The Islamic Antichrist (35 page)

At the Prophet Muhammad’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) advice, some Muslims exposed to oppression and intimidation from the idolaters of Mecca sought shelter with King Najashi of Ethiopia. They developed a model of co-existence with Jews living in Medina that would represent a model for all subsequent generations. There are accounts of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) attending wedding feasts of the People of the Book and extending hospitality to them. When the Najran Christians visited, the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) spread his woolen garment out for them to sit on. Our Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) marriage with Mariye (or Maryam), an Egyptian Christian, is another example of that attitude. Following the death of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), Muslims’ virtuous attitudes toward the People of the Book were based on the stipulations in the Qur’an and the tolerance that the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) extended to these communities throughout his life.

The Christian belief in the Trinity needs to be changed. There is one God. And the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is Allah’s servant. His moral values make him a superior and holy servant, but one who still has to eat, drink, and sleep, and who has other physical, humanly needs. According to the idea of the Trinity, there is God the Father, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), and the Holy Ghost. But Christians only pray to Jesus (pbuh). Why do they avoid praying to Allah? Why do they not pray to the Holy Ghost? If there are three deities (surely Allah is beyond that), why do they not pray to them all at once? There is obviously an error and illogicality in this belief. But it is the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) who will correct that error. When the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) returns to Earth, he will tell Christians the truth and direct them towards the true faith.

Do you agree with these other Muslim authors, jurists, and scholars that under the rule of the Mahdi and Jesus, Christians and Jews will face the option of converting to Islam or death?

The system of Hazrat Mahdi (as) is a well-intentioned and rational one based on human love, respect, and compassion. There are hundreds of completely trustworthy hadiths about the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and the return of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), but not a single one says that blood will be shed during the time of the Mahdi. If anyone suggests such a thing, they are in error and have misinterpreted the hadiths and other accounts. One of Hazrat Mahdi’s (pbuh) distinguishing characteristics is that he will cause religious morals to prevail by means of peace and love. The hadiths say that in the time of the Mahdi, nobody’s nose will even bleed, and that the sleeper will not be wakened:

Those who swear allegience to him (Hazrat Mahdi) will do so between the Pilar and the Rock (near the Kaaba). He will not waken the sleeper, and will never shed blood. (al-Haytamî, Al-Qawl Mukhtasar fi Alamat-al Mahdi al-Muntazar, 24).

People will swarm around Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) like bees round their keeper. He will fill the world with justice, where before it was full of oppression. So great will be his justice that nobody who is sleeping will be awakened, and not even a drop of blood will be spilled… (Al-Qawl Mukhtasar fi Alamat-al Mahdi al-Muntazar, 29, 48)

It is also narrated that justice, peace, and love will rule the world after the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and the Prophet Jesus (pbuh):

He will eliminate hatred and enmity…he will fill the world with peace like a bowl with water. There will be religious unity and none but Allah will be worshipped. War will set aside its burden. (Sunan Ibn Majah, 10/334)

No enmity will remain between anyone. And all enmity, conflict and disputes will vanish. (Imam Sha’rani,
Death-Doomsday—The Hereafter and the Portents of the End Times
, 496)

As noted in the expression “war will set aside its burden,” all forms of violence, oppression, tyranny, and conflict will come to an end in his time.

If the day ever comes that the Mahdi and Jesus are here on earth, I will not convert to Islam. Will there be any other option for myself other than death? And what would be the purpose of abolishing the jizyah, if not to eliminate the option of being a protected dhimmi?

When Hazrat Mahdi and the Prophet Jesus (peace be upon them) come, they will tell people of the existing errors in Christianity. If someone comes and says, “I am the son of Allah” (Allah is beyond that), we must follow the course of that person’s destiny. It is impossible for him to be successful in his destiny. Only someone who says, “There is one God and I am His servant” can be successful. Otherwise, they will obviously fail, because the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) also says there is one God and he prays to Him. Allah (God) cannot pray to Allah (God). The Bible contains various instances of Jesus (pbuh) praying to Allah (God):

Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. (Matthew 14:23)

Why do Christians pray only to Jesus (pbuh) and not to the Holy Ghost? If they also consider them to be God, (Allah is beyond that) there is clearly an error here. Since they regard all three as Allah (God) (Allah is beyond that), why do they
only pray to Jesus (pbuh), when they should pray directly to Allah (God)? The Bible says there is only one Allah (God) and that believers must serve Him on many occasions:

Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’” (Mark 12:29–32)

“Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.” (Matthew 4:10)

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever… (Timothy 11:17)

Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed for ever… (Romans 1: 25)

Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will clarify all this when he appears, and when he comes, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will teach the truth.

At this time, Christians and Jews will become Muslims through the marvelous nature of a miracle. In the Qur’an, Allah says that none will fail to believe in the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) before they die:

There is not one of the People of the Book who will not believe in him before he dies; and on the Day of Rising he will be a witness against them. (Surat an-Nisa, 159)

Allah is referring to genuine believers here. There is no reference here to a hypocritical belief imposed under duress.
Hypocrite
is the word for someone who believes under force, and Allah reveals that hypocrites are the most despicable people in the world and will be cast into the lowest, most humiliating, and violent circle of Hell. Allah does not want people to be hypocrites. But if someone describes himself as a Muslim when he is not, then he is a hypocrite. Islam strongly opposes that. As verse 256 of Surat al-Baqara says, “There is no compulsion where the religion is concerned…”

Everyone at that time will be true believers by means of their devotion to the Prophet Jesus and Hazrat Mahdi (peace be upon them) and under their influence. All people will believe willingly, happily, and knowingly, out of their love for the Prophet Jesus and Hazrat Mahdi (peace be upon them). Allah will cause everyone to believe, as a miracle.

As for the capitation tax on non-Muslims, it is not a compulsory matter. If someone wants to live under the protection of an Islamic state, then it is perfectly normal and essential for him to contribute to the state’s expenses. Like every citizen, he must contribute to state spending. But if he does not want the state’s help and protection, then there is of course no need to pay. In the same way that the countries joining the EU set up a common fund, in the same way that any citizen in any country pays something toward municipal expenses and costs such as roads, water, and electricity and the like, this is a similar kind of requirement, but not compulsory.

How often do you receive reports that Christians or Jews have read your books and converted to Islam as a result?

I know there are hundreds of people all over the world who have become Muslims after reading my works. You can even see this from a brief research on the Internet. There has been huge progress in Russia, Britain, China, America, Germany, and France in particular. It is also reflected in the press from time to time, but many people contact us every day via the
www.harunyahya.com
Web site and send messages saying they have converted to Islam.

Many of the Shi’a believe that through the emergence of al-Mahdi Muntadhzar, that all Sunnis will convert to Shi’a Islam. How do you perceive that the Mahdi will unify the Sunni and Shi’a? What will this look like? Do you believe that the Shi’a will become Sunni?

What is being referred to here is an increase in love of the
alh al-bayt
[line of descent of the Prophet Muhammad] in the time of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). There will be a strong love for the desendants of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). And this is already happening. Muslims increasing their love of the blessed Ali, Hasan, and Hussein, the line of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), in other words, does not necessarily mean being Shiite, of course. Shiites and Sunis are two separate schools. When Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) comes, both Shiites and Sunnis will swear allegiance to Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) alone. In other words, it is not a matter of Shiites becoming Sunni or Sunnis becoming Shiite.

According to Islamic tradition, ad-Dajjal is said to be blind in one eye and have the word KUFR written on his forehead. Do you believe that this is to be taken literally or do you believe that these descriptions should be understood in a symbolic and spiritualized manner?

It is true he will have one blind eye, and will claim to be divine (surely Allah is beyond that) despite being blind in one eye, but the word
kafir
(unbeliever) may not be written on his forehead.

Imagine if a man appeared in Israel who claimed to be divine and the Son of God, who claimed to be Jesus Christ and had the ability to do powerful miracles. If this man claimed that Islam was not the truth and instead taught that the Bible was not corrupted and that Christianity was the true religion, would this man, in your opinion, fulfill the necessary requirements to be viewed as ad-Dajjal?

For one thing, by Allah’s leave, when the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) comes nobody will confuse him with anyone else, due to his extraordinary beauty, radiance, luminosity of faith, cleanliness, majesty, modesty, and honesty. We will immediately know and recognize him. At the time of the coming of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), there will also appear
someone who claims to be Jesus and even, surely Allah is beyond that, works miracles and claims to be Allah (God) Himself. This person will cause terrible strife and corruption on Earth but, by Allah’s leave, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will destroy his false miracles and corruption. He will dissolve away and vanish like salt in water. If this person were the real Jesus (pbuh) he would prevent the eradication of his marvels. The real Jesus (pbuh) would be strong enough to prevent that. It will therefore be seen that he is not the true Jesus. The false Jesus will not have the strength of the real Jesus (pbuh). And it will immediately be obvious which is the real Jesus (pbuh).

The false Jesus will in any case be abnormal-looking. You will feel no love for him. Allah will create him with one blind eye for identification purposes. One will tell that he is an imposter, unbalanced and aggressive, from his face. The true Jesus is beautiful and with two healthy eyes. He is tall, redhaired, narrow-waisted, with an innocent expression, polite-looking, and highly logical and rational. He will imediately be recognized as the true Jesus (pbuh) from his honest language, cleanliness, human love, warmth, extraordinary intelligence, and peaceful nature. And he will do away with all the false marvels of the false Jesus.

In short, there will be no difficulty or confusion when it comes to recognizing the real Jesus (pbuh). There will be no difficulty in recognizing either. In verse 185 of Surat al-Baqara, Almighty Allah says,
“Allah desires ease for you. He does not desire difficulty for you.”
In another verse (Surat al-Baqara, 286) He states,
“Allah does not impose on any self more than it can stand.”
Therefore, it will be very easy for true believers to recognize the real Jesus,
insha’Allah
.

Islamic tradition holds that Jesus will descend by the White Mosque in Damascus. Do you believe that this is also not to be taken literally, but rather symbolically?

Jesus (pbuh) may descend in Damascus, or Jerusalem, or in Istanbul. Various places are mentioned in the hadiths. It may even be in the USA. When the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) returns, he will do so as a very delightful person who has no memory of his own past, wearing the clothing and footwear of that time. He will subsequently learn foreign languages, the Qur’an, the Torah, and the Gospels. He will appear in a Christian community reminiscent of Islam. He will be a Muslim and will call the whole Christian world to Islam.