End of Technology & Age of Dajjal (Anti-Christ)

END OF TECHNOLOGY & AGE OF DAJJAL (ANTI-CHRIST): Scholars refer to the current times as the "Age of Dajjal" as we have entered the first phase of the End times. There are certain precautions we need to take to safeguard ourselves from the perils of these times and then the ensuing "Fitna-e-Dajjal" which will be the greatest Fitna mankind will face from the time of Prophet Adam (pbuh) till the Judgment Day (Yaum-ul-Qayamah). It is not recommended to believe every piece of information related to Dajjal (Anti-Christ), Imam Mahdi (as) and return of Prophet Jesus / Isa (pbuh) which is available on Internet in the form of articles, videos or posts. We need to be careful and refrain from independent research now if we have not already spent ample time looking for authentic sources of information. As Muslims, what matters most to us is that information which is from Qur'an and hadith as passed on to us by valid and senior scholars of Islam. The conservative and dry form of information, and not the animated videos or other useless information apart from hundreds of conspiracy theories. When we cross-verify the teachings of different scholars then we can arrive at some definite patterns. Why Surah Al-Kahf is important? Surah Al-Kahf describes 4 kinds of trials which Dajjal (Anti-Christ) will bring upon mankind. Hence, according to hadith we have been instructed to memorize first 10 verses of this Surah to protect ourselves from Dajjal apart from reciting whole Surah on Jumm'ah (after Maghrib on Thursday till Maghrib on Friday). We need to perfect our 'Tajwid' (proper Qur'anic recitation) as much as we can for reading Surah Al-Kahf at least, for it to take effect. Aspiring to know the true spirit of Islam is equally important. Dajjal (Anti-Christ) will physically appear towards the end of reign of the Great Imam Mahdi (as) which will last 7-9 years according to Ahadith. Dajjal will remain on Earth for 40 days and will subject the believers to worst kind of trials. One day of his physical presence on Earth will be like one normal year of our life. His second day will be like a month, third day will be like a week and the rest of the 37 days will be like our normal 24-hour days. Listening to different scholars we learn also that technology does not have future in the Golden Age when Prophet Isa (pbuh) will rule the world. According to Sheikh Imran Hosein who has done great research on Islamic Eschatology having written books, all technology will perish with the death of Dajjal. The Naqshbandi scholar Sheikh Nazim from Syria, who passed away few years ago, opined that when the Great Imam Mahdi (as) appears, all technology will end. Some other scholars have also expressed similar notions on end of technology though there is difference about the time when it would perish. If all technology is going to end and if it is a valid theory then what is the future of engineering, medicine, software etc.? What are doctors, engineers, computer-scientists etc. going to do in future? The right attitude is that people in technical fields have to continue gaining expertise in their relevant arenas currently so that they can compete in the present world. However, they also need to pay attention foremost to the warnings given in Ahadith by our Prophet (pbuh) and prepare accordingly. Common sense can give us many reasons also why technology 'may end' in the future provided one believes in the signs given in Ahadith on End times. If we look around us, there is more destructive use of technology in the world as compared to positive use of technology for making this planet a better place to live for all humans as well as animals, birds etc. NASA scientists are trying to fool people that we could colonize Moon or Mars but they have basically ulterior motives. Weapon industry is busy preparing nuclear warheads with continuous experiments that are making our environment contagious every day. The Multinationals and other firms are in regular competition over unnecessary luxuries which we can do without. The phenomenon of SMOG has increased worldwide owing to emissions from factories. All this has to end but cannot in the present scenario. In the Golden Age which will commence just after the killing of Dajjal, fruits of spirituality will pour forth and it may not happen due to technology. If a Prophet can descend to Earth from heavens, then is it hard for us to believe all that? The above is what I have arrived at after following many scholars of Islam. In the end, only ALLAH knows best. However, it is not wise to neglect or ignore teachings of scholars of Islam (based on Qur'an and Hadith) who spent a lifetime researching and knowing Islam compared to ordinary people like us. May ALLAH guide us and protect us - Aameen. - by Syed Roman Ahsan ( 12th March, 2018 )