There is something rising in our societies and we could say that we are entering into a period of the forerunners of *Dajjal. The world leaders gathering, some of them saying that global warming is a good thing. But the reality is the opposite of what some of these leaders are saying, that the earth is falling apart, Greenland which is close to us is now 45% melted. This is unprecedented. It is never known that Greenland would be melted like this. This means huge glaciers are pouring into the seas and this will have impact upon us. This heat that is being trapped is causing confusion.
In India itself, the cities are running out of water. And they say that by 2020, 21 cities in India alone will have no more groundwater. No more fresh water. And with these droughts and confusions water is also coming abnormally in other places. In the Midwest of the United States, There are epic floods; the floods are hitting raising the rivers higher than any time in recorded history. In China, they report that they have made a huge summer camp for Muslims. They call it skills developing centers. But the reality is, over a million of the Uyghur Muslims are in concentration camps, horrible concentration camps. In the Middle East they are talking about the deal of the century for the Palestinian people. But when this deal is happening, the Palestinian people are not even there. They have boycotted this deal.
This is a contradiction, there is something rising in our societies and we could say that we are entering into a period of the forerunners of Dajjal. And the Dajjal has been described as a trickster, a deceiver, a master deceiver a fraud, one who makes fake news, the ultimate trickster.
And we are entering into this age of the deceivers and we wonder what Prophet Muhammad SAWS would say about these times that we are living in now, because Allah opened up on him, he did speak from himself.
And it is reported that the Prophet SAWS has told us, there will come upon the people years of deceit in which the liar will be believed and the truthful person will be considered a liar. The treacherous deceiver will be trusted and the trustworthy custodian will be considered disloyal. And the Ruvebiyah will be representing and speaking and they said what this Ruvebiyah is. He said The Most despicable, worthless person would speak out on behalf of the masses of the people. And Sadaqa Rasoolullah this age has come, the age of deception, the age of illusions. Illusion of freedom, peace, equality.
And even in our Muslim lands, people marching in the streets being gunned down. Democratically elected leaders who are just and speak right are being taken down, prisoned and killed in front of the eyes of the world. Native populations even in our land, a land of peace but native populations who live rights here for hundreds of years are still living in poverty. Their women are being taken away, raped murdered in front of the eyes of the people. Special groups of leaders making decisions behind closed doors and saying the opposite in the public and the few good leaders feel like they are surrounded, they feel like every word that they say is being monitored and they could be attacked. So this is the age of the worst of the people and as believers we take comfort in the fact that Muhammad SAWS spoke about this that would happen and he told is- “ You will find amongst the worst of people on the day of resurrection is the two faced person.”
Sanawa’atun Qadda’at and it is difficult for us as the common people in an age that we are living in. It is difficult because in the past in many times in times of justice, the truth has power to it. If a person is true, it should be recognized. And there is what you could call Quwwat ul Haqh – two words Quwa’h and Haqh. The person with the truth should be recognized. But the reality is turn the two words around. Not Quwwat ul Haqh; …Haqh al Qhuwwa’h. And Haqh al Qhuwwah is Might makes right. So whether the person is right or wrong if they have the strength, then they are right. This is the deception and we as believers need to find ourself in this time. Because it’s no longer the time where we can roll over as Muslims and hide, cry and beg for our freedom. These times have ended now. And the prophet SAWS spoke about this we ultimately believe that the Ultimate Qhuwaa’h is with Allah SWT And we say “La Hawla Wala QhuwwataIlla Billah, No authority no power except with Allah. They will be certain that all power belongs to Allah.
The prophet SAWS said - a strong believer is better and more beloved by Allah than a weak believer. And so on our level at least we can strive our best and try to teach our children to try to be as strong as possible, committed, consistent and this strength the prophet SAWS spoke about this strength because when most people think about strength, they think about the fist or the knife or the gun or the bomb. But the prophet SAWS said that the strong person is not the good wrestler, but the strong person is the one who controls himself when he is angry.
Self-control, so our strength needs to be the strength of our character, the strength of our spirituality and the strength that we need- strength of the mind to culture our knowledge, study as much as we can, study our traditions, study the sciences of this world, ask Allah for Hikma’h, the wisdom, because wisdom is so needed in this world we are living in today. So let us try to nurture in our youth to be strong in everything they do, strong students in school, strong at work, strong in any task that we are doing and our unity. Our unity gives us strength.
If we look at humans not as my brother, or someone who looks like me or speaks my language but any of the believers, then we are a large jama’at. If we look at it tribalistically then we are small little groups that will be taken away. And take time to greet other human beings; greet people who are different than you. If you see any poor on the street, care about them. If you see someone in trouble, then you are in trouble. If you see a person feeling sad, then that sadness also part of you. We need to pray for each other. This is a time for us, this is a time, and it’s a test. It has happened historically in the past and we are coming to the ultimate test.
We are coming to the age of the ultimate deceiver and so we need to gear ourselves to this. To take up the task even the small things like being consistent in our prayers. Small things like not letting Haraam things come into our mouth. Small things like making sure that we are giving to our organizations. Small things like reaching out to people in this society, Non-Muslims showing them what Islam really is. And if see injustice happening to somebody who is not a Muslim then we feel that injustice has also happened to us. Keep vigilant even while we are enjoying ourselves. Let’s start living in an Islamic way.
The prophet SAWS told us that none of you will truly believe, until his desires, until his enjoyment, until his playing follows what I have brought him. So, even while we enjoy ourselves, keep vigilant, keep our eyes open as to what is happening especially when we are in the houses of Allah SWT. We need to pray to Allah SWT especially for wisdom, hikma’h- putting things in the proper place. And if we hear something of wisdom, we need to think about it, take it in.
I leave you with some of the wisdom of one of our great leaders Ameer ul Momineen Hz Umar ibn Khattab RA. And Allah SWT blessed him with a great wisdom, and blessed him with the type of spirit that we need today. That when he would walk down a narrow alley, the evil demon shayatheen would go the other way. But his wisdom and it is reported in translation that he has said, Fear Allah, for He alone lives, all other things will perish. Think about this. The one we need to fear is Allah SWT, Everything else every president, every prime minister, every power will perish except Allah.
And he gave us a beautiful advice for our self. He said – Be dignified, honest and truthful. Be dignified, not arrogant. But dignified you respect yourself and you respect other people, and honest and truthful. And also he said – Trust is that there should be no difference between what you do, what you say and what you think. That is the true trust. There should be no difference between what you do, say and even what’s in your head. Do not be a hypocrite deceiver. He also said- do not be misled by hearing someone’s reputation. He also said – Do not depend upon the morality of a person until you have seen him behave while he is angry. See how he acts, and then you know who that person really is. Remember what the strong person is, that the prophet SAWS said – One who controls himself when he is angry, that’s the strong person.
That’s the one we need to follow and we need to respect. And so we take this time as we go into this rest period to remind our self not to rest. Keep vigilant, keep making Dua’a, keep trying to do something for the righteousness of this world. And keep praying that Allah SWT would have mercy upon the weak and the innocent in the umma’h of Muhammad SAWS. Keep praying that Allah SWT would protect the dignity and the honor of the women and the families of this umma’h. Keep praying that Allah SWT would protect and strengthen the men of this umma’h. And raise the balanced leadership into our world. And keep praying Allah SWT would take all of us out of this world with the Kalima’h “La Ila’aha Illallahu Muhammad ar Rasool allah”…