GLAD TIDINGS OF 21 ST CENTURY

In this book, we have examined atheism's collapse during the past 30 years, the increase of faith in God throughout certain parts of the world, and the growth of religion. We also showed that the most important factor in this growth is being played by Islam. We considered the rising rate of conversion, and the interest expressed by government officials, politicians, and the media in Islam. Putting all of this information together, it becomes apparent that there is a strong movement toward Islam in many countries, and that Islam is increasingly becoming the most important topic of world interest. These developments indicate that the world is moving toward a totally new era, one in which, God willing, Islam will gain in importance and the Qur'an's moral teachings will spread like a rising tide. It is important to realize that this highly significant development was announced in the Qur'an 14 centuries ago:

They desire to extinguish God's Light with their mouths. But God refuses to do other than perfect His Light, even though the unbelievers detest it. It is He Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the True Religion to exalt it over every other religion, even though the idolaters detest it. (Qur'an, 9:32-33)

The Qur'an also that indicates that Islamic morality will spread throughout the world, for God wills the following:

God has promised those of you who believe and do right actions that He will make them successors in the land, as He made those before them successors, and will firmly establish for them their religion, with which He is pleased, and give them, in place of their fear, security. "They worship Me, not associating anything with Me." Any who disbelieve after that, such people are deviators. (Qur'an, 24: 55)

The spread of Islamic morality is one of God's promises to believers. In addition to these verses, many sayings of our Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, assert that the Qur'an's moral teachings will prevail. In the last days before the end of the world, humanity will experience a period in which wrongdoing, injustice, deceit, fraud, wars, strife, conflict, and moral degeneration is wide-spread. Then will come the Golden Age, in which these moral teachings will begin to spread among people like a rising tide and finally prevail throughout the world. Some of these sayings, as well learned commentaries upon them, are given below:

During this [period], my ummah [people] would lead such a comfortable and carefree life which they never led like that. [The land] would bring forth its yield and would not hold back anything and the property at that time would be a stack. (Sunan Ibn-i Majah)

… The dwellers of the heavens and the earth will be pleased. The earth will bring forth all that grows, and the heavens will pour down rains in abundance. From all the good that God will bestow on the inhabitants of the earth, the living will wish that the dead would come to life again. (Yanabi' al-mawadda, Vol. 2, p. 177)

The earth would turn like the silver tray growing vegetation... (Sunan Ibn-i Majah)

The earth will be filled with equity and justice as it was pre viously filled with oppression and tyranny. (Abu Dawud)

... There will be no injustice or oppression. (ad-Dani)

Based upon these statements, the Golden Age will be an era in which justice, plenty, abundance, well-being, security, peace, and brotherhood will prevail among humanity, and one in which people will experience love, self-sacrifice, tolerance, compassion, mercy, and loyalty. In his sayings, our Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, says that this blessed period will be experienced through the mediation of the Mahdi, who will come in the end times to save the world form chaos, injustice, and moral collapse. He will eradicate godless ideologies and bring an end to the prevailing injustice. Moreover, he will make religion like it was in the days of our Prophet, cause the Qur'an's moral teachings to prevail among humanity, and establish peace and well-being throughout the world.

This difficult responsibility requires serious effort. It is highly probable, as some Islamic scholars point out, that the Mahdi, who will realize this goal, is a spiritual being who will rule in the last days (God knows best). When the time comes, this spiritual being will use its foundation of Islamic morality to lead humanity to a modern enlightened world in which peace and well-being prevail. This is what doing the work of the Mahdi means. . However, every spiritual movement needs to have a leader. The Mahdi is that leader who will come in the end times.

The rise of Islam being experienced in the world today, as well as Turkey's role in the new era are important signs that the period announced in the Qur'an and in our Prophet's sayings is very close. It is our heartfelt desire that God will let us witness this blessed time.