An Honest Look At The End Times

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According to the features of the End Times (the final period before doomsday) revealed in detail in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), the End Times will consist of two separate periods. The first period in this blessed age will be one of corruption, degeneration, disasters, conflict, war and poverty. The second part of the End Times, on the other hand, will be one when, with the Prophet Isa’s (as) return to Earth and the appearance of the Mahdi, peace, security and freedom will reign on Earth, when there is abundance and prosperity, and when there are all kinds of joys that people will delight in. We therefore need to think of the End Times as a whole and to be aware that, in the light of the glad tidings imparted by our Prophet (saas), the catastrophes in the first phase will later be followed by great beauty. It would be wrong, when referring to the End Times, to recall solely to the difficulties, scarcity and disasters that are all portents of this period without also recalling that all this darkness will also eventually turn into light. Because as revealed by our Lord in the Qur’an, “For truly with hardship comes ease” Surat al-Inshirah, 5). By the will of Allah, in the End Times scarcity will be replaced by abundance, and troubles by well-being, and all problems will be resolved.

The Unseen Reported by Our Prophet (saas)


As revealed by Allah in the Qur’an, only He knows what is unseen. However, He also reveals that He imparts knowledge of the unseen to the chosen messengers in His presence:


He is the Knower of the Unseen, and does not divulge His Unseen to anyone – except a Messenger with whom He is well pleased, and then He posts sentinels before him and behind him. (Surat al-Jinn, 26-27)


Our Prophet Muhammad (saas) is a chosen messenger in the sight of Allah, to whom Allah has imparted a knowledge of the unseen. The portents of the End Times and the great events that will take place during this holy time are important events of th unseen. In addition – as a blessing from Allah – our Prophet (saas) also reported a great many other events of the unseen, all of which, as a miracle of our Lord, are coming about. There is no doubt that this is support and compassion for our beloved Prophet (saas) from Allah.


One of these reports concerns our Prophet’s (saas) notification long beforehand of the deaths of some of the companions. According to information in the hadiths, our Prophet (saas) revealed that some companions would be martyred, and the kind of place they would die in. These events of the unseen informed by our Prophet (saas) represented very glad tidings for believers who witnessed them coming about. For example, the fact that the blessed Omar and Uthman would be martyred was reported thus in one hadith:


The Prophet of Allah (saas) was in a garden. When Abu Baqr sought permission to enter, he (saas) said: “Let him enter, and give him the glad tidings of Paradise!” Then Uthman sought permission. He said, “Let him enter, and give him the glad tidings of both Paradise and of martyrdom.” (1)



Another hadith that provides information about the caliphate and martyrdom of the blessed Uthman reads:


Abu Ya’la reported from Hafsa, the mother of believers: “The Prophet of Allah (saas) had Uthman called to him and said: “You will be killed and martyred. Have fortitude, may Allah give you fortitude. Do not take off the shirt of the caliphate that Allah will have you wear for ten years and six months!” As he turned to leave, the Prophet of Allah (saas) said from behind him: “May Allah give you fortitude. You will die and be martyred while you are fasting. You will break your fast with me!” (2)



The martyrdom of the Hadrath Ali and the Hadrath Hussain were described thus in the hadiths of our holy Prophet (saas):


Al-Hakim – a trustworthy source – narrated from Ali: The Prophet of Allah (saas) pointed to his cheeks and said to Ali, “You will be struck here and here, and your blood will flow until it covers your beard!” (3)

One day the Prophet of Allah (saas) was asleep. There was red earth in his hand. “O Prophet of Allah, what is this earth?” I asked him. He said: “Jibrail – referring to Hussain – said he would be killed in the land of Iraq. This earth is soil from there.” (4)

“Referring to Hussain, this son of mine will be killed in the place known as Qarbala. Let he who sees him there go to his aid!” At this, Anas bin al-Haris went to Qarbala. He was killed there together with Hussain. (5)


All these things, revealed by our Prophet (saas) as a miracle of Allah came about. In addition to this information, Muslims also witnessed that many of our Prophet’s (saas) reports concerning hidden matters came to pass. This fact must not be forgotten when evaluating the hadiths concerning the End Times.

Like all these facts, the signs imparted by our Prophet (saas) to believers regarding the End Times are also, by Allah’s leave, coming about one by one, and will continue to do so.

The Corruption That Will Take Place in the End Times

That fact reported in many sources that there will be strife and corruption in the End Times is carried very often in magazines, books and some television programs. Many events taking place in the present day bear an astonishing similarity to the information imparted in the hadiths, and these developments indicate that we are now living in the End Times. According to the information in the hadiths:

There will be war, conflict and anarchy in the End Times.
When the world is in chaos, when strife emerges, when the roads are severed, when some attack others… (6)

There are days of anarchy and chaos very close to Doomsday. (7)

Doomsday will not take place until these signs come about … Death and slaughter will be widespread … (8)

Strife will multiply, and new strifes will follow one another
Before Doomsday there will be strife like dark nights. (9)

Close to Doomsday there will be chaos like patches of dark nights.
In this confusion a person will wake as a believer and go to bed as an unbeliever. (10)

Earthquakes will increase in the End Times.

Doomsday will not come about until these signs take place … earthquakes will increase … (11)
There are two great signs before Doomsday … and then years of earthquakes. (12)

There will be poverty and want.

The poor will increase. (13)
Hunger and a high cost of living will spread to the furthest extent. (14)

There will be moral collapse and social degeneration.

An increase in adultery is one of the portents of Doomsday. (15)
The wicked will multiply, liars will be regarded as honest and honest men as liars, traitors will be trusted and the trustworthy regarded as traitors… (16)

People will move away from religious moral values.

There will come a time when the Holy Qur’an will be in one valley and people in another. (17)

There will come a time when only the picture of the Holy Qur’an and only the name of Islam will remain. Though they are the very furthest people from Islam they will take Islamic names, although mosques appear to prosper they will be in ruins in terms of the true path. (18)

Forbidden things being regarded as lawful … is one of the portents of Doomsday. (19)
This is just one part of our Prophet’s (saas) reports concerning the first period of the End Times. The hadiths contain much more reports and information. When examined carefully, the age we are living in can clearly be seen to be when these portents revealed by our Prophet (saas) have begun to occur. According to the information imparted by our Prophet (saas), in the wake of these portents a sacred and holy period will begin for believers. In that period, which will possess features reminiscent of the Age of Happiness (Asr al-Saadat), the Mahdi will appear, Islamic moral values will, by Allah’s leave, prevail over the whole world, and a perfect time known as the Golden Age will take place.

The Appearance of the Mahdi Is One of the Unseen Matters Reported by Our Prophet (saas)

One of the reports revealed by our Prophet (saas) concerning the future is that of the coming of the Mahdi. In the hadiths our Prophet (saas) has stated that a holy individual will appear who will eradicate the strife of the End Times, bring peace and security to all and be a means whereby religious moral values rule the world, in short, the leader of the Golden Age.

This holy personage is the Mahdi. By Allah’s leave, it is reported that the Mahdi will definitely appear in the End Times:

Even if only one night remains to the world, ALLAH WILL PROLONG THAT NIGHT AND ONE OF MY HOUSEHOLD (THE MAHDI) WILL COME AND RULE THE WORLD. His name will match mine, and his father’s name my father’s. In the same way that the world was filled with oppression before, he will fill it with justice. He will distribute goods widely … He will remain seven or nine years… (20)

The will be (a time of) caliphs after me. After the caliphs there will be amirs, and after the amirs there will be despots. THEN THE MAHDI, ONE OF MY HOUSEHOLD, WILL APPEAR. He will fill with justice a world that was previously filled with oppression. (21)
According to the information in the hadiths, the strife, oppression and chaos that will be experienced in the first period of the End Times are portents of the coming of the Mahdi. This is expressed in these terms:

There will be such strife that nowhere is safe from it, and this strife will immediately spread from one place to somewhere else, and this will continue until a voice from the sky calls out, “O people, your amir is now the Mahdi.” (22)

The Mahdi will not appear until innocent people are slaughtered, and he will appear when those on Earth and in the skies can no longer bear this killing… (23)

Bearing all this in mind, the error of referring to the end times as a period filled with catastrophes and troubles while not mentioning the way that the Prophet Isa’ (as) and the Mahdi will appear and cause Islamic moral values to prevail on Earth can clearly be seen. The events that will take place in the End Times are some of the portents of the coming of the Prophet Isa’ (as) and the Mahdi. Constantly recalling these portents without mentioning the great events of which they are signs is irrational and illogical. In addition, it needs to be remembered that our Prophet (saas) has revealed that one of the portents of the appearance of the Mahdi is that people will lose hope that this holy figure will actually emerge:

ALLAH WILL SEND THE MAHDI when people are in despair and say, “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE MAHDI…” (24)

The Golden Age and the Dominion of Islamic Moral Values

The way that our Prophet (saas) has portrayed the period when Islamic moral values prevail on Earth as having similar features to those of Paradise has led to it being termed the “Golden Age.” According to the information contained in the hadiths, the main features of this period are an abundance of all kinds of goods and products, the establishment of security, peace and justice, contentment and happiness, the use of all kinds of technological progress for people’s comfort, peace and joy, nobody being in need, and those who wish being given much more than they desire without such even being counted.

As stated in one hadith, “… He will implement the religion as it was in the time of our Prophet (saas). He will do away with schools (mazhabs) in the world. No school will remain but that of the pure, true religion,” (25) true religious moral values will be enjoyed under the leadership of the Mahdi in the End Times. In fact, one of the main reasons why this period will be one with which all people are content is that Qur’anic moral values and the Sunna will be abided by to the letter.

Technological progress will reach a peak in this part of the End Times, and people will enjoy all technological blessings to their fullest extent. There will be major advances in medicine, agriculture, communications and industrial technology and in transport, and new discoveries will constantly be made. Each new discovery will lead on to another, and progress will achieve a very rapid pace. There will also be great advances made in art, and ever more beautiful works will appear in the fields of music and visual art. The wide horizons and deep conception that Allah imparts to believers will lead the way in all artistic spheres. People will be so delighted with their lives in the Golden Age that, as one hadith puts it: “they will be unaware of how the time passes and will ask Allah to prolong their lives in order to enjoy all these benefits even further.”

The features of this period are described as follows in hadiths:

There will be hitherto unknown abundance in the time of the Mahdi:

… the treasures in the Earth will spill forth. (26)
… The Earth will give forth all the wealth concealed in it, and pillars made of gold and silver. (27)

The generosity of the Mahdi:

When the Mahdi distributes goods and wealth he will do so in abundance, without counting it. (28)

Justice in the time of the Mahdi:

The Mahdi is from my line and will fill the world with fairness and justice as it was filled with oppression and torture. (29)

The world will be a safe place in the time of the Mahdi:

The Earth will be full of security and even a few women will go on the pilgrimage (Hajj) with no men alongside them. (30)

The longing felt for the time of the Mahdi:

I would not wish to die before seeing the Mahdi. Because in his time the goodness of good people will increase, and even the wicked will be treated well… (31)
… The young will say, “I wish I were old,” and the old will say, “I wish I were young”… The goodness of good people will increase, and even the wicked will be treated well (32)

The Mahdi will be loved by all:

The Mahdi will appear, and everyone will speak of him, drink of his love and speak of nothing else. (33)
The peoples of the Earth and sky, and even the birds in the air, will be pleased with his caliphate. (34)

Conclusion

All this information shows that major events, regarding which all believers will feel great enthusiasm and excitement, will be experienced in the End Times. This is a great blessing for those Muslims who will witness this period. Therefore, it is of the greatest importance that sincere believers be aware of this blessing of Allah’s and feel joy because of it.

The first period of the End Times is an age when corruption, degeneration, disasters, conflicts, wars and poverty will be experienced. The second period, however, with the return to Earth of the Prophet Isa’ (as) and the coming of the Mahdi, will be a time when peace, security and freedom reign on Earth, when there is plenty and abundance, and when there are delights that please people in all respects.

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… It [the Last Hour] will not come until you see ten signs… landslides [with a sinking down, caving in, or displacement of the earth] in three places, one in the East, one in the West and one in Arabia… (Sahih Muslim)

It is revealed in the verses of the Qur'an that all animate and inanimate entities, the entire universe, will inevitably come to an end.
This end, the Last Day in other words, will be the final day of the life of this world, but also the beginning of the eternal life of the Hereafter. That day, as revealed in the Qur'an, is when "mankind will stand before the Lord of all the worlds" (Qur'an, 83:6). On the Last Day, the universe and all living things will be destroyed and that destruction will take place as the result of events that have never been seen before. In Surat al-Ma'arij our Lord reveals:

On the Day the sky is like molten brass and the mountains like tufts of colored wool. No good friend will ask about his friend even though they can see each other. An evildoer will wish he could ransom himself from the punishment of that Day, by means of his sons, or his wife or his brother or his family who sheltered him or everyone else on Earth, if that only meant that he could save himself. But no! It is a Raging Blaze. (Qur'an, 70:8-15)

It is a day when all people will comprehend the great might of God and will be a day of panic, fear and suffering for unbelievers. Our Lord reveals in the Qur'an that "the Hour is coming" (Qur'an, 20:15) and that it will take place suddenly, when people are least expecting it (Qur'an, 16:77 and 7:187). In another verse, our Lord has told us that certain signs will appear before the Hour:

What are they awaiting but for the Hour to come upon them suddenly? ITS SIGNS HAVE ALREADY COME. What good will their reminder be to them when it does arrive? (Qur'an, 47:18)

Our Prophet Muhammad (saas) has described these portents that will take place prior to the Hour in detail in the Hadith. In addition to signs of the Last Day, he has also made statements regarding the period immediately before it. This period, when the signs of the Last Day will appear, is the "End Times."

In the first period of the End Times the world is filled with material and spiritual problems; in the second period that follows, God will liberate people from degeneration, war and injustice by means of the Mahdi. In this period, known as the Golden Age, war and conflict will come to an end, the world will be filled with plenty, abundance and justice, and Islamic moral values will spread over the whole world and be widely lived by. Following the end of the Golden Age, the world will suffer a very rapid collapse, after which the Hour will come. However, it needs to be made clear that, as on all other subjects, we have no other information regarding the Last Day than that taught us by our Lord. Only our Lord knows the time of the Hour, which will inevitably take place:

Say: "I do not know whether what you are promised [the Hour] is close or whether my Lord will appoint a longer time before it." He is the Knower of the unseen, and does not divulge His unseen to anyone. (Qur'an, 72:25-26)

The Signs of the Last Day Are Coming True One after the Other

When we examine the Hadith on the End Times, we encounter a most extraordinary situation. The signs set out in detail by our Prophet (saas) hundreds of years ago are taking place just about everywhere in the world "in the age we are living in," one after the other and in the manner described in the Hadith. The slaughter, war and conflict being experienced all over the world, the increase in corruption, unlawful things being regarded as lawful, the acceleration of moral degeneration, the open denial of God, the abandoning of the moral values of the Qur'an, the grave difficulties being experienced by Muslims, the groundless killing of innocent people, the spread of poverty and hunger, the emergence of false men of religion, the popularity of magic and fortune telling, the rise in fraud, corruption and adultery, the emergence of false messiahs and many other signs all show that the period through which we are living bears a greater resemblance to the End Times than any other in history. (For detailed information, see The Signs of Jesus' (pbuh) Second Coming (http://www.harunyahya.com/books/faith/secondcoming/secondcoming.php) by Harun Yahya.)

Some of these signs of the End Times revealed in the Hadith have been seen to some extent at various times in Islamic history and in different parts of the world. However, this does not mean that any of those ages was the End Times.

Because in order for a period to qualify as the End Times, all the portents revealed by our Prophet (saas) must take place one after the other in the same period of time. This is set out in the Hadith:

Signs following one another like the pieces of a necklace falling one after the other when its string is cut. (Tirmidhi)

For example, one of the signs given in the Hadith is the solar and lunar eclipses during the month of Ramadan:

…The first one is the lunar eclipse in the first night of Ramadan, and the second is the solar eclipse in the middle of this month. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 47)

Indeed, solar and lunar eclipses followed one another in the month of Ramadan in the years 1981 and 1982. It is beyond question that solar and lunar eclipses are very natural and frequent phenomena. The important thing, however, is that these should take place at 15-day intervals during the month of Ramadan, and for this to be repeated in two consecutive years. In addition, the fact that these eclipses took place at the same time as other signs stated above strengthens the likelihood that these eclipses are those being referred to in the hadith. Another extraordinary thing is the way that our Prophet (saas) informed us that a comet will appear immediately after these eclipses of the Sun and Moon:

The rise of that star will occur after the eclipse of the Sun and the Moon. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-zaman, p. 32)

As stated in the hadith, Halley's comet passed close by the Earth in 1986 (Hijri 1406), in other words in the early 14th century. This follows the eclipses of the Sun and Moon that happened in 1981 and 1982 (Hijri 1401-1402). Therefore, the rise of this star coming at the same time as other signs, and just as described by the Prophet (saas), indicates that these phenomena may well be the signs referred to in the Hadith.
Another important element that must be borne in mind when examining the signs of the End Times is the size of the sign in question, its force and effect. For example, our Prophet (saas) has cited the rise in earthquakes as a sign of the Last Day. There is no doubt that earthquakes of various magnitudes have taken place at all periods in history. However, in the End Times, through which we are living, there has been a huge rise in the number and intensity of earthquakes worldwide. According to US Geological Survey (USGS) reports, the number of earthquakes registering greater than 5.0 in the 400 or so years between 1556 and 1975 is only 110. According to that same body, 1685 earthquakes registering more than 6.5 have taken place in the 23 years between 1980 and 2003 alone. This information confirms the account given by our Prophet (saas) and shows that the signs of the End Times have characteristics far more extraordinary than those of any comparable events that have taken place in other periods. Our Prophet (saas) has also given news of many other signs of the Last Day as well as just these.
Islamic scholars refer to some of these as minor signs, and to others as major signs. One hadith in which our Prophet (saas) imparts the tidings of the ten major signs of the Last Day is as follows:

… It [the Last Hour] will not come until you see ten signs… landslides [with a sinking down, caving in, or displacement of the earth] in three places, one in the East, one in the West and one in Arabia… (Sahih Muslim)

In this article we shall examine these signs in the light of certain major recent developments.

(For detailed information regarding the other signs of the Last Day, see Signs of the Last Day (http://www.harunyahya.com/signs01.php), The Signs of Jesus' (pbuh) Second Coming (http://www.harunyahya.com/books/faith/secondcoming/secondcoming.php), Terrorism: The Ritual of the Devil (http://www.harunyahya.com/ritual_of_devil_01.php), The End of Times and the Mahdi (http://www.harunyahya.com/mahdi01.php) by Harun Yahya).

THE SINKING DOWN IN THE EAST: THE TSUNAMI DISASTER IN INDONESIA

One of the signs of the Last Day revealed by our Prophet (saas) is that of the "sinking down in the East."

The probable significance of this sign is the disappearance of an area of land or a human community. (God knows best.) This portent bears a close similarity to the 2004 tsunami disaster in Asia. Therefore, our Prophet's (saas) portent regarding the "sinking down in the East" may be indicating this terrible catastrophe. (Our Lord knows best, of course.)

Throughout history various disasters, earthquakes and tornadoes have struck Asia and the Far East. These wrought terrible destruction and large numbers of people lost their lives in them. However, the tsunami that took place on 26 December, 2004, in southern Asia and that resulted in the loss of more than 225,000 lives, was the worst of these disasters. During this dreadful catastrophe, the enormous energy released by 1000-kilometer breaks as a result of the movement of underground plates and shifting land masses, together with the enormous energy produced in the oceans, struck the coasts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Maldives, the Seychelles, and even Somalia, 5,000 kilometers away.

This tsunami disaster in the End Times, when the signs of the Last Day are coming true one by one, affected a very wide area, and led to cities being flooded by sea water and to a new map of the world. Therefore, the expression "sinking down in the East" may well be referring to this disaster in southern Asia. (God knows best.)

THE SINKING DOWN IN THE WEST: THE "KATRINA" DISASTER IN THE USA

The terrible destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina in the US Gulf of Mexico last month brings to mind another of the signs of the Last Day mentioned by our Prophet (saas): "the sinking down in the West."

This "sinking" which our Prophet (saas) declares will take place in the End Times must necessarily be much greater and have a much greater impact than similar ones in the past. Indeed, the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina was far worse than that inflicted by similar phenomena in the past.

Throughout history great disasters have been experienced in Europe and America. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and terrorist attacks have cost the lives of thousands. However, none of these disasters have had such a terrible impact as Hurricane Katrina, causing millions of people to flee, tens of thousands to lose their lives, immense harm to three large states, and the flooding of whole cities. This makes Hurricane Katrina different from disasters of the past, and ensures it top place in the list of destruction in US history. For that reason, the Katrina catastrophe may well be one of the three incidents of sinking referred to by our Prophet Muhammad (saas). God knows best, of course.

The Dimensions of the Katrina Disaster

The Katrina disaster has been the subject of intense coverage in newspapers and on the television for around a month now. However, these reports fail to emphasize the multilateral effect of the disaster, both on the USA and globally. The true dimensions of the disaster are being hidden from people, and the scale of the destruction is being underplayed. The fact is that Hurricane Katrina led to the deaths of more than 10,000 people, life becoming impossible in almost all of three major states (Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi), the complete evacuation of one of the most important cities in the USA, the greatest air rescue operation in the US history, millions of people losing their homes and livelihoods, and damage in excess of $100 billion. Various writers have referred to the fact that such a disaster has not been experienced on US soil since the Civil War. This disaster, compared by some federal authorities to Hiroshima and the tsunami catastrophe in Indonesia, is expected to have long-lasting consequences for many years, and resulted in a large region sinking under the water, as described by our Prophet (saas) in the hadith.

The damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina may be summed up as follows:

- Katrina was classified as a category 5 hurricane, representing the most violent category on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, falling to category 4 in some places. Only 3 category five hurricanes have made landfall in the US since records began. Yet none of those caused such massive damage as Katrina.

- The death toll could not be established with certainty in the wake of the disaster, though officials said the number could be tens of thousands. Material damage is expected to exceed $100 billion. This estimate excludes long-term damage (effects on the soil, sea, life and climate).

- Hurricane Katrina entered the American continent from the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, 29 August, and affected three states. Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi became virtually uninhabitable. The wind speed rose to 260 km/h. The area affected, a national disaster zone, is 233,000 km2 - an area almost as large as the United Kingdom.

- The hurricane first affected the state of Florida, where 13 people died and where the storm caused great material damage. It then headed for the state of Louisiana, causing terrible damage to the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Buildings on the coasts in particular suffered immense damage. It is estimated that more than 10,000 lost their lives in these three states; 80% of the city of New Orleans - the largest in the state of Louisiana - remained under water.

- The cities of Biloxi and Gulfport in Mississippi were flooded by waters rising up to 9 meters, and 90% of homes in this area were completely destroyed. Hotels and entertainment centers built on the shore were completely ruined. This brings to mind another sign of the Last Day reported by our Prophet (saas):

He asked: "What becomes of you when death meets people and homes become graves?" (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 392, no. 726)

- Some 5 million people were left without electricity in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. It has been announced that due to the terrible damage inflicted, it may take months for electricity to be restored to the whole city.

- America obtained 25% of its petrol needs from the Gulf of Mexico. Today, 91% of this area's total production capacity of 1.5 million barrel/day is unusable. 83% of the natural gas emerging has been stopped. 561 of a total of around 650 maritime oil platforms were evacuated in time by helicopter. 20 platforms either sank or were dragged from their moorings, and one continues to burn. Nobody knows what damage has been caused to those which have been abandoned. The resulting sea pollution is yet another aspect of the disaster. Eight refineries have been abandoned along the shores of the Mississippi River. Those still working have been closed down because the pipeline bringing oil to land from the Gulf of Mexico broke. The almost complete stoppage of oil production in the region has impacted on the US economy, and it is also expected to have permanent damage on the world economy.

- Hundreds of thousands of homes have been rendered uninhabitable, and hundreds of thousands have been badly damaged.

- The number of missing is estimated at around 35,000. More than 300,000 children in the region are estimated to have been made homeless.

- Electricity cuts, and the fact that telephone lines, mobile phones and the Internet no longer work has brought business life to an almost complete standstill. It is estimated that around 1 million jobs have been lost in all sectors.

- Educational institutions in the regions have been closed. A great many schools cannot be used, and great damage has been inflicted on others.

- Local newspapers and TV stations have abandoned their offices, and have been forced to continue working over the Internet.

- It is stated that it is only a matter of time until epidemics begin in flooded cities. The corpses that fill the streets, the toxic substances in the water, the chemical waste products from factories in the water, rubbish, and petrol wastes represent a severe threat to the flooded cities. The US Army plans to begin spraying using military planes against the mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus and that multiply rapidly in stagnant water.

New Orleans Has Sunk to the Ground

While Katrina inflicted grave harm on many cities, it has made New Orleans uninhabitable. 80% of New Orleans, regarded as one of the centers of tourism and culture in the USA, was under water, which in some areas was more than 6 meters deep. Therefore, New Orleans has almost vanished by being buried under water. In the same way that our Prophet's (saas) portent regarding "the sinking down in the East" may refer to the tsunami disaster in Indonesia, the "sinking down in the West" may also indicate the disappearance of the city of New Orleans. God knows best, of course.

New Orleans is a city surrounded by Lake Pontchartrain, the River Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico, and is founded about 2 meters below the sea level. However, some parts of the city lie up to 6 meters below the sea level and are protected against possible flooding by pumps, channels and levees. This system, regarded as one of the most expensive flood protection systems in the world, was constructed in stages since the 1800s, and has been regularly strengthened. However, the levees that run for some 560 kilometers around the city were designed to meet category 3 hurricanes. They could not withstand category 5 hurricanes such as Katrina (category 4 on some days). Thus Hurricane Katrina destroyed two of the city's most important levees, as a result of which water from the lake, the sea and the river flooded 80% of the city.
The shores of Lake Pontchartrain were almost entirely submerged.

Following the hurricane, these levees are planned to be repaired and the water pumped out of the city. However, very few of the 148 pumps are actually working, for which reason the pumping out of the floodwater that fills the city is expected to take months. One major difficulty is that since the pumps responsible for cleaning up the city are submerged, it is difficult to find anywhere to send the many meters of water covering the city. Another problem is the scale of the impact that the pumping of the waters, badly polluted by corpses and wastes, into the River Mississippi and Lake Pontchartrain will have on life, which is expected to even worse in the years to come. The emptying of polluted water into the lake, river and sea in the region, regarded as one of the main ports of the US fishing industry, will do serious harm to maritime life.
However, officials state that there is no alternative and that pumping will go ahead as planned.

This is the worst disaster since the founding of New Orleans in 1718. The city has experienced a great many storms and hurricanes to date but this city, which directly encounters a hurricane every 14 years, has never been subjected to such destruction. The consequences of the New Orleans disaster may be summarized as follows:

- One million people fled New Orleans before the hurricane struck. Tens of thousands who remained sought shelter in the Louisiana Superdome Stadium and an exhibition hall. Others sought to protect themselves from the waters by climbing up to high elevations.
Thousands of helpless people who sought shelter on the roofs and upper floors of buildings waited days for help to arrive. Many people died from hunger, thirst and various illnesses. There have also been widespread reports of lootings, murders, beatings and rapes. When part of the roof of the Superdome, regarded as one of the safest places to shelter, collapsed, this too ceased to offer any safety.

- Some 9,000 people who were unable to evacuate the city and 550 National Guard troops were installed in the Superdome. Following the intensification of the hurricane this number rose to around 60,000 on September 1. Tens of thousands of people fought for their lives in the stadium, which was devoid of electricity, air conditioning and running water. As the evacuation was stepped up, New Orleans began being referred to as a "ghost town."

- A rapid rise in looting, rape, beating, suicide, robbery and drug dealing brought chaos to the city and those buildings in which large numbers of people were sheltering.

- 80% of homes in New Orleans are uninhabitable.

- Tens of thousands of people do not have enough to eat and drink. There is no clean water or food in the city.

- One million people are without electricity due to the powerful winds that uplifted trees and power lines, due to which it is reported that critically ill patients in hospitals are dying.

- The flood waters have lifted coffins out of graves in some cemeteries in New Orleans. Television broadcasts have shown coffins floating in the waters covering the city.

The disappearance of almost the entire city of New Orleans bears a close similarity to another sign of the End Times related by our Prophet (saas). This is revealed in these terms in the hadith:

Great cities will be ruined, and it will be as if they had not existed the day before. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 38)

A city really has disappeared under the water and been made uninhabitable.

Indeed, one of the ongoing debates in the USA these days is the possibility of completely abandoning New Orleans and founding the city in another place in the wake of the terrible destruction.

COULD THE "ARMY DISAPPEARING IN THE DESERT" BE THE THIRD SINKING?

Attention is drawn in the hadith of our Prophet Muhammad (saas) to "a third sinking in the Arabian peninsula," in addition to those in the East and West.

This sinking that will take place in the Arabian peninsula bears a close resemblance to another hadith:

An army comes to fight. Once they enter the desert, the one in the front and the back disappear, and the ones in the middle cannot save themselves. (Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Dawud)

One of the most noticeable incidents of the 2003 Iraq War was the sudden disappearance of a large part of the Iraqi Army. Many newspapers and TV channels reported on the disappearance of the 60,000-man force known as the Republican Guard and 15,000-man force known as the Fedayeen. The fact that this is indicated in the above hadith shows that one of the signs of the Last Day may have taken place. Indeed, the finding in the days to follow of a part of their warplanes buried under the desert sands strengthens the possibility that the reference in the hadith of the sinking of an army in the desert may concern the Iraqi Army. (God knows best.) When we consider this hadith together with our Prophet's (saas) reference to "sinking down in Arabia," it may well be that the event in question refers to this extraordinary situation that came about during the Iraq war. (God knows best.)

THE IMPORTANCE OF REFLECTING ON THE SIGNS OF THE LAST DAY

Most people in the world are to a greater or lesser extent aware of the horror of the Last Day. Nonetheless, some people are unwilling to think or talk about such a vital matter. They make great efforts never to bring the fear that will be experienced when the Hour comes to mind. They are even unable to bear it when news of a catastrophe they read in the paper or a film depicting a disaster reminds them of the Last Day. They refuse to reflect on the fact that this day will inevitably arrive.

The same things happened in the wake of the Katrina disaster. People generally attempted to underplay the catastrophe, the terrible disaster was not reported in an unbiased manner, and people soon lost interest in this terrible destruction. People failed to learn about the horror experienced by hundreds of thousands as they should have.

Yet all these disasters and catastrophes are a warning, a reminder from our Lord. People who consider these disasters honestly, listening to the voice of their conscience, will easily realize the transitory nature of the life of this world and will turn to God. They will understand that it is not too late to live by Islamic moral values and will not be like those who ignore the reality that the Last Day will inevitably come to pass. Our Lord states the following with regard to the unbelievers who harbor doubts about the Hour:

When you were told, "God's promise is true and so is the Hour, of which there is no doubt," you said, "We have no idea what the Hour is. We have only been conjecturing. We are by no means certain." (Qur'an, 45:32)

Some people deny the Hour in its entirety:

But instead, they deny the Hour; and We have prepared a searing blaze for those who deny the Hour. (Qur'an, 25:11)

All these people who deceive themselves with regard to the Hour are making a terrible mistake. That is because in His verses God reveals that it is close at hand and that there can be no room for doubt regarding this:

We did not create the heavens and Earth and everything between them, except with truth. The Hour is certainly coming… (Qur'an, 15:85)

As we have already stated, the fact that the signs of the Last Day were fully described 1,400 years ago and are coming to pass one after the other is a matter of the greatest importance. This is definitive proof so that we might understand that in describing in detail 1,400 years ago the picture that would emerge our Prophet (saas) was referring to the present day and age. The reports of the End Times paint a most accurate picture of our own time. This, of course, is a miraculous phenomenon calling for deep reflection.

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The hadiths of our Prophet (saas) contain a great deal of detailed information and signs about the End Times that will take place close to Doomsday. According to the information imparted by our Prophet (saas), a great many significant events will take place one after the other at that time. In the first stage of the End Times there will be great corruption and chaos on Earth, and in the second stage peace and security will prevail as people begin living by true religious moral values.

In the first stage of the End Times there will be terrible degeneration and chaos among people because of various philosophical systems that inculcate atheism and irreligion by their refusal to accept the existence of Almighty Allah (God). Humanity will turn away from the purpose behind its creation, leading to enormous spiritual emptiness and moral degeneration. There will be terrible disasters, wars and famines, and all people will seek the answer to the question, How can we be saved? in order to bring these troubles to an end. The majority of these developments related as portents of the End Times in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) have taken place in our time, just as reported. The recent growing rise in war and conflict, terror, violence, anarchy and chaos, slaughter and torture are a sign that the first stage of the End Times is now taking place.

According to the information in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), Allah will rescue people from the chaos of the End Times after this period of darkness and bestow a great salvation upon them. Allah will make the Mahdi, in other words a servant with superior moral values and who bears the title of he who leads to the truth, lead people who have turned their backs on proper moral values and societies that have suffered degeneration to the true path. By the will of Allah, the Mahdi will enable humanity to live by true Qur’anic moral values by ridding Islam of all corruption and superstition. In the first stage of the End Times, he will resolve all the chaos, social problems and societal difficulties facing humanity and will be a means whereby happiness, peace, security and proper moral values prevail over the entire world.

THE SPIRITUAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE MAHDI

Various features of the Mahdi are described in several of the hadiths of our Prophet (saas). The spiritual attributes of the Mahdi that we shall be examining in the light of these hadiths are all important guides to our being able to recognize this great individual of the End Times.

In these hadiths that we are looking at, our Prophet (saas) provides a great deal of descriptive information about the spiritual attributes of the Mahdi. He has reported that the Mahdi’s moral values resemble his own, and praised his fear of Allah and moral virtues. Our Prophet (saas) stated that the Mahdi would be a very valuable personage who would be a means whereby people attain salvation in this world and in the Hereafter. He also told people to abide by him even if it means crawling over snow when the Mahdi appears.

The period we are living in is the period awaited for the last fourteen hundred years, when this historic event related by our Prophet (saas) has drawn near. All Muslims who are aware of this fact and who wish to attain the honor of being at the Mahdi’s side when he appears must carefully read the information described throughout this article and imparted in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), and must grasp all means of accurately identifying this holy individual. Because the careful study and examination of this information will, by Allah’s leave, be a guide to the recognition of this holy personage.

There can be no doubt that preparing the ground for and assisting such a holy individual who will be a means whereby Islam returns to its true essence and Qur’anic moral values prevail over all the world is an important responsibility for Muslims. Being one of those close to such a blessed individual as the Mahdi, being able to support him and being able to help in his work aimed at the benefit of all humanity is a great blessing and honor for all believers.

The Mahdi is a holy personage, the tidings of whose sending in the End Times have been imparted by our Prophet (saas), who will free Muslims from a climate of oppression and trouble, who will eliminate the strife on Earth and bring peace, justice, plenty, happiness and well-being to all the world. According to reliable accounts transmitted from our Prophet (saas), the Mahdi will restore the faith, which has been turned away from its true essence with various superstitious beliefs and practices, to that original nature, will meet with the Prophet ‘Isa (as), and will, by Allah’s leave, be a means whereby the moral values of Islam, the one true faith, come to prevail over the whole world.

He Will Be A Fighter

According to what we are told in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), the Mahdi will be a role model for all believers, both with his superior moral values and with his powerful, fighter character:
The Mahdi will be dedicated to his work. (Portents of the Last Day, Barzanji, p. 175)
The Mahdi will perform his duties scrupulously and will not go back on his word. (The Book of Portents of the Mahdi of the End Times, p. 24)
The Mahdi will appear from the East. Even if mountains rise up before him he will crush and cross them, and he will find a path for himself in those mountains. (The Book of Portents of the Awaited Mahdi, p. 39)
He Will Fear Allah

The more a person fears Allah, the closer he draws to Him. That is because fear of Allah brings with it the devotion and love felt for Almighty Allah. As is stated in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), the fear of Allah possessed by the Mahdi will be exceedingly powerful:
Mahdi is a person who, as the shaking of a bird’s wings, has a deep fear for Allah. (The Book of Portents of the Awaited Mahdi of the End Times [Al- Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar], p. 23)
His Maintenance and Observance of the Bounds Set by Allah
Even a word uttered against Islam offends his feelings. (Ibn Hajar Al-Makki, “Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar”, p. 15-75)
He Will Be Virtuous

Almighty Allah has dispatched many emissaries throughout history. It is reported in the Qur’an that the emissaries possess excellent moral values. In the verse, “Indeed you are truly vast in character.” (Surat al-Qalam, 4), it is reported that our Prophet Muhammad (saas) possessed superior moral virtues. As we are told in the hadiths, the Mahdi, a holy envoy of Allah, will also possess this attribute:
Mahdi is extremely submissive towards Allah. In moral terms, he is like the Prophet (saas). (Portents of the Last Day, Barzanji, p.163)
A child of mine whose morality is similar to me will emerge. (Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 21)
He Will Behave Justly
Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Ali Said:
“When the Mahdi from our Ahl al-Bayt emerges, he will distribute the goods equally. He treats the people justly. Whoever submits him, he would submit to Allah. He is named as the Mahdi. That is because He will guide to a secret (unknown) deed.”
(Mer’iy ibn Yusuf ibn Abu Bakr ibn Ahmad ibn Yusuf al-Makhdi, “Faraidu Fawaidil Fikri fi Imamil Mahdi al-Muntadhar”)
Just as how the earth was full of cruelty and injustice, Mahdi will fill it with justice and righteousness. (Ali Ibn Sultan Muhammad al Qaari “Risalat Mashrab al Vardi fi Mazhabi’l Mahdi)

He Will Be Greatly Loved by All

The measure that believers observe in loving someone is that person’s closeness to, love and fear of and devotion to Allah. For that reason, whoever most manifests the titles of our Lord that is the person who is most loved and respected by believers. Indeed, the envoys were people who most manifested the titles of Almighty Allah and who exhibited the highest virtues in terms of faith. Our Prophet (saas) has indicated that the Mahdi will be the best-loved individual of the age during the End Times:
Allah (c.c.) will fill all people’s hearts with his (Mahdi’s) love. (Al-Khavlu’l Mukhtasar Fi Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 42)
No individual who will not be pleased with the ummah of the Muhammad will remain. (Portents of the Last Day, Barzanji, p. 163)
Abu Abdullah Nuaym ibn Hammad related from Abdullah ibn Masud as follows:
Allah will place his [Mahdi’s] love in people’s hearts. This way they will be a community who become lions during the day and spend their nights in worship. (Ukayli “En-Necmu’s-sakıb fi Bayanı Anna’l Mahdi min Avladı Ali ibn Abu Talib Ala’t-Tamam va’l Kamal”)
The people of the earth and heavens, and even the birds in the sky will assent to his caliphate. (Al-Khavlu’l Mukhtasar Fi Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 29)

He Will Be the Most Auspicious of the Time

The world, which will be in a state of chaos in the period when the Mahdi appears, will begin experiencing an enlightened age by means of him. Through him, much that is auspicious will take place. It is reported in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) that the Mahdi will be the most auspicious person of the age:
Join the person who is the most auspicious of the ummah of the Muhammad and your guardian who removes the difficulties…He is the Mahdi. (Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 57)
He will be the most auspicious of his time. (Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 27)
Mahdi is the most auspicious of the people (in his time.) (Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, s. 58) “Mahdi is the most auspicious of people.” (Ali ibn Sultan Muhammad al-Khari al-Hanafi “Risalatul Mashrab alvardi fi mazhabil Mahdi”)
The Power of His Message

The hadiths below concerning the power of the Mahdi’s message are interpreted in different ways in addition to their apparent meanings. One of these interpretations may take this form: By turning to someone who is compared to a dry tree and being a means whereby they come to the truth, the Mahdi will make this person, who was formerly of no use to his surroundings, just like a dry tree, useful to his surroundings, like a tree that has flourished and borne fruit, in other words to his state, nation, faith and all of humanity.

When the Mahdi plants a dry tree, the tree will immediately turn green and sprout. (Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 43)
He (the Mahdi) will plant a dry seed in a dry land, and it will at once turn green and sprout. (Portents of the Last Day, Barzanji, p. 165)
Similarly, it is reported in the hadiths below that someone who was previously ignorant, parsimonious and timid will become generous and courageous in the End Times through the message and teaching of the Mahdi, and that he will change his character, just like a tree that was formerly dry and unproductive flourishing and bearing leaves:
In his age, an ignorant, parsimonious and timid man will immediately become learned, generous and courageous. (Portents of the Last Day, Barzanji, p. 186)
His Wisdom and Power of Understanding

It is reported in the hadiths that the Mahdi will have a special power bestowed on him by Allah:
He is called the Mahdi, for he is the holder of a secret power nobody is able to know. (The Portents of the Mahdi of the End Times, Ali ibn Husamaddin Al Muttakhi, Kahraman Publishing House. p. 77)
Muhyiddin Arabi, one of the great Islamic scholars, has set out in his works nine of the main noteworthy characteristics of the Mahdi:

1. He has foresight
2. He understands the Holy Book
3. He knows the meaning of the verses
4. He knows the condition and actions of the people he will appoint
5. He remains compassionate and just even when angered
6. He knows the classes of entities
7. He knows the hidden sides of matters
8. He has a good understanding of people’s needs
9. He knows the secret knowledge particularly needed in his own time.

He Preserves the Truth in the Face of Oppressors

Hafiz Abu Abdullah Nuaym ibn Hammad has reported from Jafar ibn Yasar A-sami in his book Fiten:
The Mahdi will defend the truth against the oppressors. Indeed, he will extract the molar tooth (anything unjustly held) of a (cruel) person and restore it to its rightful owner. (An-Nacmu’s-Saqib fi Bayanı Anna’l Mahdi min Avladı Ali b. Abu Talib Ale’t-Temam ve’l Qamal)
The Surveillance – Following – of the Mahdi
When the Dajjal appears, a person among the believers (the Mahdi) turns against him. Then, many armed men, those armed men charged with surveillance in Dajjal’s headquarters oppose him. (Muslim, related from v. 11/s. 393)
At the beginning of the hadiths it is reported that the Mahdi will be subjected to surveillance by the supporters of the Dajjal. We also learn from the Qur’an that some prophets struggling on the path of Allah had also been subjected to surveillance in earlier periods, and that the aim had been to thus keep them under control:
He is nothing but a man possessed so wait a while and see what happens to him. (Surat al-Muminun, 25)
He Will Face Troubles and Difficulties

Most of the envoys sent to warn peoples living far removed from religious moral values and to call them to the true path have been rejected by the peoples to whom they were sent and subjected to various false accusations and slanders. We are told in hadiths that the Mahdi, who will be descended from the line of the Prophet (saas), will also encounter such troubles and difficulties. (Allah knows best.)

Our Prophet (saas) stated:
The Mahdi is among us, one from the Ahl al-Bayt…We are such a household that, for us, Allah preferred the Hereafter over this world. After me, my Ahl al-Bayt will surely be subjected to trouble, abduction and banishment.
After me, my Ahl al-Bayt will meet trouble and torment, and be subjected to expulsion. (Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p.14)

…Mahdi will emerge at a time when, one after another, disasters befall people and people lose hope of his appearance. He prays two rakaat. When he returns from the prayer he says: “People! The Ummah of Muhammad and especially his Ahl al-Bayt have undergone many troubles…” (Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 55)

Those troubles befalling the one who is profound and strong in his faith are grand. (Ibn Hibban)
He Will Appear With Sacred Objects

We are told in many hadiths that the Mahdi will emerge from a place where there are sacred objects and that he will be the first person to open these. One of these hadiths reads:
Naim ibn Hammad related from Abu Jaffar;
“Mahdi emerges at the time of night with our Prophet’s banner, shirt, sword, signs, light and beautiful expression.”(Ali Ibn Sultan Muhammad al-Qaari al-Hanafi “Risalat Mashrab al Vardi fi Mazhabi’l Mahdi)
He [the Mahdi] will emerge with the Prophet’s banner. That banner has four edges and is seam-free and its color is black. There exists a ring above it. That banner has not been opened since the time our Prophet passed away and it will be opened when Mahdi emerges. (Portents of the Mahdi of the Akhir Zaman, Ali ibn Husamattin Al Muttaki, p. 22)
He Will Be Grateful to Allah Alone

When we examine the stories of the prophets in the Qur’an we see that they have turned to Allah under all circumstances. We also learn of their sincere devotion to Allah and the love and fear they felt towards Him from the Qur’an. As emphasized in the hadiths below, this characteristic will also be seen in the Mahdi:
“Mahdi is one of us, one of the Ahl-i Bayt. He is a person who does not feel grateful to anyone other than Allah.” (as-Suyuti, al-Havi, 2/24)
There Will Be Black Propaganda about the Mahdi

The supporters of the Dajjal, the enemy of Islam, will blacken the name of the Mahdi in written and verbal media and will attempt to weaken his prestige in the public eye. This is indicated as follows in one of the hadiths:
When that Muslim personage (the Mahdi) sees the Dajjal, he says: “People! This is the Dajjal of whom the Prophet (saas) mentioned.” Dajjal gives his order about him right away and that person is laid upon his stomach and from his back it is said: “Take him and beat him.” Then that person’s back and stomach is broadened by beating. This time he [the Dajjal] grabs him by his two hands and two feet and hurls him. People assume Dajjal throws him into a fire. But in fact he is thrown away to the Garden. (Mahdism and Imamism, Ibrahim Suleymanoglu, p. 40)
We are told in the hadiths that the Mahdi will be broadened by being beaten on his back and stomach. The author of the book says in reference to this section that the Mahdi’s fame will constantly be declared and disseminated. Yet since it is the supporters of the Dajjal who will do this, it may be said that this propaganda will blacken the name of the Mahdi. However, although this may appear to be infelicitous at first sight, it will be a means whereby the Mahdi is recognized and whereby the moral values of Islam are spread.

He Will Be Far from Sight

Naim ibn Hammad reported thus from Abu Jafar:
...At nights he will be engaged in worship while he will be hidden during the day... (Ukayli “An-Najmu’s-sakıb fi Bayanı Anna’l Mahdi min Awladi Ali ibn Abu Talib Ala’t-Tamam va’l kamal”)
He Will Be Supported by Angels

In the majority of stories about the prophets it can be seen that they were always supported by help from Allah in communicating their message of religious moral values or whenever they encountered a difficult situation. In the same way that this assistance might reach the prophets in a moment, or take various forms such as natural phenomena, it also took place with help from angels. In one of the hadiths, our Prophet (saas) has revealed that Allah will help the Mahdi by means of angels:
“Allah (cc) will help him (the Mahdi) by means of three angels. They will beat the faces and backs of those who oppose him (the Mahdi).” (Ikdu’d Durer, p. 12)
He Will Know What is Lawful and Unlawful

Since the Mahdi will possess superior moral virtues and have a powerful fear of Allah, he will know Almighty Allah’s bounds and what is lawful and unlawful:
Hussain was asked:
“By what signs will the Mahdi be known?” He replied: “By his ease of heart and dignity, by his knowing what is lawful and unlawful.” (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr Fi'l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar)
He Will Be Compassionate Towards the Poor

The infinite compassion of Allah is recalled at the end of many verses in the Qur’an. In addition, the Qur’an commands believers to “be one of those who believe and urge each other to steadfastness and urge each other to compassion.” (Surat al-Balad, 17)

Our Almighty Lord’s title of The Most Compassionate of the Compassionate is manifested in all prophets and believers. We are told in one hadiths that the Mahdi will also be exceptionally compassionate:
“His exercising discipline over those working for him, his distribution of goods generously and his being very compassionate towards the poor are the signs of the Mahdi.” Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr Fi'l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar”, Islamic Scholars’ Views about the Mahdi, p. 133, Footnote number: 26, Kopru Publishing House.)
The Mahdi’s sign is his being disciplined on those working for him, his generosity about goods, and his compassion for the oppressed.” (Ukayli “An-Nacmu’s-sakib fi Bayanı Anna’l Mahdi min Avladı Ali b. Abu Talib Ale’t-Tamam va’l Kamal)
He Will Assume All Responsibilities

He assumes all responsibilities and helps the poor and those in need. (M. Muhyiddin Arabi “Futuhat-Al Makkiya”, 366. bab, v. 3, p. 327- 328)

He Will Disappear Twice

The way that the Mahdi will disappear twice appears in this form in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas):
“The one who will fulfill this deed (the Mahdi) will hide twice. One of these will lengthen to such an extent that some of them will say, “He is dead” whereas others will say, “He has gone.” Neither those who love him nor others will know his whereabouts. Only his servant who is very close to him knows his place. (Al-Saa Fi Eshrad-is Saa” p. 93, Egyptian edition.)
He Will Not Declare His Needs

One of the most important characteristics of the Mahdi is that he will not declare his needs:
Hussain was asked:
“By what signs will the Mahdi be known?” He replied: “... People will need of him but he will express his needs to no one.” (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr Fi'l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar”)
He Will Possess Exemplary Virtues

Almighty Allah has sent envoys to issue warnings in all periods, and they have been charged with telling people of the true faith. However, their message was not limited to expounding religious moral values, and they were role models with their behavior and attitudes. The exemplary moral virtues of the Mahdi are reported as follows in one hadith:
Divine superior virtues inspired by Allah reach him. He receives knowledge of the faith and exemplary moral virtue from Allah. (Konavi Risalet-ul Mahdi, p. 161 B)
He Will Know the Science of Numerology
Some of them said this book that has reached maturity is attributed to the appearance of Mahdi who is expected to appear in the End Times. He is very competent of the science of jifr and its secrets. This knowledge is the kind of wisdom that reached from the books endowed to the prophets of the past. (Mahdism and Imamism, Ibrahim Suleymanoglu, p. 252)

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<TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR class=style1 align=middle><TD class=style1 align=left colSpan=2 height=24>IN THE LIGHT OF THE HADITHS OF OUR PROPHET (SAAS), WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN THE END TIMES?

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The Middle East is the most important of the regions referred to by our Prophet (saas) in the context of events that will take place in the end times. Indeed, the majority of the portents described in the hadiths have happened in the Middle East. In addition, there are a great many other accounts from our Prophet (saas) regarding the region. Looked at in general, the common feature of these accounts is that the chaos, strife, and major events in the lands of the Middle East will continue until the appearance of the Mahdi. Throughout history, the Middle East, which includes such cities as Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Damascus, Baghdad, and Istanbul, has been a region in which the holy prophets of Allah have lived, one which witnessed the birth of the three monotheistic religions, and a holy region in which the sacred sites of all three religions were built. It is reported in hadiths that a region that has always played a leading role on the stage of history will also come to the fore in the end times, when glorious events will take place.

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=500 align=center summary="" border=1><TBODY><TR><TD>The Middle East, which includes such countries as present-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and parts of Turkey, has been enormously valuable throughout history, both in terms of its strategic location and material wealth and also because of its spiritual aspect and importance for the three monotheistic religions.

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By the leave of Allah, our Prophet (saas) has described the portents of the End Times in considerable detail in the hadiths. According to the information contained in these, following the chaos and corruption that will constitute the first stage of the End Times, Almighty Allah will make one of His servants who bears the illustrious name of the Mahdi (he who leads to the truth) a means whereby societies that have turned away from proper moral values and suffered degeneration return to the true path. The Mahdi will collect the Islamic world under the same roof and will be the reason for dominance of the values of the Qur’an all over the world by serving with ‘Isa (as) who will return to the Earth for the second time. By the will of Allah, the time when these glad tidings will become a reality is close at hand. Believers are waiting for those days, which will be one of the most special and the most glorious periods in the history of the world, with great joy and excitement.

If events that are currently taking place are carefully analyzed and evaluated in the light of verses from the Qur’an and the hadiths, it will be seen that the first stage of the End Times has already begun. The increasing war and conflict, terror, violence, anarchy and chaos, killing, torture, and moral degeneration are just a few of the portents revealed in the hadiths.

At the same time, this state of affairs is an encouragement to all believers to reflect deeply on the portents of the End Times revealed in the hadiths and to carry out detailed investigations into the subject.
In this article, we shall be discussing a region that is frequently mentioned in the hadiths about the End Times and an area that will come to the fore in a most striking manner in events to take place in the future, in other words, the MIDDLE EAST.

According to the information in the hadiths, this region known as the Middle East will witness many events before the coming of Prophet ‘Isa (as) and the appearance of the Mahdi. Indeed, it also appears from the hadiths that a great many developments will take place in these lands after the appearance of these two holy individuals. On the other hand, the Middle East has always played host to significant events, and is a special region that has been an important centre for the revealed religions and is home to a great many prophets. In the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) there are also indications that, as in the past, the region will be an important centre in the End Times. (Allah knows the truth.)

The Middle East Has Been an Important Centre in Many Regards throughout the Course of History

The Middle East, which includes such countries as present-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and parts of Turkey, has been enormously valuable throughout history, both in terms of its strategic location and material wealth and also because of its spiritual aspect and importance for the three monotheistic religions.

For example, the fact that some two-thirds (65.3%) of the world’s oil reserves and a little more than one third (36.1%) of the world’s known natural gas reserves are in the Middle East, is an indication why the region is so financially important. Because of this attractiveness, it has witnessed many wars, struggles, and power games.

When we look at the region’s past, another important fact we encounter is that the area known as the Middle East contains a number of cities that have always been in the eyes of the world. One of the most striking examples of this is Jerusalem. This city, of such great spiritual importance, has witnessed a great many wars and has been ruled by many different administrations. Recently, Jerusalem is on the world public agenda. The city, of such importance to the three monotheistic religions, also acquires a whole new significance in this regard.

Another important example is the city of Constantinople, or Istanbul as it is known today. This valuable city, which so many states wished to possess over the course of history, was eventually captured by the Ottomans. It remained the centre of government for the Ottoman Empire, which is still talked about today because of the positive effects it has had on a number of world states, for around 500 years; Istanbul still maintains its historic mission today, with its geographical and strategic importance and also its historical and cultural legacy. In addition, the fact that the caliphate, by which the Ottomans were the standard-bearers of the Islamic world for centuries, finally ended up in this city and that the sacred relics, determined as an indication of where the Mahdi will appear, are also in the city increases its importance still further. It is also stated in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) that Istanbul will witness other great events in the End Times.

Another important centre in the Middle East is that generally referred to as Sham in the hadiths and is the region that includes, by its etymological meaning, the cities of Mecca and Medina. As we know, millions of Muslims visit the region every year to fulfill the obligation of the Hajj and to see the holy lands in which our Prophet (saas) lived. We may say, in the light of the hadiths, that this region, the symbol and centre of Islam, will play an important role in the End Times.

Again considering the Middle East in general terms, the region is one in which many holy emissaries of the Almighty Allah have lived and communicated our Lord’s commands. Many centers of worship sacred to Muslims, Jews, and Christians are also to be found here. In addition, these sacred spots, in which the holy emissaries preached Allah’s message, also witnessed many miraculous events in the past. As in the past, this region will be a very important centre in the End Times, which may be described as the glorious period in world history. (Allah knows the truth.) Indeed, the eyes of the world today are on the significant developments taking place in the area. Both the Great Middle East Project and the region of the Iraq War constantly represent the world public agenda.

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=500 align=center summary="" border=1><TBODY><TR><TD>The Prophet Muhammad (saas) was born in Mecca, and the Holy Qur’an was also revealed to him there. The knowledge of secret matters imparted to our Prophet (saas) by Allah are some of his greatest miracles, and some of this information, which has come down to us by way of the hadiths, concerns events that will take place in the End Times. Indeed, when we look at the period we are living in, it is clear that the events in question have taken place and are still taking place in our own time.

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THE MIDDLE EAST: Home of the Prophets

When we look at the information concerning the prophets in the Qur’an we see that the great majority of them began communicating their message in the region known as the Middle East. This has led to the region also being known as the home of the prophets. This region where many prophets lived, where they were guided to the true path and witnessed many miracles is now home to many people in the modern days.

The following is to briefly review some of the events related to the prophets:
- Prophet Nuh (as) communicated his message to the people in the area known as Mesopotamia. The Ark that Allah commanded him to build came to rest on Mount Cudi, in the same region, following the Flood.

- Prophet Ibrahim (as) began building the Kaaba in the city of Mecca, together with his son, Prophet Isma’il, (as) at Allah’s command. The people wanted to kill Prophet Ibrahim (as) by throwing him into the fire, but the Almighty Allah commanded the fire to turn cold.

- Prophet Lut (as), who lived in the same period as Prophet Ibrahim (as), communicated his message to the people living near the present-day Lake Lut, otherwise known as the Dead Sea. These people, who had no faith and who continued to do things that Allah had forbidden them, were destroyed by Him, and our Lord made this destruction a deterrent lesson for people of all times.

- The people of Israel, who left Egypt with Prophet Musa (as) and lived for a time as nomads, adopted a settled way of life in Jerusalem in the time of Prophet Dawud (as).

- After Prophet Dawud (as), Prophet Sulayman (as) built one of the most magnificent buildings in the history of the world, the Temple of Sulayman, in Jerusalem. The fact that jinns and devils were placed at his command, the way he spoke with birds and other animals, and the way he commanded copper and the wind are some miracles of Prophet Sulayman (as); they are blessings from our Lord which people witnessed in Prophet Sulayman (as).

- Prophet ‘Isa (as) was born in Nazareth, an area close to Jerusalem. He preached his message in this region and performed many miracles through the special knowledge imparted to him by Allah. It is similarly revealed in the hadiths that Prophet ‘Isa’s (as) return to Earth will take place in this region.

- The Prophet Muhammad (saas) was born in Mecca, and the Holy Qur’an was also revealed to him there. The knowledge of secret matters imparted to our Prophet (saas) by Allah are some of his greatest miracles, and some of this information, which has come down to us by way of the hadiths, concerns events that will take place in the End Times. Indeed, when we look at the period we are living in, it is clear that the events in question have taken place and are still taking place in our own time.

The Portents of the Start of the End Times Have Manifested Themselves in the Middle East

As was stated at the beginning of this article, the End Times are described in considerable detail in the hadiths. Sometimes information has been provided as to where events will take place, and sometimes a specific time or date has been given. When these signs are closely monitored, it can be seen that the Middle East is the region where just about all of these special events will materialize. Some of the events that the hadiths tell us will occur before the appearance of Prophet ‘Isa (as) and the Mahdi; they are as follows:

The Iran-Iraq War

One hadith describes a major war that will be waged in the End Times:
A people will come from the direction of Faris (Iran), and will say: ‘O, Arabians! You have become too fanatical! If you do not recognize their rights properly, nobody will unite with you … One day let it be given to you, and one day to them, and let these mutual promises be kept…’ They will go to Mutik (the name of a mountain in the region), and Muslims will descend from there to Yazi (the Iranian Plain) … The polytheists will stand on the other side by the banks of the pitch black river known as the Rakabe (an area rich in oil wells) … There will be war between them: Allah will withhold the victory from both armies. (Portents of Doomsday, Barzanji, p. 179)

Let us consider the details of the hadith:
- Who will come from the direction of Faris? Who will come from Iran?
- Faris: Iran, Iranian
- They will descend to Yazi: The Iranian Plain
- Mutik: The name of a mountain in the region
- Rakabe: A region with many oil wells
Allah will withhold the victory from both armies...
As this hadith indicates, the Iran-Iraq War lasted for eight years and cost many thousands of lives, though it produced no definitive result. Neither side was able to impose a definite superiority.

The Invasion of Afghanistan
It is a great sorrow for Talikan (Afghanistan). It is certain that Allah has treasures there that are not of gold and silver. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p. 59)

The hadith indicates that Afghanistan will be occupied in the End Times. Indeed, the Russian invasion of Afghanistan took place in 1979, or Hijri 1400; to put it another way, this came at the beginning of the 14th century according to the Hijri calendar.

Treasures there that are not of gold and silver...
This part of the description refers to the mineral wealth of Afghanistan. Large oil beds, iron reserves, and coal mines that have not been worked for various reasons have today been identified in Afghanistan.

The Attack on and Shedding of Blood in the Kaaba
The year when he appears, people will go on the Hajj with no leader at their head … They will head for the Kaaba together, then when they descend to Mine they will attack one another like dogs, pilgrims will be robbed, and blood will flow over the Jemre road. (Portents of Doomsday, Berzenci, p. 168-169)

By the expression, “The year when he appears…” in this hadith, it draws attention to the fact that there will be a massacre during the Hajj when the Mahdi appears. Such a massacre took place in 1979 in the attack on the Kaaba during the Hajj. This bloody attack on the Kaaba took place at the beginning of the period of the beginning of the End Times and when other portents of the coming of the Mahdi occurred. In other words, this occurred on 1 Muharrem 1400, on the first day of 1400 according to the Hijri calendar.

The Stopping of the Waters of the Euphrates
Among the portents of the Mahdi is the stopping of the waters of the Euphrates. Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p. 39)

Indeed, the Keban Dam did stop the flow of the waters of the River Euphrates.
The prophet of Allah (saas) said: Doomsday will not come until a mountain of gold arises from the waters of the River Euphrates… (3) (Riyazu’s Salihin, 3/332)

The Keban Dam and other dams constructed on the River Euphrates are reminiscent of giant mountains. These dams produce wealth worth that of gold (from the mountain, according to the analogy in the hadith). Therefore, these dams are like “a mountain of gold.” (Allah knows the truth.) In addition, it was recently established using satellites that there are gold beds under the River Euphrates, which may be pointing to another meaning in the hadith. (Allah knows the truth.)

The Killing of Rulers in Sham and Egypt

Before that, rulers in Sham and Egypt will be killed… (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar p. 49)
This hadith refers to the killing of rulers in Sham and Egypt before the coming of the Mahdi. When the recent history of Egypt is examined, it can be seen that a ruler was indeed killed, just as reported in the hadith. Enver Sadat, who assumed power in Egypt in 1970 and remained in power for 11 years, was assassinated during an official march-past in 1981.

Current Events in the Middle East Confirm the Hadiths

When one looks at recent developments in the Middle East, one can see a close compatibility with the accounts given in the hadiths. The most striking example in this regard is the Iraq War and the events, in the region, that accompany it. We wish to make it clear at this point that the disagreements, wars, torture, and slaughter in the region will come to an end with the appearance of the Mahdi, and that with the return of Prophet ‘Isa (as), Qur’anic moral values will, by Allah’s leave, prevail all over the world. The days when injustice will be replaced by truth and justice, torture and war will be replaced by peace and tolerance, and perverted and atheistic ideologies will be replaced by Islam marks the point when the true religion of Islam will be very close at hand. Some hadiths that refer to developments that have taken place in the region over recent years read as follows:

The Destruction of Baghdad by Fire

In the End Times Baghdad will be destroyed by flames... (Risalat al-Khuruj al-Mahdi, vol. 3, p. 177)
From the first day of the Iraq war in 2003, Baghdad was a city exposed to the heaviest bombing, which caused the city to burn at night just as described in the hadith. Images of Baghdad in newspaper and television reports are totally compatible with the burning described in the above hadith.

Chaos in Sham, Iraq, and Arabia

The Prophet (saas) said: “…There will be such troubles and calamities that nobody will have a place to shelter from them. These calamities will travel around Sham and settle over Iraq. They will bind the Arabian Peninsula…As they attempt to eliminate these calamities in one place they will arise again in another. (Kenzul Ummal, Book of Some Thoughts on Doomsday, Vol. 5, p. 38-39)

The Restructuring of Iraq

...Doomsday will not take place until Iraq is attacked. And innocent people will seek places to shelter in Sham. Sham will be reconstructed and Iraq will be reconstructed. (Kenzul Ummal, Book of Some Thoughts on Doomsday, Vol. 5, p. 254)

The hadith points to the restructuring of Iraq. A great many Iraqi cities were devastated, first in the Iran-Iraq War, then in the Gulf War, and finally in the Iraq War of 2003. The effects of the looting that took place after this war also made the restructuring of the country, which had been completely ruined, essential.

The Division of Iraq into Three Parts

The people of Iraq will be divided into three groups. One part will join the looters. One part will leave their families behind and flee. One part will fight and be killed. Prepare yourselves for doomsday when you see this. (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr Fi'l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar)

According to the information provided in this hadith, one part of the people will join the “looters.” Major acts of looting, taking advantage of the authority vacuum, were indeed experienced in Iraq. The hadith also relates how another part of the people will prefer to flee at once, unable even to consider the families they leave behind. Newspaper reports on this subject are noteworthy. A third part of the people, we are told, will join in the fighting and be killed. During the Iraq War, some people did join in the clashes in various regions and lost their lives.

Future Developments in the Middle East in the Light of the Hadiths

It is clear that the great majority of the portents that our Prophet (saas) tells us will take place in the Middle East, and that the End Times have already come about. There are also many other accounts from our Prophet (saas) concerning this region. Looked at in general, the striking point about these is that chaos, strife, and major events will continue until the appearance of the Mahdi. One of the hadiths in question states as follows:

As the strife calms down in one place in Sham, it will rise up in another. The strife will not end until angels calls out from the sky “The Mahdi is your leader. The Mahdi is your caliph. (Mustafa Resit Filizi, Treatise on the Coming of the Mahdi, p. 63)

It appears from the hadith that there will be terrible chaos in Sham before the coming of the Mahdi, who will appear on Earth together with Prophet ‘Isa (as). As has already been mentioned, the word “Sham” in Arabic means “left,” and has been used since very early times to refer to those countries to the left of the Hijaz region (the region containing the cities of Mecca and Medina). Therefore, this hadith is indicating that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East region will sometimes die down and sometimes flare up again, and that it will only come to a complete end with the appearance of the Mahdi. (Allah knows the truth.)

The events that will be experienced in the Middle East will not consist of chaos, conflict, and war alone. Following his appearance, the Mahdi will unite the great majority of the countries in this region and be a means whereby a very powerful economic and political union is established. The Mahdi will meet with Prophet ‘Isa (as) in this region and they will pray together. The Mahdi will unearth the Ark of the Covenant and the sacred relics. We may say, in the light of hadiths and of accounts by Islamic scholars, that a great many landmark events in the history of the world will take place in this region. (Allah knows the truth.) Some hadiths that refer to the events in question read:

The Coming of Prophet ‘Isa (as)

Allah will send ‘Isa (as) son of Maryam to Earth. He will descend with two angels wearing two beautiful garments in his palms to the white minaret in the east of Sham. (Tirmidhi, Fitan, p. 59)
Later, Prophet ‘Isa (as) will descend to the white minaret in the east of Damascus (Sham). The imam will withdraw, and Prophet ‘Isa (as) will go to the fore and lead the people in prayer.
(Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, The Conquests of Mecca, 366. Vol. 3, p. 327)

The Appearance of the Mahdi

An army bearing black standards will appear from the east, … when you see them, swear loyalty at once, even if you have to crawl over snow!” he said. “Because that is the Mahdi, the caliph of Allah.” (Ibn Majah; The Book of Strife, 4084)

The Swearing of Allegiance to the Mahdi

The caliphate will then come to the Mahdi, the most auspicious person on Earth, as he sits at home. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman p. 26)
Allegiance will be sworn to him between the Pillar and the Stone… (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 42)
The Mahdi will sit between the Pillar and the Stone and will accept oaths of allegiance by stretching out his hand. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 39-40)

The Migration of the Mahdi

He will migrate to Jerusalem. After this emigration Medina will be destroyed and be the home of wild people. (Portents of Doomsday, Barzanji, p. 162)

They will wage war against the army of the Sufyan, but the Sufyan will be victorious. The Hashimite will flee. Shuaib bin Salih will hide and come to Jerusalem, and when the Mahdi reaches Sham he will prepare a house for him in Jerusalem. (Nuaym bin Hammad, Book of Strife, p. 57)
According to Nuaym, reported from Selman b. Isa: “The Mahdi will remain 14 years in Jerusalem… (Yusuf el-Makdisi, Fera Idu Fevaidi’l Fikr Fi’l Imam El-Mahdi El-Muntazar)

The Mahdi Will Unearth the Ark of the Covenant

He will unearth the Ark of the Covenant in the Antioch cave. He will unearth the true Torah from the mountain in Sham, and at this he will debate with the Jews and many Jews will become Muslims. (Treatise on the Coming of the Mahdi, p. 124-125)

The Mahdi will bring forth the Ark of the Covenant from the Lake of Tiberius. (Iqd al-Durar fi Akbar al-Imam al-Muntadhar, by Shaikh Jamaluddin Yusuf al-Damishqi, p. 51-)

The reason why he is known as the Mahdi is that he shows the path of a secret thing. He will unearth the Ark of the Covenant from a place known as Antioch. (Suyuti, al-Hawi li’l Fatawa, II, 82)

The Mahdi Will Create an Islamic Union

That individual’s (the Mahdi’s) third duty will be to join forces with Christian spiritual leaders and serve Islam by building a caliphate of Islam, an Islamic Union. (To unite Islamic society and make an alliance with the Christian world) (Book of Hidden Things, p. 9, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi)

The Appearance of the Mahdi with Sacred Relics

The Mahdi will appear in the evening time with the banner, shirt, sword, signs, light and pleasant speech of our Prophet (saas). (Ali b. Sultan Muhammed el- Kari el-Hanefi, ‘Risaletül Meşreb elverdi fi mezhebül Mahdi’)

He will produce the treasures of Jerusalem, the Ark of the Covenant, the table of the People of Israel and the tablets, the jacket of Prophet Adem (as), the staff of the Prophet Sulayman (as) and the milk-white gloves sent by Allah to the People of Israel.” (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 33)

The Mahdi’s spiritual capture of Istanbul

Allah will capture Constantinople (Istanbul) by the hand of His beloved friends … He will lift sickness and sorrow from them. (Portents of Doomsday, p. 181)
Countries will pass under his command. Allah will favor him with the capture of Constantinople. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p. 56)
It is reported from Ibni Amr that; Our Prophet (saas) said: O People! There are six things without which doomsday will not come … (the sixth is) the capture of the city.
- Which city? He was asked
Constantinople, he replied.
(*) This is the capture of Constantinople by the Mahdi. (Portents of Doomsday, 204, Ramuz-el Ehadis, 296)

The Appearance of the Dajjal

According to Abu Huraira, the Prophet (saas) said:
… The Dajjal will appear when they come to the land of Sham (Jerusalem). (Muslim, Strife, p. 34)
The Prayer to Be Performed by Prophet ‘Isa (as) and the Mahdi
The call is read for the morning prayer. At that point ‘Isa (as) son of Maryam will descend. The Mahdi will suggest he serve as imam. But he will point to the Mahdi.” (Muslim, Strife, p. 34)
In İmam Ebu Amr Osman b. Said El-Makarri’s “The Sunna:” according to a report by Jabir b. Abdullah, the Prophet (saas) said:
A group from my community will always wage war for the truth. Finally ‘Isa (as) son of Maryam will appear in Jerusalem at dawn. They will say to him: “O Prophet of Allah! Come to the fore and lead us in prayer.” He will reply: “This is such a community that some are appointed over others.”(Al-Uqayli, An-Najmu's-saqib fi Bayan Anna'l Mahdi min Awladi Ali b. Abu Talib Ale't-Tamam ve'l Qamal)

The Prophet ‘Isa (as) Will Destroy the Dajjal

…The Prophet ‘Isa (as) wishes to catch him. He finally catches and destroys him at the Gate of the city of Lut (Palestine).(Ibn Majah, Strife, p. 33)

Ebu Hureyre relates: The Prophet (saas) of Allah said: “… When the enemy of Allah (the Dajjal) sees Prophet ‘Isa (as) he will dissolve like salt dissolves in water. If let to himself he will dissolve until he is destroyed. However, Allah will kill him with his mighty hand, so that he will show them the blood on his spear. (Muslim, Strife, p. 34)

As it is clear from the above hadiths, different sources are in agreement on the same region. In all the hadith sources and the works of Islamic scholars, the common location indicated in the End Times is the Middle East. Jewish and Christian sources also confirm this.

There are a great many regions that can all be considered important from various points of view; however, there is only this particular region emphasized in all these sources. That fact is that the Middle East region, which contains cities so frequently referred to in the hadiths concerning the End Times, is a holy one in which the holy prophets of Allah have lived throughout the course of history. This region has witnessed the birth of the three monotheistic religions and, it is the location of constructed sites sacred to those three religions. It would seem, in the light of the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), that a region which has played such an important role on the stage of history will continue to maintain its importance in the End Times, when such momentous events will take place. One of the duties befalling us, witnesses to the End Times that have already begun, must be to impart these joyous tidings to all Muslims and to all humanity.

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=500 align=center summary="" border=1><TBODY><TR><TD>The events that will be experienced in the Middle East will not consist of chaos, conflict, and war alone. Following his appearance, the Mahdi will unite the great majority of the countries in this region and be a means whereby a very powerful economic and political union is established. The Mahdi will meet with the Prophet Isa in this region and they will pray together. The Mahdi will unearth the Ark of the Covenant and the sacred relics. We may say, in the light of hadiths and of accounts by Islamic scholars that a great many landmark events in the history of the world will take place in this region. (Allah knows best.)

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A NEW AGE IN WORLD HISTORY IS DAWNING
By Allah’s leave, all the peoples of the world will soon witness the dawning of a new age. This age will be the GOLDEN AGE, when Qur’anic moral values prevail over the whole world, and thanks to which all forms of trouble, difficulty, and suffering will be replaced by peace, security, and abundance. Almighty Allah has imparted these glad tidings to His servants in the Qur’an:
Allah has promised those of you who believe and do right actions that He will make them successors in the land as He made those before them successors, and will firmly establish for them their religion with which He is pleased and give them, in place of their fear, security. 'They worship Me, not associating anything with Me.' Any who disbelieve after that, such people are deviators. (Surat al-Nur: 55)

All the troubles currently being experienced in the world are actually the heralds of this new age. All believers must remind one another of these glad tidings with great enthusiasm and excitement.

THE MIDDLE EAST IN BRIEF
The Permanent Commission on Geographical Names in Britain determined the concept of the Middle East to include Turkey, Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, the Gulf region, Iran, and Iraq. Thus, the region stretching from the Bosphorus to the eastern shores of India, was named the Middle East in the early 20th century. (Roderic H. Davison, “Where Is The Middle East?”, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 38, New York 1959-1960. p. 669-671)

The name Jerusalem was first mentioned in a series of Akkadian documents written in cuneiform and discovered at El Amarna in Egypt. In these six tablets, which date back to around 1500 BC, reference is made to the city state of Ershalem (or Urshalem) in the region of Canaan. One of the Hebrew names for the city in subsequent years would be Yerushalem/Jerusalem. These names point to the same root in Akkadian and Hebrew (as well as in Arabic), which are both Semitic languages: slm, in other words, peace.

Jerusalem is the third holy city in Islamic belief after Mecca and Medina. Its full name is Kudus’us-Sherif (Blessed Kudus).
Jerusalem is a holy city in Islam both because it is a city in which prophets lived and also from the point of view of its being the first direction turned to by Muslims in prayer in the Age of Happiness. As we know, this was changed at Allah’s command (Surat al-Baqara: 144) to the mosque surrounding the Kaaba in Mecca (Masjid al-Haram) after the Hegira.

The following statement appears in the Holy Qur’an in reference to the return to Egypt of the Prophet Musa (as):

When Musa had fulfilled the appointed term and had set off with his family, he noticed a fire from one side of the Mount. He said to his family, ‘Stay here, I can see a fire. Hopefully I will bring you back some news from it or a burning branch from the fire so that you will be able to warm yourselves. But when he reached it a voice called out to him from the right hand side of the valley in the part which was full of blessing, from out of the bush: ‘Musa, I am Allah, the Lord of all the worlds’ (Surat al-Qasas: 29-30)

The holy region containing the Mountain Tur and valley indicated here is in Palestine.

One of the most important and valuable holy relics in Topkapı Palace, in Istanbul, is the banner of our Prophet Muhammad (saas), known as Ukab. This was brought to Istanbul with the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Sultan Selim the Stern. We are told in hadiths that it has never been unfurled since the death of our Prophet (saas) but that it will be opened up by the Mahdi in the End Times.

The present-day city of Istanbul took the name Constantinople after the Roman emperor Constantine in 325 AD.
The Ark of the Covenant is a valuable chest revealed in the Qur’an by our Almighty Lord and containing items belonging to Prophet Musa (as) and Prophet Harun (as). According to Islamic scholars, the most important feature of the Ark is that its whereabouts have been unknown since 587 BC, and scholars agree that it will be found by the Mahdi when he appears in the End Times. (Allah knows the truth.)

“Lake Tiberias,” which appears in the hadiths is regarded as a comparative term by Islamic scholars. Tiberias is near Sham, and Sham, in the accounts of those hadiths concerning the End Times, is a far-off place, and also bears the meaning of being far from Mecca and Madina. This comparison also applies to Tiberias. Indeed, based on this, some commentators and researchers have concluded that the Ark may be in Jerusalem, in Mecca, in Tiberias, or in Hatay, and it also points to it being in Istanbul.

The Kaaba is around 13 meters (42.65 ft) high, 12 meters (39.65 ft) wide and 11 meters (36.09 ft) deep. The Kaaba, in the direction of which all Muslims face in prayer, is the first holy place of worship built on Earth. It is also known as the Baituallah (the House of Allah) and the Ancient House. Almighty Allah states in the Qur’an: The first House established for humanity was that at Bakka, a place of blessing and a guidance for all beings. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 96)

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[Abu Bakr as-Somali]

Another important centre in the Middle East is that generally referred to as Sham in the hadiths and is the region that includes, by its etymological meaning, the cities of Mecca and Medina. As we know, millions of Muslims visit the region every year to fulfill the obligation of the Hajj and to see the holy lands in which our Prophet (saas) lived. We may say, in the light of the hadiths, that this region, the symbol and centre of Islam, will play an important role in the End Times.


Makkah and Madinah are Hijaaz and yes SHaam is taken from left just as Yemen is taken from right (Yameen).

[Aslim Taslam]

Muhammed Hassan talks about the end of times in these youtube videos,with english subtitles:

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1.1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjj1lv8FfwM&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjj1lv8FfwM&feature=related)

1.2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJR-DBJVjUQ&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJR-DBJVjUQ&feature=related)

1.3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC4sowFPvaM&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC4sowFPvaM&feature=related)

1.4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ef8-aisQCU&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ef8-aisQCU&feature=related)

1.5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66eD_uvkrwk&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66eD_uvkrwk&feature=related)

1.6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAtZ6Bjk0k4&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAtZ6Bjk0k4&feature=related)
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2.1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeK-HgzYrRM&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeK-HgzYrRM&feature=related)

2.2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyM0cr0c5EI&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyM0cr0c5EI&feature=related)

2.3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8OjrfDq1xU&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8OjrfDq1xU&feature=related)

2.4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTrraqh6gW0&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTrraqh6gW0&feature=related)

2.5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-L_nAhN24E&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-L_nAhN24E&feature=related)

2.6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mySKybjSum4&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mySKybjSum4&feature=related)</TD></TR><TR><TD class=genmed vAlign=bottom height=40>
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[1travellingstranger]

According to the features of the End Times (the final period before doomsday) revealed in detail in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), the End Times will consist of two separate periods. The first period in this blessed age will be one of corruption, degeneration, disasters, conflict, war and poverty. The second part of the End Times, on the other hand, will be one when, with the Prophet Isa’s (as) return to Earth and the appearance of the Mahdi, peace, security and freedom will reign on Earth, when there is abundance and prosperity, and when there are all kinds of joys that people will delight in. We therefore need to think of the End Times as a whole and to be aware that, in the light of the glad tidings imparted by our Prophet (saas), the catastrophes in the first phase will later be followed by great beauty. It would be wrong, when referring to the End Times, to recall solely to the difficulties, scarcity and disasters that are all portents of this period without also recalling that all this darkness will also eventually turn into light. Because as revealed by our Lord in the Qur’an, “For truly with hardship comes ease” Surat al-Inshirah, 5). By the will of Allah, in the End Times scarcity will be replaced by abundance, and troubles by well-being, and all problems will be resolved.

The Unseen Reported by Our Prophet (saas)

.


may i have the footnotes please :)

[Abdullah ibn Adam]

As expected, yet another series of articles full of distortions, misinterpretations, and jumping to conclusions. And also plenty of weak and fabricated narrations which themselves have been further distorted...

Believe me, it is much safer to simply refer to the books written by trustworthy ulama who refer to the authentic sources on this topic.

Harun Yahya, despite his great efforts in many fields, is not an 'alim, and whenever he talks about anything to do with the religion, his work is full of mistakes and confusion. He himself has a very doubtful aqidah by the looks of it, with his quoting the likes of Ibn 'Arabi etc...

[William Wurkmun Fosterr]

I believe that we all have to work together and cooperate with each other to solve our problems and effect good. ...rather than depend on one person, be he mahdi or messiah.

[muhammad1]

bismillahir rehmanir raheem
asalalamo alaykum wr wbr
Mr <TABLE cellSpacing=6 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD noWrap>ahmetsecer (http://forums.islamicawakening.com/member.php?u=3962) http://forums.islamicawakening.com/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> vbmenu_register("postmenu_147072", true); </SCRIPT>

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You wrote
"The Invasion of Afghanistan
It is a great sorrow for Talikan (Afghanistan). It is certain that Allah has treasures there that are not of gold and silver. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p. 59)"
Its a great pity and also sin to write incomplete hadith. The complete hadith is actually
Pity poor Taliqan (a region in Afghanistan</ST1></ST1>) that at that place are treasures of Allah, but these are not of gold and silver but consist of people who have recognised Allah as they should have. Reference :Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-zaman, p.59

So there are no material tresures but the treasure is of Good Muslims living there

asalamo alaykum

[kamals]

As expected, yet another series of articles full of distortions, misinterpretations, and jumping to conclusions...

Harun Yahya, despite his great efforts in many fields, is not an 'alim..


Wa salam,

Sahih. And I understand the need to direct people to better materials..

Now instead of complaining would you kindly well mind doing better?

To moot: I am SICK of people doing this, pointing out other people's real flaws but not doing anything else useful than complain on-line. Harun Yahya is a man who has undergone persecution by the Turkish government for the sake of the Din, my anger with this must kept in bounds...

Stop complaining, vie with him in good deeds. So get out there, acquire knowledge, and share it with us. Really. Or just shut up. Really.

The Ummah is on fire and people run around pointing out the flaws in each other's aqida. I MYSELF do not care for Harun Yahya's works... but the brother tries hard. He is not a scholar, he has some problems in his material, and frankly he and the brothers assisting him are working under real odds trying to get something out.

So do the same. Or just shut up. No insult meant, I give myself the same advice..

Use your knowledge of the truth to spread it, the world's on bloody fire to degrees exceeding the nightmares of so many people, Allah reward you for your fikr now DO SOMETHING.

[Nu7]

Akhi Kamals you need to calm down. You do not know what brother ibn Adam has done for the ummah, so please, let us all calm down and stop assuming we have everything figured out.

['Abd al-Kareem]

Kamals, I read your post, with the quote of our bro 'Abdullah, and I realized you were speaking sense albeit in a harsh manner. Then I scrolled up and read his actual post and noticed that you didn't quote his entire post. Please next time put some sort of noticeable sign that you cut parts out. Usually it's a ... before and a ... after, or a line with just ... to indicate you cut some parts out. I notice you did put ... but it is not apparent that you cut off the other bits.

Do you think he was being unfair? He said it is safer to refer to the 'ulemaa` when it comes to these topics, rather than a person who is not a scholar, his 'aqeedah is questionable, and his books are full of mistakes and lead to confusion. What's wrong with that?

I used to read some of Harun Yahya's stuff especially about the end of times. But who gives a laymen the right to write books about that, come on...

I can honestly say I definitely was confused because later on I found out that many of the things I believed about the end of times were based on weak narrations or even worse, the interpretation of some laymen...