The discussion regarding the third millennium.

The Shaykh : Indeed, in these days and before these days, illusions and fantasies have become widespread, which no one believes except those who have heard of them. No sane person, let alone a believer, would believe that such things could happen, except those who have heard of them. They say that in the third millennium, as they claim, all sorts of things will happen. Planes will fall from the sky and collide with one another. Why? They say it is because the computer’s limit is at the last minute of the year 2000, and if the computer crashes, it means things will not work. The machines built on computers will not function. So planes will not fly, electric machines will not work, and so on. Why? Because the computer will crash and the plane will be in the air. What will it do? What is the appointment, brothers? A plane stops its movement in the air. What is the appointment? The earth. This is the appointment. Look at these strange fantasies. I am amazed at these people who have reached what they have reached in crafts and inventions, yet they turn back on their heads to the fantasies of children. They prepare for this millennium for great things they expect, such as the descent of the Messiah, 'Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him), and other things about which they have no knowledge. That is, if we were to assume the far-fetched scenario and agree with them that the computer will fail at a specific time they have determined, we would not agree with them regarding matters of the action of Allah the Exalted, which they do not know, and it is not permissible for us to believe them about what will happen, as it is from the action of Allah. And yet, my brothers, the BBC announced this morning that nothing of that sort happened; no planes fell, and the computer did not crash. Even the disbelieving communist state of China did not stop its planes for even one minute, and they are disbelievers, because these are illusions and fantasies. And it is amazing that some Muslims follow these people. Allah is the Greatest! Did not Allah give you minds? Did not the Exalted and Majestic say: Who? ? By Allah, if a person had strong faith in this verse, he would not believe what is said about the future. Nor would he believe what some newspapers write: "So-and-so has appeared, what has appeared? Happiness or misery?" We ask Allah for safety. "A baby was born in which zodiac sign?" He says, "By Allah, the baby was born in the sign of the Double Happiness. What Allah willed! What Allah willed! Rejoice in the happiness." "A baby was born in the sign of the Fish; the fish will eat you." Yes. And so on, all of these are illusions, brothers. Praise be to Allah, the Islamic religion has warned us against these illusions so that we remain reassured, judging by the Shari'ah supported by reason. But it is the decree of Allah and what He willed. The weakness of personality is what necessitated this. Did you not know that when the Islamic religion was in its flourishing era, the non-Arab people, meaning those who did not speak Arabic, became what? They became Arabs. They were forced to learn Arabic. In fact, among those people, there was one who was an imam in the language, al-Fayruzabadi (may Allah have mercy on him), who was originally Persian. And yet, he compiled *al-Qamus al-Muhit*, which has been a reference for people in the Arabic language to this day, because the weak always imitate the strong. And when the strength was for Islam, the Arabic language became the prevailing one, and people were forced to learn it. And the opposite is the opposite now; if a person learns the letters of the English language, let alone its structure and words, he boasts and brags. In fact, some of them teach children the English language. He says to his son, if he wants to say goodbye, he tells him: "No. Do not say *as-salamu alaykum*. Say *bye bye*." What is *bye bye*? Because *bye bye* is the language of the people who have the control they have. Are we weak to this extent, brothers? When the children say "goodbye, in the safety of Allah, *as-salamu alaykum*," they say "bye bye, bye bye." We seek help from Allah. Why? Because their father taught them, and the child lives on what his father taught him. The important thing, my brothers, is that I say it is obligatory for us to take pride in our religion, for the honor is for Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, and that we do not be tails behind these people in a matter that brings us no benefit. As for imitating them in crafts and the benefits Allah has placed in the earth, this is not denied; rather, it is encouraged, and it is said: "Outrace them in this, while establishing your religion." I ask Allah the Exalted to restore the glory of this Ummah and to make it know itself, so that it attains the status befitting it.