We want to indicate an alternative to the current system and the prevailing way of thinking. The answer, maybe contrary to expectations, is actually quite simple: Islam - surrender to God! While the present system is mostly based on rationalism and reflection, the believer must mainly build upon God and follow His guidance.
There are no general answers on what the individual should do in order to respond to the system of Dajjal because each has a different starting position and other abilities. However, common sense and several sources tell us that one should try to distance oneself from the system as far as possible.
A time will soon come when the best wealth of a Believer will be goats which he will follow to the mountains, fleeing his religion. [Sahih al Bukhari, 1/15, Dar Ibn Kathir]
Verily! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves (as they stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration was obligatory for them), they (angels) say (to them): "In what (condition) were you?" They reply: "We were weak and oppressed on earth." They (angels) say: "Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?" Such men will find their abode in Hell - What an evil destination! [An-Nisa 97]
The Prophet said: Let him who hears of the Dajjal (Antichrist) go far from him for I swear by Allah that a man will come to him thinking he is a believer and follow him because of confused ideas roused in him by Dajjal. [Abu Dawood]
Narrated Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman: "People used to ask the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) about good things, but I used to ask him about bad things because I was afraid that they might overtake me. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, we were lost in ignorance (Jahiliyyah) and evil, then Allah brought this good (i.e. Islam). Will some evil come after this good thing?' He said, 'Yes' I asked, 'And will some good come after that evil?' He said, 'Yes, but it will be tainted with some evil'. I asked, 'How will it be tainted?' He said,' There will be some people who will lead others on a path different from mine. You will see good and bad in them'. I asked, 'Will some evil come after that good?' He said, 'Some people will be standing and calling at the gates of Hell; whoever responds to their call, they will throw him into the Fire.' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, describe them for us.' He said, 'They will be from our own people, and will speak our language.' I asked, 'What do you advise me to do if I should live to see that?' He said,' Stick to the main body (jama'ah) of the Muslims and their leader (Imam)'. I asked 'What if there is no main body and no leader?' He said 'Isolate yourself from all of these sects, even if you have to eat the roots of trees until death overcomes you while you are in that state.'" [ Imam Ibn Kathir: The Signs Before Day of Judgment]
'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud said: "The Prophet said, 'Islam began as something strange, and it will revert to being strange as it was in the beginning, so good tidings for the strangers.' Someone asked, 'Who are the strangers?' He said, 'The ones who break away from their people (literally, 'tribes') for the sake of Islam.'" [Ibn Majah on the authority of Anas and Abu Hurairah]
I disavow every Muslim living amongst mushriks. [Abu Da'ud (Badhl), XII, 425-426; al Bayhaqi, IX, 13; al-Nasa'i, VIII, 36; al-Tirmidhi, IV, 155, 156]
The Prophet Moses a.s. says in Surah Al-Maidah verse 28: "O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother: So separate us from this rebellious people!"
The Bible says: "Therefore go out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." [2 Corinthians 6:17]
"Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Go out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins and will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes." [Revelation 18: 4-5]
Both Koran and Bible mention such a separation from wrong doing people at several places. In the Qur'an, again in Surah Al-Kahf (which apparently gives us instructions for the last age), we find the story of the young people and their dog, who separated themselves from their community and sought shelter in the cave.
Do you think that people of the Cave and the Inscription (the news or the names of the people of the Cave) were a wonder among Our Signs? (Remember) when the young men fled for refuge (from their disbelieving folk) to the Cave. They said: 'Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Yourself, and facilitate for us our affair in the right way!' [Al-Kahfi 9-10]
The Islamic calendar itself begins with the Hijrah, that is, the emigration of the Muslims from Mecca to Medina, when they were pursued by the Quraish. So there is enough evidence that we most probably do the same and "leave the countries of the North" as the bible orders the believers in the end times.
But where should one go?
Look for signs. Surely Allah will give us indications as to what is the best goal for us. I myself emigrated to Indonesia long ago and have never regretted it as one can read in my book "No Name Nomad - A quest for guidance", where I describe my own Hijrah.
One should avoid to plan the Hijrah too much, because one inevitably falls victim to rationality again. Almost always, people will find that they do not have enough money to emigrate when they start to calculate all costs from A to Z. Ultimately, however, everything depends on how much "reality" one attributes to money, and how much one attributes to Allah, and whether money is the "Almighty" who makes everything possible, or Allah.
And whosoever keepeth his duty to Allah, Allah will appoint a way out for him, and will provide for him from [a quarter] whence he does not reckon. [At-Talaq 2,3]
It is very striking that both Islam and Christianity use birds as a symbol of trust in the provision of Allah. Why birds and no other animals?
Have they not seen the birds obedient in mid-air? None holdeth them save Allah. Lo! herein, verily, are portents for a people who believe. [An-Nahl 79]
A bird has no solid ground under its feet, which we can take as a symbol for 'facts' or 'collateral'. A bird is not planning. He does not know when and where he will find a grain, and if it does not immediately pick it up, another animal comes and eats it. A bird lives in the here and now while we are always with our thoughts in the future or the past.
No calamity befalleth save by Allah's leave. And whosoever believeth in Allah, He guideth his heart. [Al-Tagabun 11]
Even if our mind tells us there is no way out or something is not possible, it is Allah who determines it. Allah guides our heart, so judgment of reality and making a decision must come from the heart. The mind can only contribute temporary models of reality. The images it produces must be balanced by feeling, intuition, and inspiration, abilities to recognize the truth that seem to be grossly neglected by "modern man".
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Modern civilization is much more fragile than one might think. When certain parameters shift, it can result in a total collapse of the globalized society... |