The Evolution Deceit
The Golden Age
Justice in the Golden AgeAccording to our Prophet (saas), before the Golden Age a great degeneration and injustice will prevail in society. Theft and fraud will grow, people will not seek to meet the needs of the needy, and only a small group of people will enjoy the benefits of affluence. But during the Golden Age, when the Qur’an’s morality will prevail, every strata will benefit equally from justice, security, and peace. In such a secure environment, people will not commit any form of fraud, wickedness, and unlawful acts. The following sayings are only a few that describe the justice unique to the End Times: Earth will be filled with equity and justice, just as it was previously filled with oppression and tyranny.16 ... There will be no injustice or oppression under his [the Mahdi's] rule.17 The earth fills with justice.18 He [the Mahdi] will distribute wealth evenly among people. His justice will permeate everywhere. Earth, replete with violence and wickedness, will overflow with justice upon his arrival.19 During the time of Mahdi, justice will prevail to such an extent that every possession taken by force will be returned to his owner; furthermore, some other person’s thing, even if it rests within one’s teeth, will be given back to its owner… Security will permeate all over Earth and even a few ladies will be able to fulfil their hajj without the company of men.20 Allah Commands JusticeO you who believe, be upholders of justice, bearing witness for Allah alone, even against yourselves or your parents and relatives. Whether they are rich or poor, Allah is well able to look after them. Do not follow your own desires and deviate from the truth. If you twist or turn away, Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat an-Nisa’: 135) As this verse maintains, Allah commands the believers to be just under all circumstances. For this reason, when the Qur’an’s morality prevails, they will exercise justice in its true sense. Their system will ensure that all people take advantage of all benefits and will receive what they request, and that everyone will be protected and guarded. For this reason, people will no longer have an attitude that does not comply with the Qur’an’s morality, and injustice and violence will disappear completely. In the Golden Age, people will comply scrupulously with each Qur’anic verse and thereby bring about a Paradise-like environment of peace and security. One of the most telling attributes of a Muslim living in such an environment is his or her commitment to uphold justice under all circumstances, provide justice to others, and never to swerve from it. In such a society, the believers will maintain justice at every instant of life. No one will be allowed to live in misery or be subjected to injustice, for all people will receive a just recompense for their work, and no one will need to suffer to make ends meet. Everyone will be asked to accomplish things in line with his or her own ability and will be provided with all kinds of opportunities. Allah commands His believing servants to rule with justice. Some of the related verses are as follows:
Allah commands justice, doing good, and giving to relatives. And He forbids indecency, doing wrong, and tyranny. He warns you so that hopefully you will pay heed. (Surat an-Nahl: 90) At present, we can see clearly the existence of great injustice and an unequal allocation of resources. Images of children starving to death or of people murdering one another for a loaf of bread bring to mind social justice. That the wealth of the 200 richest people amounts to the wealth of 2.5 billion fellow human beings is the most explicit indication of the prevailing unjust system. When there are so many people in need, many affluent people still strive to hoard even more goods to add to their fortunes. Money spent only for pleasure and debauchery, or for no purpose at all, may well become the way out for hundreds of thousands of people dying of hunger. However, some miserly people still turn their faces away from those who are suffering. In the Qur’an, Allah describes these people as follows: No indeed! You do not honor orphans or urge the feeding of the poor; you devour inheritance with voracious appetites and have an insatiable love of wealth. (Surat al-Fajr: 17-20) Such moral corruption is the result of being selfish and losing the feelings of cooperation and solidarity. In this case, the only solution is to establish the Qur’an’s morality throughout society, for those people who display its morality are just, compassionate, and seek to help those in need. Only through the existence of such morally excellent people can this Earth be filled with justice, abundance, and blessings. Some Qur’anic verses regarding the establishment of social justice on Earth are as follows:
You will not attain true goodness until you give of what you love. Whatever you give away, Allah knows it. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 92) The Golden Age will be a blessed period during which people will comply scrupulously with Allah’s commands, and, as a result, justice, self-sacrifice, and charity will prevail. In this blessed period, the rich will not hesitate to give to the needy, and everyone will think of the good and comfort of others. This spirit of sharing will make everyone enjoy the same level of welfare and will solve many age-old problems, such as poverty and hunger.
NOTES16. Abu Dawud. 17. Ad-Dani. 18. Imam Rabbani, Mektubat Imam Rabbani (Letters of Imam Rabbani), vol. 1, no. 251. 19. Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 23. 20. Ibid., p. 23. |