Pervasive Corruption
In the Islamic literature "fitnah" is defined
as hard times such as of civil strife, war or riots during
which evil forces attempt to weaken and, even eradicate
people's faith.
The hadith which reveals that believers' faith will weaken
in the End Times also provides information about the developments
that will lead to this:
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The Mahdi, one of
my children, comes into being, by the blessing of
God, upon the approach of the Day of Judgment and
the weakening of the hearts of the faithful because
of death, hunger, and the disappearance of the sunnah,
and the emergence of innovations and the loss of means
by which to enjoin the right and forbidding the wrong.
His justice and prosperity will ease the hearts of
the faithful, and friendship and love will settle
between the non-Arab and Arab nations.
(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi' 'Alamat
al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p. 66) |
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Briefly, the following events will take place before the
End Times and the appearance of Mahdi:
1- Death: As a consequence of anarchy and mass murders,
there will be no protection of safety of lives and people
will be greatly concerned over it.
2- Hunger: The struggle to make a living due to the increase
in cost of living. Natural disasters and catastrophes lead
to starvation and hunger.
3- Fitnahs (tribulation): Spread and encouragement of unlawful
acts among people, be they adults or teenagers. People engage
in all sorts of immoral acts before the very eyes of people.
4- Emergence of bid'ats: Adoption of some rituals or innovations
as the essentials of Islam although they are against the
teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
5- Disappearance of an environment that allows the communication
of God's message: In such an environment, believers are
hindered from enjoining the good and forbidding the evil,
in brief, spiritual decline that occur with disappearance
of an environment that allows the communication of God’s
message..
Such fitnah (tribulation) lead to a strength in faith and
an increase in belivers' patience and rewards in the Hereafter
while it further weakens the faith of those with poor faith
or make them completely lose their faith.
Mahdi will appear at such a time during when such fitnah
(tribulation) will prevail.
In other hadiths and the explanations of some Islamic scholars,
it is stated that Mahdi will appear at a time when a particular
type of fitnah (tribulation) will spread all around.
