Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 118
118 AHMADIYY AT This was the situation of the Muslims, but the condition of the rest of the world was not much better. The Holy Prophet had predicted the spread of pornography and, of immodesty and shamelessness. so much so that the people would take pride in vice. It was also predicted that promiscuity would become common. Today the West presents a pattern of culture in which all that is condemned as vice in the law of Islam has become the insignia of social behaviour and a civilized way of life. It is not necessary to set out the details of the degraded aspects of the cultural and social life of the West in illustration of this grievous situation. Promiscuity has become so much the rule of life that marriage has come to be regarded as an undesirable restriction on the freedom of social life. It is reported that the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, said that the signs of the approach of the Last Day would be that true knowledge would disappear, ignorance would spread, adultery would be multiplied and addiction to liquor would become widespread, so much so that it would be consumed openly in the streets. AU this needs no comment or illus- tration. It is also reported that the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, said that the signs of the approach of the Last Day would be that the forms of gambling would be greatly multiplied. Among other indications of the approach of the Last Day, mentioned by the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, are that righteousness would disappear, integrity and trust would fall away and respect for, doing honour to and good behaviour towards parents would decline. It would thus be realized that the function of the Mahdi- Messiah in respect of the revival of Islam, and giving practical effect to its guidance and values in one's daily life, was an objective that could only be achieved by one who was honoured with constant communion with the Divine and was wholly and completely committed to winning the plea- sure of God, through service of his fellow beings. This was fully illustrated in the life of the Promised Messiah.