ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books An Overview of The Mahdi’s (‘atfs) Government The Religious Condition of the People In this chapter, we will examine the religious condition of the people prior to the advent of the Imam of the Time ( ‘atfs ). It can be understood from the hadith s that during those days, Islam and the Qur’an will remain in name only while the Muslims will be Muslims only superficially. The mosques will no longer be centers for guiding and admonishing the people.

The jurists ( fuqaha ) at that time will be the worst jurists on the face of the earth while religion will be bartered for a trivial price and paltry sum. Islam and the Muslims Islam means submission to the will and orders of God. Islam is the most superior and the best religion which ensures the felicity of mankind in this world and in the hereafter. However, that which is valuable is the implementation of the precepts of Islam and the Qur’an. At the end of time, everything will be the contrary.

In other words, nothing will be left of Islam but its name. The Qur’an will be present in society, but nothing of it will remain except the script written on its pages. The Muslims will be Muslims only in name and no semblance of Islam will be found in them. The Noble Prophet of Islam (S) said: “A period will come to pass for my ummah in which nothing will be left of Islam but its name, and there will be no trace of the Qur’an but its form and outline.

The Muslims will be called Muslims in name but of all the people they will be the most alien to Islam.”[^1] Imam as-Sadiq ( ‘a ) said: “A time will soon come to pass when the people will not recognize God and will not know the meaning of monotheism at such a time the Dajjal (the Anti-Christ) will appear.”[^2] The Mosques The mosque is the place for the worship of God, religious preaching, and guiding and enlightening the people.

During the early period of Islam, even important administrative work would be carried out in the mosques. Jihad would be planned there, and man would realize spiritual ascension ( mi‘raj ) from the mosque. But during the end of time, mosques will lose their importance, and instead of being centers for religious teaching, propagation and enlightenment, only their number and splendor will increase, even when they will be cut off from the believers.