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THE GOLDEN AGE
The Prophet (saas) describes the End Times with its heavenly
features
Many hadiths indicate the existence of a period when the Qur'an's moral values
will pervade Earth. This period, known as the Golden Age, will last for
more than half a century and, in many ways, will resemble 'the Blessed
Period' of our Prophet (saas).
According to one hadith, people will be so content that they will spend
their days with no idea as to how time passes and how one day turns into
the next. They will pray to Allah to prolong their lives in order to receive
more benefits from these graces. Another Prophetic hadith reads as follows:
The younger ones wish they were grown-ups, while the
adults wish they were younger... The good become even more good, and even
the wicked ones are treated well. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat
al-Mahdi Akhir al-zaman, p. 59)
Unprecedented Abundance
In many hadiths the Prophet (saas) states that there will be an unprecedented abundance of crops and goods, all of which will be distributed without measure:
During this (period), my ummah (people) will lead
a kind of comfortable and carefree life that they have never known before.
(The land) will bring forth its yield and will not hold anything back...
(Ibn Majah)
There would be a successor in the last (period) of my community who would freely give handfuls of wealth to the people without counting it. (Sahih Muslim, Book 41, 6961)
The inhabitants of the heavens and the inhabitants
of the earth will be pleased with him and such plants will be produced
by the earth that the living will wish the dead could come back to life.
(At-Tabarani and Abu Nu'aym)
The land will turn like the silver tray growing
vegetation... (Ibn Majah)
Technological developments will provide abundance in
the Golden Age
People will reap seven hundred measures of wheat when they sow one measure… A man will sow a few handfuls of seed and reap 700 … Although much rain falls, not a drop will be wasted. (Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al- sa'ah, p. 164; Al- Muttaqi al- Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 24)
This hadith refers to an increase in agricultural production that will
occur in the End Times by transitioning to modern agriculture, developing
new agricultural techniques, improving seed stocks, and using rainwater
more efficiently by constructing new dams and artificial lakes.
The high cost of living and poverty will end
As the Golden Age will be a time of welfare and great wealth, all people
will receive more than they demand. Nothing will be measured or counted.
Our Prophet (saas) said that his people will live in blessings, especially
during the Golden Age:
A time will come when a person, with his golden alms
in his hand, will go around, finding no one (in need) who is willing to
receive the alms. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah Qurtubi)
Then will my Ummah be blessed, the number of animals
will increase and the land will bear its fruits. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami,
Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 26)
Definitely possessions will be in abundance
then, flowing like water. Yet no one will (condescend) to take any. (Mukhtasar
Tazkirah Qurtubi)
Religion will be restored to its original state
Another news revealed by the Hadith literature regarding the End Times is that the original religion will no longer be misunderstood. In the Golden Age, all heretical misunderstandings that entered Islam after the Prophet (saas) will be eliminated, and the original religion will be restored. Just as in the time of the Prophet (saas), the requirements of the religion will be fulfilled.
After the demise of our Prophet (saas) and his Companions, unrelated heresies and forms of worship were introduced into the original religion . Despite the best efforts of true Muslims to eliminate these fabrications, some practices done in the name of Islam today are not based upon the Qur'an.
As the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (saas) are the only sources that can distinguish between the correct and mistaken practices, only their guidance can expose and remove these fabricated heresies. This way, the true religion will resurface.
In the End Times, Allah will restore the religion to its original state
and make the Qur'an's morality prevail. When this time comes, He will
remove all deviations that hinder people from living by His religion,
and will purify Islam from all heresies, false beliefs, and forms of worship.
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