The Mahdi’s Time and The Golden Age
Many prophetic hadiths indicate that an age will dawn when Islamic moral values will prevail on Earth. These hadiths inform us that this period, known as the “Golden Age,” will resemble the “Age of Happiness.”
People will be so content with their lives in the Golden Age that, in the words of one hadith, “they will be unaware of time’s passage and ask Allah to extend their lives so that they may make greater use of these beauties.” Another prophetic hadith describes the Golden Age as follows:
The younger ones will wish they were grown-ups, while the adults will wish they were younger… The good will become even more good, and even the wicked ones will be treated well. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, 17)
A Hitherto Uusfen Abundance
There is a Mahdi in my community. People will come to him and say: “O Mahdi, give to me, too. Give to me, too!” The Mahdi will give him as much as he can carry in his clothes. (Hadith at-Tirmidhi, “Fitan,” B. 53; Sunan Ibn Majah, “Fitan,” B 34, H 4083)
A Mahdi will come from my community. My community will enjoy such well-being in those days that not even a tenth of it has ever been seen before. The ground will give forth foods and will hide (hold back) nothing.(Sunan Ibn Majah, 10:347)
At that time,, all members of my community, the good and the bad, will be blessed with blessing the like of which has never been seen.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 16)
Someone sowing a measure of wheat will find 700 in return. (Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 164)
The Mahdi will fill the hearts of Muhammad’s community with riches, and his justice will enfold them so much so that when a herald is commanded to cry out: “Whoever is in need, let him come to me,” no more than one person will come.That person will make requests. The Mahdi will say: “Go to the treasurer and let him give to you.” When he goes to the treasurer, he will receive goods in plenty. But then he will feel remorse and say: “Am I in greater need that everyone else? Nobody went but me,” and he will seek to give back those goods. Then the treasurer will say him: “What we give, we do not take back.” ( al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 13)
In his time, flowing rivers will increase their waters. The Mahdi will bring forth their treasures… (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 36)
It is certain that at that time goods will increase and flow like water, but nobody will (stoop to) take them. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 464)
The ground threw out gold and silver, those beloved things… (Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 197)
A Mahdi will come from my community. My community will enjoy such well-being in those days that not even a tenth of it has ever been seen before. The ground will give forth foods and will hide (hold back) nothing.(Sunan Ibn Majah, 10:347)
At that time,, all members of my community, the good and the bad, will be blessed with blessing the like of which has never been seen.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 16)
Someone sowing a measure of wheat will find 700 in return. (Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 164)
The Mahdi will fill the hearts of Muhammad’s community with riches, and his justice will enfold them so much so that when a herald is commanded to cry out: “Whoever is in need, let him come to me,” no more than one person will come.That person will make requests. The Mahdi will say: “Go to the treasurer and let him give to you.” When he goes to the treasurer, he will receive goods in plenty. But then he will feel remorse and say: “Am I in greater need that everyone else? Nobody went but me,” and he will seek to give back those goods. Then the treasurer will say him: “What we give, we do not take back.” ( al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 13)
In his time, flowing rivers will increase their waters. The Mahdi will bring forth their treasures… (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 36)
It is certain that at that time goods will increase and flow like water, but nobody will (stoop to) take them. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 464)
The ground threw out gold and silver, those beloved things… (Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 197)
There Will Be Wealt
A Mahdi will emerge from my community. Allah will send him to make people wealthy. The community will be blessed, animals will eat and drink in plenty, the ground will give forth its fruits, and goods will be given in excess. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 15)
Allah will eliminate poverty by his hand, and the Mahdi will descend to Damascus. (Ibid., p. 66)
He will fill the hearts of Muhammad’s community with wealth, and his justice will be addressed to them. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 13)
The hearts of Muhammad’s community will be filled with riches. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 20)
Allah will eliminate poverty by his hand, and the Mahdi will descend to Damascus. (Ibid., p. 66)
He will fill the hearts of Muhammad’s community with wealth, and his justice will be addressed to them. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 13)
The hearts of Muhammad’s community will be filled with riches. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 20)
Goods Will Be Given Without Being Counted
In the End Times, a khalifa (successor) will distribute wealth without even counting it.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, 15)
A leader will emerge from yourleaders, and he will not count goods. When anyone asks him for wealth, he will say: “Take.” That person will spread out his robes, and he will fill them. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 15)
There will be a khalifa from among my community, and he will distribute wealth without counting it. (Ibid., p. 15)
A leader will emerge from yourleaders, and he will not count goods. When anyone asks him for wealth, he will say: “Take.” That person will spread out his robes, and he will fill them. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 15)
There will be a khalifa from among my community, and he will distribute wealth without counting it. (Ibid., p. 15)
It Will Rain in Abundance
He will fill Earth with justice and well-being. The ground gives forth its fruits, and the sky rains. My community will be blessed in a hitherto unseen manner. (Ibn Abu Sayba, c VII, p. 512-513; al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 35)
In his time, the[Muhammad’s] community, both the good and the bad, will possess blessings the like of which have never been seen before. Although much rain falls, not a drop will be wasted, and the soil will be fertile and abundant without asking for a single seed. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 20-21)
(In the Mahdi’s time) the sky will begrudge none of its rain and will cause rain to fall generously. The ground will hold back none of its plants and will give them forth to perfection… (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 437)
In his time, the[Muhammad’s] community, both the good and the bad, will possess blessings the like of which have never been seen before. Although much rain falls, not a drop will be wasted, and the soil will be fertile and abundant without asking for a single seed. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 20-21)
(In the Mahdi’s time) the sky will begrudge none of its rain and will cause rain to fall generously. The ground will hold back none of its plants and will give them forth to perfection… (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 437)
Earth Will Be Filled With Justice
Even if no more than a day remains until Doomsday, Allah will send an individual from my community, and he will fill Earth with justice, in the same way that it is now filled with cruelty. (Sunan Abu Dawud, 5:92)
The Mahdi is one of my people, and he will fill Earth with truth and justice, just as it is now filled with cruelty and torture. (Sunan Abu Dawud, 5:93)
This Mahdi will fill Earth with justice, just as people previously filled it with cruelty. (Sunan Ibn Majah, 10:348)
After the Mahdi comes, the world, now filled with oppression and vice, will overflow with justice.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar,, p. 20)
There will be such an abundance of justice in the Mahdi’s time that just as all stolen goods will be returned to their owners, anything belonging to anyone else, even something stuck in a person’s tooth, will be returned to its owner. (Ibid., p. 23)
The Mahdi is one of my people, and he will fill Earth with truth and justice, just as it is now filled with cruelty and torture. (Sunan Abu Dawud, 5:93)
This Mahdi will fill Earth with justice, just as people previously filled it with cruelty. (Sunan Ibn Majah, 10:348)
After the Mahdi comes, the world, now filled with oppression and vice, will overflow with justice.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar,, p. 20)
There will be such an abundance of justice in the Mahdi’s time that just as all stolen goods will be returned to their owners, anything belonging to anyone else, even something stuck in a person’s tooth, will be returned to its owner. (Ibid., p. 23)
There Will Be Peace And Security
Earth will be filled with security, and small groups of women will be able to perform Hajj without any men alongside them.(Nu’aym ibn Hammad, “Fitan,” vr. 74b; Suyuti, c. II, p. 77; (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 23)
He will fill the world, previously full of cruelty, with justice. There will be such justice that nobody who is sleeping will even be awoken and not a drop of blood will be spilt. The world will return to the Age of Happiness. (Nu’aym ibn Hammad, “Fitan,” vr. 74b; Suyuti, c. II, p. 77; (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 29)
People will take the oath of allegiance to him between the Rukun and the Maqam. The Mahdi will be so compassionate that in his time nobody will be awoken out of sleep and nobody’s nose will bleed. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 42)
He will fill the world, previously full of cruelty, with justice. There will be such justice that nobody who is sleeping will even be awoken and not a drop of blood will be spilt. The world will return to the Age of Happiness. (Nu’aym ibn Hammad, “Fitan,” vr. 74b; Suyuti, c. II, p. 77; (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 29)
People will take the oath of allegiance to him between the Rukun and the Maqam. The Mahdi will be so compassionate that in his time nobody will be awoken out of sleep and nobody’s nose will bleed. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 42)
All Conflicts And Disagreements Will End
Earth will be filled with peace, just as a bowl is filled with water. No enmity will remain between anyone. All enmity, conflict, and disagreement will surely vanish. (Sahih Muslim, 1:136)
The battle will abandon its load (arms and equipment).(Sunan Ibn Majah, 10:334)
War will abandon its load (namely, arms and the like). (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 496)
He will do away with enmity and hatred. The venom will be removed from poisonous animals. Even a small boy will place his hand in a serpent’s mouth, and the serpent will not harm him. The wolf will be like a dog in a herd of sheep or goats. (Sunan Ibn Majah, pp. 331-35)
In his time, the wolf will play with the sheep and snakes will not harm children. A person will sow a handful of seed and will receive back 700 handfuls of grain. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 43)
The battle will abandon its load (arms and equipment).(Sunan Ibn Majah, 10:334)
War will abandon its load (namely, arms and the like). (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 496)
He will do away with enmity and hatred. The venom will be removed from poisonous animals. Even a small boy will place his hand in a serpent’s mouth, and the serpent will not harm him. The wolf will be like a dog in a herd of sheep or goats. (Sunan Ibn Majah, pp. 331-35)
In his time, the wolf will play with the sheep and snakes will not harm children. A person will sow a handful of seed and will receive back 700 handfuls of grain. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 43)
Love And Unity Will Prevail
Just as Allah has freed them from the heresy of ascribing partners to Him through us and has placed friendship and discourse in their hearts and made them brothers [and sisters] in religion, so He will save them from the sin of corruption through the Mahdi and will make them brothers [and sisters to each other].(at-Tabarani, Haysami, c. VII, p. 317; Nu’aym ibn Hammad, vr 52b; Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 20)
In the same way that through us they were freed from heresy and ascribing partners to Allah and placed friendship and discourse in their hearts, so it will be again (when the Mahdi comes). (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 20)
One of my sons Muhammad ibn Abdullah (the Mahdi) and the Lord will give life to the Sunnah. His justice and plenty will ease the hearts of believers. He will bring friendship and discourse to the Persian and Arab nations.(Ibid., p. 66)
In the same way that through us they were freed from heresy and ascribing partners to Allah and placed friendship and discourse in their hearts, so it will be again (when the Mahdi comes). (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 20)
One of my sons Muhammad ibn Abdullah (the Mahdi) and the Lord will give life to the Sunnah. His justice and plenty will ease the hearts of believers. He will bring friendship and discourse to the Persian and Arab nations.(Ibid., p. 66)
Lives Will Be Longer
In his time … lives will be longer and things entrusted for safekeeping will not be lost. The wicked will be destroyed and nobody will be left who does not like our Prophet (saas). (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 43)
Lives will be longer, and things entrusted will be returned to their place. (Imam al-Suyuti, Signs of the Last Day, Death, and Resurrection, p. 179)
Lives will be longer, and things entrusted will be returned to their place. (Imam al-Suyuti, Signs of the Last Day, Death, and Resurrection, p. 179)
The Dead Will Envy The Living
His time will be one of such justice that the dead in the graves will envy the living…(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 22)
They will overcome all the oppressors and the cruel. There will be such justice in his time that the dead will envy the living. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 68)
The living will wish that the deadwere alive (in order that they might see the blessings imparted to them). (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 437)
They will overcome all the oppressors and the cruel. There will be such justice in his time that the dead will envy the living. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 68)
The living will wish that the deadwere alive (in order that they might see the blessings imparted to them). (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 437)
In describing how the Mahdi will appear and make Islamic moral values prevail, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi said he would witness this beautiful time from his grave and give thanks:
In the End Times, the true lords of this sphere of life, in other words the Mahdi and his followers, will, by the will of Allah, come and widen that sphere, and the seeds will sprout. I shall WATCH FROM MY GRAVE and give thanks to Allah. (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Risale-i Nur Collection: Kastamonu Letters, p. 99)
