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

3a]
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
used to prepare for everything and draw up plans, as happened during
the Hijrah (migration to Madeenah). He prepared the mounts and a
guide, and he chose a travelling companion, and chose a place to hide
until the search for him had died down, and he protected all of that
with secrecy. This is how he conducted himself in all his battles and
military campaigns, and this is how he trainedhis companions. They
used to meet their enemies equipped with all kinds of weapons. The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
entered Makkah (at the conquest) with a helmet on his head, even
though Allaah said (interpretationof the meaning): "Allaah will
protect you from mankind"
[al-Maa'idah 5:67]
When he traveled for jihad or Hajj or 'Umrah, hetook his provisions
and more with him.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Strive
forthat which will benefit you and seek the help of Allaah, and do not
feel helpless." Narrated by Muslim, 2664.
We can imagine the state in which the call and the ummah would have
ended up if the previous generations had responded to the calls to
give up until the Mahdi comes. Would they have been able to defeat the
Tatars and Crusaders, and conquer Constantinople?
This mistaken understanding of the shar'i texts that have been
narrated concerning the Mahdi and the Messiah (peace be upon him) has
been criticized by many scholars, daa'iyahs and writers.
Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
It is not permissible for the Muslims to give up working for Islam and
for the establishment of the Islamic state on earth because they are
waiting for the Mahdi and the descent of 'Eesa (peace be upon them
both), becausethey feel despair or they think that it is not possible
to achieve any such thing before they come. This is a false and
desperate notion. Neither Allaah nor His Messenger (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us that Islam will not regain
power on earth before their time. It is possible that that may be
achieved before then if the Muslims avail themselves of the means that
lead to that, because Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"If you help (in the cause of) Allaah, He will help you, and make your
foothold firm"
[Muhammad 47:7]
"Verily, Allaah will help those who help His (Cause)"
[al-Hajj 22:40]
We have to believe in the ahaadeeth which speak ofthe descent of Eesa
(peacebe upon him) etc, and reject the false notions of those who say
that we should not work and strive and prepare to do that which must
be done at all times and in all places. End quote.
Professor 'Abd al-'Azeez Mustafa said:
Jihaad against the kuffaar,no matter who they are, where they are or
in whattime they exist is obligatory according to sharee'ah; this
ruling has not been abrogated. This is an established truth of Islam.
This jihad is obligatory when its conditions are met and the relevant
rulings apply.It is not one of these conditions or rulings that jihad
should be delayed until what is promised comes to pass. This is not
the way in which the first Muslims understood it and how they acted.
Indeed, when they were told that Allaah would destroy the power of
Chosroes with their swords they did not stay in their houses waiting
forthe news to come true and for that event to happen without any
effort on their part. No, rather they prepared themselves for that and
made themselves ready until victory came and thus the promise
coincided with the decree of Allaah. But some of the Muslims nowadays
say no: jihad against the Jews must wait until the Dajjaal appears.
Perhaps this is part of the trial (fitnah) of the Dajjaal in this
world.
This negative talk has affected some of the Muslim youth, so they do
not feel any kind of responsibility towards al-Masjid al-Aqsa, the
environs of which Allaah has blessed. It has even led many of them to
believe more foolish ideas, namely that the Islamic state and the
caliphate will not be established until the Mahdi comes.
I wonder about those who propagate such ideas. It is as if they are
saying to the Jews: Be harsh towards your enemies… and to the
Christians: Carry on with your aggression… and to the Muslims: carry
on being fragmented and disputing and being useless until the Mahdi
comes to you. I do not know on what their argument is based, or how
they imagine that the Mahdi will come to people who are doing nothing
or will support people who are apathetic.

We ask Allaah to bring theMuslims back to their religion.
And Allah knows the best.