This Temporal World

As all people of divine religions believe, the Awaited Reformer will fill this world with justice and fairness after it had been filled with injustice and oppression. This is well-known among Muslims, because it was mentioned by the Messenger of God pbuhap and Ahl al-Bayt pbut, and narrated by both the Sunnis and Shia.31

So what does the supremacy of God consist of such that it causes the earth to be filled with justice and fairness? Before I examine this important issue, I wish to clarify something of equal importance that also highlights the significance of examining it. Based on the statements of the Messenger of God pbuhap and his progeny concerning the signs for the appearance and rise of the Awaited Reformer, as Shia Muslims, we agree that these days are the days of his appearance and rise. We certainly are not concerned with the opinion of those whofalter and have not read the religious accounts. Furthermore, the Christians around the world also consider these days to be the days of the rising of the Awaited Reformer pbuh, whom they consider to be Jesus pbuh. I have even read a book, written by a Christian priest in the middle of the last century, in which he considers the signs of the appearance and the Minor Resurrection to have already begun in the Kingdom of Heaven.

As for the Jews, they consider these days to be the days of the Minor Resurrection. In fact, many of their rabbis confirm that these days are the days of the return of Elijah pbuh and the appearance of the Global Reformer. Some of them have recently distributed flyers from airplanes to the Muslims in Palestine demanding that they leave the Holy Land because the time has come for the Minor Resurrection, and stating that these days are the final days after

29 Bihar al-Anwar [The Ocean of Lights] Vol 52, 336.

30 Al-Qaim means "The Riser" and is another title for the Mahdi–Trans. 31 Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagreement over the choice of Muhammad's successor and subsequently acquired broader political significance, as well as theological and juridical dimensions–Trans.

which only the righteous will remain in the Holy Land. According to Jewish belief, they are the righteous ones.

If that is the case, it is clear that all religious people whofirmly believe in what the prophets pbut have stated acknowledge that these are the days of the Minor Resurrection and the appearance of the Awaited Global Reformer pbuh. If these are the days of his appearance, where he is tofill the earth with justice and fairness after it was filled with injustice and oppression, it becomes clear to us that these are the days in which the world is filled with injustice and oppression.

Here, two questions come to mind:

How is it that the world became filled with injustice and oppression?

The answer to this question has been mentioned, and I will refer to it below.

The second question is: How will this world become filled with justice and fairness?

This is what I want to begin to explain. I will highlight some of the characteristics of the supremacy of God that result in the earth being filled with justice.

The First Characteristic: The Law (the General Constitution and other laws )

The one who sets down the law is God Almighty. He is the Creator of this earth and everything in it, and He knows what reforms its people and inhabitants: namely mankind, jinn, animals, plants, and other creation that we either do or do not know about. He also knows the past, present and future. He knows what reforms the human body and soul as well as what reforms mankind as a whole. The law has to take into consideration the past, present, future, human body and soul, the interest of the individual, group, and other creatures. The law also has to take into consideration the interest of inanimate objects such as the earth, water, the environment, etc. How could anyone other than God Almighty know the details of all these things, given that most of these things cannot be inferred or understood, meaning that they, their attributes, and so on, cannot be known?

Moreover, if we were to assume that someone knew all of these details, how would he be able to make a law that takes them all into consideration, though some of them might contradict one another in practice? Which legislation would guarantee the creation’s best interest?

Surely, this legislation will only exist within divine law and divine jurisprudence, because the one who set them down is the Creator of all creations. He knows of the secrets and what is even more concealed, and He is capable of making things take whatever course He wishes. He, the Almighty, is far above what they associate with Him.

The Second Characteristic: The King or Ruler

Undoubtedly, leadership-whatever form it takes, whether it be within the supremacy of people (either dictatorial or democratic), or within the supremacy of God Almighty-has a direct effect on human society. This is because society is naturally compelled to at least listen to this leadership, since humans are naturally disposed tofollow a leader assigned by God Almighty.

{It is the nature of God upon which He created the people. There is no alteration concerning the creation of God; that is the valuable religion} Quran Chapter “The Romans” 30:30.

This leader is the guardian and the vicegerent of God on His earth. If his right is usurped and the mirror of the human’s nature is tainted by the darkness of this worldly life, humans will accept any leadership as an alternative to the vicegerent of God, His proof upon His creation, in order for the human tofulfill the imperfection within themselves, even if this alternative leadership is immoral and opposed to this vicegerent. Humans usually obey the leadership represented by the ruler. Leadership can only be represented by one of two people: either the vicegerent of God who is His proof upon His servants and the ruler appointed by God Almighty, or any other person, whether he is a domineering dictator reigning by oppressive force, or one who is elected by free, democratic elections. The ruler appointed by God speaks for God because he only speaks and acts according to the command of God.

As for the ruler appointed by the people or who dominates them, he does not speak for God Almighty at all. The Messenger of God pbuhap said: “Whoever listens to a speaker has worshipped him. If the speaker is speaking for God, he has worshipped God, and if the speaker is speaking for Satan, he has worshipped Satan.”32

Hence, a person either speaks for God or Satan; there is no third party. Every ruler other than the vicegerent of God and His Proof upon His creation speaks for Satan in one way or another, each to his own extent, and to the extent of the falsehood he carries.

Ahl al-Bayt pbut said, “Every banner raised before the banner of the Qaim pbuh is a banner of a tyrant,” referring to each banner whose owner is not affiliated with the Mahdi pbuh.

Therefore, the ruler appointed by God Almighty speaks for God, and the ruler not appointed by God Almighty speaks for Satan. Certainly, the one who speaks for God reforms religion and this world, and the one who speaks for Satan corrupts religion and this world.

32 Muhammad Al-Kulayni, Al-Kafi [The Sufficient Book]. (Tehran: Dar Al-Kutub Al-Islamiya,1944), Vol 6, 434, and Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Ali Al-Sadooq, Uyun Akhbar Al-Ridha [The Source of Traditions on Imam Al-Ridha] (Qom: Maktabat Toos 1983), Vol 2, 272.

What remains to be said is that God Almighty knows what each soul holds and He knows the righteous from the corrupt. He chooses His vicegerent and selects him so thathe is the finest of His creation and the best, most righteous and most knowledgeable one on the earth. God Almighty protects him from errors and mistakes, and directs him towards righteousness and reformation.

However, if the people object to the appointment of God, they will only choose the worst of God’s creation. In fact, Moses pbuh, who is an infallible prophet, chose seventy men from his people whom he believed were righteous, only tofind out later of their corruption. There is a lesson in this for whoever is willing to learn, a reminder for whoever is willing to remember, and a sign for whoever is willing to listen and acknowledge.

3. In God’s Supremacy the Law and the Ruler Enjoy Perfection and Infallibility

In the supremacy of God, the premise results in the reformation of people’s political, economical, and social condition. This is because in these areas, the lives of the people depend upon the law and the ruler, as the law governs them and the ruler is the one implementing the law. Therefore, if the law is from God, regulation in these areas is the best and most ideal that it can be. Also, if the ruler is the guardian and vicegerent of God on His earth and the finest of his creation, then the application of the divine law is perfect and complete, and it is done in the best way possible.

As a result, if the people of a nation accept the supremacy of God on His earth, they receive the best of religion and this world, and their children attain happiness in this world and in the hereafter. Indeed, the finest thing that can rise from the earth to heaven rises from the children of a nation that accepts the supremacy of God on His earth, which is the allegiance to the guardian of God and devotion to him. Consequently, that nation receives the finest thing that can be sent down from heaven to the earth, which is support from God Almighty, and that nation becomes one of the best nations, because it accepts the guardian and vicegerent of God on His earth:

{And if only the people of the villages had believed and been pious, We would have opened upon them blessings from Heaven and Earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning."} Quran Chapter “The Heights” 7:96.

In addition, nations would claim to be superior to others based on the extent to which they accept the vicegerent of God on His earth and obey his commands. The nation that accepts Imam al-Mahdi pbuh is the best nation produced as an example for mankind:

{You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin right and forbid what is wrong} Quran Chapter “The Family of Imran” 3:110.

This nation is the three hundred and thirteen companions of the Qaim and whoever follows them.

On the other hand, if a nation rejects the guardian and vicegerent of God on His earth, it commits the most foolish act and loses this world and the hereafter. In this world, there is humiliation and disgrace; and in the hereafter, hellfire and the worst resting place.

Lastly, I want to emphasize that I do not believe that a person who believes in God Almighty would think that the law set down by people is better than the law of God, or that the ruler appointed by the people is better that the ruler appointed by God Almighty.

And praise be to God alone.

{And when they see you, they take you not except in ridicule, [saying], "Is this the one whom God has sent as a messenger? ✶ He would have nearly misled us from our gods had we not been steadfast in worship of them." But they are going to know, when they see the punishment, who is farthest astray in his way} Quran Chapter “The Criterion” 25:41-42.

The Guilty Shortcomer Ahmed al-Hasan June, 2004