In our current era, the world is filled with injustice, wars, and widespread oppression that deeply disturbs the human heart. These injustices reach a point where humanity is trampled upon, and as a result, one may unintentionally fall into despair and hopelessness. The question arises, in such circumstances, what is the hope that drives humanity to move forward?
In the Islamic perspective, this hope can be summarized by the belief that the Almighty God has made a true and unbreakable covenant with humanity. Based on this covenant, the path of humankind must lead to true happiness, the establishment of justice, and the fair distribution of rights among people. This divine covenant is clearly found in all the heavenly books and missions, particularly in the teachings of Islam and the words of its Prophet, Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him). This is emphasized in the verses of the Qur’an and in the hadiths of the Prophet and the Imams (peace be upon them). As Allah the Almighty says: “And We have decreed for those who were oppressed in the land, to make them leaders and to make them inheritors” [1]. Furthermore, in the famous hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) says: “If only one night remains of the world, Allah will extend that night until a man from my family becomes the ruler of the world. His name will be like mine… and he will fill the earth with justice and fairness, as it was filled with oppression and tyranny” [2].
In this hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasizes the appearance of Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) and the realization of divine justice, as well as the world being filled with justice and fairness. All of these indicate a great divine tradition, one that is supremely important and unchangeable, and it must come to pass—even if it requires a transformation in the natural order of the world, such as lengthening the final day of the world beyond the usual 24 hours. However, this hadith does not mean that the world’s life will only last for one more day and then be extended by God for the appearance of the Imam, but rather it emphasizes the significance of this great event and the certainty of its occurrence. This great event is a truth that Allah has promised, as mentioned in the Qur’an: “Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous deeds that He will surely make them successors on the earth, as He made those before them successors, and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them, and that He will surely replace them after their fear with security…” [3]. And the breaking of God’s promise is impossible [4].
Currently, humanity has grown weary of the tyrannical rulers and the oppression of the tyrants. It has endured many sufferings and hardships and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of that promised day. A day when people will truly taste happiness under the shadow of justice, a day when Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) will appear, and all nations and groups of humanity, regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds, will unite under the banner of monotheism.
The hope in this bright and inevitable future, in which the flag of justice will fly across the entire world and the era of oppression and the violation of human rights and dignity will come to an end, prevents the human will from weakening and keeps pessimism and despair from hindering the evolutionary progress of life.
(Adapted from the book Imam Mahdi (A.S.): The Hope of Humanity by Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Taqi al-Modarresi with slight changes)
Footnotes:
[1] (Surah Al-Qasas, verse 5)
[2] (Kashf al-Ghamma, Volume 2, Page 474)
[3] (Surah An-Nur, verse 55)
[4] (Surah Al-Imran, verse 9)