Moreover...

Moreover, the violent wars that have exhausted humankind, especially the poor and the weak everywhere in the world, who die of hunger in millions, while tyrants and oppressors compete with each other to possess the most fatal weapons and to occupy nations by all means - cultural, economic and technology. Were it not for the hope of a better future with justice, peace and noble life that man looks forward to, there would be no meaning or sense in this life.

And were it not for the belief of Muslims in Allah, Who has promised to support His religion to prevail over all religions when saying: He it is Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might cause it to prevail over all religions, though the polytheists may be averse. Qur'an, 9:33 Were it not be for this faith, despair would fill their souls and they would be losers!

It is this faith that fills souls with energy, vitality, the love of life, expectation of a better future, and the waiting for deliverance, because after hardship there shall come ease. This is al-Mahdi (a.s.) - who is the hope of Muslims, or in fact the hope of all humankind. The belief in al-Mahdi (a.s.) is not a matter of mocking. Allah the Almighty says: Say: O my servants!

who have acted extravagantly against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah; surely Allah forgives the faults altogether; surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. And return to your Lord time after time and submit to Him before there comes to you the punishment, then you shall not be helped. And follow the best that has been revealed to you from your Lord before there comes to you the punishment all of a sudden while you do not even perceive.

Lest a soul should say: O woe to me, for what I fell short of my duty to Allah, and most surely I was among scoffers . Qur'an, 39:53-56 [^1]: Refer to Al-Jam’ bayna as-Sihah as-Sittah (gathering between the six sahihs), chapter - Signs of the Day of Resurrection and al-Aqa’id al-Islamiyyah (Islamic beliefs), by Sayyid Sabiq. Previous…