Introduction

Throughout history, human beings have understood the majesty of the mountains and the vastness of the heavens, even through the use of their primitive methods of observation. Though, they mistakenly thought these things would exist forever. This superstitious belief formed the backbone of polytheist and materialist Greek philosophies, and of the deviant religions of Sumer and Egypt.

The Qur'an tells us that those who believe this are in grave error. One of the things that Allah (God) reveals in the Qur'an is that the universe has been created and that it will come to an end. The universe will, as will human beings and all other living things, come to an end. This ordered world, which has functioned perfectly for billions of years, is the work of our Lord, Who created everything, though it will come to a grand end at His command, and at a time that He has determined.

The appointed time when the universe and every creature in it, from microorganisms to human beings, including stars and galaxies, will come to an end, is called the "Hour" in the Qur'an. This "Hour" refers to not just any hour; but is a word used specifically in the Qur'an to refer to that time when the world will come to an end.

Along with the announcement of the end of the world, the Qur'an contains detailed descriptions of the process of that event: "When the sky bursts open," "When the oceans surge into each other," "When the mountains are pulverized," "When the sun is compacted in blackness…" The horror and panic that people will experience at this dreadful calamity is related in detail in the Qur'an; the verses emphasize that there will be no escape and no place to hide. What we can conclude from this that the end of the world will be a catastrophe such as the world has never experienced before. Details of that even may also be found in other books of ours entitled, The Day of Resurrection, Death Resurrection Hell. This present book will treat the events that will happen as the Last Day approaches.

First, it must be stated that it is clear from a number of verses of the Qur'an, that the subject of the inevitable end of the world has excited interest in every period of history. In certain verses, it is related that people had asked the Prophet Muhammad (saas) about when the end of the world would come:

They will ask you about the Hour: when is it due? … (Surat al-A'raf: 187)

They ask you about the Hour: "When will it come?"  (Surat an-Nazi'at: 42)

Allah commanded the Prophet (saas) to answer this question in the following way: "… Knowledge of it rests with my Lord alone..."  (Surat al-A'raf: 187), meaning that only He knows the date of the Hour. Furthermore Allah has revealed in the Qur'an that He will grant this hidden knowledge to those Messengers whom He wills:

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) Allah has revealed us that He had not kept that knowledge completely out of the reach of humans with the words "I almost keep it from the knowledge of others." (And Allah knows the truth.)

The Hour is coming, I almost keep it from the knowledge of others so that every self can be repaid for its efforts. (Surah Ta-Ha: 15)

Nobody can have knowledge of the Last Hour unless Allah wills otherwise. However, one can make an estimate as to its century based on the hadiths of the Prophet (saas) and signs in the Qur'an, and say, "the Last Hour will come when there are no believers left and disbelief reigns." As a matter of fact, the great ahl al-Sunnah scholars al-Barzanji and as-Suyuti state, based on the hadith of the Prophet (saas), that the life span of the Ummah will not exceed the Islamic year 1500, in other words it will end before Islamic 1600s. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi says, again according to the information given in the hadith, that Muslims will remain on Allah's true path and will be victorious until around Islamic year 1506 with the Last Hour probably taking place in 1545 (2120 according to the Gregorian calendar).

There are many verses that tell of the Hour, and when we examine them we encounter a great truth. The time of the Hour is not indicated in the Qur'an, but those events that will happen prior to it are described. In one verse Allah relates that there are several signs of 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?  (Surah Muhammad: 18)

From this verse we learn that in the Qur'an Allah describes signs that announce the coming of the Last Day. In order to understand the signs of this "great announcement" we must reflect upon these verses. Otherwise, as indicated in the verse, one's thinking will be of no use when the Last Day is suddenly upon one.

Some of that which was said by the Prophet (saas) which has reached to us deals with the signs of the Hour. In these hadiths of the Prophet (saas), there are both signs of the Hour and detailed information about the period just preceding it. This period, in which the signs of the Hour will occur, is called the "End Times." The matter of the End Times and of the signs of the Hour has attracted much interest throughout the history of Islam; it has been the subject of many works of Islamic scholars and researchers.

In the Qur'an, Almighty Allah has revealed that He will cause Islamic moral values to prevail on earth. In his hadiths our Prophet (saas), too, has stated that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be a means whereby this great and holy event duly takes place in the End Times. As a requirement of Qur'anic moral values, and as re ported by our Prophet (saas), the rule of Islamic moral values will be brought about with love. When Islamic moral values come to prevail, the world will attain peace and security, and all forms of disorder, conflict, anarchy and terror will come to an end. Distressed by the disorder and oppression of the End Times, people will be delighted with the justice, compassion, generosity, love and interest of Hazrat Mahdi (as), who will cause Islamic virtues to prevail on earth.

The glad tidings of the inevitable appearance of Hazrat Mahdi (as) in the End Times is revealed as follows in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas):

If just one day of the life of this world remains, Almighty Allah will prolong it and someone from my Ahl al-Bayt will come. His name will be like mine. His father's name will be like my father's name. HE WILL FILL THE WORLD THAT IS FULL OF OPPRESSION AND EVILS WITH JUSTICE AND MERCY. (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi, Great Hadith Collection, Rudani, Vol. 5, p. 365)

According to what is revealed in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), Hazrat Mahdi (as) will appear in the End Times and cause Islamic moral values to prevail on earth. With the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (as), all oppression and injustice in the world will come to an end and be replaced by justice, peace, love and security. These holy phenomena are revealed as follows in various hadiths:

... He [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] fills the earth with justice, which was previously filled with oppression and violence. Whoever of you lives to see him, let him crawl over snow to him and join him.  (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 14)

He [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] will sustain Islam in the end just as our Prophet (saas) sustained Islam in the beginning…  (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 27)

When we collect all this information together, we come to an important conclusion. The verses of the Qur'an and the hadiths of the Prophet (saas) indicate that the End Times is divided into two stages. The first period is one in which material and spiritual trials will afflict the world; the second period to come is called the Golden Age, a time when the moral teaching of the Qur'an will dominate, producing a deep sense of well-being in all humans. When this Golden Age comes to an end, and after the world will have entered a period of social decline, the coming of the Last Hour will be at hand.

The purpose of this present book is to examine the signs of the Hour through the verses of the Qur'an and hadiths of the Prophet (saas), and to show that these signs have begun to appear in our present time. The fact that the advent of these signs was revealed fourteen centuries ago should increase a believer's faith in Allah and his devotion to Him. The following pages have been written keeping in mind our Lord's promise: "Say: Praise be to Allah. He will show you His Signs and you will recognize them…" (Surat an-Naml: 93)

There is one particularly important point though that we would like to draw the reader's attention to: Allah knows the truth about everything. As with all things, what we know about the end of the world comes only from what He has revealed to us.

All the Signs Our Prophet (saas) Foretold in the Hadiths Have Come about in This Century

In the words of one hadith;

People will gather around Hazrat Mahdi (as) in the year 1400. (Risalat al-Khuruj al-Mahdi, p. 108)

The Prophet (saas) explicitly states that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will appear in Hijri 1400. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, the greatest Islamic scholar of the last 1000 years, reveals in his collected works that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will appear in Hijri 1400:

[They] suppose[d] A FACT THAT WOULD OCCUR IN THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED YEARS LATER to be close to their century.  (Words, p. 318)

As of Hijri 1400, all the signs of the End Times revealed by our Prophet (saas) began taking place one after the other.

Many hadiths handed down from the Prophet (saas) appearing in the Letters of the great Islamic scholar Imam Rabbani and al-Kutub al-Sittah, the six most important works of Sunni hadith literature, explicitly state that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will appear in Hijri 1400, and this is reiterated many times over also in Said Nursi's Barla Addendum, Kastamonu Addendum and The Rays, as well as in the Damascus Sermon he preached to 10,000 people in the year Hijri 1327 in the Umayyad Mosque.

Hadiths transmitted from the Prophet (saas) appearing in the works of such great Islamic scholars as Imam Rabbani, As-Suyuti, Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Bediuzzaman Said Nursi also explicitly say that the life of the Ummah of Islam will not exceed the year Hijri 1500:

THE LIFE OF MY COMMUNITY WILL NOT EXCEED 1500 YEARS.  (As-Suyuti, Al-Kashf 'an Mujawazat Hazihi al-Ummah al-Alf; As-Suyuti, Al-Hawi Lil-Fatawi, 2/248; Tafsir Ruh al-Bayan. Burusawi 4/262; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Kitab al-`Ilal, p. 89)

Imam as-Suyuti says that the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) reveal that the life of the Ummah will not exceed 1500 years:

THE LIFE OF THIS COMMUNITY WILL EXCEED 1000 YEARS, YET BE LIMITED TO 1500 YEARS... (Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, p. 299)

Said Nursi says that the life of the Ummah will last until the year Hijri 1506:

The first sentence refers to the last period of a community striving on the path of Allah in the End Times in ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED - (1500) and the second sentence to the victory of the struggle (waged on the path of Allah) in ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND SIX (1506). (...) It suggests it will continue in a visible and manifest, and perhaps victorious form, until this date (1506). (The Ratifying Stamp of the Unseen, p. 46)

On page 33 of the Kastamonu Addendum, Bediuzzaman gives the year 1545 as the date of the Last Day. (And Allah knows the truth.)

"A group from my community will remain in truth until Allah's command."

The abjad calculation of the clause "A group from my community..." which is 1542 (2117) implies its (the community's) time of survival. The abjad calculation of the clause "will remain in truth" (when the gemination mark is counted) gives 1506 (2082). It indicates until that date (2082) it will continue its work of enlightenment evidently and obviously, and maybe victoriously until 1542 (2117) in secrecy and defeat. The abjad calculation of the clause "until Allah's command" (when the gemination mark is counted) suggests that THE DAY OF JUDGMENT WILL BEFALL the unbeliever in 1545 (2120). (Kastamonu Addendum, p. 33)

In the light of these completely trustworthy sources, it is quite clear that the return to Earth of the Prophet Jesus (as), the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (as) and the global dominion of Islamic morality will not happen in a century after Hijri 1400. It is in Hijri 1400s that the moral values of Islam will rule the world under the leadership of the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as), after which there will again be terrible degeneration, at the end of which will come the Hour.

All Muslims must attach absolute credence to the trustworthy hadiths concerning the End Times handed down from our Prophet (saas) and to the accounts of greatest Islamic scholars. Otherwise, to ignore these portents we will be citing below and that have all come about one after the other is equivalent to maintaining that one should expect them to happen again, one after the other. The fact is that these portents have already happened once, and in a given order. And this is sufficient for Muslims to realize that they are living in the End Times foretold by our Prophet (saas). To say, in the face of the hundreds of portents in question that have taken place, "the same portents must happen all over again" is definitely irrational and illogical. It is enough for a genuine Muslim to see that these portents have taken place once in the manner foretold by our Prophet (saas) to believe that we are living in the End Times and that, by the will of Allah, Hazrat Mahdi (as) has come, that the Prophet Jesus (as) will be returning during this time and that the Last Day has drawn nigh.

The Signs of the Last Day in the Qur'an

The Hour is Near

Most people know at least something about the Last Day. Almost everyone has heard one thing or another about the horror of the Hour. Nevertheless, most tend to have the same reaction to it as they do to other matters of vital importance, that is, they do not want to speak or even think about it. They try very hard not trying to think about the terror they will experience on the Last Day. They cannot bear the reminders of the Last Day found in a news report of a terrible accident or a film report about some disaster. They avoid thinking about the fact that that day will certainly come. They do not want to listen to others who talk about that great day, or to read author's works about it. These are some of the ways that people have developed in order to escape the dread of thinking about the reality of the Last Day.

Many do not seriously believe that the Hour is coming. We are presented with an example of this in a verse of Surat al-Kahf, about the wealthy owner of a rich vineyard:

I do not think the Hour will ever come. But if I should be sent back to my Lord, I will definitely get something better in return. (Surat al-Kahf: 36)

The above verse reveals the true mentality of someone who professes to believe in Allah but avoids thinking about the reality of the Last Day and puts forward claims that do not conform with some verses of the Qur'an. In another verse Allah reveals the doubt and uncertainty that engulfs unbelievers in regards to the time of the end:

When you were told, "Allah'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."  (Surat al-Jathiya: 32)

Some people entirely deny that the Last Day is coming. Those who have this opinion are mentioned in the Qur'an as follows:

But instead, they deny the Hour; and We have prepared a Searing Blaze for those who deny the Hour.  (Surat al-Furqan: 11)

The sources that can guide us on the way and show us the truth are the Qur'an and the hadiths. When we look at these sources, we learn an obvious fact. Those who deceive themselves about the Last Day commit a grave error, because Allah reveals in the Qur'an that there can be no doubt that the Last Day is near.

And the Hour is coming without any doubt ... (Surat al-Hajj: 7)

We did not create the heavens and earth and everything between them, except with truth. The Hour is certainly coming.  (Surat al-Hijr: 85)

The Hour is coming—there is no doubt about it … (Surat al-Mu'min: 59)

There may be some who think that the message of the Qur'an concerning the Last Day was revealed more that 1400 years ago and that this is a long time compared to the length of a human life. But here, it is a question of the end of the world, the sun and the stars, in short, of everything. When we consider that the universe is billions of years old, fourteen centuries is a very short period of time.

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi has referred to this matter with an erudite comparison:

In the Qur'an Allah says that, "The Hour has drawn nigh. " (Surat al-Qamar: 1) That is, the Last Day is near. It still not having come after a thousand or this many years does not injure its closeness. Because, the Last Day is the appointed hour of the world, and in relation to the life of the world one or two thousand years are like one or two minutes in relation to a year. The Hour of the Last Day is not only the appointed hour of mankind that it should be related to it and seen as distant.1

The Proclaiming of the Moral Teaching of the Qur'an to the Whole World

In the Qur'an, we repeatedly find the phrase "Allah's sunnah (pattern, practice)." This is an expression that means Allah's way, or Allah's laws. According to the Qur'an, these laws are valid forever. In a verse Allah says the following:

This is Allah's pattern with those who passed away before. You will not find any alteration in Allah's pattern. (Surat al-Ahzab: 62)

One such unchanging Divine law is that, before their annihilation, societies are warned by prophets and messengers, and sometimes by holy scriptures. Allah reveals this fact in these words:

We have never destroyed a city without giving it prior warning as a reminder...  (Surat ash-Shu'ara': 208-209)

Throughout history, Allah has sent a messenger to every society that has become corrupted and informed them of the truth. Yet, those who persisted in their wickedness perished after having fulfilled the time allotted to them, and became an example for succeeding generations. When we consider this law of Allah, a number of important mysteries are revealed to us.

The Last Day is the final calamity to fall upon the world. The Qur'an is the last Divine book sent to advise humanity, whose guide it will remain until the end of the world. As Allah reveals in the Qur'an "… It is simply a reminder to all beings." (Surat al-An'am: 90) Those who think that the Qur'an speaks only to one particular time or place are seriously mistaken, because the Qur'an is a general invitation to all "worlds."

Since the time of our Prophet (saas), the truth of the Qur'an has been communicated to the entire world. By means of the technological developments Allah created in our present age, the commands of the Qur'an can be proclaimed to the whole of humanity. Today, science, education, communication and transportation are about to reach the final point of their development. By means of computer and Internet technology in particular, people in distant parts of the world can instantly share information and establish communications. The revolution in science and technology has united all the nations of the world; expressions like "globalization" and "world citizenship" have been added to our stock of vocabulary. In short, all the obstacles preventing the unity of people throughout the whole world are being quickly removed.

In the light of these facts, it can be easily said that in our "information age," Allah has put all kinds of technological developments at our disposal. It is the responsibility of Muslims to make the best use of these possibilities that Allah has offered, and to invite people from all walks of life to accept the moral teaching of the Qur'an.

Messengers

We have mentioned the unchanging laws that have been established by Allah since the foundation of the world. One such Divine law is that Allah will not punish a society for which He has not sent a messenger. This promise is expressed in the following verses:

Your Lord would never destroy any cities without first sending to the chief of them a messenger to recite Our Signs to them. We would never destroy any cities unless their inhabitants were wrongdoers.  (Surat al-Qasas: 59)

… We never punish until We have sent a messenger.  (Surat al-Isra: 15)

We have never destroyed a city without giving it prior warning as a reminder. We were never unjust.  (Surat ash-Shu'ara: 208-209)

These verses show that Allah sends messengers to major cities to warn the people. These messengers announce Allah's commands, but the unbelievers from the societies of every age have mocked them, accused them of being liars, frauds or madmen, and subjected them to every kind of slander. Allah destroys societies that continue to live in wickedness and immorality through some great disaster, at a time when they least expect it. The destruction of the people of the Prophets Noah (as) and Lot (as), Ad, Thamud and others mentioned in the Qur'an are examples of this form of annihilation.

In the Qur'an, Allah reveals why He has sent prophets: to announce the good news to societies, to provide an important opportunity for their people to abandon their false beliefs, and live their lives according to Allah's religion and high morality, and to warn people so that they will have no excuse to offer on the Last Day for not having heeded the warnings made to them. In a verse, these goals are stated as such:

Messengers bringing good news and giving warning, so that people will have no argument against Allah after the coming of the messengers.  (Surat an-Nisa': 165)

As Allah reveals in verse 40 of Surat al-Azhab, the Prophet Muhammad (saas) is the last Prophet. The Prophet Muhammad (saas) is "… the Messenger of Allah and the Final Seal of the Prophets… " (Surat al-Azhab: 40) In other words, through the mediation of the Prophet Muhammad (saas), the series of Allah's revelations to humanity have been completed. In spite of this, the responsibility for communicating and reminding people of the Qur'an delivered by the Prophet (saas) lies with every Muslim until the end of the world.

The Supremacy of the Morality of Islam in the World

One of the constant themes of the Qur'an is that of the people that Allah has destroyed, because of their wickedness and rebellion, and the example to be taken from them. Certainly, there is a great similarity between those mentioned societies of the past and some societies of our present time. In our day, there are some people whose attitude and way of life surpasses even the sexual perversion of the people of the Prophet Lot (as), the deceitfulness of the people of Madyan, the arrogance and mocking of the people of the Prophet Noah (as), the rebelliousness and wickedness of the people of Thamud, the ungratefulness of the people of Iram, as with the comportment of various other societies that have been destroyed. The evident reason for all this moral degeneration is that people have forgotten Allah and the purpose of their creation.

The murder, social injustice, treachery, deceit and moral degeneration in the age we live in have even driven some people to despair. But, it must not be forgotten that the Qur'an commands us not to despair of the help of Allah. Despair and despondency are not acceptable modes of thought for believers. Allah announces that those who serve Him purely, without associating any of His creatures as divinities besides Him, and do good works to win His favor, will be endowed with power and authority.

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 are unbelievers after that, such people are deviators.  (Surat an-Nur: 55)

In a number of verses, Allah reveals that it is a Divine law that those servants who are faithful and live the true religion in their hearts will be made the inheritors of the world:

We wrote down in the Psalms, after the Reminder came: "It is My righteous servants who will inherit the earth." (Surat al-Anbiya': 105)

We will leave you the land to live in after them. That is the reward of those who fear My station and fear My threat.  (Surah Ibrahim: 14)

We destroyed generations before you when they did wrong. Their messengers brought them the Clear Signs, but they were never going to believe. That is how We repay evildoers. Then We made you their successors on the earth so We might observe how you would act.  (Surah Yunus: 13-14)

Moses said to his people, "Seek help in Allah and be steadfast. The earth belongs to Allah. He bequeths it to any of His servants He wills. The successful outcome is for those who do their duty." They said, "We suffered harm before you came to us and after you came to us." He said, "It may well be that your Lord is going to destroy your enemy and make you the successors in the land so that He can see how you behave."  (Surat al-A'raf: 128-129)

Allah has written, "I will be victorious, I and My messengers." Allah is Most Strong, Almighty.  (Surat al-Mujadala: 21)

Together with the good news announced in the verses above, Allah has made a very important promise to believers. He reveals in the Qur'an that the religion of Islam was sent to humanity to be superior to all religions.

They desire to extinguish Allah's Light with their mouths. But Allah refuses to do other than perfect His Light, even though the unbelievers detest it. It is He Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the True Religion to exalt it over every other religion, even though the idolaters detest it.  (Surat at-Tawba: 32-33)

They desire to extinguish Allah's Light with their mouths but Allah will perfect His Light, though the unbelievers hate it. It is He Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the True Religion to exalt it over every other religion, though the idolaters hate it.  (Surat as-Saff: 8-9)

There is no doubt that Allah will keep His promises. The high morality that will conquer perverse philosophies, distorted ideologies and false religious understanding is Islamic morality. As Allah reveals in the verses quoted above the unbelievers and pagans cannot prevent these glad tidings from happening.

This period, in which Islamic morality will be established, will be in every way a time of love, self-sacrifice, generosity, honesty, social justice, security and personal well-being. This period has been called the Golden Age because of its similarity to depictions of Paradise, but, so far, such an age has never yet existed. This blessed age will precede the Last Day; and is now awaiting that time in which Allah has determined it will come.

'The Prophet Jesus' (as) Return to Earth

The Prophet Jesus (as) is a prophet chosen by Allah. He is one of the most talked-about prophets in the history of the world. Thanks be to Allah that there is a source in which we can verify what is true and false out of that which has been said of him. That source is the Qur'an, the only Holy Book that has been preserved as it is, under the protection of Allah.

When we refer to the Qur'an to discover the real truth about the Prophet Jesus (as), we see that:

The Prophet Jesus (as) is the Messenger of Allah and His Word. (Surat an-Nisa': 171)

Allah gave his name as the Messiah, Jesus (as), son of Mary. (Surah Al 'Imran: 45)

He was made a sign for all the worlds. (Surat al-Anbiya': 91)

The Prophet Jesus (as) spoke to people in the cradle  (Surah Al 'Imran: 46), and by the Will of Allah he performed several miracles. Another miracle Allah has granted on him is that he will come back to earth at a later time and speak to people.  (Surah Al 'Imran: 46; Surat al-Ma'ida: 110)

The Prophet Jesus (as) was given the Gospel. (Surat al-Hadid: 27)

Those who believe in the error of Trinity (surely Allah is beyond their claims) have committed an error and fallen into blasphemy.  (Surat al-Ma'ida: 72)

The unbelievers plotted against him in order to kill him, but Allah nullified their plot.  (Surah Al 'Imran: 54)

The return of the Prophet Jesus (as) to Earth is one of the signs of the Last Day (Surat al-Zukhruf: 61)

When the Prophet Jesus (as) returns, there will be no one left who does not believe in him  (Surat an-Nur: 159)

Allah did not allow the unbelievers to kill the Prophet Jesus (as), but took him up into His Presence, and announced the good news to humanity that he will come back again. In the Qur'an Allah reveals the following information about the return of the Prophet Jesus (as) in several instances:

In one verse Allah reveals that the unbelievers who set a trap to kill the Prophet Jesus (as) did not succeed;

(And We cursed them) for their saying, "We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Messenger of Allah." They did not kill him and they did not crucify him but it was made to seem so to them. Those who argue about him are in doubt about it. They have no real knowledge of it, just conjecture. But they certainly did not kill him.  (Surat an-Nisa': 157)

Another verse in which Allah reveals that the Prophet Jesus (as) did not die, but was taken from the human sphere into the Presence of Allah is as follows:

Allah raised him up to Himself. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.  (Surat an-Nisa': 158)

In the 55th verse of Surah Al 'Imran, we learn that Allah will place the people who follow the Prophet Jesus (as) above those who disbelieve until the Last Day. It is an historical fact that, 2000 years ago, the disciples of the Prophet Jesus (as) had no political power. Christians who lived between that period and our own have believed a number of false doctrines, the chief of which is the doctrine of the Trinity. Therefore, as is evident, that they will not be able to be referred to as followers of the Prophet Jesus (as), because, as Allah reveals in several places in the Qur'an, those who believe in the Trinity have slipped into denial. In such a case, in the time before the Hour, the true followers of the Prophet Jesus (as) will overcome the unbelievers and become the manifestation of the Divine promise contained in Surah Al 'Imran. Surely, this blessed group will be made known when the Prophet Jesus (as) returns again to earth.

• Again, in the Qur'an Allah states that all the People of the Book will believe in the Prophet Jesus (as) before he dies.

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

We learn clearly from this verse that there are three Divine promises that have not yet been realized concerning the Prophet Jesus (as). First, like every other human being, the Prophet Jesus (as) will die. Second, all the People of the Book will see him in bodily form and will obey him while he is alive. There is no doubt that these two predictions will be fulfilled when the Prophet Jesus (as) comes again before the Last Day. The third prediction about the Prophet Jesus' (as) bearing witness against the People of the Book will be fulfilled on the Last Day.

• In another verse in Surah Maryam, Allah reveals that the Prophet Jesus (as) will return to Earth in the End Times that we are living in.

Peace be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die and the day I am raised up again alive.  (Surah Maryam: 33)

When we examine this verse together with the 55th verse of Surah Al 'Imran, we can recognize a very important fact. In the verse in Surah Al 'Imran Allah speaks about the Prophet Jesus' (as) being raised to the Presence of Allah. In this verse, no information is given as to whether the Prophet Jesus (as) died or not. But in the 33rd verse of Surah Maryam, the Prophet Jesus' (as) death is referred to. This second death is possible only if the Prophet Jesus (as) came to earth again and died after living here for some time. (Allah knows the truth.)

• Another verse that alludes to the Prophet Jesus' (as) return to earth reads:

He will teach him (Jesus) the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel.  (Surah Al 'Imran: 48)

To understand the reference to the "Book" mentioned in this verse, we must look at other verses in the Qur'an that are relevant to this subject: if the Book is stated in one verse together with the Torah and the Gospel, then it must mean the Qur'an. We know that the Prophet Jesus (as) knew the Torah and the Gospel during his lifetime, that is, approximately 2000 years ago. Clearly, it will be the Qur'an that he will learn when he comes to earth again.

In verse 59 of Surah Al 'Imran, Allah reveals a very significant knowledge; "The likeness of Jesus in Allah's Sight is the same as Adam…" In this verse we can see there must be a number of similarities between the two prophets. As we know, both the Prophets Adam (as) and Jesus (as) had no father, but we may draw a further similarity from the above verse, between the Prophet Adam's (as) descending to earth from Paradise and the Prophet Jesus' (as) descent from Allah's Presence in the End Times.

Allah reveals in the Qur'an the following information about the Prophet Jesus (as):

He (Jesus) is a Sign of the Hour. Have no doubt about it. But follow me. This is a straight path.  (Surat az-Zukhruf: 61)

We know that the Prophet Jesus (as) lived six centuries before the Qur'an was revealed. Therefore, this verse must refer, not to his first life, but to his coming again during the End Times. Both the Christian and the Islamic world are eagerly awaiting the Prophet Jesus' (as) second coming. This blessed guest's honored presence on the earth will be the important sign of the Last Day.

Further evidence of the second coming of the Prophet Jesus (as) can be found in the use of the word wakahlan in Surah Maida, 110 and Surah Al 'Imran 46. In these verses, we are revealed these commands:

Remember when Allah said, "Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessing to you and to your mother when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown (wakahlan) …"  (Surat al-Ma'ida: 110)

He will speak to people in the cradle, and also when fully grown (wakahlan), and will be one of the righteous.  (Surah Al 'Imran: 46)

This word occurs only in these two verses and only in reference to the Prophet Jesus (as). The word is used to describe the Prophet Jesus' (as) more mature age. The word refers to the age between 30 and 50, that is, to the end of youth and the beginning of old age. Islamic scholars are agreed in translating this word to refer to a period after the age of 35.

Islamic scholars rely on a tradition related by Ibn Abbas to the effect that the Prophet Jesus (as) was raised to the Presence of Allah when he was young, that is, at the beginning of his 30's, and that when he comes to earth again, he will have 40 years left to live. The Prophet Jesus (as) will progress into his old age after he has returned to earth, so this verse may be said to be a proof of the Prophet Jesus' (as) second coming to earth.2

As mentioned, when we closely examine the Qur'an, we see that this word is used only in reference to the Prophet Jesus (as). All prophets have spoken to people and invited them to accept religion. All of them communicated their message when they were of mature age. But, the Qur'an says nothing similar about any other prophet. This word is used only for the Prophet Jesus (as), and is used to define a miraculous situation. The phrases "in the cradle" and "having grown older" refer to two great miraculous phases of his life.

It is a miracle, by the will of Allah, that the Prophet Jesus (as) spoke while he was in the cradle. This was something that had never been seen before, and Allah refers several times in the Qur'an to this miraculous event. Immediately after these words comes the phrase "and speaking to people when fully grown." These words also refer to a miracle. If the words "when fully grown" referred to his former life before he was taken up into the Presence of Allah, the Prophet Jesus' (as) speaking would not have been a miracle. And since it was not a miracle, it would not have been used after the speaking in the cradle or in the same way as this miraculous situation. In that case, an expression such as "from the cradle to when fully grown" would have been used and would have expressed communication lasting from the time the Prophet Jesus (as) began to speak in the cradle to time he was raised up to the Presence of Allah. But, in this verse Allah draws our attention to two great miraculous events. The first is the speaking in the cradle; the other, the Prophet Jesus' (as) speaking in his mature years. Therefore, the expression "when fully grown" refers to a time that would be a miracle. It is the time when the Prophet Jesus (as) will speak to people in his mature age after he has returned again to earth. (And Allah knows the truth.)

In the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) there is information about the Prophet Jesus' (as) second coming. In a few hadiths, this information is given along with other information about what the Prophet Jesus (as) will do while he is in the world. You may read the hadiths relevant to this subject in the chapter of this book entitled, "The Return of the Prophet Jesus (as) After the Emergence of False Prophets." (For more detailed information, please see Harun Yahya, The Prophet Jesus (as) Will Return)

It will be beneficial to remind the reader here of a very important matter: Allah sent the Prophet Muhammad (saas) to humanity as the last prophet. Allah revealed the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad (saas), and holds all people responsible for obeying the Qur'an until the Day of Judgment. The Prophet Jesus (as) will miraculously return to the world in the End Times but, as our Prophet (saas) has said, he will not bring a new religion. The true religion that the Prophet (saas) taught to humanity is Islam and the Prophet Jesus (as) will be subject to the Qur'an when he comes to the earth again.

According to the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), Hazrat Mahdi (as) will also appear in the End Times and, together with the Prophet Jesus (as), will cause the moral values of Islam to rule the world. Through these two holy individuals, all oppression and injustice in the world will come to an end, and justice, peace, love, calm and security will settle across the Earth.

The Prophet Jesus (as) And Hazrat Mahdi (as) will Appear in This Century

Works by great and esteemed scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah, including Sunan Abu-Dawud and Maktubat of Imam Rabbani, explicitly state that Allah sends an individual every century in order to revive and rid religious morals of any innovations:

Allah will raise for this community at the beginning of EVERY HUNDRED YEARS the one who will renovate its religion for it. (Sunan Abu Dawud, 5/100)

One hadith handed down from our Prophet (saas) states that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will appear in 1400 in the words:

People will gather around Hazrat Mahdi (as) in the year 1400.  (Risalat al-Huruj al-Mahdi, p. 108)

The religious moral values of Islam will rule the whole world, as the result of a specific process, in this century, while the system of the dajjal that opposes those values will entirely disappear. But following this period of progression, that will last for approximately 100 years, the world will again find itself in a phase of degeneration, around the 1500s according to the Islamic calendar. In one hadith narrated by many scholars, including Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, a great Ahl al-Sunnah hadith and Islamic jurisprudence scholar, our Prophet (saas) provides important information about the beginning of a calendar in human history by saying that 5600 years had passed up until his own day:

Ahmad Ibn Hanbal transmitted in his 'Ilal:

FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED YEARS HAVE PASSED FROM THIS WORLD. (Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-zaman, p. 89)

Hadiths are narrated from the Prophet (saas) referring to the life span of the world being 7000 years:

Anas Ibn Malik narrates that the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: THE LIFE SPAN OF THE WORLD IS SEVEN DAYS IN THE DAYS OF THE HEREAFTER. Almighty Allah has said: ONE DAY IN THE SIGHT OF YOUR LORD IS LIKE A THOUSAND OF YOUR YEARS. Allah will ASCRIBE THE EQUIVALENT OF GOOD DEEDS OF THE SEVEN THOUSAND YEARS OF THE AGE OF THIS WORLD to the one who meets the need of any of his brothers in the faith on the path of Allah as if he spends his days in fasting and his nights in worship.  (Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-zaman, p. 88)

Narrated from Daqqaq Ibn Zaid al-Juhani:

I told the Messenger of Allah (saas) of a dream I had had. In that dream the Messenger of Allah (saas) was at the top step of a seven-stepped pulpit. He said: THE SEVEN-STEPPED PULPIT YOU SEE IS THE SEVEN THOUSAND YEARS OF AGE OF THIS WORLD.  (Al-Burhan fi 'Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 8)

These dates must very definitely not be evaluated as the beginning of human history when the Prophet Adam (as) was sent down to Earth. Just as the hijrat of our Prophet (saas) from Mecca to Medina is considered the beginning of the Islamic calendar, or the birth of the Prophet Jesus (as) of the Christian calendar, and today eras are reckoned from these dates, it appears that this 7000-year period described by the Prophet (saas) may have been given according to the date of an event which was accepted as a landmark during his time.

Said Nursi, the renovator of the Islamic 1300s and the greatest one of the last millennium, cited the 1500s as the period of dominion of Islamic moral values. He stated that Muslims would enjoy a time of clear and explicit victory up until then. He said that in the years after that, the rise of the moral values of Islam would come to an end and that the Last Day would break for the unbelievers in the Islamic year 1545. (Allah knows the truth.)

"A group from my community will remain in truth until Allah's command [the Last Day]."

The abjad calculation of the clause "A group from my community..." which is 1542 (2117) implies its (the community's) time of survival. The abjad calculation of the clause "will remain in truth" (when the gemination mark is counted) gives 1506 (2082); it indicates until that date (2082) it will continue its work of enlightenment evidently and obviously, and maybe victoriously; then until 1542 (2117) in secrecy and defeat. The abjad calculation of the clause "until Allah's command" (when the gemination mark is counted) suggests that THE LAST DAY WILL BEFALL the unbeliever in 1545 (2120). (Kastamonu Addendum, p. 33)

The great Sunni scholar al-Barzanji states that the life span of the world will not last until the Islamic 1600, in other words, that the Last Day is expected to come in Islamic 1500s by Allah's leave. (Allah knows the truth.)

THE LIFE OF THIS COMMUNITY WILL EXCEED 1,000 YEARS, YET BE LIMITED TO 1,500 YEARS ...  (Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, p. 299)

Suyuti's statement made on the basis of the hadith handed down from our Prophet (saas) is as follows:

THE LIFE OF MY COMMUNITY WILL NOT EXCEED 1,500 YEARS.  (Suyuti, al-Kasfu an Mujawazati Hazihil Ummah al-Alfu, al-hawi lil Fatawi. 2/248, Tafsir Ruh-ul Bayan. Bursawi 4/262, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Kitab al-'Ilal, p. 89)

As is clear from the hadith of the Prophet (saas) and statements by great Islamic scholars, the Islamic 1400s we are now living in is the age of the coming of the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as). The Prophet Jesus (as) will return to earth in this century, Hazrat Mahdi (as) will appear and the moral values of Islam will rule the world.

The Splitting of the Moon

The 54th Surah of the Qur'an is called "Surat al-Qamar." In English qamar means moon. In several instances, this Surah tells about the destruction that befell the people of the Prophet Noah (as), Ad, Thamud, the people of the Prophet Lot (as) and Pharaoh, because they rejected the warnings of the prophets. At the same time, there is a very important message stated in the first verse, concerning the Last Day.

The Hour has drawn near and the moon has split. (Surat al-Qamar: 1)

The word "split" used in this verse is the Arabic shaqqa, which in Arabic it has various meanings. In some commentaries on the Qur'an, the meaning "split" is preferred. But shaqqa in Arabic can also mean "plowing" or "digging" the earth.

As an example of the first usage, we can refer to the 26th verse of Surat al-Abasa:

We pour down plentiful water, then split the earth into furrows. Then We make grain grow in it, and grapes and herbs and olives and dates.  (Surah 'Abasa: 25-29)

It can be clearly seen that the meaning of shaqqa here is not to "split." It means to plough the earth in order to grow various plants.

If we went back to the year 1969, we would see one of the great wonders of the Qur'an. The experiments carried out on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969, may be hinting at the fulfilment of news given 1,400 years ago in Surat al-Qamar. On that date, American astronauts set foot on the moon. Digging at the lunar soil they carried out scientific experiments and collected samples of stones and soil. It is surely very interesting that these developments are in complete agreement with the statements in the verse.

1. Daily Sabah, September 1, 2007: Landing on the Moon is a portent of the Last Day
2. Daily Aksam, October 10, 2009: The Moon bombed for water
3. Haberturk, June 19, 2009: NASA to bomb the Moon in search for water
4. Daily Hurriyet, October 19, 2009: Bombs rain down on the Moon.

Along with this, also in October 2009, there has been a development which points out to this event mentioned in the verse. NASA, who has been carrying on searches on the Moon for finding water, bombed the Moon and with the effect of this strike, a dust cloud weighing 350 tons formed. That means, the surface of the Moon split for another time. As Allah reveals in the Qur'an, the Moon is split when the time of the "Hour," the coming of the Prophet Jesus (as), the appearance of Hazrat Mahdi (as), the appearance of Dabbat al-Ardh approached. As is seen, this verse refers to these events besides the miracle of the splitting of the Moon, vouchsafed by Allah to our Prophet (saas).

Finally, let us point out that there is a very important warning following these verses. There is a reminder that these signs sent from the Sight of Allah are important opportunities for people to turn from error, and that those who do not heed these warnings will be disappointed when they will be brought back to life on that Day of Judgment which is described in the Qur'an as "something unspeakably terrible":

The Hour has drawn near and the moon has split. If they see a Sign they turn away, saying "There is no end to this witchcraft!" They have denied the truth and followed their whims and desires, but everything has its time. News has come to them which contains a threat: consummate wisdom – but warnings are profitless. Turn away from them then. On the Day the Summoner summons them to something unspeakably terrible, they will emerge from their graves with downcast eyes, like swarming locusts, necks outstretched, eyes transfixed, rushing headlong to the Summoner. The unbelievers will say, "This is a pitiless day!" (Surat al-Qamar: 1-8)

Footnotes

1. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Risale-i Nur Collection, Words, Twenty-Fourth Word, Third Branch, Eighth Principle

2. Faslu'l-Makal fi Ref'i Isa Hayyen ve Nuzulihi ve Katlihi'd-Deccal, p. 20