The Universal Reign of the Mahdi (may his advent be hastened)
All curious souls do ask themselves:
On that day when:
The dark clouds of oppression and corruption shall shroud the heavens of the world,
On that day when:
The demonic, world-devouring powers shall sink their claws ever deeper into the throats of the world's afflicted people,
On that day when:
All standards save the standard of matter and the worship of matter shall vanish from the scales of human thought,
On that day when:
The mighty waves of propaganda of the tyrants of East and West, to secure their unlawful gains, shall portray every right as falsehood and every falsehood as right,
And finally, on that day when:
The scourge of unkindness; narrow-mindedness; divisions; discriminations; and oppressions shall wound the backs of the world's downtrodden masses,
Aye!
At that very moment, our hopeful eyes shall be fixed upon thee – O great reformer of the world –
Upon thy revolution and thy universal reign!
And from thy God, do thou beseech this grace for us, that we may so fashion ourselves, in breadth of thought and understanding, in struggle and holy war, and in the power to reform the world in all its aspects, that we may be worthy to partake in that grand revolutionary undertaking!
* Doth the destiny of future humanity lie in peace and justice and security and the freedom of humankind from the clutches of every form of ظلم (ẓulm – oppression) and ستم (sitam – tyranny) and تبعیض (tabʿīḍ – discrimination) and استعمار (istiʿmār – colonialism)?
Or, as some do foretell, shall chaos increase day by day, distances grow wider, disharmonies and disorders become more abundant, and finally, a global nuclear or super-nuclear war shall lay waste the foundations of human civilization, and if any humans remain upon the face of the earth, they shall be backward, disabled, wretched, and helpless beings?
* If the first belief be true, and peace and justice be the ultimate end, upon what grounds doth this certainty rest?
* If it be ordained that the world shall step towards عدل (ʿadl – justice) and صلح (ṣulḥ – peace) and brotherhood), is the implementation of these principles possible without a revolution? And in other words: do gradual reforms and reformations possess the power to transform the general countenance of the world with all these disorders?
* If it be necessary that a revolution should occur, is it possible solely through material laws, or is it impossible without recourse to spiritual principles and the genuine values of humankind?
* Again, if we concede that such a revolution – in any event – is destined to take place, what qualities must the leader of this revolution possess?
* Doth this revolution necessarily lead to a "single global government"?
* Are not specific preparations for such a government necessary beforehand?
* Do these preparations exist in the present world, or not? And if not, is the world at this moment stepping towards these preparations, or towards their opposite?
* Do these matters – in any event – bear a connection to the general belief of the world's religions concerning the advent of a great heavenly reformer?
* What is the general belief of Muslims concerning the advent of the "Mahdi," and what is its connection to these fateful issues?
* Doth belief in such an advent draw us nearer to the general reform of the world through a comprehensive revolution, or, as some do ponder, doth it distance us?
* Is this thought and general belief of religions an objective reality and the offspring of logical proofs, or is it a mere fancy to falsely satisfy the suppressed desires of humankind in the lost general path of "peace" and "justice"?...
In this writing, an endeavour hath been made, far from fanaticisms and extremist inclinations, and far from illogical prejudgments, to answer these questions; answers that shall spring from the depths of the soul, and be consistent with wisdom, and be able to quench the thirst of "reason" and "emotions" and "spirit" and "soul."
The Bright Future
Indication
We behold the future of the world as bright, for several reasons:
* The comprehensive evolutionary course of human society.
* Harmony with the general order of creation.
* Social reactions (the law of reaction).
* Social necessities.
* فطرت (fiṭrat – innate nature) and "global peace and justice."
The Evolutionary Course of Societies
There is no doubt that at a preliminary glance, the signs bear witness that the world is advancing towards "catastrophe"; a catastrophe born of: "the abandonment of affections"; "the increasing distance between wealthy and poor societies"; "the intensification of disagreements and conflicts between large and small states"; "the ascending course of crimes"; "moral, spiritual, and intellectual disorders"; and "the undesirable and unforeseen products of machine life" and the like.
A catastrophe whose countenance is made clear by comparing the present situation with the near past; and it is considered an effective factor in the growth of the seeds of pessimism in the depths of the thought of even the most optimistic individuals.
International experts do say:
The volume of nuclear bombs existing in the arsenals of the great powers alone is sufficient to destroy all the settlements of the globe – not once, but seven times!
These weapons, with their staggering costs that can be expressed in astronomical figures, have not been made without purpose; they are not playthings, they have been made for use in a horrific nuclear war; and finding an excuse to start it, in a world where there are so many border clashes and conflicts of interest, and explosive regions, is not a difficult task.
In the great leaders of today's world, we also find enough of the "sense of ambition" and the "madness of power" to start such a war!
Therefore, it can be predicted that in the not-too-distant future, a "great catastrophe" will occur, and humanity will probably perish in a vast nuclear war, or due to economic poverty resulting from the monopolization of the great powers, or the depletion of energy resources, or the environment becoming uninhabitable!
But in the face of all these initial pessimistic factors, deeper studies reveal a bright future ahead:
These dark and gloomy clouds, with the roar of terrifying thunder, will eventually dissipate.
This black, pitch-dark night is followed by the white dawn of hope.
This scorching cold of the winter of ignorance and corruption and bullying and oppression is followed by the blossoming spring of justice.
This deadly sorrow, this fatal storm, and this devastating flood will eventually end, and if we look closely, in the distant horizons, the signs of the shore of salvation can be seen!
The first logical reason for this matter is the law of the evolutionary course of societies:
From the day man knew himself, he never had a monotonous life, but rather, inspired by an inner motive – and perhaps unconsciously – he strove to advance himself and his society.
From the perspective of dwelling, one day he was a cave dweller, and today he has built skyscrapers, one of which can accommodate a population equivalent to a small city – with all the means of living and all the necessary facilities for the people of a city!
From the perspective of clothing, one day he sewed clothes from the leaves of trees, but today he has thousands of types of clothing with thousands of designs and thousands of shapes at his disposal, and he is still searching for other colors and designs and materials.
One day his food was extremely simple and limited, but today it has become so diverse and varied that merely mentioning their names requires a large book.
One day his mount was only his feet; but today he rides on space vessels and traverses the heavens and visits other planets.
From the perspective of science and knowledge, there was a time when all his information could fit on a page of paper – although writing had not yet been invented – but today even millions of books in various fields do not express his sciences and knowledge.
On that day, the discovery of fire, and the invention of a round object in the shape of a "wheel," and a sharp-tipped weapon like a "dagger" were considered great discoveries and inventions for him; and he was very happy that by throwing a log of wood over a stream, he had been able to cross it, that he had built a bridge; but today, his heavy industries and amazing inventions baffle every beholder, and the complex system of electronic brains plunges him into a world of dreams.
And the strange thing is that he is not satisfied with any of this, and again strives and endeavors to reach a higher and superior level, a persistent and tireless striving.
From the totality of this discourse, we conclude that the love of evolution is an eternal and unquenchable flame within the soul of man, and in truth, it is one of the great privileges of man that separates him from animals and other living beings – living beings that have been stagnant for millions of years and have an apparently monotonous life – it is this very matter.
And again, it can be well concluded that this great institution will not rest, and will continue to drive man forward on the path of evolutions, and will mobilize his forces to overcome the problems and disorders and imbalances of present life.
It leads towards a society where "moral evolutions" are alongside "material evolutions."
Towards a society in which there is no trace of war and devastating and anti-evolutionary bloodshed.
Towards a society where only "peace and justice" govern the destinies of mankind, and the spirit of aggression and colonialism, which is the most important obstacle in the path of his "material and spiritual evolution," is dead within it.
It is possible that some may say that all past evolutions have taken place in material aspects, and there is no reason for the evolutionary course to include spiritual matters as well.
But the answer to this statement is clear, because:
Firstly, in past evolutions, many spiritual and human principles can also be found; for example, in the human sciences and knowledge that have made great progress in the light of evolution, non-material sciences are not few; and for instance, the belief of primitive man about "God," which was in the form of worshipping pieces of stone and wood and even idols made of dates, bears no resemblance to the understanding of a clear-conscienced, God-knowing scientist or a divine mystic sage of today regarding this matter.
In the style of Wordsworthian prose, I shall now render these Persian words into the English tongue, preserving the quotations and references, and translating them for thy understanding:
These past principles, material and spiritual, are not things separate; and for instance, the spirit of strife and superiority-seeking, and of aggression, doth as much disorder the lives of mortal men as a powerful atomic bomb! Nay, the latter without the former shall not be put to use!
And from hence we do perceive that this evolution shall continue in all realms.
It is thus that the first glimmer of hope for attaining a bright future and a world full of peace and purity, and brotherhood and equality – in the light of the "law of the evolutionary course of societies" – doth appear in our contemplations.
Harmony with the Order of Creation
The universe, as far as our knowledge extends, is a collection of systems.
The existence of regular and universal laws throughout this world is proof of the unity and interconnectedness of this system.
The matter of order and law and measure in the expanse of creation is considered one of the most fundamental issues of this realm.
For instance, if we behold hundreds of powerful electronic brain devices working hand in hand to pave the way for space travelers by performing precise calculations for space journeys, and their calculations prove correct, and the lunar landing module descends at the predicted location on the moon – despite the fact that both the moon and the earth are moving rapidly – we must note that this process owes its existence to the precise order of the solar system and its planets and satellites; for if they were to deviate from their fixed and regular course, the fate of the space travelers would be altered, and it would be unknown to what point they would be cast.
From the vast world, we enter the small and smaller and very small realm; here – especially in the realm of living beings – order takes on a more living concept, and chaos has no place in it whatsoever.
For example, the disruption of the regulation of the brain cells of man is sufficient to tragically disorder the organization of his life.
It was reported in the newspapers that a young student, due to a severe brain concussion in a car accident, had forgotten almost his entire past; while he was healthy in other respects, he did not recognize his brother and sister, and he was terrified when his mother embraced and kissed him, wondering what this strange woman wanted with him!
They took him to his birthplace; he looked at the room in which he had grown up, at his handicrafts and his painting, and said that this was the first time he had seen such a room and such a painting! Perhaps he thought he had stepped onto this planet from another, that everything was new to him.
Perhaps out of the billions of his brain cells, only a few connecting cells that linked the past with the "present" had ceased to function, but this very disruption of a minor regulation had produced what a terrifying effect!
We magnify an atom, and it becomes like the solar system, and if we were to hypothetically shrink the solar system, it would become like an atom, each has a unified system; the largest systems, and the smallest systems!
In such a world, can man, who is a part of this whole, assume an exceptional state and become a mismatched patch!
Can human society, by choosing "disorder," chaos, ظلم (ẓulm – oppression) and ستم (sitam – tyranny), imbalance and irregularity, withdraw itself from the path of the great river of the creation of the world, in which all proceed with a plan and order!
Does the observation of the general state of our world not lead us to think that humanity too, willingly or unwillingly, must bow its head before the order of the universe and accept regular and just laws and return to the original path; and become harmonious with this system!
We cast a glance at the structure of the various and complex organs of every human body; we see that all of them are subject to laws and order and measure; with all this, how can human society endure without following rules and regulations and a correct and just system!
We desire survival and strive for it, but the level of awareness of our society has not yet reached the point where we know that the continuation of the present path leads to our annihilation and destruction; but little by little we are coming to our senses, and this understanding and intellectual growth is being attained by us.
We desire our own interests, but we do not yet know that the continuation of the current situation will squander our interests, but gradually, living and eloquent figures and statistics, for example, regarding the arms race – are placed before our eyes, and we see how half of the most active intellectual and physical forces of the world's societies, and half of the great wealth and capital, are wasted in this path; not only are they wasted, but they are used to destroy the other half!
Simultaneous with the increase in our level of awareness, we clearly find that we must join the general system of the universe, and just as we are truly a part of this whole, we must also be so in practice; so that we can achieve our goals in all constructive fields.
The result is that: the order of creation will be another reason for the acceptance of a correct social system in the future, in the world of humanity.
Social Reactions
It is not only in physical discussions that we encounter a law called the "law of reaction," that if, for example, a body collides with a wall with a certain pressure, it is propelled backward with the same force and pressure, but in social matters, we find this law even more palpable.
Historical experiments show us that transformations and vast revolutions have always been the direct reaction to previous pressures; and perhaps no widespread revolution has occurred in the world unless there was a strong opposing pressure before it.
In other words, extremism has always been the source of changes; for example:
* The European Scientific Revolution (the Renaissance) – was a reaction against a thousand years of ignorance and backwardness of the Middle Ages, and the pressures exerted by the superstitious custodians of the Church to keep the people backward – which suddenly cast aside the factors of ignorance; and lit the torch of science and raised the banner of knowledge everywhere.
* The Great French Revolution of 1789 – which was an extraordinary leap in the direction of political and social life – appeared in the face of the tyranny and class-based colonialism and bullying and autocracy of the ruling regimes, which led French society and then other European societies into a new stage of their history and replaced force and tyranny with the rule of law – albeit to some extent.
* The revolution against slavery – in 1848, which first began in England – was the result of the extraordinarily harsh and anti-human behavior of slave owners towards slaves, which on the one hand ignited the fire of revolution within the slaves themselves, and on the other hand in the aroused emotions of societies in favor of the slaves; and it dismantled the system of slavery, although another form of slavery, more mysterious and widespread than it, took its place under the title of "aid for the development of backward countries," the doctrine of "colonialism" came into being!
The system of slavery had to be abolished in any case, but the way slaves were treated accelerated it.
* The revolution against colonialism, in our era, is a direct reaction to the anti-human behaviors of the colonialists in the colonies, and has been; which caused the social consciousness of the colonized people to blossom and they raised the banner of opposition against the colonial powers, although it often did not lead to complete economic and social and political and intellectual independence; but the situation has changed greatly from the past.
* The Communist Revolution – in 1917, was a reaction to the ظلم (ẓulm – oppressions) of the capitalists and their reckless violation of the rights of the majority of the toiling masses and the chained peoples; although – as we have said elsewhere – this revolution also did not lead to the liberation of the suffering classes, and another tyrannical system under the title of the "dictatorship of the proletariat," which in truth was the dictatorship of a handful of party leaders, took its place.
* The revolution against racial discrimination – which is currently underway in the world, is a reaction to the intense pressures of the white race on black people, and their extraordinary deprivation of social rights.
If we turn the pages of history and go back, everywhere we encounter manifestations of the law of reaction.
The history of the prophets is full of a series of transformations whose ground was prepared beforehand by intense social pressures, and the prophets, with their heavenly teachings, led and nurtured these revolutions, and advanced them in the right direction.
Not only among the true accounts of the world's nations do we find many examples of this law in contemporary and ancient history; but in the myths and legends of peoples, the reflection of this law is also clearly seen.
In the legend of "Zahhak the Serpent-Shouldered" and "Kaveh the Blacksmith," it is said that the food of the snakes that had grown on his shoulders was human brains, and every day the brains or brain of one or more people had to be extracted from skulls and given to the snakes to calm them down!
The truth is that the venomous and beautiful-patterned snake of "colonialism" feeds on brains; and intellectual colonialism is considered the root and foundation of all colonialisms!
Then we see that from within this very deprived society that was under the blows of Zahhak, a blacksmith who had seen the pressure of fire and whose powerful arm was capable of striking the hammer of revolution arose, and from the very blacksmith's apron that had long resisted the sparks of fire and had absorbed the pressures, he made the banner of revolution, and he overturned the oppressive regime of Zahhak, and the final reaction took place!
In today's "psychoanalysis" and "psychology," there is also a discussion that is another reflection of this law.
This discussion tells us: if human desires are not satisfied in an appropriate manner, these suppressed and repressed desires retreat from the stage of "conscious awareness" to the stage of the "unconscious" and unknown part of the soul, and in the unconscious conscience, they form a complex; indeed, according to some, the unconscious is nothing but these repressed desires!
They do not rest quietly in the hidden place of man's unconscious, and constantly try to manifest themselves in some way; the reaction of these complexes in individuals is very different, but it can be said that they often manifest themselves in one of the following forms:
* Through creating psychological disorders and disrupting the self-aware apparatus of thought.
* Through escape and flight from society and isolation and pessimism.
* Through unconscious revenge against the society that made him this way!
* Through satisfaction in substitute and imaginary forms.
* Through "sublimation" and flight to higher stages!
For example, suppose a boy has developed a strong affection for a girl, and suppose that due to the strong opposition of his parents, he has not been able to attain union with his beloved. This burning love is driven from the self-aware stage of his soul to the unconscious, and not only is it not destroyed, but it soon shows strong reactions.
It may drive him mad; or lead him to isolation forever; or turn him into a vengeful and dangerous criminal; or direct him towards poetry and literature and lead him to union with his beloved in the world of poetic dreams.
But sometimes this very material love may be transformed into a deep heavenly and divine love; and he may turn his heart away from other than God and manifest himself as a detached mystic, with lofty and far-reaching thoughts; and of course, these differences are due to other psychological differences and the various preparations and spiritual backgrounds of individuals.
Therefore, we observe that psychological pressures also always face a revolution and a strong reaction, which is another face of the law of reaction.
Conclusion:
This law tells us that the current state of the world is pregnant with a revolution.
The pressure of wars, the pressure of ظلم (ẓulm – oppressions) and injustices, the pressure of discriminations and inequities, coupled with the failure and frustration of humans with the current laws to eliminate or reduce these pressures, will eventually reveal their strong reaction.
Eventually, these repressed human desires, in the light of the increasing awareness of nations, will form such a social complex that from the hidden place of the unconscious soul of society, with a lightning-fast leap, they will manifest themselves and disrupt the organization of the current system of human societies; and they will create a new design.
A design in which there will be no news of the back-breaking arms race; and none of all these exhausting conflicts and bloody battles and colonialism and tyranny and ظلم (ẓulm – oppression) and corruption and suffocation.
And this is another glimmer of the bright future that the global society has ahead.
Social Compulsions and Necessities
Indication
The meaning of "social compulsion" is that the state of the social life of humans reaches such a stage that they feel a need for something and accept it as a "necessity."
We also know that every human being in the beginning is such that they want to be free in every respect and that there should be no limitations in their life, but little by little they realize that this kind of freedom deprives them of many privileges of communal life and harms their genuine desires; and if they do not accept constraints called "law," the society in which they live falls into chaos and disintegrates.
It is here that they submit to regulations and principles and laws.
Likewise, with the progress of societies, the amount of these constraints increases day by day, and yet they accept all of them as "necessities."
We give a simple example for this matter:
Regarding traffic and driving regulations, when a fast-moving vehicle is placed at the disposal of man, his heart desires to go freely wherever he wants; to stop or park wherever he wishes; to drive at any speed; to continue on his way at intersections without delay; but he soon realizes that if he does this, there is no reason why others should not do the same, and the result is chaos and all sorts of dangers.
Therefore, today every child knows that this is not right; there must be regulations in place, even if they delay him for hours from reaching his destination; there must be fines and strict discipline (but just and wise!) in place, otherwise hundreds of people will lose their lives or their vehicles on this road every day.
This we call social "necessity" or "compulsion."
But the important thing is that a "real need" of society becomes so apparent that the necessity of its being is accepted by all or at least the thinkers and leaders of society; and this depends in the first degree on the rise in the level of awareness and social consciousness of the people, and then relates to the manifestation of the undesirable results of the existing state of society and the impossibility of continuing the path.
For this reason, (for example) we see that the cries and shouts in the field of environmental pollution go nowhere, and no one pays heed to accepting regulations related to environmental cleanup; but when people see, for example, that a big city has become so afflicted with air pollution that successive illnesses threaten its people; breathing has become difficult; eyes burn; and according to statisticians, ten people go blind every day; saliva – after a few hours of commuting in the city – has turned black, the signs of skin diseases and gradually diseases of the respiratory system and heart and liver ailments and poisoning have become apparent, it is here that they submit to harsh and back-breaking regulations as a necessity, and welcome things like shutting down factories built at great cost, discarding thousands of smog-producing vehicles, and refraining from many profitable economic activities that cause air pollution.
Considering this example, we return to the main point;
Perhaps many people in the 17th and 18th centuries, observing the remarkable industrial progress, had a vision of the 20th century as a depiction of paradise; they thought that with the rapid pace at which industries were growing, a day would come when:
Underground resources would be discovered one after another;
The power of the "atom," which is the most important and greatest source of energy, would finally be harnessed by the grasp of science;
Man would realize his dream of flying into the heavens;
By pressing a button, his house would be swept, food cooked, clothes and dishes washed, rooms heated in winter and cooled in summer; by pressing a button, the earth would split open, seeds sown, and finally its produce gathered and cleaned and packaged and ready for consumption by equipped machines...;
Then man sits and enjoys all this comfort and tranquility and ease!
But they did not believe that industrial and mechanical man would not have a more prosperous life, but that, step by step with the advancement of technology, the specter of new disorders and the giant of new problems would appear; the demon of "world wars" would cast its terrifying shadow over the centers of machines and industry, and in a short time, it would crush them in a way they never dreamed of!
He now understands how dangerous his life has become!
If in the past there was talk of wars in which a few thousand people lost their lives, now there is talk of a war whose price is the destruction of civilization on the globe and a return to the Stone Age!
He gradually understands that to preserve the existing situation and the great industrial and civilizational victories, past regulations are never sufficient, and he must submit to new regulations.
Gradually, a time will come when the "existence of a single world government" to end the back-breaking arms race; to end the increasing conflicts of the great powers; to turn the world away from the edge of the abyss of war; will be felt as a "necessity" and an "inevitable reality," that these artificial and troublesome borders must finally be removed and all the people of the world must live under one flag and with one law!
A time will come when the level of social consciousness in the world will reach a stage where they will clearly see that the unjust distribution of wealth in its current form, where on one side of the world, and even sometimes on one side of the city, people live so prosperously that their dogs and cats also have hospitals and doctors and dentists and luxurious sleeping rooms; but on the other side, people fall to the ground from hunger like the yellow leaves of autumn; has a terrible end ahead; and without a just system of wealth distribution, the world will not see peace; rather, both the rich and the poor, the developed and backward countries, will be in trouble.
When these issues reach the stage of a "necessity" due to the manifestation of the undesirable reactions of the existing situation and the rise in the level of public consciousness, revolution and change will be inevitable, just as it has been in the past.
Therefore, "social compulsion" is another effective factor that, with its powerful application, will inevitably lead the people of the world towards a life mixed with peace and justice, and will lay the foundations of a world government based on a new design.
Signs of the Self-Awareness of the People of the World
Indication
The discourse was whether the existing signs indicate that the world will ultimately be peace and justice, or the ruin and destruction of the human race?
So far, we have found clear evidence for the first possibility through four paths, but it may be said in response to this discourse that if this is the case, why do we not see any signs in the current state of the world, in the way of life of today's man, of taking steps towards such a destination, but rather the opposite, the existing situation is more despairing than hopeful!
We also agree that the initial view confirms this matter; but closer scrutiny shows that the current man, with all his aggressions and oppressions and destructions, has also taken and is taking steps towards that great goal, and signs of self-awareness are visible in his thought and life.
Although these steps are not very large, and even some of them do not seem very serious, whatever they are, they are a significant step for the intellectual preparation of the environment.
A sample of these signs is presented below for thy consideration:
* The Formation of World Assemblies and the Drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
We know that the First and Second World Wars, which were not unlike a state of periodic madness in the world of humanity, left behind awakening effects in the face of their deadly effects.
Following the First World War, the "League of Nations" was formed; but it was not long before the roar of the guns of the Second World War shattered its remnants.
But that short-term experience led to the laying of a relatively stronger foundation for a global center and authority, called the "United Nations," after the end of the Second World War, and the drafting of an interesting charter called the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
We do not deny that many of its articles are similar to our own well-known proverb about the "bell" and the "cat," and no one can be found who, in the current circumstances, would hang this bell around that cat's neck; but it cannot be denied that this step, with all its shortcomings, is an important step that has been taken, and at least all the people of the world believe in the correctness of this way of thinking, although in practice their feet are lame!
Consider well whether the following articles, which we have quoted from the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights," are not the very things we were seeking in the past discussions?!
Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood...
Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person...
Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 6: Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Article 7: All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law...
Article 26: Everyone has the right to education... Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms...
Article 29: Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
And finally, the last article of this Universal Declaration closes the door to all abusers:
Article 30: Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
We reiterate that we are not so naive as to consider these beautiful and heartwarming slogans, which in the disordered conditions of the present world are like a "sweet and pleasant dream" that is very far from the stage of external realization, as accomplished matters, or to ignore the weakness and inability of these great world assemblies to solve many problems.
But we must not, like negative-minded individuals, ignore their existence, which is evidence of humanity entering a new historical stage.
We know that the "United Nations" is in fact like a "mother organization," from which branches emanate, one of which is the "Security Council."
The difference between this "child" and that "mother" is that "it" has no executive power and its resolutions are a series of formal recommendations to the countries of the world.
For this reason, pessimistic individuals sometimes refer to this world assembly as a "rostrum," or a "global lecture hall," or a "stateless parliament," and the like; but whatever it is, it has this benefit that all the countries of the world participate in the voting on the basis of "equality," and its resolutions have a significant psychological and spiritual impact on the public opinion of the people of the world.
But its child, the "Security Council," has sufficient ability and executive power! And if it wishes, it can implement its resolutions, but unfortunately, it does not have sufficient power for voting; because the five powers (America, the Soviet Union, China, France, and England), which are permanent and eternal members of the Council, can each individually neutralize all decisions with their negative vote; and this right of "veto," which is a reminder of the era of colonialism on the forehead of this important global center, often paralyzes it in important decisions!
Therefore, one has executive power and does not approve, and the other approves and does not have the ability to execute!
But with all these problems, this "half-baked" center of the United Nations and its achievements, this noisy but ineffective center, if we are fair, has been able to do some things – however small – so far; and apart from its work, its mere appearance is evidence that a new way of thinking is forming in the world that has begun in the "semi-serious" or even joke-like stages and is moving towards more serious stages; because all the countries of the world, with all their differences in doctrine and method, feel the need for its existence; and consider moving away from it to be very bad.
* Talk of General Disarmament
Although this issue has not yet fundamentally gone beyond the circle of talk and speeches and commissions and paperwork; and what is happening outside the world disarmament commissions is evidence of the "expansion of the arms race," the public welcome of this proposal shows that a kind of self-awareness has emerged in the global conscience; and at least all the great and small states are aware that they are spending a very large part of their wealth on destructive iron scraps that have engaged the most powerful brains of scientists to develop and complete, while they are extremely in need of these "capital" and "brains" in "development issues"; and everyone is trying to somehow free themselves from this great and dangerous trap, and that a day will come when those great human and economic capitals will be drawn to infrastructure issues and to the centers of needs and pains.
One of the world statistical centers had announced statistics on the expenses that each of the major states of the world spends on maintaining its soldiers – soldiers who are the youngest and most alive members of the social body – and in other words, the heavy cost they spend on disabling this great force each year.
And staggering figures, similar to astronomical figures, were presented, which showed that, in any case, alongside these wrong programs, new ways of thinking are forming; a way of thinking that says this program is not sustainable and must be reconsidered.
And this itself is another step towards that great goal.
* The Assault of Peace!
In today's world, everyone talks about peace; even the confirmed warmongers! Because hatred of war has become universal; and the horrific destructions of the world wars have not yet been forgotten, and will never be forgotten!
Although the advocacy of peace – like many other human desires – has not yet gone beyond the realm of wishful thinking; and is used everywhere as a slogan, and even the firebrands of war carry it along; but in any case, this situation shows that a "general thirst" for the "water of life of peace" has engulfed everyone, and truly the masses of the world demand it as the main basis for advancing all programs.
Especially considering that today's wars are so costly and destructive that a country may, with only a few days of war, in addition to incurring billions of financial losses and thousands of dead and wounded, fall behind economically and developmentally for decades.
We should never underestimate this public demand; because every transformation and revolution first germinates as a "wish," a "unsupported desire," or a "pleasant slogan" in the depths of thoughts; then it becomes a "necessity" and an "inevitable reality" and gradually changes the foundations of society.
The ceasefire of the former wars of Vietnam and America – according to news agencies – was violated five hundred thousand times! but we finally saw that it reached a serious and definitive stage, and the necessity that had to be realized was realized with the victory of Vietnam.
* The Plan of Islamic Government
* The Plan of Islamic Government (1)
This plan, which has recently gained many supporters and is being talked about in various circles, and even some consider the plan of the international language "Esperanto," which is recently expanding effectively, as a prelude to that great plan, is another effective step towards achieving that ultimate goal.
Of course, there is no doubt that the current temperament of the world is not ready to accept such a government at the moment; because even in the so-called advanced society like America, the issue of white and black race has not been resolved, and blacks suffer from painful discriminations in the heart of this society.
The racist government of South Africa is still supported by the great powers; and the gap between the three groups of "backward," "developing," and "developed" remains strong, and indeed the gaps are widening.
But with all this – as we said – the spread of these ideas and their acceptance by many groups in the world, even if they are in the distant horizon, is itself a living proof of the ripening of spiritual, cultural, and social preparations for the realization of "global peace and justice."
In addition to what I said above, other signs are also visible in the corners of world communities, such as "common markets" and "great world unions" and any tendency towards group life and a tendency towards unity, which together show that the world is moving on a long path towards the destination we mentioned; and promises us the achievement of such a goal.
Innate Nature and "Global Peace and Justice"
Indication
Every issue can be discussed and examined in two ways: through "reason and wisdom" and through "emotion and innate nature."
Innate nature is the same inspiration and inner understanding that does not need proof, that is, without reasoning and argument, man accepts it and believes in it.
These kinds of inner inspirations are sometimes more powerful than the judgments of reason, and their authenticity is greater, for these are innate perceptions and those are acquired knowledge.
These kinds of inner inspirations in animals are often called "instinct"; and instincts have both a wide range in animals and an important role; indeed, it can be said that the main role in their lives is placed on the shoulders of these very instincts.
The reflection of instincts is sometimes so amazing that it forces man, with all his advanced industrial means and precise electronic tools, to express his helplessness in the face of it.
For example, there are many animals and insects that predict the weather, sometimes perhaps for a day and sometimes for six months, and even I saw in a publication that a type of locust predicts the weather a year in advance, and this is truly amazing that the man of the space age, with all the precise tools that he has invented to predict the weather, and by preparing weather stations in all sensitive points and gathering the totality of the sensible atmospheric conditions of these points through communication, and forming "weather maps" with all these efforts and expensive efforts, still predicts the weather for a period of 6 hours, and that too with ambiguous phrases!:
Partly cloudy
Sometimes completely cloudy
Possibly accompanied by scattered showers
And perhaps heavy rain
And possibly clear and sunny! ...
But that weather-forecasting insect, without contacting other insects, predicts the nature of winter for a period of 6 months, that is, from the middle of summer, and prepares itself for it.
Perhaps the fact that man's innate knowledge is more limited than that of many other living beings is because his great share of the power of reason compensates for his shortcomings in all fields; but in any case, man
also benefits from innate inspiration in the necessary needs and fundamental issues of life, and this light can guide us on the path we are on.
Can innate inspirations help us in the matter under discussion, that is, the end of the world with war and bloodshed and ظلم (ẓulm – oppression) and injustice, or the rule of peace and justice and security?
The answer to this question is positive; because there are two significant signs that can guide us to the truth:
* Love of Peace and Justice
The love of peace and justice is in the heart of everyone; everyone enjoys peace and justice; and with all their being, they desire a world full of these two.
With all the differences that exist among nations and peoples in the way of thinking, customs, loves and interests, desires and doctrines, everyone without exception is strongly interested in these two, and I think there is no need for more proof of their innate nature; because everywhere the universality of desires is proof of their innate nature.
Is this a false thirst? Or a real need in the field of which inner inspiration has come to the aid of reason to further emphasize its necessity? (Consider well)
Is it not always the case that our thirst is evidence that there is water in nature, and if water does not exist externally, is it possible for thirst and love and interest in it to be within us?
We cry out, we shout, we wail and we demand justice and peace; and this is a sign that this desire will eventually be realized and implemented in the world.
In principle, false innate nature has no meaning; because we know that creation and the natural world are a connected unit, and are never composed of a series of disconnected and separate beings.
All are like a huge, towering tree whose widespread branches encompass the expanse of existence; there may be millions of light-years between two of its branches and even between the seeds of one of its clusters, but this vast distance is not evidence of their disconnection, but rather of the characteristics of its greatness and vastness.
In this vast unit, every part is a sign of the whole, and every part is connected to the other parts; and their reactions are connected to each other; each is a sign of the existence of the other, and all drink from one root.
On this basis, "every genuine and innate love indicates the existence of a beloved in the outside and its attraction and pull."
"A love" whose beloved exists only in the world of dreams is a "counterfeit love"; and in the natural world there is nothing counterfeit; it is only deviation from the path of creation that replaces a genuine reality with a counterfeit being. (Consider well)
In any case, the innate nature and disposition of man clearly calls out that peace and justice will eventually encompass the world; and the carpet of ظلم (ẓulm – oppression) will be rolled up; because this is the general desire of humans.
* General Expectation for a Great Reformer
Almost all those who have studied in this field agree that all the peoples of the world are waiting for a great revolutionary leader, each of whom calls him by a name, but all agree on the general descriptions and the principles of his revolutionary programs.
Therefore, contrary to what some may think, the issue of faith in the advent of a great savior to heal the agonizing wounds of humanity is not only among Muslims, and even unique to Eastern religions, but the existing "documents and evidence" show that this is a general and ancient belief among all peoples and religions of the East and West, although in some religions, such as Islam, more emphasis has been placed on it.
And this itself is another proof and evidence of the innate nature of this matter.
Here, we will refer to a "completely condensed" part of the reflection of this belief among peoples and various nations, for two purposes:
First, to pay attention to the universality of the issue; and second, to pay attention to the common principles that exist among all of them regarding the program of that great reformer.
The Great Reformer Among Other Peoples
The Manifestation of This Program in the Books of the Zoroastrians
* In the famous book "Zend," after mentioning the constant struggle of the "Yazatas" and the "Ahrimans," we read:
... Then the great victory will be on the side of the Yazatas; and they will eradicate the Ahrimans...
After the victory of the Yazatas and the overthrow of the Ahriman lineage, the cosmic world will reach its original happiness, and the children of Adam will sit on the throne of good fortune!
* "Jamasp" in the book "Jamasp-nameh" quotes Zoroaster as saying:
A man will come out of the land of the Arabs... a man with a large head and a large body and large legs, and on the religion of his grandfather and with a large army, and will turn to Iran, and will develop it and fill the earth with justice.
The Manifestation of This Belief in the Books of the Indians and Brahmins
* In the book "Vishnu Yuga" from the books of the Hindus, it is stated:
The world will eventually return to someone who loves God and is one of his special servants. And his name will be "Fortunate and Auspicious"!
* In another book called "Dideh," it is stated:
After the destruction of the world, a king will appear at the end of time who will be the leader of the creatures; and his name will be "Mansur," and he will take over the whole world; and bring it to his religion.
* In the book "Dadatk" from the sacred books of the Brahmins, it is stated:
... The hand of truth will come and the last successor "Mamtata" will appear and take over the east and west of the world everywhere; and guide the creatures.
* In "Patikl" from the books of the Hindus, it is stated:
When the duration of the day is over, and the old world is new; and comes to life and the owner of the new kingdom appears; from the children of the two leaders of the world, one is the name of the end of time and the other and even his elder whose name is "Pashan" and the name of the owner of that new kingdom is "Guide"; he will become king by right, and the caliph will be Ram and will rule and he will have many miracles.
* In the book "Bask" from the books of the Hindus, it is stated:
The cycle of the world will end with a just king at the end of time who will be the leader of the angels and fairies and humans; and the truth of right will be with him, and whatever is hidden in the seas and lands and mountains, he will obtain everything, and he will tell news of whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and no one greater than him will come into the world!
Moreover, material and spiritual principles are not separate; and for example, the spirit of contention and superiority-seeking, and aggression, just as much affects the life
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