Conclusion

I will conclude this book with a remarkable prophecy. Al-Miqdād ibn al-Aswad reported that he heard the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) say: “There will not remain on the face of the earth a dwelling in a city or a desert except that Allāh will cause the message of Islam to enter it.”¹ Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH) predicted that the Muslim nation’s period of weakness would be followed by a revival, and that the glory of Islam would be restored before the Day of Judgment. He also foretold that Islam would spread across the earth. Indeed, Islam, which began with a single individual—Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH)—is now the fastest-growing religion in the world. According to international statistics, the number of Muslims has reached 1.8 billion. In short, although nations are calling upon one another to attack us, the situation will soon change through the efforts of sincere believers, and the divine promise of istikhlāf (stewardship of the earth granted by Allāh) will undoubtedly be fulfilled. It was narrated by al-Ḥākim in al-Mustadrak and by others that ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ said: “We were in the presence of the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) writing when he was asked: ‘Which of the two cities will be conquered first, Constantinople or Rome?’ The Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) said: ‘The city of Heraclius will be conquered first,’ meaning Constantinople.”² This authentic ḥadīth (Prophetic tradition) carries implications beyond the mere glad tidings of the conquests of Constantinople and Rome. At first glance, one might expect that, since the question concerns the unseen (the future), it should have been phrased differently. For instance, it could have been: “Will the two cities—or one of them—be conquered, O Messenger of Allāh?” or “Will we be strong enough to conquer one or both cities?” Remarkably, the wording of the question in the ḥadīth reflects an exceptional depth of belief and conviction on the part of the questioner, who did not ask about the possibility of the conquests, but rather affirmed their occurrence. In other words, he was certain that both cities would inevitably be conquered by the Muslims, and he was only asking which of them would be conquered first. This clearly illustrates the attainment of the highest degree of certainty regarding the truthfulness of what the Prophet (PBUH) said. This ḥadīth gives glad tidings and serves as evidence of the superiority of Islam over other religions. Obviously, the first conquest—that of Constantinople—took place during the reign of Sultan Mehmed al-Fātiḥ (the Conqueror), while the second conquest—that of Rome (Italy)—will, truly and certainly, be fulfilled, in shāʾa Allāh (God willing). Allāh promised Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH) victory and the establishment of the religion of Islam, and He will surely fulfil the promise He made to His Messenger (PBUH), for nothing can overcome His decree. Allāh says: {So do not think ˹O Prophet˺ that Allāh will fail to keep His promise to His Messengers} (Qurʾān 14:47.) However, the fulfilment of the second conquest requires the Muslim nation to revive its resolve in order to regain its glory and its usurped authority so that it may return as Allāh described it—the best nation ever raised for mankind. When the Companions [may Allāh be pleased with them] complained to the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) about the persecution inflicted upon them by the disbelievers, he said: “By Allāh, this matter will be brought to completion (i.e., Islam will prevail).”³ The Messenger (PBUH) also said to them: “By Him in Whose Hand Muḥammad’s soul is, I hope that you will constitute half of the inhabitants of Paradise.”⁴ He (PBUH) further said: “Indeed, this matter will reach everywhere the night and day have reached. Allāh will not leave a dwelling in a city or a desert except that He will make this religion enter therein.”⁵ Despite the weakness of our nation, Islam, by the grace of Allāh, is the fastest-growing and most influential religion in the world today, where only a few vestiges of earlier religions remain alongside secularism. Assuredly, as the Prophet (PBUH) foretold, Islam will enter every house on the face of the earth, the Muslim nation will restore its glory, and the Muslims will conquer Rome. May Allāh guide the Muslims to righteousness and set right the affairs of the Muslim nation. Āmīn!