Making Sense of the Portents of the Hour

Are things inevitably getting worse and worse, year after year, century after century, with no way to alter the course of events? Is the Muslim Ummah doomed to experience failure and humiliation until the Mahdi arrives? Will he restore its former glory and bring victory over all its enemies? Are all our efforts to support Islam destined to end in failure? Instead of taking action, should we simply wait for the return of Jesus (peace be upon him) towards the end of time? Is the Dajjâl (Antichrist) alive today? Does he have secret connections with some prominent world figures? Is the hour very close? Could it come upon us at any moment, on any day? If so, what is the point of striving to improve our situation?