What is the meaning of the Hadith: "Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being something strange as it began"?

The Hadith, "Islam began as something strange, and it will return as something strange as it began, so blessed are the strangers," is interpreted to mean that Islam began as something strange due to the scarcity and weakness of its adherents, and then it spread and grew strong. It will return as something strange due to the scarcity of those who uphold it and adhere to it, despite the multitude of its followers. And "blessed are the strangers" means Paradise or a tree therein. The Hadith carries the glad tidings of Islam's triumph after its second period of strangeness, just as it did after its first period of strangeness, and this is supported by Hadiths about the Mahdi and the descent of Jesus (peace be upon him).