeen 83:26]
"For the like of this let theworkers work"
[al-Saaffaat 37:61]
"And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the
necessary effort due for it (i.e. does righteous deeds of Allaah's
obedience) while he is a believer (in the Oneness of Allaah Islamic
Monotheism) — then suchare the ones whose striving shall be
appreciated, (thanked andrewarded by Allaah)"
[al-Isra' 17:19]
"And take a provision (with you) for the journey,but the best
provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness)"
[al-Baqarah 2:197]
Allaah commanded Maryam to take the appropriate means when she was at
her weakest, as He said (interpretation of the meaning):
"And shake the trunk of date palm towards you, it will let fall fresh
ripe dates upon you"
[Maryam 19:25]
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