Will Jesus Christ descend again upon earth before the Doom breaks out?
Jesus Christ, who is created without a father as a miracle, is one of the four great prophets. At the age of thirty, he was given the prophethood; and after three years, God raised him to the heavens without being subjected to the assassinations of Jews
Jesus Christ, who is created without a father as a miracle, is one of the four great prophets. At the age of thirty, he was given the prophethood; and after three years, God raised him to the heavens without being subjected to the assassinations of Jews. He is also remembered with the name Messiah. It is explained that he was given this title because he healed illnesses by wiping, because Zechariah wiped him, because he will wipe the earth; i.e. he will cover it. As is narrated, Jesus Christ will again descend to the earth at the end of time and will be among the community of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The claim that Jesus Christ was crucified.
When we look at the Gospels of present time, it is not possible to find a view upon which an agreement exists. According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ was faced with certain hardships in his legitimate and just cause, was accused of inciting the public and upon the insistent demands of Jews to crucify him, and the sixth Governor of the Province of Yahudiya of Roman Empire, Platus crucified him. In the Gospel of Luke, it is stated that Platus submitted to the wishes of Jews (1) and that he had Jesus Christ sentenced to death in the high religious court of Jews, Sanhadrin.
According to the Gospels, it is related that the place of Jesus Christ was not known, but that Yahuda Skaryot, who is one of the 12 Apostles, told his place for such a little amount as 30 silver coins and God made his figure resemble Jesus Christ (2).
The end of Jesus Christ, though, is disputed among Christians. While it is the common view that he was crucified, there are also the Christians who do not accept that he was, like the sects of Cerinthi and Tatianos. George Sale, who translated Qur’an into English, says, “Although some Christians say that the view that Jesus Christ was not crucified, was devised by Prophet Muhammad, this is not true. Such sects as Basilid, Cerinthi and Carpocrati were of the same opinion before. In his work the Travels of the Messengers, Photius said that this statement was written: ‘Jesus Christ was not crucified; another person was crucified in his stead. Because of this, he laughed at the ones crucifying him.’”
Other Christians, though, believe that he was crucified at the time of Platus and then was resurrected and lifted up to the heavens. Skaryot, who showed his place, was then sorry for his treachery and committed suicide. Christians have separated into three groups upon this issue. The group called Melkaiye believes that Jesus Christ was crucified both as a body and as a soul, but that this death did not affect his soul directly, rather through feelings and with touch. Another group called Yakubiya says that the essence of Messiah who is composed of two essences was crucified; and the third group called Nasuri believes that he was killed as a body; but his soul was raised up to the heavens. (3)
The end of Jesus Christ in Qur’an:
The views of Gospels and Christians about the end of Jesus Christ are shortly as is explained above. Qur’an makes very clear and definite explanations about this issue. Some verses about the issue:
“And they (the unbelievers) schemed (against Jesus), and God put His will into effect (and brought their schemes to nothing). God wills what is the best (for His believing servants) and makes His will prevail.
(It was part of His countering their scheme) when God said: "Jesus, (as your mission has ended) I will take you back (to Myself) and raise you up to Myself, and will purify you of (the groundless slanders of) those who disbelieve, and set your followers above those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection.” (4)
In another verse, the issue is further clarified and it is stated:
“And their saying "We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of God " – whereas they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but the matter was made dubious to them. Those who differ about this matter and about Jesus are indeed confused; they have no definite knowledge thereof, following mere conjecture; and they killed him not of a certainty.
But God raised him to Himself. God is All-Glorious with irresistible might, All-Wise.” (5)
In the verse, it is clearly explained that Jesus Christ was not crucified, but somebody was crucified mistakenly. Scholars explained this verse as follows: When Jews went to Jesus Christ with the intention of killing him; they could not find him, because God Almighty had raised him to the heavens. Jews got anxious and feared that the public would interfere and thus they caught someone and crucified him as Jesus Christ. Although the public knew the crucified man namely, they did not know him in person.
According to another view, Jews learned that Jesus Christ was in a house and went there in order to kill him. Their leader Yahuda sent a man named Taytayus inside to kill Jesus. God Almighty raised Jesus Christ to the heavens and made this man resemble him; and the Jews crucified this man instead of Jesus Christ.
Besides these narrations, it is related that one of the apostles made mischief and committed espionage; and then God made him resemble Jesus as a punishment and he was then crucified.
These narrations clearly shows that the Jews who tried to kill Jesus Christ could not succeed and that God saved him from their attacks and raised him to the heavens.
The descent of Jesus Christ on earth
The community of Mohammad (PBUH) is a community praised in many aspects. They are praised both in Quran and in the other Scriptures.
When Jesus Christ saw the praised qualities of this community, he prayed God to make him one of them and God accepted his supplication. It is for this reason that when the time comes, he will descend to earth as mucaddid-renewer of the religion. (6)
The learned concluded that it is established through the Book, the Sunnat-sayings of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and agreement among scholars that Jesus Christ will descend to earth (7) and that this has become an issue of belief based on sound hadiths and that whoever denies it, will be judged as unbeliever. (8)
According to Shavkani, the hadiths announcing the descent of Jesus to earth amount to 29 and they reach the rank of soundness (9). There is the same record also in Sahih-i Muslim (10). He says:
“Like the hadiths narrated about the expected Mahdi and Dajjal, the hadiths about the descent of Jesus son of Mary has reached the rank of soundness.” (11)
In the Explanation of Quran by Ibn-i Kasir, while the truth that Jesus Christ is a sign of the Doomsday, which is mentioned in the 61st verse of Az-Zukhruf Surah, is explained; it is stated that the narrations announcing that he will be descended before the outbreak of the Doom have reached the degree of soundness. Sheikh Abdulfettah Abu Gudde also states that the narrations reporting that Jesus Christ will descend to the earth and will kill the Dajjal, have come to the degree of soundness (12). It is seen in Nazmu’ul-Mutanasir by the learned Muhaddith-scholar of hadith- Kittani (13) that he supports the same views.
In Fathu’ul Bari by Ibn-i Hacer, too, there is the account that the hadiths stating that the Mahdi will be among this community and that Jesus Christ will pray behind him are sound hadiths (14).
In his work Sherhu’l-Makasıd, Sadeddin Taftazani also states that there are many hadiths about the descent of Jesus and that they are sound in meaning. (15)
We see that in some hadiths and verses, signs of the Last Hour are explained. These are gathered under the heading of ‘The signs of the Last Hour.’ One of these signs is the descent of Jesus Christ to the earth. In other words, Jesus Christ will descend onto the earth before the doom breaks out. In one of his verses, God Almighty says, “Surely he (Jesus) (brought into the world without a father, and granted such miracles as reviving the dead) is a means to knowledge of the Last Hour.” (16) and thus points out this fact. In many of his hadiths, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also made it known that Jesus Christ would descend onto the earth. Some of them are as follows:
“The Doom never breaks out unless you see the ten signs… One of them is the descent of Jesus Christ…” (17)
“I swear by God upon whose hand of Power my life lies that it is close that Jesus son of Mary will descend as a just ruler among you.” (18)
As is known, Jesus Christ is in the heavens and in the third layer of life. He does not need to eat and drink like us and is in no need of other human requirements; and leads a life of light like stars and angels. In accordance with the good tidings given by the Prophet: “Jesus Christ will come at the end of time; he will practice with the Shari’a of Muhammad.” (19), he will come as a human onto the earth.
As the divine wisdom necessitates that he descends onto the earth, so he must perform some very important duties. Let us list some of them:
The Activities of Jesus Christ
a. His following The Mahdi
When Jesus Christ comes, he will practice with the Islamic Shari’a. The Messenger of God, who says, “If Jesus Christ was alive, he would do nothing except follow me.” (20), clearly states in one of his hadiths related in Muslim that he will follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). (21)
Imam-i Nevevi says: “Jesus Christ will not come as a separate prophet to the community of Muhammad, but he will come in order to carry out the Shari’a of Muhammad.” (22).
Imam Rabbani also says that Jesus Christ will descend onto the earth and follow the Shari’a of Muhammad, the seal of the prophets. (23)
Kadi Ilyas also points out that it is established by authenticated hadiths that he will come in order to revive the principles of Shari’a abandoned by the public. (24)
As is known, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the seal of the prophets, i.e. the last prophet. This being the case, it can only be thought that Jesus Christ comes not as a new prophet, but as a follower of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and that he will practice according to the Shari’a of Muhammad. The learned say:
“Jesus Christ is responsible for reviving and practicing the Shari’a of Muhammad. The only prophet to practice with Islam is Jesus Christ. He will come at a time when the religion will be looked down on and despised; he will perform his duty as a just ruler. Before sent to the earth, he would be equipped with every piece of knowledge about Islam under the circumstances of that time and when he comes, he will practice them.” (25)
The hadiths that Jesus Christ will pray behind the Mahdi (26) which are in the degree of soundness also show that he will follow Islam. There are many narrations about this issue. Some of them are as follows:
“The Mahdi becomes imam; and Jesus Christ conforms to him-that is, he prays while the Mahdi leads the prayer” (27)
In another hadith narrated in Bukhari and Muslim, it is stated that:
“What will you do when Jesus son of Mary comes among you and conforms to him in prayer, while your imam is one of you?”(28)
In a hadith present in Musnad, which Ahmad narrated from Jabir, it is stated:
When Jesus Christ was offered to lead the prayer saying, “Lead the prayer, o Spirit of God!” he says: “Let your imam go forth and lead the prayer.” (29)
In one of the narrations about the topic, it is stated:
“Among this community, there will surely be a group fighting for the truth until the time when Jesus son of Mary enters the Sacred House during the break of dawn. Jesus son of Mary comes beside the Mahdi. He is said, ‘Go forth, o prophet of God! Lead the prayer!’ He replies; ‘No, as a favor from God, you are rendered rulers over one another’” (30)
In a hadith from Ibn Maja, reported by Abu Umame, it is stated; when imamate-leading the prayer- was offered to Jesus Christ, he says, “You go forth; this duty is given to you”
Another narration about the issue is as follows:
“While the Mahdi is performing the morning prayer with believers, he will offer Jesus, who has just descended, to lead the prayer; and Jesus Christ will put his hands on his shoulders and say ‘The qamat-preparatory call to prayer- was issued for you; so you lead’ and finally the Mahdi will lead the prayer as an imam to Jesus Christ and to believers.” (31)
In the Commentary of Fiqhu’l Akbar Aliyyu’l-Kari, the issue is a little more clarified:
“Jesus Christ will meet the Mahdi. Meanwhile, the prayer will be performed. The Mahdi will signal Jesus Christ to lead the prayer, but Jesus will express his excuse saying ‘This prayer is performed for you’ and will say; ‘You deserve more than me to lead this prayer.’ In order for it to be clear that Jesus Christ conforms to the Shari’a of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he will conform to the Mahdi (in prayer), and they will thus pray together.” (32)
All these narrations stating that ‘Jesus Christ will conform to the Mahdi in prayer’ show that he will submit to Islam. In other words, Jesus Christ will not come with a new religion. Besides, they also point out the alliance between Christianity and Islam; and the compliance with and the dominance of the truths of Qur’an. (33)
Another point in Jesus Christ practicing with the Shari’a of Muhammad (PBUH) is this:
“At the end of time, Jesus (Upon whom be peace) will come and will act in accordance with the Shari’a of Muhammad (PBUH),” indicates that at the end of time the religion of Christianity will be purified and divest itself of superstition in the face of the current of unbelief and atheism born of Naturalist philosophy, and will be transformed into Islam. At this point, just as the collective personality of Christianity will kill the fearsome collective personality of irreligion with the sword of heavenly Revelation, so too, representing the collective personality of Christianity, Jesus (Upon whom be peace) will kill the Dajjal, who represents the collective personality of irreligion, that is, he will kill atheistic thought.” (34)
b. His purifying Christianity from superstitions
Another important duty of Jesus Christ is to purify Christianity from certain superstitions, especially from trinity, and to transform this into oneness. Because it is not possible for the people who, in the face of the developments in knowledge and in humane and civilized feelings, take justice and truthfulness as essential to continue Christianity in its former form. It will either perish or will return to its original form and be purified from superstitions.
While Christianity, which undergoes certain revolutions, falls firstly into idolatry and then into complete deviation, some will have already neared to oneness and begun to breathe with it. From the First and the Second World Wars on, Christianity, which has undergone certain changes especially in the last years, has been experiencing the pains of transition from trinity into oneness. The magazine ‘Plain Truth’ issued by a Christian group and addressing eight million people can clearly say that trinity was added into Christianity afterwards. Many a pious Christian can state that they did not hesitate to acknowledge the prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH). Does it not show that a great distance has been covered on this way that even in such a place as Vatican, the head of the Department of Relationships with Muslims, namely Michael Lelong, clearly explains this?
d. His eradicating unbelief
Jesus Christ wages a challenging war against unbelief. Unbelief cannot find in itself the strength to stand up against him. According to the hadith, “every disbeliever who feels his breath will die; and his breath will reach up to the furthest point within sight.” (35) In other words, as he has taken the vitalizing truths of Islam as his cause, no view of unbelief will find support against these sound truths, and finally will have to be demolished.
That Jesus Christ eradicates unbelief means that he will devastate the Dajjal who is the representative of unbelief and his ramshackle system based on unbelief and his collective personality.
c. His establishing peace
Jesus Christ, who stays on earth for forty years as a just ruler (36), will also establish peace-and as peace is established-people will use swords as scythe. (37)
In his time, swords will be put into their sheaths and there will be no need to use weapons.
While Jesus Christ eradicates unbelief, which is the source of every kind of evil, during his stay on earth, he will put faith, which is the source of all beauties, in its place. Thus, justice, equality, abundance, peace, and bliss, which are the requisite of faith, will blossom. These facts are each pointed out in narrations. When he comes, “enmities, fights, and jealousies will vanish” (38), the atmosphere of real peace and bliss will be formed, and “Just a single prostration will be seen worthier than the world and the things in it.” (39)
At that time, people will improve, their faiths will be strengthened, and they will run for good deeds to such a degree that they will value a single prostration more than the world and anything in it. (40)
This hadith is also very interesting in showing the spiritual atmosphere of that time:
“Jesus son of Mary will be among my community; he will be a just ruler and imam. He will break and crush the cross and will kill the swine. He will abolish jizya-the tax taken from non-Muslims under Islamic rule-, and will not touch zakat- distribution of one fortieth of one's income as alms performed by Muslims (one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith). No official of zakat will be recruited over herds of sheep, goat and ox or that of camel, any longer. Enmity and hatred will be removed. Poison of every poisonous animal will be removed. Moreover, a small male child will put his hand into snake’s mouth, but it will not hurt him. The wolf will be like the sheep dog in the herd of sheep and goat. Just as a bowl is filled with water, so will the earth be full of peace. There will also be a unity of religion and no one except God will be worshipped any more. And the equipments of war (weapons and the like) will be cast away.” (41)
In another narration present in Muslim, it is said: “he will kill the swine, break the cross and abolish the jizya” (42)
Breaking the cross as is stated in this and other narrations indicates that Jesus Christ will purify Christianity from superstitions which contradict with reason, sciences, and truths and with which Christianity was distorted. Thus, he will turn it into Islam and save it from trinity.
That he will abolish the jizya shows that at his time, there will be abundance in properties. When he comes, properties will become abundant to such a degree that there will be no need even to take the jizya. Some also interpret that they will accept Islam; because the jizya is not taken from Muslims.
Such expressions as ‘poisons will be removed from poisonous animals’, ‘the wolf and lamb wandering together’ are the signs of the atmosphere of peace; as in the expression ‘the weapons and equipments of war will be cast away.’
d. His killing the Dajjal
One of the biggest accomplishments of Jesus Christ is his killing the Dajjal. He will accomplish this with the Mahdi.
Just as the emergence of the Dajjal and his activities are tremendous, his being killed is important and pleasing as well.
As is narrated, when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ascended to Miraj, he talked with Jesus Christ; when the Dajjal was mentioned, Jesus said:
“My Lord informed me that the Dajjal would emerge. I will carry with me two arrows made out of the kadib tree. When the Dajjal sees them, he will melt like lead.” (43)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) announced this truth:
“When the Dajjal, who is the enemy of God, sees Jesus Christ, he will melt just as salt melts in water. Even if Jesus Christ leaves him, he will melt until he is devastated. However, God will kill him with the hand of Jesus Christ in person.” (44)
Other narrations are as follows:
“Jesus Christ will descend from the heavens, will kill the Dajjal or will help the Mahdi to kill him.” (45)
“The Mahdi will emerge with Jesus Christ; will kill the Dajjal in the territories of Palestine in Bab-i Ludd; or will help the Mahdi to kill the Dajjal.” (46)
How will this truth manifest itself?
First, the Dajjal emerges, and starts performing his activities he planned step by step. Then a painful period starts. Utterly troublesome days are experienced. (47)
In his period, believers suffer severe troubles and famine. They are forced to take refuge in the Pass of Afiq or in the Hill of Duhan in Damascus. Therefore, in such a period, Jesus Christ comes at the Morning Prayer time; when the Dajjal sees him, he melts the way lead melts. (48)
It is also interesting that the place where the Dajjal will be killed is the Pass of Afiq. Jesus Christ fought with the Satan there; and finally with the help of God, he became victorious. He will defeat the Dajjal in the same place and in the same fashion. (49)
Jesus son of Mary will descend onto the minaret in the East of Damascus, his two hands on the shoulders of two angels. Each unbeliever within reach of his breath will die. He will also search for and find the Dajjal and will kill him on the door of Ludd. (50)
As Ibn-i Kasir explains, Jesus Christ represents the truth. The time will come; the truth will be strengthened through him and it will defeat the Dajjalism. That the door of Ludd is especially mentioned in the hadith shows that Islam will defeat Jews (the Dajjal is also Jewish); because Jews, in the widest circle, represent the Dajjalism and Ludd is under their dominion. (51)
The Great Dajjal, who travels around the world in order to raise mischief and to establish dominance, and who shows certain wonders bestowed on him by God in order to lead him astray, will not be able to escape from Jesus Christ.
Narrations show that the Dajjal, who distorts spiritually wherever he treads on and whomever he visits and makes them a means of destruction to the social life and his followers will not be able to further continue their activities and will try to preserve the circumstances in the fourth phase. Jesus Christ will deal with him. He will kill the Great Dajjal.
How will this happen?
As is stated by Bediüzzaman, there are two aspects to this:
The First Aspect: It could only be a wondrous person with the power of miracles who could kill and change the way of the awesome Dajjal, who will preserve himself through wonders, bestowed on him by God in order to lead him astray, such as magic, hypnotic powers, and spiritualism, and will spellbind everyone. And that person will be Jesus (Peace be upon him), who is the prophet of the majority of mankind, and whom most people follow.
The Second Aspect is this: It will be the truly pious followers of Jesus who will kill the gigantic collective personality of materialism and irreligion which the Dajjal will form —for the Dajjal will be killed by Jesus’ (PUH) sword— and destroy his ideas and disbelief, which are atheistic. Those truly pious Christians will blend the essence of true Christianity with the essence of Islam and rout the Dajjal with their combined strength, in effect killing him. The narration: “Jesus (Peace be upon him) will come and will perform the obligatory prayers behind the Mahdi and follow him,” alludes to this union, and to the sovereignty of the Qur’an and its being followed. (52)
The religion of Christianity will progress toward the creed of only one God, having been saved from the creed of the trinity of God; will be purified from certain superstitions and nonsense, will transform into Islam, will submit to the Quran and they will eradicate the view of irreligion by gaining a great strength together.
However, everything will take place within the circle of causes; because we live in the world of causes. It should not be expected that these would happen in an extraordinary fashion. Not all the deeds of even Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) were wonderful. He would show miracles occasionally and when needed, and would behave normally at other times. Sometimes he was hungry, and sometimes he stood up against hardships.
We should not expect that all the activities of Jesus Christ would be extraordinary. He will surely show some wonders when needed. However, at other times, he will take the circumstances of the time into attention and will behave in an appropriate way, in the correct fashion; and at the correct place and time.
As it is known that the Dajjal is the representative of irreligion, that he has a committee, a system and a regime and that these have manifested themselves as communism; it should not be forgotten that the biggest struggle of Jesus Christ will be against irreligion, unbelief, and communism.
Therefore, will Jesus Christ eradicate irreligion and its mentality? Judging from the verse in the An-Nisa Surah:“Yet there is none of the People of the Book but will, before the moment of his death, (grasp the truth about Jesus and) believe in him” (53) some mufessirs-the scholars who explain the verses of Qur’an- state that the People of the Book will believe in Jesus Christ. In the explanation of this verse, Aliyyu’l-Kari says that when Jesus Christ descends onto the earth, the entire world will become a single community of Islam (54). Mehmed Vehbi Efendi, too, records that when the Dajjal emerges, Jesus Christ will descend from the heavens and kill him; and then all the communities will believe in Jesus Christ and the entire world will become the people of Islam. (55)
At the end of time, when materialism and naturalism strengthen and proliferate, and come to such a point as to deny God and when the Dajjal in person leads this committee; Jesus Christ starts his duty. At a time when this group who deny God and the religion, the true religion of Christianity which comprises the collective personality of Jesus (Upon whom be peace) starts struggle against this current of irreligion. By uniting with the Mahdi, they will kill the Dajjal. In other words, Christianity, which is purified from superstitions, and Islam reach an agreement and kill the Dajjal’s mentality of unbelief.
Bediüzzaman explains this situation with his own words:
“At that point when the current appears to be very strong, the religion of true Christianity, which comprises the collective personality of Jesus (Upon whom be peace), will emerge. That is, it will descend from the skies of Divine Mercy. Present Christianity will be purified in the face of that reality; it will cast off superstition and distortion, and unite with the truths of Islam. Christianity will in effect be transformed into a sort of Islam. Following the Qur’an, the collective personality of Christianity will be in the rank of follower, and Islam, In that of leader. True religion will become a mighty force as a result of its joining it. Although defeated before the atheistic current while separate, Christianity and Islam will have the capability to defeat and rout it as a result of their union. Then the person of Jesus (Upon whom be peace), who is present with his human body in the world of the heavens, will come to lead the current of true religion, as, relying on the promise of One Powerful Over All Things, the Bringer of Sure News has said. Since he has told of it, it is true, and since the One Powerful over All Things has promised it, He will certainly bring it about.” (56)
“An association deserving the title ‘Muslim Christians’ who are a self-sacrificing association of Christians trying to merge the true religion of Jesus Christ with the truth of Islam will-under the command of Jesus Christ-kill and scatter the committee of Dajjal which ruins the civilization and holy values of the humanity with the intention of denying God; and will save the humanity from disbelieving in God.” (57)
The real matter is not to kill the Dajjal in person, who may die because of a virus; but to kill his profession and the system of unbelief he devised. This point is clarified in Rays from the Risale-i Nur Collection:
“Also, since the strange circumstances and fearsome activities of the Antichrist’s regime, and the covert organization and government that he founds, have been narrated as referring to his person, their true meaning has remained obscure. For example, “He will be so powerful and long-lived that only Jesus (PUH) will be able to kill him; nothing else will be able to.”12 That is, it will only be a revealed, elevated, pure religion that will be able to overturn his way and rapacious regime, and eliminate them. Such a religion will emerge among the true followers of Jesus (PUH), and it will follow the Qur’an and become united with it. On the coming of Jesus (PUH) and emergence of the true Christian religion, the Antichrist’s irreligious way will be wiped out and will cease. The Antichrist’s person could otherwise be killed by a mere germ or by influenza.” (58)
When Jesus Christ kills the Dajjal, the majority of people will enter the true religion, the true religion will soundly show its existence, and the fact mentioned in the verse just stated will manifest itself.
Under the light of all this knowledge, we can say that Jesus Christ performs his activities one by one, basing them on the collective personality. The Dajjal and his committee, who try to spread irreligion, melted like ice before him and the Mahdi; and will continue to melt.
Isn’t it a kind of ratification and manifestation of these narrations that the communism which is an atheist regime and which oppressed the world for seventy years, which undermined the one thousand year-long products of Russia all of a sudden, and which left nothing of holy nature intact, finally ended in a pleasing doom?
Irreligion, which is contradictory to the creation and to the laws of God, was to die and so it did. Russia herself will not resist before this fact; because, we clearly see that this good news has started to realize, “Because of the strong awakening caused by two horrible world wars, absolutely no nation without religion can live, and Russians cannot stay without religion any longer. They cannot go back and become Christian, either. They can only make peace with or submit to Quran, which breaks up absolute unbelief, which is based on truths and proofs and which persuades both the mind and the heart.” (59)
e. His killing Jews
“The Dajjal will come with seventy thousand Jews along with himself. All of them will be equipped with embellished swords and will be wearing green shawls. When the Dajjal looks at Jesus Christ, he will melt the way salt melts in water and begin to run away. And Jesus will say to him: “I will deal such a blow to you, you won’t be able to escape from it.” and will catch up with him on the eastern door of Ludd and will kill him. God will also defeat Jews. There will be no creature, any more which will not be made to speak by God when a Jew hides behind it. There will be no stone, no tree, no wall, and no animal, which will not say, “O Muslim slave of God! Come and kill him.” Except only for the tree called ‘Gharqad’. It is the tree of the Jews. It will not speak.” (60)
In another hadith recounted in Muslim, it is stated:
“The last hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: Muslim, or the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him; but the tree Gharqad would not say, for it is the tree of the Jews.” (61)
Does that communism, which is a regime of irreligion, receives a blow not mean that the Jews who have made mischief over earth all through the history, who are notorious for their tricks and mischief and who have wrought communism upon our world in our age receive a blow?
Since the mischief of this nation which, as is stated in Qur’an, deserved the punishment of God and which is labeled ignoble and poor is in such a dimension as to far exceed all the mischief they made before; as we suppose, they have become deserving the divine punishment in accordance. Time will show when and how the Jews, who received an unforgettable blow with the downfall of communism, will suffer the other punishments they deserve.
f. His being a means to abundance and fertility
In one of his hadiths, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says: “How fortunate the life after the Messiah is!” and he explains the reason for this: When that day comes, the heavens pour down its rain, the earth grows its plants. This is to such an extent that even if you put the seed on a rigid stone, it grows.” (62)
This hadith shows that the abundance experienced at the time of the Mahdi will still continue afterwards.
These are just a few of the beauties achieved at the time of Jesus’ rule. One of these beauties is the abundance of property as is stated in a narration (63). It will become so abundant that there will be no one to accept it. (64)
As people head towards offering thanks, God will bestow on them his favors abundantly. Another important reason is that the money formerly spent for ammunition will be canalized into public service. Moreover, as technology develops and progress in agriculture and industry is made in that period, production will increase more and more.
Has Jesus Christ come?
Bediüzzaman says that Christianity will either disappear or will return to oneness by being purified from superstitions, and will stop the war against Islam.
His opinion is that the latter will happen. He relates the phases Christianity underwent up to this day on the way for its realization:
“Again and again it was torn, neared to Puritanism; but saw no benefit there. The veil was torn again, it fell into absolute deviation. Some, though, neared to Oneness; and it will see benefit there, It is already getting ready… Starting to be torn. If it perishes not, will find purity and will merge with Islam. This is a great mystery, the sign of which is: The Honor of Prophets said: ‘Jesus will practice with my Shari’a and will be among my community.’” (65)
We have given above some examples about how this truth will take place. Bediüzzaman gives many examples about this issue in his works. In one of them, he says: “At the end of time, the true religion of Jesus Christ (upon whom be peace) will rule; will come shoulder to shoulder with Islam.” (66). As in the Period of Bliss-the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Qur’an invites the People of Book to come to a common word; to worship only God and not to attribute partners to Him (67). This verse has begun to take much effect in our time when compared to the past. In our time when ignorance and blind imitation have been left aside, and replaced by reason, knowledge, justice, and trustfulness, the Christian world has also begun to heed this commandment of Qur’an.
Having seen these days from the Period of Bliss, the Messenger of God declared: “At the end of time, the true pious Christians will establish alliance with the people of Quran-Muslims, and thus will stand up against the mutual enemy: the atheists.” (68) Another hadith about the issue: “In future, you will make peace with the Romans establishing security and will fight together against a mutual enemy.” (69)
In a hadith from Ibn-i Mace, it is stated that when wars arise, an army not of Arabic origin whose horses are the worthiest breed, whose weapons are the best will support Islam. (70) Might not this army be an army of a Christian state which has an advanced technology of war and which will support Islam at the time of big wars?
Bediüzzaman spoke highly of the internal opposing group, which dealt a fatal blow to Germany and Bolsheviks, and which, at the time of World War II, fought against Russia, the representative of communism, and which said: “Depending on God, I will do away with irreligion, and will protect Islam and Muslims; and said that they are kind of a representative of the collective personality of Jesus Christ. (71)
Neither Muslim nor Christian countries could fight communism on their own, which has been acting on behalf of atheism for seventy to eighty years. Therefore, alliance was inevitable. Foundations like NATO and CENTO emerged for this reason.
It was the due time. Having sensed this correctly, Bediüzzaman felt the need to remind both Muslims and pious Christians of certain truths:
“Now, Believers should form alliance not only with their Muslim brothers, but also with pious Christians and should not pay attention to points of disagreement and should not engage in a row, because the absolute unbelief attacks.” (72)
“Now, people of religion and truth need to form sincere alliance not only with their corelionist, coworkers, and brothers; but also with true pious Christians and should not pay attention to points of disagreement for the time being and should not engage in a row.”(73)
Missionaries, pious Christians, and servants of Qur’an should have paid great attention; because the current of unbelief spreading from the North was trying to spoil the alliance between Muslims and missionaries in order to defend itself against the assault of Islam and Christianity. This current could deceive and give them a privilege and thus attract Muslims by benefiting from the principles of Islam that Islam protected the public, that it made zakat obligatory and interest forbidden, and that it avoided cruelty. (74)
In the Second World War, there was communism on one side, the regime of irreligion and Christian countries on the other. Bediüzzaman said in the evaluation of that war from this perspective, “… Because with this World War, with the event of two states claiming the sovereignty over earth, the great fight between the horrible current of irreligion and heavenly religions began with the two great religions having appealed to the court of reconciliation in search of peace.” (75)
The situation was delicate. And the enemy was great and tremendous. However powerful the disagreeing side was, they could easily be overwhelmed with little power. Meanwhile, the current of the Dajjal was in action. Christians and Muslims had to be in alliance against this current. Bediüzzaman was saying:
“An important worry and consolation comes to my heart: The worry is that at the end of these fights, damage greater than World War I might bring about a brutality of Dajjal in Europe, the source and support of civilization. My consolation is that the complete awakening of the world of Islam, the New World accepting the true religion of Christianity as principles of action and forming an alliance with Islam, and the Gospel forming an alliance with Quran and submitting to it will stand up against the two oncoming horrible currents with a divine help and will defeat them with God willing.” (76)
This current of the Dajjal was nothing other than communism. From the creation of the world, there was never seen a second system which waged war in such a way against all religions and holy things taking the nonsense “Religion is opium.” as principle. This system far surpassing Namruts, Pharaohs and Shaddats in destruction has developed by swallowing whoever it was faced, grew in power and has invaded an important part of the world. At such a time, neither Muslims, who are the followers of the true religion nor Christians had the power to resist on their own. There was no way other than the alliance between Muslims and Christians.
Formerly, Christian states did not support the unity of Islam; however, since communism and anarchy emerged, both America and European states had to support the unity of Islam. (77)
The formation of Islam means the realization of the third one of the duties of the Mahdi, which is ‘faith, life and the Shari’a’, because the third duty of the Mahdi is to base the Caliphate of Islam on the unity of Islam and to make alliance with pious Christians and thus to serve Islam. This duty could be fulfilled with a very big sultanate, power, and millions of self-sacrificing people. (78)
On 13 December 1992, the Papacy issued a book of 627 pages. This book, which was distributed to all of the churches, sold 200 thousand just in France. In the book, Christianity is evaluated in the direction of Islam. In the book, which includes Al-Fatiha Surah, it is said:
“People must comply not with the rules made by humans, but with divine rules.”
In the book filled with the creed of oneness, trinity is handled in this way:
“There has remained no possibility of explaining the creed of trinity in accordance with the faith of one God. Jesus Christ is only a prophet who conveys whatever is revealed to him by God.”
Since 1967, the Papacy with the title of ‘The Head of the Council of Dialogue between Religions’ has been congratulating Muslims on their Ramadan Festival. The announcement they issued in 1992:
“Dear Muslim sisters and brothers!
We Christians who respect your adherence to fasting and prayer wish to work together in order to establish peace.
With the high feeling evoked by fasting through the Ramadan which is obligatory on you as Believers and Muslims, you well know and understand that it is not possible to establish true peace without the help and the light sent by God. This is God who is the sole Lord of peace and bliss.
We pray to God that He bestows upon us Muslims and Christians the power to endure hardships in establishing peace through mutual help and dialogue.”
In his message to the world of Islam on the occasion of the Ramadan Festival, in 1996, Cardinal Francis Arinze both congratulated Muslims on their festival and said that the relationships between Muslims and Christians should be improved and that the relations should come to a further and intimate degree more than tolerance. Arinze quotes these words of Pope Jean Paul: “We Christians and Muslims have generally misunderstood each other and sometimes opposed to one another and even consumed ourselves with polemics and wars.” and says: “It is time we saved our memories from the negative remnants of the past and we looked toward the future. Whoever upset the other must apologize regretfully. We must forgive each other mutually.” (79)
It is as if Jesus Christ performs his activities behind veils. So he did come. Surely as a requisite of the purpose of test, not everyone can recognize him. Only his close followers will be able to recognize him.
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Footnotes:
1. The Gospel of Luke, 23.
2. Matthew, 26:14-16.
3. Elmalılı, Hak Dini Kur'an Dili, 3:1517-1518.
4. Al-‘Imran Surah, 54-55.
5. An-Nisa Surah, 157-158.
6. Canan, A.g.e., 14:74.
7. Said Havva, A.g.e., 9:336.
8. A.g.e., p. 420.
9. Ibni Mace, 10:338.
10. Muslim, 2:58.
11. Sıddık Hasan Han, es-Seyyid Muhammed Sıddık el-Kannucî, el-Izaa (Kahire: 1407/1986), s. 114; Said Havva, A.g.e., 9:335-336, 446.
12. Said Havva, A.g.e., 9:445.
13. Kittânî, A.g.e., s. 147.
14. Ibni Mâce, 10:338.
15. et-Teftazanî, Mes’ûd bin Ömer bin Abdillah, Şerhu'l-Makasıd (Istanbul: 1277), Hatime: 8; 2:307.
16. Zukhruf Surah, 61.
17. Muslim, Kitabu'l-Fiten: 39.
18. Bukharî, Spells: 102; Mezalim: 31; Prophets: 49; Muslim, Book of Faith: 242; Ebu Davud, Melahim: 14.
19. Bukhari, Cruelties: 31; Spells: 102; Muslim, Faith: 242-243; Ibni Mâce, Tricks: 33.
20. Müsned, 3:387; el-Fıkhü'l-Ekber Aliyyü'l-Karî Şerhi Terc., p. 284.
21. Müslim, Book of Tricks: 34.
22. el-Heytemî, A.g.e., p. 68.
23. Imam-ı Rabbanî, Mektûbât, 2:1309.
24. Ibni Mâce, 10:338.
25. Şârânî, Muhtasaru Tezkiretü'l-Kurtubî Trans., p. 500.
26. Said Havva, A.g.e., 9:338.
27. Sahih-i Bukharî Trans. 1:83 (H. 1406, 5:208); el-Fethu’l-Kebîr, 2:143.
28. Bukharî, Book of Prophets (The issue of the descent of Jesus): 60, 4:324; Muslim, 2:56.
29. Ibn-i Hacer, el-Feth, 6:491.
30. Muslim, Faith: 247; Suyûtî, Celaleddin Abdurrahman, el-Havî li’l-Fetâvâ, I-II (Beyrut: 1983), 2:83.
31. el-Heytemî, A.g.e., p. 64.
32. el-Fıkhu'l-Ekber Aliyyü'l-Karî Şerhi Trans., p. 284.
33. Said NursiThe Rays, p. 507.
34. Said Nursi, The Letters, p. 13.
35. Ibni Mâce, 10:323.
36. Musned, 2: 437; 6:75.
37. Musned, 2:482-483.
38. Muslim, Book of Faith: 243.
39. Bukharî, Spells: 102; Cruelties: 31; Prophets: 49; Muslim, Book of Faith: 242; Abu Davud, Melahim: 14.
40. Canan, A.g.e., (Istanbul: Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş., 1996), 14:73.
41. Musned, 2:437; Muh. Tezkiretü'l-Kurtubî, p. 498.
42. Muslim, Book of Faith: 243.
43. Abdullah bin Mes'ûd, Tefsîru Ibni Mes'ûd, p. 243.
44. Muslim, Book of Tricks: 34.
45. Kittânî, A.g.e., p. 145.
46. Book of Proofs, p. 105.
47. Musned, 6:125, 435; Muslim, Tricks: 110.
48. Musned, 3:368; 4:216-217.
49. Sarıtoprak, A.g.e., p. 128.
* Ludd, a town with a population of fifteen thousand, 68 km distant from Jerusalem.
50. Muslim, Tricks: 110; Tirmizî, Tricks: 59, 62; Ibni Mâce, Tricks: 33; Musned, 2:66; 6:455-456.
51. Ibni Kesir, Nihayetü'l-Bidaye, 1:158.
52. Said Nursî, The Rays, p. 506-507.
53. An-Nisa Surah, 159.
54. el-Fıkhu'l-Ekber Aliyyü'l-Karî Şerhi Trans., p. 284.
55. Mehmet Vehbi, Hülasatü'l-Beyan, 3-4: 1109.
56. Said Nursi, The Letters, p. 54.
57. Said Nursî, The Letters, p. 413.
58. Said Nursî, The Rays, p. 581.
59. Said Nursî, The Addition of Emirdag, 2:71.
60. Ibni Mace, Tricks: 33.
61. Muslim, Book of Tricks: 82.
62. el-Münavî, Feyzü’l-Kadîr, 4:275.
63. Muslim, Book of Faith: 243.
64. Tirmizî, 4:93; Ibni Mâce, 10:340.
65. Said Nursî, The Words, p. 723.
66. Said Nursî, The Addition of Kastamonu, p. 111.
67. Al-‘Imran Surah, 64.
68. Said Nursî, The Booklets of Sincerity, p. 24.
69. Tac Translation, H. 960; Ibni Mâce, H. 4089.
70. Ibni Mâce, H. 4090.
71. Said Nursî, The Addition of Kastamonu, 53-54.
72. Said Nursî, The Addition of Emirdag, 1:206.
73. Said Nursî, The Booklets of Sincerity, p. 24; The Flashes, p. 151.
74. Said Nursî, The Addition of Emirdag, p. 159.
75. Said Nursî, Sikke-i Tasdik-i Gaybî, p. 191.
76. Said Nursî, The Addition of Emirdag, 1:53.
77. A.g.e., 2:54.
78. Said Nursî, Sikke-i Tasdik-i Gaybî, p. 11.
79. 17 February 1996, Yeni Asya.
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