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  • Writer's pictureAiman

What's after the oppressive rulers? Plus, a point about da'wah.

1400 years ago, our beloved Prophet Muhammad, صلى الله عليه وسلم, explained the future to the companions, Allah be pleased with them. He said:


تكون النبوة فيكم ما شاء اللّٰه أن تكون، ثم يرفعها اللّٰه إذا شاء أن يرفعها، ثم تكون خلافة على منهاج النبوة فتكون ما شاء اللّٰه أن تكون، ثم يرفعها اللّٰه إذا شاء أن يرفعها، ثم تكون ملكًا عاضًا فيكون ما شاء اللّٰه أن يكون، ثم يرفعها إذا شاء اللّٰه أن يرفعها، ثم تكون ملكًا جبرية فتكون ما شاء اللّٰه أن تكون، ثم يرفعها اللّٰه إذا شاء أن يرفعها، ثم تكون خلافة على منهاج النبوة، ثم سكت


“Prophethood shall remain among you as long as Allah wills. He will bring about its end and follow it with leaders on the precepts of prophethood for as long as He wills, and then bring about its end. Kingship shall then follow, to remain as long as Allah wills, and then come to an end. There shall then be monarchical despotism (mulkan jabariyyan) which shall remain as long as Allah wills and come to an end upon His decree. There will then emerge Khilafat on the precepts of prophethood." He remained silent after that.


Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Kitab al-Riqaq, Bab al-Andhar wa al-Tahdhir, (translation credit)


We've had the prophethood.


We've had the regular kings.


I would suggest it's fairly clear we're presently in the "monarchical despotism" stage. Further, it seems like those systems are going through fits as the experiment with globalist free trade and other neoliberal illusions thin in places.


That doesn't mean the next stage is impending, necessarily. Allah hasn't told us exact times. Regardless when, the hadith tells us the next stage we or future generations will transition into: A revival of authentic Islam among Muslims and unification under one leader again, in an organized, rational way that represents the wisdom of the original revelation of Allah. This is out of fear of Allah and in proper balance as set out by Allah.


In contrast, some bands of Muslims try to use these prophesies to hurriedly bring the next stage about. However, a khalifah brought by Allah will achieve and reach prevalence through consensus. It goes to figure the khalifah won't come out of a fringe group without knowledge, given the time of Abu Bakr, Umar, Ali, and Uthman, Allah be pleased with them. The hadith says there won't just be a leader, but a righteous one to bring the Islam back properly.


But, already, there are some interesting and encouraging things to consider:

  1. We can rest assured the seeming chaos is not neglect from God. No, this is the plan of Allah and we must trust and be patient.

  2. The Rabbis used to say, and our Prophet, peace and blessings on him, used to repeat it, and so I say it all the time these days: If you're doing something good, like planting a tree that won't bear fruit for years and years, like the world will end first, keep doing the good and die that way. Stick on good intensions and good vision and good actions and leave the end times stuff to Allah to time and initiate as only Allah can. Just do your job.

  3. Death & time: the scholars call it the minor Day of Judgement. Even if The Last Day isn't for 1000 years yet, we never know when we'll die and that we change our minds anymore. Whatever we die on, we'll be judged accordingly, (but, yes there's sadaqah jaariah for more reward). I find myself having to narrow my focus to not be distracted. You? Choose the best actions for you and the ummah and do that. Don't mind anything else.

  4. What about da'wah? It's a great time to do that, and gently, because that's all it takes. As systems collapse, so do their illusions. It could be a time when many folks embrace Islam.

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