Responses to some Christians' errors regarding the end times

632

18 February, 2018

A plan that sets the children of the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) against one another and then intends to eliminate them is a blatant stratagem of the antichrist (the dajjal).

The return to Earth of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) during the End Times represents glad tidings and a source of joy and happiness for all mankind. Like the Christian world, Muslims also believe that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will return to Earth in the End Times and share this happy expectation. However, some Christians have a false conception of the End Times partly because they misinterpret the distorted words of the New Testament and partly of their deficient understanding of Islam. According to this erroneous and dangerous belief, everyone will be destroyed in the near future, apart from Christians who believe in Jesus (pbuh) and 144,000 Jews.

According to this direful scenario, Jesus (pbuh) will not return to Earth until the Jews win the battle known as “Armageddon” against the Muslims. For that reason, some Christians regard this great battle and its being won by the Jews as a condition for his second coming. Once the battle is over, all Jews apart from 144,000 are expected to be eliminated. They believe that as a result of this bloody fighting, all Muslims and nearly all Jews will be eradicated, leaving just Christians loyal to Jesus (pbuh) and 144,000 selected Jews to attain salvation. As a result of this savage expectation, some Christians support policies that encourage bloodshed rather than resolving the wars, conflicts and disagreements in the world, and even adopt an approach that incites them.

It is true that we are living in the End Times, that a rise in wars and conflicts is a sign of the End Times and that, by Allah’s leave, the coming of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is close at hand. However, the way that some Christians expect a direful scenario that regards billions of people slaughtering one another as justified to come about is completely unacceptable. This is a blatant deception, a ruse, on the part of the antichrist (or the dajjal). It is a plan intended to set the children of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) against each other, a deception of the antichrist in the name of religion.

Another sign that this conception serves the interests of the system of the antichrist is the efforts to reflect the appearance of the blessed Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), for whose coming the entire Islamic world is longing and who will fill the world with love and justice, as being the appearance of the antichrist. The way that some Christians literally suggest that bloodshed is an essential precondition for the return of Jesus (pbuh) and totally wrong-headedly expect the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) as the system of the antichrist is nothing more than the mindset of the system of the antichrist itself. In order for this scenario of genocide that turns a blind eye to the killing of billions of people to come to an end, it is essential that the figures of the End Times be thoroughly well known and for the trickery of the system of the antichrist to be confounded. It is therefore of the greatest importance for people to be aware of the following in order to correct this vile error and to prevent Christians being deceived when the real antichrist (messiah dajjal) appears.

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is a figure of love, while the antichrist is devoid of love:

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will bring together people of all faiths, views and opinions with love, and will enable people to see one another’s best sides and approach one another with understanding by strengthening their feelings of friendship and brotherhood. Love will rule the world when Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) comes, and people will completely abandon all feelings of hatred and anger. So much so that the hadith speak of everyone, from the fish in the sea to the birds in the air, being delighted with the environment of beauty and love in which Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will be instrumental, and of the love of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)entering everyone’s hearts. The sincere and genuine love people feel for Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will also be instrumental in their treating one another with love, affection and compassion. But the antichrist will be someone utterly devoid of such traits.

The reason why some Christians are in error on this subject is that the antichrist will deceive people with promises of love and peace. The antichrist will speak of love and peace but will never put them into practice. But Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will both speak of peace and love and put them into action. In speaking of love and peace, Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will feel these in his heart in the finest manner and will cause those around him to live by them, too. It is important for people to be aware of this important difference in order for the personages of the End Times to be properly recognized.

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will shed not one drop of blood and will not awaken the sleeper; but the antichrist will strive to shed blood and spread war and corruption whenever possible:

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is someone who avoids war, a man of peace. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will cause the moral values of the Qur’an to rule the world through love, not through war. The fact that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will bring about the rule of the moral values of the deen (the religion of Islam) through peace and love, which represents one of his main distinguishing features, is described as follows in the hadith:

People will seek refuge in the Mahdi (pbuh)as honey bees cluster around their sovereign. He will fill the world that was once full of cruelty, with justice. His justice will be as such that HE WILL NOT WAKE A SLEEPING PERSON NOT EVEN ONE DROP OF BLOOD IS SHED. The Earth will return to the age of happiness.¹

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)will follow the way of the Prophet (saas). HE WILL NOT WAKE UP A SLEEPING PERSON OR NO BLOOD WILL BE SHED.²

IN THE TIME OF [HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)] NO ONE WILL BE WOKEN UP FROM THEIR SLEEP OR HAVE A BLEEDING NOSE.³

Those who swear allegiance to him [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] will swear allegiance between the Corner and the Maqam [near the Kaaba]. THEY WILL NOT WAKEN THE SLEEPER, AND THEY WILL NEVER SHED BLOOD.⁴

Our Prophet (saas) tells us that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will put an end to strife, war and conflict by waging an intellectual campaign against all these. We are told in hadith that in the time of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) all weapons will fall silent and wars will come to an end, and that peace, love and justice will rule the world following the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and the Prophet Jesus (as):

War (competents) will lay down its burden (arms and the like).⁵

War (competents) put down their weighs [their weapons, etc.].⁶

Enmity and hatred between people will cease… Like the cup fills with water, so will Earth fill with peace... There will be religious unity. Nobody but Allah will be worshipped. War will put down its burden.⁷

There will be no enmity left between any people. And all hostility, fighting, and envy will definitely disappear.⁸

As indicated in the reference to the “burden of war,” all forms of violence, oppression, fighting and conflict will come to an end at this time. In total contrast to the system of the antichrist, therefore, the system of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will be a compassionate, well-intentioned and rational one based on human love and respect. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will establish justice across the world, yet “not one drop of blood will be spilled.” His time will be one that reflects true peace and love.

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will rule with divine scriptures, but the antichrist will not believe in the divine books:

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will tell Muslims of the proper moral values of the Qur’an, and will treat Muslims in the light of proper, Qur’anic virtues. But he will rule Christians with the Gospels, that part of them which has not been corrupted or distorted, and will rule the Jews with the true Torah, the genuine Torah. Therefore, Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will not, as some Christians believe, force Christians and Jews to convert to Islam. He will rule them with those parts of the Gospels and the Torah that are compatible with the Qur’an. This is revealed in another of the hadith of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "[Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will rule among Jews with the Torah and among Christians with the Gospel."⁹

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will be someone who believes in the original, genuine form of the Gospels. But the antichrist will reject all holy scriptures. The antichrist will not, therefore, be someone who believes in and respects the Gospels; he will not accept the uncorrupted, true parts of the Gospels.

As a miracle from Allah, in the time of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) the original forms of the Torah and the Gospels will be found. Our Prophet (saas) reveals that the uncorrupted forms of these holy scriptures will be found in the End Times:

"...The reason why Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is known as Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is this; he will be directed toward a secret matter, will extract the Torah and other Divine books from a cave in Antioch...¹⁰

"It is certain that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is known as the ‘Mahdi.’ Because he will be directed to salvation to one of the mountains of Sham, from where he will extract the books (volumes) of the “Torah” and will enter into debate with the Jews on the basis of these and (eventually) a group of Jews will become Muslims by his hand.¹¹

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will protect Christians and Jews, while the antichrist will be the enemy of the children of Abraham:

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will be the friend of devout Christians and Jews, and will feel love and affection for them. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will regard Jews and Christians as the children of the Prophet Abraham (as), and will be a just and affectionate person who protects them and observes their rights by thwarting the schemes of the antichrist. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will therefore personally prevent any harm coming to Christians and Jews. When the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) returns he will put right those parts of Christianity that have been corrupted, the belief in the Trinity. The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will ally himself with Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and will assist him with his own hands. This is one of the most important indications that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will be personally opposed to the system of the antichrist.

The People of the Book possess moral values based on the revelation of Allah (even if these have become corrupted over the course of time) and the concepts of what is lawful and unlawful. For that reason, it is lawful for a Muslim to eat food cooked by the People of the Book. Muslim men are also permitted to marry women from the People of the Book. Allah says this on the subject:

Today all good things have been made lawful for you. And the food of those given the Book is also lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. So are chaste women from among the believers and chaste women of those given the Book before you, once you have given them their dowries in marriage, not in fornication or taking them as lovers. But as for anyone who rejects faith, his actions will come to nothing and in the Hereafter he will be among the loser. (Surat al-Ma’ida, 5)

These pronouncements show that family ties can be established by marriage between Muslims and the People of the Book, and that both sides can accept the other’s invitations to dine, and these are principles on which warm human relations and a climate of security can be established. Since this moderate and tolerant approach is recommended in the Qur’an, it is impossible for Muslims to hold any different ideas.

There are accounts saying that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) attended wedding feats of People of the Book and shared food with them. When the Najran Christians visited, the Prophet Muhammed (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) spread his robe for them and told them to sit on it. Our Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) marriages with the Christian Mary (or Maryam) and with Juwayriya and Safiyya, of Jewish origins, are examples of this way of thinking.

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will be descended from the Prophet Abraham (pbuh); the antichrist will not descend from the Prophet Abraham (pbuh)

Allah reveals in the Qur’an that He has chosen the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) and people descended from him and made them holy. (Surat al-Baqara, 130; Surah Al ‘Imran, 33) This information all appears in the Jewish scripture. the Torah. (Genesis, 22:17; 12:2) The line of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) continued with his sons, the Prophets Ishmael and Isaac (peace be upon them). Many prophets came to the Jews, the descendants of the Prophet Isaac (pbuh), over the course of history. The prophets Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Jonah, Job, Elijah, David, Solomon, Zechariah, John and Jesus (peace be upon them all) are descended from the Prophet Isaac (pbuh). Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), the Prophet of Islam, imams from his line and finally Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), on the other hand, descended from the line of Prophet Ishmael (pbuh).

Allah has protected the final representatives from the two branches of the line of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) in order to ensure the rule of the moral values of the religion of Islam during the End Times. He will bring together the Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) in the End Times in order to perform His command. The period of this dominion, revealed in the Qur’an and the hadith of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), is also promised to a community descended from the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) in the Torah:

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on Earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." (Genesis, 22:17-18)

Therefore, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will be descended from the same line, the line of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh). But the antichrist will not be descended from the Prophet Abraham (pbuh).

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will espouse the existence and oneness of Allah; the antichrist will seek to spread polytheism:

The faith brought by the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) “is the true faith that believes in Allah as the one and only.” However, the message communicated by this holy personage was corrupted after his ascent into the presence of Allah, and a new belief based on superstitious ideas such as “the trinity and atonement for sins” replaced true Christianity. But both Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will believe in Allah alone, which is a trait of true believers. They will both, therefore, espouse belief in one Allah, and will forbid the ascription of equals to Him. Since the Jews believe in the one Allah, Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will not be opposed to them. But with their belief in the trinity, Christians ascribe equals to Allah. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will change the polytheism in their beliefs. If the Christians clarify and correct their beliefs by saying, “The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is not Allah (Allah is beyond this). But Allah manifests Himself in all people, and thus also in the Prophet Jesus (pbuh),” then this becomes a sincere approach and reflect an acceptable belief.

There will indeed be a person in the End Times who does espouse belief in the trinity and even (May Allah Forbid) claim to be Allah. But that person is not (May Allah Forbid) the Prophet Jesus (pbuh). He is the antichrist in person. This person will have a blind eye, as a sign from Allah and to emphasize his real helplessness. The real Jesus (pbuh) who espouses the oneness of Allah, on the other hand, will have two sound eyes. In addition, Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will be a humble and modest servant of Allah, whereas the antichrist (Allah is beyond this) will arrogantly and shamelessly claim to be Allah.

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will love the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) with all his heart, while the antichrist will be the Prophet Jesus’s (pbuh) enemy:

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will have a profound love and respect for the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), the chosen one of Allah. The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is a holy messenger whom Allah introduced in His verses and makes superior to all the worlds. It is revealed in the Qur’an that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is " Jesus, son of Maryam, of high esteem in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near." (Surah Al Imran, 45) He is a valued servant honored by Allah with various miracles and superior moral virtues. For that reason, Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will harbor a deep love for the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and love him with all his heart. But as can be seen from his name as the antichrist, the antichrist will be an individual who opposes the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), is ignorant of his worth and who is created as his enemy.
Moreover, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will form an alliance. The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will bestow leadership on Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) with his own hand. The hadith of our Prophet (saas) relate that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will perform together with Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) serving as imam, and that they will rule together. According to trustworthy accounts handed down from our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), "Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will perform the prayer behind Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh).”¹² This description also appears in other hadith:

The Prophet Jesus (pbuh)will appear from the sky and accept his [Hazrat Mahdi’s (as)] sovereignty. People will say to the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)“Lead the prayer,” but he will respond, “The sovereign is among you.” He will say, “This is a gift of Allah to the community of Muhammad (saas).”¹³

When Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)is performing the morning prayer with the faithful at the Bayt al-Maqdis, Prophet Jesus (pbuh)will appear, and the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)will place his hands on his shoulder and say, “The call to the prayer has been issued for you, so you must lead it,” and finally Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)will lead the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)and the faithful in prayer.¹⁴

It is revealed in trustworthy hadith of our Prophet (saas) that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will appear in the same period and will strive together to bring the moral values of Islam to rule over the entire world. This information, which appears in a great many completely reliable hadith, shows that the Prophet Jesus and Hazrat Mahdi (peace be upon them) will appear at the same time and support one another and hold common views.

______________________________

1- Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p.29 and 48
2- Portents of Doomsday, p. 163
3- Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 44
4- Al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 24
5- Sunan Ibn Majah, 10/334
6- Imam Sharani, Death-Doomsday-Hereafter and The Signs of the End Times, p. 496
7- Sunan Ibn Majah, 10/334
8- Imam Sharani, Death-Doomsday-Hereafter and The Signs of the End Times, p. 496
9- Jabir Ibn Yazid al-Jo'fi narrates from Imam Muhammad Baqr
10- Jabir Ibn Yazid al-Jo'fi narrates from Imam Muhammad Baqr
11- Harun Ibn Maruf narrates from Zamra Ibn Rabia from Abdullah Ibn Shawzab
12- Al-Qawl Al-Mukhtasar Fi alamat Al-Mahdi Al-Muntazar, p. 24
13- Al-Qawl Al-Mukhtasar Fi alamat Al-Mahdi Al-Muntazar, p. 24
14- Al-Qawl Al-Mukhtasar Fi alamat Al-Mahdi Al-Muntazar, p. 25

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Responses to some Christians' errors regarding the end times