SIMILARITIES AMONG PROPHET SOLOMON (pbuh), DHU'L - QARNAYN (pbuh), AND THE MAHDI-2-

When the Golden Age begins, all of these problems will disappear. Hunger, poverty, and destitution will be replaced by wealth and abundance. No one will be in need, because religion will be lived as God describes in the Qur'an and everyone will share what they have, for "beggars and the destitute received a due share of their wealth" (Qur'an, 51:19). In a society that lives according to Islamic morality, there can be no destitute people, for believers will strive to avoid the state that God describes in the following terms: "He used not to believe in God the Magnificent, nor did he urge the feeding of the poor. Therefore, here today he has no friend" (Qur'an, 69:33-35). This will be the means whereby social justice, happiness, and abundance will be established in society.

One of the most frequently mentioned subjects concerning the End Times is the global spread of hunger, poverty, and destitution. But this dark period will end with the Golden Age, and God will keep His promise.

People will prosper until the ninety-fifth year, that is, their business will prosper. In the ninety-seventh and the ninety-ninth year, their possessions will go to waste. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi 'Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 54)

This hadith gives us some details about the state of the economy before the Golden Age dawns. The ninety-fifth year probably refers to 1995, a year in which people were comparatively well-off and living conditions were fairly easy. The assertion that business will prosper means that people will have enough income to have a good living standard and have enough money to buy property. But during 1997-99, the economy worsened and poverty and need increased. In these years, property lost its value. We can see that this actually happened in Argentina, where the situation is still serious and continuing.

One of the first signs of the End Times will be the terrible hunger and famine that will happen before the plenty and abundance of the Golden Age. In this period, people will not even have a loaf of bread to eat and many will die of starvation. But when the Golden Age begins, by God's mercy, human beings will have a wealth and abundance never before seen in the world.

When we look at Egypt's recent history, we see that its ruler was killed: Anwar al-Sadat, who ruled the country from 1970-1981.
Sadat was assassinated in 1981 by his opponents while presiding over an official parade. Other Egyptian leaders who have been assassinated are Prime Minister Boutros Ghali (1910), Prime Minister Ahmed Maher Pasha (1945), and Prime Minister Mahmoud Nokrashi Pasha (1948).

The inhabitants of Egypt and Sham [Damascus] will kill their ruler and his commands... (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi 'Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 49)

The word sham does not refer just to Damascus. In Arabic, sham means left and refers to the cities located to the left of Hijaz (where Makkah and Madinah are located).14 Many leaders in this region have been assassinated, among them Syrian prime minister Salah al-Din Bitar (1920), Syrian prime minister Droubi Pasha (1921), Syrian premier Muhsin al-Barazi (1949), King Abdullah of Jordan (1951), and Lebanese Phalangist leader Bashir Jemayel, after a bomb attack in 1982.15
Having discussed some of the signs foretelling the Mahdi's coming, we now turn our attention to various minor signs that will occur when the End Times begin. As they will happen before the Golden Age, they also can be regarded as signs of the Mahdi's coming.

Sadat was killed during an official parade in 1981. The photo at the right records this event. Above, a New York Times report on the assassination.

When we examine the events mentioned in the hadiths containing this information, we see that each of them is being experienced in today's societies. While these events may appear negative at first sight, in reality they are forerunners of an age of abundance, plenty, happiness, peace, and security. After these events, God will inaugurate an age of light for all humanity. This is God's promise, which He has announced to His believers:

We wrote down in the Zabur, after the Reminder came: "It is My servants who are righteous who will inherit the earth." (Qur'an, 21:105)

And [He will give you] other things you love: support from God and imminent victory. Give good news to the believers! (Qur'an, 61:13)

A time when booty is in the hands of certain people, trust is seen as booty, giving alms is seen as a heavy burden… (Muhammad ibn 'Abd ar-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li Ashrat as-Sa'ah, p. 114) Goods entrusted to one being regarded as booty, and the giving of alms being regarded as a loan (which is hard to repay)... (Muhammad ibn 'Abd ar-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li Ashrat as-Sa'ah,, p. 139)

The Hour will come when adultery becomes widespread. (Al-Haythami, Kitab al-Fitan) The Last Hour will not be established until they [wicked people] commit adultery on the roads [public ways]. (Muhammad ibn 'Abd ar-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li Ashrat as-Sa'ah,, p. 140)

The rebuilding of the ruined places in the world, and the ruination of constructed places are signs and portents of Doomsday. (Ismail Mutlu, Signs of the Last Day [Istanbul: Mutlu Publications,1999], p. 138) When developed places are ruined, then Doomsday is no further away than the distance between your two fingers. (Muhammad ibn 'Abd ar-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li Ashrat as-Sa'ah, p. 143)

Left: The devastation of Tokyo in 1923 by a fire that broke out after an earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale. Right : Modern Tokyo.

People will compete with one another in constructing high buildings.(Sahih Bukhari)

Doomsday will not come until a person kills his brother. (Muhammad ibn 'Abd ar-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li Ashrat as-Sa'ah, p. 141)

Most modern cities are composed of skyscrapers. The prediction in the hadith has come true.

The conflict in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) between the Hutus and the Tutsis fleeing the violence in neighboring Rwanda, has been going on for years. This conflict has caused the death of countless children.

The community of the faithful will be on a favorable path until they encounter three things: goodness disappears, immoral children grow in number, and essekkarun appears amongst them… They asked: "What is essekkarun"? They answered: "A generation that will emerge in the End Times, among whom greetings will be regarded as vile oaths.

(Muhammad ibn 'Abd ar-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li Ashrat as-Sa'ah,, pp. 141-42)

… everyone complaining about decreased earnings ... the rich respected for their money ... (Muhammad ibn 'Abd ar-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li Ashrat as-Sa'ah,, p. 146 … stagnation in the markets, a reduction in earnings… (Muhammad ibn 'Abd ar-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li Ashrat as-Sa'ah,, p. 148) … business being slack. Everyone will complain: "I cannot sell, buy or earn money." (Muhammad ibn 'Abd ar-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li Ashrat as-Sa'ah,, p. 152)

Doomsday will not come until your leaders kill and the wicked inherit your world.(Ibid., p. 141)

In the recent past, several leaders have been assassinated, such as American president John F. Kennedy (1963), Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme (1986), King Alexander I of Yugoslavia (1934), and Pakistani President Muhammad Zia ul-Haq (1988).