The Sunday Mail
Sheikh Abdullah Makwinja
ISLAM, being the youngest of the three great revealed religions, shares many ideas and concepts with Christianity and Judaism because the origin of all three religions is the same God.
One of those ideas is that of Messianism, the idea of expecting someone who will come as the saviour to establish the Kingdom of God on earth.
In Islamic context, the concept of Messianism (Mahdism) revolves around an eschatological figure who will rise and establish a system built on the foundations of justice, peace and social order.
The idea of a messiah or savior or redeemer is common to all major religions and traditions of the world, including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Christianity. In fact, this has provided man with a kind of hope throughout history.
Divine religions — which often have divine and celestial roots — did not intend to give people false hopes. They all expressed a reality.
There is a reality in the creation of man and in the long history of humanity, and that reality is; one day the battle between good and evil is going to result in the defeat of the latter. After this stage, man’s true and pleasant life is going to begin in which struggle will no longer imply fighting.
Rather, people will compete in spreading equality and doing righteous deeds. This is a concept shared by all religions. As a matter of fact those awaiting the saviour should not remain idle and abstain from making efforts to righteousness, justice and virtues.
One who awaits the savior should not stop doing good and worthy deeds but should earnestly endeavour to be in an excellent and worthy position in such a way that God may shower His blessings on him.
The Qur’an and the Bible have clearly promised that a day is to come when suffering will end and the truth will prevail with the righteous coming to power. We quote here a few verses.
Qur’an 21:109, “Indeed We have written in the Psalms after the Torah had been given: The earth will be inherited by Our righteous servants.” Psalms 37:1-29, “And just a little while longer, and the wicked ones will be no more…But the meek ones shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace … The righteous themselves shall inherit the earth.”
This shows that the belief in the saviour is not unique to Muslims. Christians and the Jews are also awaiting him. The Christians are looking forward to the second coming of the Christ while the Jews are waiting for the Messiah.
From an Islamic perspective, Jesus will descend soon after the appearance of the Mahdi; he will join the Mahdi in establishing the Kingdom of God on earth and they will pray together.
This is the optimistic outlook that we have towards human history; and incidentally it also shows how closely the destiny of the Muslims and the Christians is linked together.
