The problem is that the only political socio-economic system people are familiar with is the one they are living under. And this system is one-eyed, as divine laws are not applied under this system. The one-eyed system favours the corrupt, the rich, and the powerful at the expense of everyone else. The ruling elites in some shape or form have themselves been subdued by the one-eyed system, and they are the ones who attempt to control the three isms:
- Capitalism is controlled by the rich elite.
- Nationalism is controlled by the political elite.
- Sectarianism is controlled by the religious elite.
It is these elites who control the narratives. They tweak the ideologies to manipulate people in the most cunning ways. They subvert the natural striving of humanity for equality. The political elites are always fearful of true democracy and freedom, so they subvert liberties. The religious elite desires power and total power. They aim to ascend to the top – using politics. They connivingly divide and rule via schism. And the capitalist elite influence the flow of capital in an aggressive and controlling manner. Their goal is self-interest, so they suppress creativity and innovation as well as progress and prosperity. All the while, humanity is suffering under the suppression of the one-eyed system.
We have witnessed the power display of the axis of evil in the past. For example, during the time of Prophet Moses (AS), the three axis of evil were:
- Capitalism: Qaroon
- Politics: The pharaoh Ramsis II
- Religion: Haman
Allah (SWT) mentioned them and their final fate in the Qur’an:
“˹We˺ also ˹destroyed˺ Korah, Pharaoh, and Hamân. Indeed, Moses had come to them with clear proofs, but they behaved arrogantly in the land. Yet they could not escape ˹Us˺.” (Qur’an 29:39)
During the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the three axis of evil were:
- Capitalism: Abu Sufiyan
- Politics: Abu Jahl
- Religion: Abu Lahab
In Surah Al-Masad Allah (SWT) addresses Abu Lahab:
“May the hands of Abu Lahab perish, and he ˹himself˺ perish!” (Qur’an 111:1)
And while talking about Abu Jahl, Allah (SWT) says:
“Have you seen the man who prevents, a servant ˹of Ours˺ from praying?” (Qur’an 96:9-10)
During modern times, the three axis of evil are no longer powerful personalities but rather powerful institutions:
- Capitalism: The City of London (The Financial District)
- Politics: Washington, District of Columbia
- Religion: The Vatican
Interestingly, all three places are independent of the law of the land. They are above the law, yet they make the laws for the rest of the world.
It seems the purpose of the man-made system and the purpose of the divine system are mutually exclusive. The followers of the Antichrist see success in worldly and materialistic gains while ignoring human needs for faith, spirituality, and belief in the afterlife. The biggest trick that the Shaitan has played is to make people believe there is no life after death and people will not be answerable for their (mis)deeds. Perhaps this is why it is said that the Antichrist will be the false Messiah.
According to a famous hadith in Sahih Bukhari, the Antichrist will bring with him what will resemble Hell and Paradise.
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah (SWT)’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Shall I not tell you about the Dajjal a story of which no Prophet told his nation? The Dajjal is one-eyed and will bring with him what will resemble Hell and Paradise, and what he will call Paradise will be actually Hell; so I warn you (against him) as Noah warned his nation against him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari:3338)
Some scholars have suggested that this hadith means whoever joins the Antichrist and seeks to benefit from his evilness by establishing alliances with evildoers, their worldly gains would not benefit them in the afterlife. Meaning, the followers of the Antichrist who think that they will not be held accountable for their transgressions are living in a fool’s paradise. The Antichrist undoubtedly will entice many with weak faith towards his false paradise. This is because the mind is actually a pleasure seeker and is almost always readily seduced to sin, as sin contains a pleasure component attached to it.
Therefore, the test and goal of life is to distinguish between what Allah (SWT) permits and what He has prohibited, using the natural ability that Allah (SWT) has given to every human being to distinguish and to avoid falling into any of the traps of Shaitan. A believer is not a believer if they refuse to distinguish between what is good and what is evil. A similar message is reiterated in a famous hadith about the Antichrist:
Anas b. Malik reported that Allah (SWT)’s Messenger (PBUH) said: Dajjal is blind of one eye and there is written between his eyes the word “Kafir”. He then spelled the word as k. f. r., which every Muslim would be able to read. (Sahih Muslim:2933c)
This Hadith can be taken literally or interpreted as symbolic in meaning. If taken literally it would mean that either there is a tattoo on the forehead of the Antichrist with the word “Kafir” or there is a deformity of the skin and the shape of the skin shows the word “Kafir”. If we take the meaning symbolically, it means that believers must recognise and differentiate between what is allowed and what is forbidden by Allah (SWT). In the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) warns people not to be led astray:
Have you ˹O Prophet˺ not seen those who claim they believe in what has been revealed to you and what was revealed before you? They seek the judgment of false judges, which they were commanded to reject. And Satan ˹only˺ desires to lead them farther away. (Qur’an 4:60)
The truth is that these days people do not heed the warning from Allah (SWT). Hence, they are led astray by Shaitan. After falling into the traps of Shaitan and the Antichrist, no one should blame others for their misfortunes. Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:
Whatever good befalls you is from Allah (SWT) and whatever evil befalls you is from yourself. (Qur’an 4:79)
Concerning the failings, the challenges people face are that the world has been made very attractive and appealing to the Nafs (egos). It becomes easy to fall into the traps set by the Shaitan and the Antichrist. Alongside Shaitan, he is the biggest challenge that humanity has ever faced. As mentioned in the hadith, “there would be no creation (creating more trouble) than the Dajjal right from the creation of Adam to the Last Hour.”
“Abu Qatada reported: We used to go to Imran b. Husain passing in front of Hisham b. ‘Amir. He, one day, said: You pass by me (in order) to go to some persons, but (amongst the living persons) none remained in the company of Allah (SWT)’s Messenger (PBUH) more than I and none knows more ahadith than I. I heard Allah (SWT)’s Messenger (PBUH) as saying: There would be no creation (creating more trouble) than the Dajjal right from the creation of Adam to the Last Hour.” (Sahih Muslim:2946a)
The dilemma the world faces is one of parity. The balance of power is in the hands of the followers of the Antichrist. They have strengthened their grip on the global power and global system. This book is intended to explain how the balance of power changed hands. How it all began and how it will all end.
You can read part 2: https://restoringthemind.com/al-masi%e1%b8%a5-ad-dajjal-the-antichrist-explained-part-2/
You can read part 3: https://restoringthemind.com/al-masi%e1%b8%a5-ad-dajjal-the-antichrist-explained-part-3/
