Professor, a claim is circulating online that there is a narration stating that, at the end of time, the people of America will realise sooner than other nations that the deeds performed by the Imam are extraordinary, and they will become Muslim. The reason given is that these people do not lie and are honest and upright.
My question is this: even assuming that this narration is authentic, how can it be possible that people whose governments have plundered the wealth of other countries, creating prosperity for their own country and people through theft and pillage and placing them in comfort, should be considered honest and upright? It is like a father bringing unlawful wealth into his home while all the members of the household live in peace and comfort. These people have no need to lie, deceive one another, or engage in many other ugly and sinful behaviours. Meanwhile, the Muslims whose wealth has been stolen have suffered the loss of their property; people deceive one another and lie, and they struggle to survive through bribery, usury and a thousand other hardships.
It does not seem quite consistent with reason that the unlawful wealth these countries have stolen and placed at the disposal of their own people should have had no effect on their souls, and that they might even surpass Muslims and hasten towards the Imam. Of course, one might hold the governments responsible and say that the people should be judged separately from their governments. Yet the people also remain silent in the face of their rulers and raise no objection to their governments’ plunder. In some sense, they are therefore partners in these crimes and acts of wrongdoing.
I would be grateful for your guidance.