It may have sounded preposterous that in less than a decade from the start of the Great Signs discussed by Prophet Muhammad (pbh) that billions of people will die. After all, where is this supposed information coming from and why didn’t the Prophet (pbh) provide any numerical figures concerning it?
Well, what makes people think that he did not provide any numerical numbers? I say that he most assuredly did!!! And when this is taken into account along with the so-called ‘Six Ages of man theory’, one can get a better appreciation of what he was talking about. However, more about this later as Allah Wills.
The search for knowledge is a good thing as long as it is in some way directed towards praising Allah THE ONE and ONLY GOD or if that knowledge brings back to remembrance our dependency on HIM and the need for us to do our duties towards HIM and to our fellow servants who walk among us as well as the creation at large based on and according to the PRINCIPLES LAID DOWN BY HIS SPECIAL HUMAN ENVOY – PROPHET MUHAMMAD (pbh).
It seems modern man is in a race to go somewhere and be someone that is something akin to being delusional about who we really are or our true nature and purpose of creation and that also has something to do with the Six Ages of man theory.*
With that said there is seemingly a race going on to build a better ‘pigsty’ out of the world that we live in. Many would probably disagree with this person’s version but just think about it. A long time ago but not that long ago students given pen and paper would zip through a practice on writing simple fractions. It has been humorously noted that with today’s generation of students and their calculators that when these wizards are asked to forgo their machines that calculate the numbers rapidly, many students approach this mathematical exercise as if it is equivalent to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.
Our mobile phone generation with all its gadgets and prayer disrupting music, bells, whistles and what not have given our youth some advantages in staying connected. However, the mobile phone has become a super necessity even for children less than ten years of age. I wonder what critical and important business decisions they have to make with regards to this ‘magical, miracle machine’.
Not to be outdone by a lack of progress, science is on the horizon promising glowing and wondrous new breakthroughs that indeed will turn our world into a veritable paradise. All diseases will be curable or prevented with a quick snip and change of the genes in the fetus and in understanding the gene complex, especially in the science of aging, the ability of man to live for hundreds of years (and why not thousands of years) is coming closer and closer.
We must not overlook the part that some scientists are reaching for creating life from just mere chemicals. In other words, man is on the verge of being a creator, a life giver and when and where he will dispose of his toys, he will become a terminator of what he created. Perhaps if life continued in this insipid way, he would fancy himself a ‘god’ as even more wonders will be at his fingertips.
Even the military is making huge strides by getting closer to putting a virtual invisible soldier in the field to fight the enemy. At this point in time comes the news of a science fiction gun being worked on and even tested by the military. That gun is called the railgun. This railgun is supposed to make the need for the much feared cruise missiles to become in part obsolete.
What one country has other countries may want to indulge in. So, the arms race is not over. It has just entered into a new phase of ‘competiveness’. Man has not given up the need to ‘rule the world’ in the sense that economic control may appear to be the new battlefront. This of course drives the economic engine much like the donkey is driven when a carrot is placed on a stick and held just out of reach from the donkey. Always moving to reach the object of its desires, the donkey does not quite figure it out that it is just a waste of time.
Did Prophet Muhammad (pbh) mention any numbers that were talked about earlier and if he did what could it possibly mean? Well he mentioned one number which should be put into perspective and in another hadith; he mentioned that in a certain period the number of Arabs would be few.
The first thing to note is that Prophet Muhammad (pbh) always told the truth. Even his staunchest enemies did not doubt that! The second thing to note comes from trying to put things in the right context to understand what is being said. Therefore, one hadith must be joined to others as well as the Holy Books to provide a framework for the possible understandings of such. Finally, one must use all due caution in explaining things because of the difficulty in the Comprehensiveness of his sayings.
The last part is very critical and shows that man must use caution and lots of it to be on the safe side in looking for the truth without making statements that would lead to errors. That is the major difficulty unless it can be shown from various sources what the ‘nature of the talk’ was about. In the end, however, it is best said that Allah Alone Knows For Sure.
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (pbh) as saying, “I have been given superiority over the prophets in six respects: I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning; I have been helped by terror (in the hearts of enemies); spoils have been made lawful to me; the earth has been made for me a place of worship and ceremonially pure; I have been sent to all mankind; and the line of prophets is closed with me. (Muslim)
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported the Prophet (pbh) as saying that Allah Most High will call Adam and he will reply, “At Thy service and at Thy pleasure, in Whose hands is all good.” Allah will tell him to bring out those who are to go to hell, and when he asks what this consists of he will be told that it is nine hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousand. Then young children will become grey-haired, pregnant women will give birth, and mankind will appear drunk although they will not be really so; but Allah’s punishment is severe. On being asked which of them that one {the one who is to be spared} would be Allah’s Messenger replied, “Be of good cheer, for there is one of you to every thousand of Gog and Magog.” He then said, “By HIM in Whose hand my soul is, I hope you may be a quarter of the inhabitants of Paradise, “and when they cried, “Allah is Most Great,” he said, “I hope you may be a third of the inhabitants of Paradise.” Again they cried, “Allah is Most Great,” and he said, I hope you may be half the inhabitants of Paradise.” Yet again they cried, “Allah is Most Great,” and he said, “Among mankind you are just like a black hair in the skin of a white bull, or like a white hair in the skin of a black bull.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Umm Sharik reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, “People will fly from the dajjal till they get to the mountains.” She asked where the Arabs would be in that day, and he replied that they would be few. (Muslim)
The world is closing in on having 7 billion people on this planet. In believing in the HEREAFTER and ACCOUNTABILITY and that every nation has been given a prophet in the past to pass on a warning, people should be able to figure out in a simple commonsense way that life will NOT continue without some very dramatic changes occurring in the future.
All those talking of a concept of a Paradise and a Hell-fire talk about a ‘finality’ of days. In other words, life will not continue on forever and definitely NOT as we know it. This is a well known fact as this has been promised inside the Holy Writ.
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book {of life}. Daniel (12: 1)
For then shall be great tribulation, such was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved but for the elects sake, those days shall be shortened. Matthew (24: 21-22)
It would also be helpful to incorporate modern science into the puzzle and see what they have come up with. There is no need to build a hypothesis of what man may face in the future such as super volcanoes, super tsunamis, and asteroids striking the Earth along with huge global mass migrations due to a shortage of water and food. A look to one past provable event should be enough!
The problem is twofold. Are the expressions found in the Holy Literature accurate? Is the scientific explanation accurate for an event which is claimed by some scientists to have wiped out over 98% of the human race? I dispute their numbers but rather accept that about 70% of the human race went on to extinction rather than 98%. However, the fact remains, that religious literature ‘claims’ that what is coming will be worse than what happened in the past.
Modern science has even gotten into the act when they investigated the Super Volcano Toba in Sumatra that erupted nearly 75,000 years ago. That there was such a huge eruption and that the whole Earth was affected quite adversely cannot be doubted. According to some scientists, the human race suffered greatly under that huge eruption such that the human race was reduced to about only 3,000 or less survivors in the whole world.
That number is disputed by some but that is not the point. The point is that nearly 70% of the human population living on the face of the Earth underwent extinction and that certainly is a very drastic happening.
The point raised here is that man is and always has been a fragile creature living on a very active and dynamic planet and is totally dependent on his Creator LORD for his substance, livelihood and even purpose. Throw in the knowledge that the last Prophet, Prophet Muhammad (pbh) is truly the last of the line of prophets and the feeling that something must be brewing in the winds is a feeling that just can’t be taken lightly.
What seems to be missing from this equation or that billions of people will die in a relatively short period is the understanding of what comes next. What comes next is what I have called the Fifth Age of man or the ‘paradise on Earth’ led by the Islamic prophet, Jesus the son of Mary (pbh). That is, the understanding of what that implies as to who can enter this paradise because there is another Age to come after that Age is ‘taken up’ swiftly and with finality being yet another repeat of the pattern of dramatic occurrences.
Under the article, The Law of Grace and the Law of Mercy it was made clear concerning these events. Other articles found on this Website also deal with these times and the concept of that paradise to come which will lead to that other age, a hateful, pathetic age and then on to THE FINAL JUDGMENT AND THE PARADISE IN THE HEAVENS.
First, one must establish in clarity that this Earth will be made into a paradise which various hadiths from the Prophet (pbh) do discuss. Although this paradise is not going to last forever because being on Earth means that there will be a deterioration or entropy as is clear from hadiths, what is needed is a sound ‘proof’ that indeed there will be a paradise on Earth from the strongest source – the Quran.
The proof must be clear and unambiguous for it to be valid instead of an old wives tale. However, with all things in life, there are people who can see without much help and there are people who can see with some help as well as people who can see with a lot of help and of course there are people who can’t see even if they are given all the help in the world.
What is with you must vanish: What is with Allah will endure. And We will reward those who practice fortitude according to their best deeds. Whosoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, provided he is a believer, We will certainly grant him to live a pure life in this world and We will reward such people (in the Hereafter) according to their best deeds. Q (16: 96-97)
RESURRECTION shall take place so that Allah may reward those who have believed and done good works… Q (34: 4)
… After those days, said the Lord, I will put MY LAWS into their mind, and write them in their HEARTS: and I will be to them a God and they shall be to ME a people.
And they shall NOT {have to} teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, “Know the LORD”: for ALL shall know ME {The ONE GOD}, from the least {in rank} to the greatest.
For I will be Merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their inequities I will remember no more. Hebrews (8: 10-12)
This goes along with the following and that what was left out of the above quote:
All who obey Allah and the Messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah, of the Prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of truth), the martyrs, and the righteous (who do good): AH! HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THEIR COMPANY.
SUCH IS THE BOUNTY FROM ALLAH AND SUFFICIENT IS IT THAT ALLAH KNOWS ALL (THINGS). Q (4: 69-70)
What was left out from the verse Hebrews (8: 10) was “For this is the covenant that I will make with the House of Israel.” As already explained in my books, the House of Israel means only those who are the true servants of Allah and this does in no way imply Israel at that future time being under the sway of Judaism. In fact all religions will cease to exist except the ONE called Islam. By definition, Israel means servants of Allah after the name of prophet Jacob (pbh) being given the name Israel and this has been expressed in many ways including the New Testament verses found in Acts (3: 22-23) which is in reality the declaration concerning Islam as in the following term:
If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah) NEVER will it be accepted of him; and in the HEREAFTER he will be in the ranks of those who have lost. Q (3: 85)
That may not be enough for people to chew on, however. So now one has to go to the best of the best interpreters of the Quran to sew up the argument. The following is from the book, He Is Not My Ancestor pages 119-120.
“Although he was only 13 years old at the time of the death of the Prophet (pbh) ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas became one of the most learned Companions of the Prophet. The Prophet would often sit close to him while praying: “O Lord, make him acquire a deep understanding of the religion of Islam and instruct him in the meaning and interpretation of things.” He was also called, by the second caliph of Islam (‘Umar) “the young man of maturity.” ‘Abdullah was acknowledged as one of the most learned of men in Islam.
The huge controversy over the gardens of paradise, for most people at least, would seem to come from the area denoting paradise on this Earth as well as Paradise in the heavens. This issue has a big impact on the validity of the Six Ages of man theory that strongly adheres to the belief in a temporal paradise on Earth and a permanent Paradise in the Heavens and the reasons for these things. In this book the paradise on Earth was called the Gift of Allah because man could purify himself if he isn’t one of the few who have already done so while being rewarded by doing great deeds.
Then he must die as all men die and of course he must be raised up to a place where death will be no more. The Old Testament and the New Testament do allude to this but in such a sparse way. Also, when studying the records it should be remembered that no time line is put forward so these concepts are difficult to perceive without the study of Islam. As in all things, Allah knows best. Here are some thoughts on this matter from ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas and others.
“Jannat al-ma’wa” literally means “the Jannat (Garden) that is to be an abode.” Hadrat Hasan Basri says that this is the same Jannat which the believers and the righteous will be given in the Hereafter, and from this same verse he has argued that that Jannat is in the heavens. Qatadah says that this is the Jannat in which the souls of the martyrs are kept; it does not imply the {other} Jannat that is to be given in the Hereafter. Ibn ‘Abbas also says the same but adds that the Jannat to be granted to the believers in the Hereafter is not in the heavens but here on the earth. (Taken from The Meaning of the Quran, part of note # 11 p. 243, vol. XIII Surah AN-Najm, verse 13).”
In addition to this when all of the hadiths are put into context, it is clearly shown that the paradise on Earth comes before the Last Day of Judgment and this paradise is a GIFT from Allah to the believers, men and women, so as to multiply their goodness and make them PURE in this world before that Great and Terrible Day when all souls will be rendered under HIS GAZE and JUDGMENT. Then comes the time for the real ETERNAL PARADISE AND THE REAL HELL-FIRE AND THAT ACTION OF THE PROPHET AS HE WILL LEARN SPECIAL PRAISES TO ASK HIS LORD FOR THE SALVATION OF THOSE WHOM ALLAH OUT OF HIS GRACE AND MERCY DEEMS WORTHY.
What precisely does this have to do with the concept that billions of people will die in a relatively short time? That is a good question and the answer can be found when people use their commonsense.
The paradise on Earth and the Paradise in the Heavens will NOT be entered directly anyway by the Gog, Magog or their friends or else that would make a mockery of the term paradise! That is where the number ‘one out of one thousand’ comes in.
Commonsense can tell one that if there are nearly 7 billion people on this Earth at this time, one out of one thousand leads to quite a reduction of people in a span of only a few years. Even though this number has a lot of ‘hidden’ factors to it and therefore precision down to the last decimal cannot be guaranteed, it can’t be denied that a massive kill off is in the offering.
Before jumping to the glorious Fifth Age or the Age of paradise on Earth, it would be nice to have a foreknowledge of certain things to come. In my books I talked about Gog and Magog and their friends. The statement of ‘and their friends’ may have sounded somewhat mysterious because there is no direct discussion of ‘and their friends’ found anywhere.
The meaning of ‘and their friends’ comes from the action of certain peoples to rise up and commit atrocities all of a sudden without so-called rhyme or reason. So the ‘and their friends’ statement meant those who tend to act like the Gog and Magog peoples without being cast as directly one of them.
We have in this modern time experienced several of these psychological phenomenon or events called perversions. This has happened in several countries most notably in Bosnia and Rwanda whereby people in one week have been known to sit down having a happy chat and meal together and then the next week they will be seeking to engage in mass murder or plunder against their so-called ‘neighbors’.
Furthermore, we also have seen people with advanced degrees or professions such as ‘people of the cloth’ supposedly serving God, engineers, doctors and nurses who were in the field of giving aid and comfort turn into ragging killers at the drop of the hat. So this is like a warning or caution concerning things to come.
One doesn’t expect these people to turn into common thugs overnight but that is exactly what happened not too long ago hence, the term ‘and their friends’. So this world is not exactly as stable as one might think – physically or mentally. In fact the only ONE holding this world together, indeed the whole universe together, is Allah about which there should be no doubt!
And because we are told this in the hadiths concerning one being a believer in the morning and a disbeliever at night or being a believer in the night and turning to a disbeliever in the morning, we should use some commonsense. Is this hadith expressively given to show a defect in the Arab character? That would be terribly strange indeed. No, as has been proven chillingly above, this is a characteristic or disease that is shared by certain members of society, namely the human race.
Do you think that you will enter Paradise without undergoing such trials as were experienced by the believers before you…? Q (2: 214).
Those who are to act this way do not go around with a sign on their chests proclaiming, “Let us eat and drink together today as friends and neighbors for tomorrow I will kill you outright.” Therefore, this disease is one that can’t be anticipated nor put off because of the Divine Decree. Fortunately, those who have their wits about them realize that they in all cases should turn to Allah in any case and in any condition for HE IS THE DEFENDER BUT ALSO THE JUST AND IN TRUSTING IN HIM AND ACCEPTING THE MYSTERY OF LIFE AND THAT HIS PROMISES ARE TRUE WE WILL INHERIT THAT PLACE WHICH EVEN IF A SCOOP OF ITS EARTH WERE TO FALL ON THIS PLANET WOULD BE WORTH MORE THAN THIS TEMPORAL EARTH AND WHAT IT CONTAINS.
The end of the Fourth Age, the age we are living in now, has been predicted by the Holy Records to end dramatically and quite suddenly after a period of woes like the world has never seen before and will never see again! That includes any super volcano going off or any annihilation caused by a super tsunami or all the other possible imaginable horrors that one can think of.
Yet the period of the Great Signs predicted by Prophet Muhammad (pbh) as well as other prophets most notably Daniel (pbh) do show when understood in their proper context, to be a period of great stress, grief, utter confusion, hopelessness for many, metamorphosis and a host of other destructive forces helping to drive the human race to the brink of extinction. Many of these things have been recorded in my books and these articles and need not be listed here.
The importance of the Six Ages of man theory is the showing of the entrance of paradise on Earth led by the true Messiah, the Islamic Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary (pbh). In retrospect and by logic and common consent that means that the paradise on Earth will not contain the Gog and Magog and their friends {people of like nature to that special band raised up for the purpose that has been designed for them}.
*My first book, The Shining Light of Islam, was intended to be my last book. This book actually is made up of three separate books put together into one large book. After waiting several years for its publication and fretting a bit, I personally didn’t want to bother with writing another book.
Those were my feelings but for sure no man is in control of what will happen in the future. After visiting one of my wife’s relatives in Canada, I read some hastily thrown together book of about 102 pages discussing the Anti-christ which contained 100 pages of talk not seemingly directly related to the subject. With pen in hand, I found myself writing my second book, Kill The Beast, which was my contribution to the input on the Anti-christ.
I mention this book because in that book I declared that mankind was going to enter the Age of Excellence to come and called it the fourth age. That wasn’t a typo on my part but just an expression used in showing the ‘future age’ to come would be quite different than this age we will apparently be leaving shortly.
The reason why I mentioned this is that soon after the publication of this book I started on yet another book which, within its pages, of the third book, The Holy Grail: The Messiah on Trial and the fourth book, He Is Not My Ancestor, came the beginnings of the formulization of the Six Ages of man theory.
As one can see, the idea for this theory did not germinate from before this time as the naming of the new age to come would not have been called the fourth age in my second book. Instead, according to the Six Ages of man theory, it is called the Fifth Age of man.
What precisely is the Six Ages of man theory and does it have any backing in Islamic literature? In my humble opinion it most certainly does and it shows and explains a lot of things of which some are known by scientists but other things which are not known as of yet.
Simply stated the Six Ages of man theory takes a historic and spiritualistic look at the Earth and tries to make sense of the rise and fall of cultures (known and unknown) and the Promise made by the Creator LORD to the human race. The fulfillment of this Promise happens eventually on what is called The Day of Judgment. Along with this idea is the consistency found in this theory which must be based on the Holy Records for it to be a fact.
That word ‘consistency’ is a very electric word. By this word I mean that when one takes a long look at the history of Earth as to its happenings there seems to be an integrated development spanning from the earliest of times. And man is still connected to this Earth and therefore forms part of the whole. In other words, he is not just a ‘passive’ bystander on this planet.
This planet that we call home for now is a part of our ‘package’ and not something that we can stay aloof from. So, in a certain small respect, as Earth goes, so do we go. Well, that is kind of a big overall picture. Another side of this coin is the notion of part of Allah’s PLAN and its wholeness and uniformity. That is a huge leap for gaining understanding and might be regulated to those who ‘ponder’ about the EXCELLENCE AND MAGNITUDE OF OUR CREATOR LORD’S GREATNESS.
What does this theory state in general and do we have any direct Islamic evidence for it?
In general, this Six Ages of man theory states that the Earth does and will undergo certain cataclysmic (dramatic) events that tend to alter the conditions on this Earth in a dynamic way according to the PLAN of Allah. We as mere mortals cannot presume to come close to understanding the fullness of HIS PLAN but we might get a glimpse of it. In addition to this, it puts the Creator LORD into better perspective as THE SOVERIGN LORD upon Whom we are completely dependent.
Moreover, it states that life on Earth being greatly affected by these events does not disappear altogether but that there is a transitional phase or transference between cultures taking place. That means that when a civilization has been mostly wiped out, certain things of remembrance are passed down to the surviving ones who carry out a remembrance of what went on before. Hence, the Tale of the Ancients which may in part be true and in part be manipulated mythology commonly called hogwash or mere invention on the part of man!
Furthermore, each preceding age tends to last longer in time than the one that will come after it. Finally, each preceding age tends to be more spiritual-mental and less physical-materialistic than the stage that will follow. This means that the earlier ages of man lasted longer and were more spiritual-mental and less physical-materialistic.
This does not mean that people were better than those who came after them but they were kind of different in the applications of life than we are. Such a thing is extremely hard to express in writing but one example can be given.
This example concerns the First Age of man. In using logic and commonsense one can understand that those of the First Age did not require a spaceship to come down from above (the heavens) and they didn’t need any spaceship to go from down (Earth) to go back to the above (in the heavens). But of this we have no certain knowledge. So as to the first two ages of man one can say that our knowledge is in reality virtually non-existent.
As far as I’m concerned that is probably best for mankind anyway. As to the Third Age or the age that Noah (pbh) lived in, our knowledge going through all the claimed existent records does not render us a great deal of ‘facts’ with which to deal with. There are some microscopic glimpses of that age, however, that do show some things that seem to be out of the ordinary.
What all that basically means is that man through the ages since the time of Adam (pbh) has been growing less in size (stature). Stature does not only mean height but it can mean certain kinds of knowledge and prowess. The word ‘prowess’ can mean that man could do certain things (depending on the age) that we can do today but in a much different and less physical way. The big difference is that they might have been able to do these things without machines whereas today we need machines to accomplish certain activities.
For most people that would sound strange and mysterious and indeed that would be correct since we are far removed from those who have gone and left no traces – especially since they have been obliterated. In reality it is not our business anyway because we are living in this age but the history lesson can be found in the Quran quite clearly and this applies to ANY AGE!
We don’t have much detail given to us of previous ‘generations’ that lived on this planet eons ago but we do have some detail that the Holy Books agree on concerning the people of Noah (pbh).
That generation lived quite lengthy lives as compared to this generation so one can say that man has been shrinking in size or better called ‘stature’ (abilities) since that time. However, a look at the ‘shoe print’ of Abraham (pbh) found near the Kabah in Makkah shows an ordinary size of footprint made by a man of average height wearing some type of foot covering carrying something heavy. Since Abraham existed around 2,000 years before the birth of Jesus the son of Mary (pbh), one can see but an ordinary sized footprint.
The hadith dealing with these huge time scales of ages past is quite telling. This hadith follows:
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (pbh) as saying that when Allah created Adam in his form with a height of sixty cubits, HE said to him with reference to some angels who were seated, “Go and salute that group of angels and listen to their reply, for it is the Salutation to be used by you and your {human} offspring.” So Adam said to the angels, “Peace be upon you,” and the angels replied, “Peace and Allah’s Mercy be upon you.” In replying to Adam the angels added, “And Allah’s Mercy.” The Prophet said, “All those who enter Paradise will have Adam’s form and a height of sixty cubits; but created beings have continued to diminish in stature since Adam’s creation till now.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
To give a perspective in the size of Adam (pbh) the Kabah in Makkah is approximately 14 meters in height from top to bottom. The measurement of the cubit as used in the above hadith is not positively known. However, in taking some ancient scales of the cubit into consideration, one can give an approximate guess on the size of Adam (pbh) as being between 39 and 25.68 meters in height. The first measurement is taken from the Arabic Hashimi cubit and the second measurement is taken from a Jewish cubit that was used during the time of the First Temple. Whatever the case may be that indeed is awesomely large for a human being but that is speaking just about size.
When it comes to speaking about stature as to ‘abilities’, it gives us a further clue as to a man’s potential and possible vicegerent-like abilities. This of course would need some semblance of proof which we do not have at the present even though some rumors still persist until this time.
However, what is NOT in doubt is the Quran. The Quran, in fact, is a book of Truth that is timeless. The following verses show that even if man’s ability according to himself is deemed great, it still is not great enough.
See they not how many of those before them WE did destroy? Generations WE had established on the {face} of the Earth, in strength such as WE have not given to you – for whom WE poured out rain from the skies in abundance, and gave streams flowing beneath their (feet): yet for their sins WE destroyed them, and raised in their wake fresh generations (to succeed them). Q (6: 6)
But the evil results of their deeds overtook them and that every (Wrath) at which they had scoffed hemmed {encircled} them in. Q (23: 81)
To every people is a Term Appointed: when their Term is reached, not an hour can they cause it to be delayed, nor an hour can they advance (it in anticipation). Q (7: 34)
These verses are not for those who are arrogant. Similarly, this theory called the Six Ages of man is not for the arrogant either.
Specifically, the desert Arabs are being told that much greater civilizations that came before them were destroyed and they were destroyed for their sins. What is intriguing is that the Quran is NOT just talking about ‘desert Arabs’ but can be applied to the generalities of all cultures before it and after it. Hence, the idea that previous ages had in some way in some sense more advanced cultures (stature, prowess) then is currently thought.
Even when we have virtually no knowledge of these things, how can we make that assumption? The Quran is not a Book that is considered valid only up to that time of its being sent down but is a Book that continues beyond this age up until it will be WITHDRAWN (from which nothing can be gained from it and that its existence cannot be found) from the human race.
This Six Ages of man theory takes into account the nature of Earth to be dynamic as well as the life found therein. When the various societies that have been found to be living on it are taken into account, a basic pattern falls into place. The basic pattern is the one mentioned in the Quran and hadiths as to a society being advanced in prowess but also wickedness and then being visited by a prophet and, in turning him away, the society becomes by its own hand extremely disobedient and careless, showing rejection of belief and arrogance. Following this, comes the total or near destruction of its peoples with but few survivors.
As far as the pattern being consistent with this often delusional and dynamic world, one can review the geological ages of periodic mass extinctions that have taken place on this Earth. This shows that there is really nothing new at all about these extinctions and because Allah is in CONTROLL of ALL things there is most definitely a reason why things happen. For us humans, the reason belongs to HIM and not us so we should not worry about that but rather put our trust in HIM.
Geologically speaking there have been five major mass extinctions and quite a few minor ones that scientists know of. The major ones are the ones whereby nearly 50% to 90% of all species on Earth have been wiped out in a very short period of time. A very short time is the time that is considered to be relatively very quick and not drawn out.
Therefore, one can conclude that what is happening is quite dramatic and intense with major changes that will be coming in the future. These major mass extinctions that we know of include the end of the Ordovician period, the late Devonian period, the end of the Permian period, the end of the Triassic period and the end of the Cretaceous period.
Coming closer to home one finds the destruction of the people of Noah (pbh) The Ad, the Thamud and Sodom and Gomorrah to mention just a few of the civilizations that came to virtually an abrupt halt with few people left alive who could tell the tale of destruction.
What that literally means is that man’s last chance has come upon us before yet another great mass extinction comes about. But this mass extinction is NOT just about starting over and replaying the circle of life and death in an endless fashion. It is about the coming of a new age, called the fifth age of man or the promised paradise of man on Earth.
How do we know THAT! That is easy when one ponders just what exactly it means to have the office of prophethood come to an end and in considering what it means to have that certain Prophet become titled by his CREATOR LORD to be THAT PROPHET not for one nation but the WHOLE WORLD. Truthfully, it represents more than just an ordinary chapter in the lives of the human race – for those who ponder!
After the Fifth Age of man will come the Sixth Age of man and that age will house the ‘filth’ of humanity. This age will also, according to hadiths, be ushered in dramatically and with swiftness.
‘A’isha told that she heard Allah’s Messenger (pbh) say, “Night and day shall not pass away till al-Lat and al-Uzza are worshiped.” She told Allah’s Messenger she had thought that when Allah sent down, “He it is Who has sent HIS Messenger with guidance and true religion to make it prevail over all the religions, though the polytheists should be displeased Q (9: 33) the matter was at an end to which he replied, “What Allah Wills regarding that will come to pass. Allah will then send a fragrant wind which will take the soul of everyone who has in his heart as much faith as a grain of mustard seed but those who have no good in them {whatsoever} will remain and return to the religion of their ancestors.” (Muslim)
Mirdan al-Aslami reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, “The upright will depart one after another {in measured stages} and there will remain refuse like that of barley or dates which Allah will treat as of no account {useless and worthless}.” (Bukhari)
After a certain point is reached in the Fifth Age and the Quran has been withdrawn along with spiritual knowledge, the Fifth Age will cease to exist and the remainder of the population and their offspring will be for Satan and his band of criminals. Note that there is a defining point where the Fifth Age was and where the Sixth Age occurs. That age also ends and ends quite abruptly! The Seventh Age, which this theory does not deal with and has no business in dealing with, is basically the finality of the Decisions rendered on the Last Day of Judgment.
Some of these things are foretold in the Holy Records but some people want ‘numbers’ to be given and when it is mentioned that billions of people will die in less than a decade they would want proof. However, the proof like any proof must be logical and understandable and fit within side a practical theory such that a pattern can be seen to occur. Therefore, the idea of ‘one out of one thousand takes on some credibility as to its understanding. Such is presented in the Six Ages of man theory.
However, it must be said that when a person dies that person will be raised up based on his true intentions. The true intention a man has which is in his heart is only known by his Creator LORD and that is HIS business only. This is said so that no one should pretend to judge ‘death’ and the soul with finality for that is not man’s business.
Not too long ago ‘WikiLeaks’ was in the news. Some may have thought that this was a good idea. In fact it was not as it led many to suspicions concerning the major ‘world’ players. However, some with a touch of wisdom might be able to see where these events are going.
In a world full of turmoil and various agendas based in a deep-rooted philosophy of greed, which is the opposite of brotherhood, the WikiLeaks phenomenon showed what was already guessed. The major world powers and other world stirrers are engaged in what might be called a chess match as they are pitted against each other.
There appears to be the big four sectors composed of the Asian, European, Middle Eastern and American/Canadian players. This is somewhat simplistic but that is the way it is.
Each sector is watching the other ones so as to create a self-favorable position or as they might call it a stable environment. It is also a dangerous thing as when one is waiting and watching for someone to stumble or even to cause a condition where one will stumble so as to rush in and fill the vacuum. Therefore, it is much like a gunfighter who faces several opponents with his eyes moving constantly from right to left and even trying to be aware of what is behind him in case some mischief is afoot. The problem or the happy circumstance is that no one appears to be willing to draw first.
In Islam, these suspicions, which are tantamount to slander, should never be put out in front of the public. For one thing, they may never come to fruition. For another thing, it causes even more paranoia which could lead to ‘wars and rumors of war’. This means that the level of Fitna can go up amongst certain peoples as they can be manipulated into doing certain acts while the level of trust goes down as between neighbors. That indeed is a very dangerous game to play.
‘Abdullah b. Mas’ud reported that Muhammad (pbh) said, “Should I inform you that slandering, which is in fact tale-carrying creates dissension amongst people” and he further said, “The person tells the truth until he is recorded as truthful and he tells a lie until he is recorded a liar. (Muslim)
But the world is in such a state, especially a state that it has earned, by ignoring the common sensibilities of Truth. And someone may wonder “Why are we in such a current state of affairs bringing us ever closer the brink of disaster?”
That question has already been answered in various correct responses given in the Holy Records from the Abrahamic Peoples of the Book – the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Perfect and Complete Record known as the Glorious Quran. However, it has been proven again and again that a lot of people just don’t care for these things or have ‘fallen asleep’ at the wheel as to understanding these things.
The people only know the outward aspects of the worldly life, and of the HEREAFTER they are heedless. Q (30: 7)
Putting these things into a precise category is not the business of the human being but is known full well and completely by Allah. However, one can gather some information about the ‘general masses’ and the place we live on called Earth.
Food/water, clothing and shelter are basics and must be entertained before the spiritual so as to sustain the spiritual matters in growth – in a general worldly sense of speaking only. After that, the need to pause and reflect on the Praiseworthiness and Excellence of our Creator Lord in doing HIS WILL becomes tantamount in the day to day living exercise we on Earth call ‘LIFE’. But that is just not happening at any enormous pace. In fact things seem to be going in quite the reverse order. So one can gather from this that ‘all’ seem to be guilty of something and one of the areas we are woeful on is the neglect of the spiritual aspects of life.
That is a given, so what else is new? It is up to the individual by his desire, with Allah’s Permission, to move forward in his or her understanding of the importance of ‘healing the soul’ and not just the body although the body is also included in this context. This can’t be done with a general feeling of malaise, an attitude of ignorance, as in who cares, or an attitude of barbaric pride.
What is missing in all of this is the key ingredient of the Science of Tawheed or the love of the UNIQUENESS and ONENESS of the SUPREME BEING and HIS System. We do not have to understand the complex but when looking around at the world at large one can find quite a variance between peoples’ love for Tawheed and their rejection of it or parts of it.
It is quite natural for most people to believe or see that the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West. Because man is attached to the Earth, is there not a pattern to be seen here? Just take a look at the human race in its recent history as to the ‘empires of advancement or learning’ sometimes called culture.
Beginning with the ancient culture of China and moving westward to Greece and still further westward to Rome and still further westward to the awakening of the Arab culture and still further westward to the development of western Europe and still further westward to the rise of America and now back to the awakening giant China**. The circle of life seems to return again.
That sounds like a mighty big coincidence doesn’t it? Whether it sounds like a coincidence or it sounds absurd does not really matter. Man is a part of a type of ‘oneness’ and therefore should appreciate even more the ABSOLUTE ONENESS of his CREATOR LORD in all of HIS SPLENDOR AND GLORY but sadly he maintains a peculiar aloofness from HIM especially when he insists on giving HIM partners or embraces some form of false philosophy or religion as a mockery of REAL FAITH.
That ‘oneness’ that man shares is not based on a ‘new world order’ of financial wizardry some might call ‘benevolent greed’ but on the human soul going all the way back to its creation and its duty to be constructive towards it (the soul possessed by man).
That being the case, the human being is advised to arm him or herself with an awareness of what it really means to be human according to HIS WILL and the consequences of doing one’s own thing as opposed to HIS WILL – that is, the fate of Personal Accountability. This in no way instructs a person to be a super human being but it does require an interest in doing what is right and refraining as much as one can from doing what is wrong.
So how do we know how or what to do? It isn’t from a crystal ball that we get the answers but from two basic sources that need to be applied but applied with understanding and not ignorant bliss or scornful pride. The two sources are simply that knowledge that was allowed to come to man from two areas: the Holy Records and the doings (actions and sayings) of the ‘caretakers of the truth’ called the prophets (peace and blessings be upon them all).
If some pieces of the puzzle are missing, then the best thing would be to go and find another piece that is more dependable and complete instead of treading water or finding excuses to be ignorant or lazy. That sounds simple enough.
However, we are dealing with the human race that has its own agendas and certain advanced performers who have tongues of honey but hearts of bile. Therefore, a person who has a God-given commonsense should not be so eager to be fooled or tricked by ‘fluffy’ but empty philosophies garnished with heaps of praise signifying nothing but dressed up fairytales and lies.
After all, it is his own soul on the line and if he truly believes in the HEREAFTER, he should be motivated to some degree in discovering why he is here on Earth in the first place and what he should do to have a happy end. So what has to be followed is something that is testable, tangible, provable, historical, concrete and not contradictory within its own text and definitely not philosophical fluff!
In knowing the propensity of the devils among men to bring on destructiveness and subversion leading to contentions, a period of between 40 and 70 years after that certain gifted individual (the time that the bringer of the revelation to the people ceased to walk the face of the Earth) should be the ‘cutoff’ period by which no new philosophies or ideas should be accepted to influence that ‘faith’.
Furthermore, no foreign element such as a foreign language should be regarded in the discussion. Even though a foreign language may be a nearly 100% correct version of the ‘official language’, it still should not count as an infallible proof.
This rather radical and tough idea does knock out a lot of good works and good ideas no doubt but why fear that? If what one worships as an idea is really worth anything more than a pinch of putty, let that idea stand on its own merits without artificially propping it up. By all means, do prop up the weak contenders because the weak ones DO NEED PROPPING UP! That just shows the weakness of man’s inventions. Isn’t it enough to understand that THE ONE GOD NEEDS NO SUPPORT NOR IS HE IN NEED OF ANY HELP!!!
If someone’s concept or idea of ‘The God’ is so weak that it needs propping up, it seems to me that that particular concept is just as strong as cardboard held together with paste made from flour and water. In other words, down throughout history man has had some very strange notions that in the light of commonsense become nothing more than wild flights of fantasy.
Many people are actually ambivalent when it comes to the truth especially concerning religious issues. One will find that the topic of the day concerns that which would fill their bellies rather than the higher truths. Perhaps that is natural for those who have no passion for the spiritual nature of things and would rather trudge along the pathway of life and death as a drone happy and content with just a hot bowl of soup at the end of the day unless of course they can stumble on a windfall such as winning the lottery.
After all, what is their motivation in life? Let those who guide do their thing as long as it fills a comfort zone and doesn’t require man to overly think too much – for a high spiritual entity, this is not sounding like a very progressive attitude at least not an attitude of one who wants to be partakers of the ‘inheritors of promise’.
So the premise is that it is the culture and what a person is born into (the type of religious expression) that reflects a person’s attitudes and beliefs and that is exactly what Islam states. However, as in all cases and categories, there are lots of surprises. We saw two big examples of this occurrence from Saul (Paul) and ‘Umar. Yet there are tons of other examples from the common everyday person who has by THE GRACE and MERCY of Allah been able to ‘wakeup’ and throw the fog of doubt and malaise from his heart, mind and intentions.
This is nothing more than a great Gift from the ONE WHO is the BEST at dispensing gifts. Then the journey begins and like a journey there are battles to be fought. And like the Prophet (pbh), some battles are won and some are lost but the true believer takes it one step at a time and does not quit (although the thought will cross the mind thanks to the devils) but plods on at the pace set for him or her by THE GRACE and MERCY of his LORD.
And why is the pace set for that person? Specifically, we don’t know. Generally speaking, it is what is needed (those experiences and lessons) to win through the day and become a complete human being, if Allah so chooses, and so the believers turn to HIM and turn to HIM often for HE is the ONE WHO turns them to the light, HIS LIGHT, so that their (former) sins may be forgiven.
But he that denies me {my true character/nature} before men shall be denied before the angels of God. Luke (12: 9)
After reading all of the articles on this Website, it is quite possible that the reader can understand these most truthful words attributed to Jesus the son of Mary (pbh). They are quite telling and not only telling they give a strong warning to those who have practiced or are practicing malfeasance according to the Law of Truth.
Those who deny the reality of Jesus the son of Mary (pbh) as to being but a holy prophet, a blessed man and a most true and humble servant and slave of his Creator LORD will be denied in front of their faces and in front of the whole creation as to being blatant rejecters of truth.
Just how valuable is comparative religion as used on this site anyway? Well, the articles developed here on this website have tried to bring in a sense of perspective concerning an understanding of what some people have preached to others. Basically, several points have been shown. The first and most vital point is the UNIQUENESS AND ONENESS OF THE ONE AND ONLY GOD in HIS TOTAL SUPREMECY of ALL things both great and small.
Secondly, some things were discussed that showed a very important harmony and continuity of the Truth down through the ages. No one group of peoples has had a lock on the truth, after all there has been sent to mankind 124,000 prophets, but all are responsible for sharing in it or rejecting it. The rejecters have been told in no uncertain terms within the frameworks given to their respective peoples the penalties for their rejection. Of this there can be no doubt even though many have disreputably tried to hide it or cover it up.
Thirdly, a truer history and reflection of the past has been shown minus the fluff of man’s inventions concerning The Way. This is especially true when it came down to looking at some ideas concerning what is now called Christianity and Islam. Specifically speaking, the notion of Paul being an initiator of falsehoods or a founder of modern day Christian thought is purely laughable and definitely wrong. In fact, one can gather from these writings that Paul would be rather angry at his blatant and rather loose and false use by Christian dogmatists if he were alive.
With modern day Christianity’s philosophy turned on its head, and a better and more practical and sound understanding of its works being presented showing the harmony of truth, it was only natural to show where that truth did lie. There was only one real conclusion to point to and that was and is ISLAM or the return to THE WAY.
Fourthly, the introduction on the discussion of ‘Umar found in the Old Testament not by name but by historically following the points presented by Isaiah (pbh) puts the various sects claiming to represent Islam on notice. To be more specific, those sects claiming to follow Islam without deviation and that are composed of those who have the temerity to reject any of the original companions of the Prophet (pbh) are not worth the paper that they are printed on.
‘Umar was chosen for this ‘point of discussion’ so as to say, “If your silly notions are correct and provable from various so-called sources, how is it that a Holy Book from a peoples not in love with Islam or Muslims attributes to ‘Umar a very high station?” That is, it should be apparent that a ‘Holy Record’ should be held in a higher honor than questionable sayings from questionable people with questionable agendas and questionable characters. Therefore, choosing these deplorable liars over the truth makes your man-made philosophies built out of straw outrageously defunct and corrupt!
Finally, some discussions concerning science was used in a rather different way than normally expected and went on to show that Islam, specifically the Quran and authentic hadith material, are not in any way backward or recycled old knowledge.
To me at least the modern state of Israel is nothing more than a one-trick pony. It is true that this state is ascending in importance and power but as was said before appearances are often deceiving. If greed, double dealing and two-faced hypocrisy were virtues, then the modern state of Israel would be leading the pack.
Fortunately, the modern state of Israel compares to a quarter-horse in a two mile race. The quarter-horse will be leading the pack but after a quarter of a mile, the horse starts to lose steam and at the end of the race it will be dead last.
It is not expected that most of this state’s inhabitants will bother with trying to understand or appreciate the Quranic verses featured directly below:
So WE said: “Strike the (body) with a piece of the (heifer).” Thus Allah brings forth the dead to life and shows you HIS Signs: Perchance you may understand.
Thenceforth were your hearts hardened: they became like a rock and even worse in hardness. For among rocks there are some from which rivers gush forth; others there are which when split asunder send forth water; and others which sink for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unmindful of what you do.
Can you (O you men of Faith) entertain the hope that they will believe in you, seeing that a party of them heard the Word of Allah and perverted it knowingly after they understood it. Q (2: 73-75)
That is not surprising because most of them can’t even understand their castigations from their own Holy Book. However, it might be interesting to try and understand the extension of Judaism’s Holy Book (belonging to the Children of Israel) which is the New Testament.
From the New International Version of the Bible:
Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:
“Though the number of the Israelites be {is} like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.
For the LORD will carry out His sentence on earth with speed and finality.” Romans (9: 27-28)
So too, at the present time, {the era that this epistle was written in} there is a remnant chosen by grace. Romans (5: 11)
The word remnant here means only a small portion. And in connecting Allah’s carrying out His sentence (PLAN) on the Earth as in the Heavens, one gets a context that those who will be ‘spared’ will be the ones who have it placed in their hearts, like seeds the farmer places in the ground, the desire to turn to Islam in humility and earnestness as their former brother ‘Abdullah ibn Salam*** did during the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbh).
Greed which has been mentioned in their Holy Works as a passion of the Anti-christ has been shown by those of hardened hearts in their so-called fair and just dealings with the Palestinians and their fear in the hope to extend their little, insignificant lives in their supposedly clever dealings on peace and the land issue. How clever they seem to be in an obvious underhanded way in dealing strictly from the bottom of the deck while all the while pretending to be what they are not – a fair and outreaching democracy upholding the sacred principles of Faith!
It is so obvious that even the half-blind person can see their actions. However, as the Prophet (pbh) has described the truth in the statement of the ascending nature of Jerusalem towards the end of this age, what further proof is needed about those who wish to gamble away their souls for such a paltry gain!
Muadh b. Jabal reported Allah’s Messenger (pbh) as saying, “The flourishing state of Jerusalem will be when Yathrib is in ruins, the ruined state of Yathrib will be when the Great War comes, the outbreak of the Great War will be at the conquest of Constantinople, and the conquest of Constantinople when the dajjal {Anti-christ} comes forth.” (Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud)
How ironic it is that the state of Israel has chosen the Star of David as their national flag. How marvelous it is but yet how ironic it is:
Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected Faith, by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary because they disobeyed and persisted in Excesses. Q (5: 78)
Tons of other examples can be given put what is the point? Can anyone but Allah cause the dead to hear? The answer is NO!!!
Certain things represented in Islam show what can be called ‘cutoff’ dates. These things are not fully understood by people except to say for of a surety that it is Allah and ONLY Allah WHO is in charge of the Affairs and no one else. Any invention of things not existing in Islam would be criminal and called innovations.
It is not man’s business to understand these points but only to accept them. And it is not man’s business to go beyond the known and invent things lest he ruin himself.
Certain ‘cutoff’ points have been mentioned in Islam such as the time when the Jinn’s power to sit at the lowest heaven and listen in was taken away, the squeaking of the PENS writing the future occurrences ceased during the time of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbh) ascension to the various levels of the HEAVENS, the birth and death of individuals including the Gog and Magog such that none can enter into life or death without Allah’s Permission and a whole host of other things.
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, “When three things appear faith will not benefit anyone who has not previously believed or acquired any good from his faith: the rising of the Sun in its place of setting, the dajjal (Anti-christ), and the beast of the earth.” (Muslim)
To every people is a Term Appointed: when their Term is reached, not an hour can they cause it to be delayed, nor an hour can they advance (it in anticipation). Q (7: 34)
In some of my writings I have admittedly given science some kind of dressing down but also credit where credit was due. Now it is time to give science a dressing up. It has been stated in the Quran that man should ponder about things especially in nature while dwelling in reverence to the Almighty God. Well science has done its bit and many individuals impressed by the truthfulness of the Quran and approved hadiths concerning science have embraced Islam and rightly so.
When scientists, who have studied the Sun and objects such as other stars with Sun-like properties, have dwelled upon the eventual fate of that beautiful orb in the sky, they have come to quite a fantastic conclusion. That huge ball of ‘fire’ so important for life on Earth will, if left to its natural life-cycle towards the end of its life become such a tiny, insignificant ball floating in space. In other words, compared to its original size, it will shrink to such a fantastic proportion that it is nearly beyond comprehension.
In doing so, its parts will be integrated with each other or to say it in other terms, the Sun will collapse upon itself so much so that it would appear to the eye as continuously wrapping around itself getting smaller and smaller. The end result will be such a dense object, as calculated by scientists, that if only a few tablespoons of it were to be weighed, it would outweigh the whole Earth and all that is living on it and under it. That is quite a mind-boggling feat to say the least!
For those who reject their LORD (and Cherisher) is the chastisement of Hell: and evil is (such) destination. When they are cast therein, they will hear the (terrible) drawing in of its breath even as it blazes forth. Almost bursting with fury {rage}, every time a Group is cast therein, its keepers will ask, “Did no Warner come to you?” Q (67: 6-8)
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (pbh) as saying, “The Hell and the Paradise fell into dispute and the Hell said, “I have been distinguished by the proud and the haughty {arrogant}. And the Paradise said, “What is the matter with me that the meek and the humble amongst people and the downtrodden and the simple enter me?” Thereupon Allah said to the Paradise, “You are (the means) of MY MERCY whereby I show Mercy to those of MY servants whom I wish,” and HE said to Hell, “You are (the means) of punishment whereby I punish those of MY servants whom I wish. Both of you will be full.” The Hell will not be filled up until Allah puts down HIS foot in it. The Hell would say, “ENOUGH, ENOUGH, ENOUGH” and at that time it will be filled up {with} all its parts integrated together {wrapped continuously around itself}.
According to prophecy found in John (16: 13), Prophet Muhammad (pbh) came to ‘show people things to come’. He is the truthful one on whose lips flowed truth and this is the truth whether the majority of men accept it or not.
**Not too long ago China was a do-it-yourself country under the backward leadership of their Chairman Mao. However, the Chinese took a step in another direction in what might be called ‘pragmatism’. Before this, they complained about ‘hegemony’ especially on the part of the United States. In reevaluating their philosophy, they seemed to see the United States being quite successful in world influence or as they would call it ‘world domination’ and after some time they seemed to give a cursory study on how to approach being successful.
The United States had its ‘toad’ in the state of Israel whereby a whole area of the Middle East could be manipulated so the Chinese developed a similar strategy and adopted its ‘toad’ in the state of North Korea. Without China’s support of North Korea, that country would fold as would be the same with the current state of Israel.
China uses North Korea as a ‘Pit Bull dog’ that is useful as a bargaining chip to gain concessions so as to further its aims of world leadership in order to make China even a stronger country and to gain some political advantage. The same can be said of the relationship between the United States and Israel.
The problem occurs when these temperamental and nasty Pit Bulls get cranky. They are hard to control because of their inbred viciousness and will at times attack their own owners instead of the intended trespassers. Therefore, keeping things nice and neat but above all honest and correct has indeed become a problem.
So what we have here are two Frankenstein states that are self-willed at times and flaunt their supposed creations (for both were created and kept stable for a purpose) but in reality it has had an inverse impact on the various regions that they are placed in to the detriment of mankind in general but especially its neighbors.
These Frankenstein states have taken on a life of their own and both of them act at times in a barbarous way. It is absolutely true even though there are differences that can be shown as to the actions of each of these ‘artificial’ states which are only held together by outside forces.
The North Korean activities are more primitive, barbaric and direct whereas the state of Israel is more subtle and dodgy as to show how ‘god-fearing’ it is while cleverly planning its next move. After all, their ‘religious constitution’, the Talmud, does expressively state what other non-Jewish human beings are like and if others buy into that corrupt philosophy, then they have just humiliated themselves!
So these two ‘toads’ or Pit Bulls get rebellious at times and are not easily brought into line even though if support for their existence were withdrawn, they would fold up and blow away or more likely implode. The problem here is one of political philosophy which is not easy to pinpoint. Part of the Chinese ruling authority sees North Korea as a necessary though cantankerous tool and the United States sees Israel in the same light even when Israel thumbs its nose back at its major supporter and acts like a spoiled rich brat amongst its neighbors.
In retrospect there are many similarities and many differences that can be made between these two client states of the two big superpowers. What is needed is for these two major superpowers to come to grips with reality instead of trying to patch things over with a band aid-type philosophy. However, where there is no will, there will be no way and so life continues but this Age, the Fourth Age, is growing exceptionally long in the tooth.
The unbelievers are protectors, one of another: Unless you do this, (protect each other), there would be tumult and OPPRESSION on Earth, and great mischief. Q (8: 73)
Since many of my writings have dealt with the Non-Crucifixion idea, I would like to present one last thought on that subject. If many people can’t fathom what was said in the article, Islam and the Rise and Fall of the Teachings of Jesus concerning the Jihad of the nefs, perhaps the following idea can make things simpler.
The prophets were the highest forms of human beings to visit this planet. They came not only to instruct but also to show how mankind could live a practical and virtuous life. In doing so, they had to be in the forefront of living that lifestyle themselves and they even went beyond the regular acceptable behavior and showed traits of exemplary deeds. Their fasts were better, their charity was better, their devotion to THE ONE GOD was better than the average believer.
So, one can truly say in somewhat Gnostic terms that all of the prophets were crucified in the flesh as a general characteristic of their lives instead of jumping over to the next town and living the life of the carefree and rich. What that Gnostic thought might have meant to various individuals and how the future generations would take that thought is definitely up to those who passed on this ‘understanding’ through the generations. After all, no prophet ever came to his appointed people or peoples and stayed on this Earth forever.
So the responsibility in passing down the correct knowledge is in part laid down by those who came after them. But it is also a responsibility for the devotee to ‘fight’ for the truth as in struggling to obtain it. Because like a precious gift of great value, it must be earned and not abused or else what is the purpose in life? Is it just to eat and find a shelter? If that is so, man has reduced himself to just the level of an animal.
They take their priests and their religious leaders to be their lords besides Allah … Q (9: 31)
‘A’isha reported Allah’s Messenger as saying that the registers are three. There is one for which there is NO forgiveness, viz. associating partners with Allah. Allah Who is Great and Glorious says, “Allah does not forgive the attribution of partners to HIM.” Q (4: 48) There is one which Allah will NOT leave unconsidered, viz. people’s wrongdoing to one another, till requital is taken among them. And there is one to which Allah will not pay attention, viz. men’s wrongdoing which is a matter between them and Allah, for that is {only} in Allah’s hands. If HE wishes HE will punish it, but if HE wishes HE will overlook it. (Baihaqi in Shu’ab al-iman)
The following was taken from Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia with some minor adjustments:
*** Abdullah ibn Salam ibn al-Harith or Abdullah ibn Salaam (Arabic: عبدالله بن سلام) (43 AH (663–664) ) was a sahabi said to have been a rabbi of aristocratic stock before converting to Islam.
He is credited with a large corpus of Judaic traditions (Arabic: Isra’iliyat), many of which are to be found in al-Tabari‘s (d.923) commentary on the Qur’an. He participated in the conquest of Syria and Palestine, but died in Medina.
Biography
Abdullah ibn Salam was a Jewish rabbi in Yathrib who was widely respected and honored by the people of the city even by those who were not Jewish. For a fixed period each day, he would worship, teach and preach in the temple. Thereafter he would devote himself to the study of the Torah. In this study he became particularly struck by some verses of the Torah which dealt with the coming of a Prophet who would complete the message of previous Prophets. Al-Husayn therefore took an immediate and keen interest when he heard reports of the appearance of a Prophet in Mecca. He said:
“When I heard of the appearance of the Messenger of God I began to make enquiries about his name, his genealogy, his characteristics, his time and place and I began to compare this information with what is contained in our books. From these enquiries, I became convinced about the authenticity of his prophethood and I affirmed the truth of his mission. However, I concealed my conclusions from the Jews.”
Dialogue with the Yathribians
In 622, Prophet Muhammad left Mecca for Yathrib. When he reached Yathrib (now called Medina) and stopped at Quba, a man came rushing into the city, calling out to people and announcing the arrival of Prophet Muhammad. At that moment, I was at the top of a palm tree doing some work. My aunt, KhaIidah bint al-Harith, was sitting under the tree. On hearing the news, I shouted:
‘Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!’ When my aunt heard my takbir, she remonstrated with me: ‘May God frustrate you…By God, if you had heard that Moses was coming you would not have been more enthusiastic.’
‘Auntie, he is really, by God, the brother of Moses and follows his religion. He was sent with the same mission as Moses.’ She was silent for a while and then said: ‘Is he the Prophet about whom you spoke to us who would be sent to confirm the truth preached by previous (Prophets) and completes the message of his Lord?’ ‘Yes,’ I replied.
Without any delay or hesitation, I went out to meet the Prophet. I saw crowds of people at his door. I moved about in the crowds until I reached close to him. The first words I heard him say were:
‘O people! Spread peace…Share food…Pray during the night while people sleep… and you will enter Paradise in peace…’
I looked at him closely. I scrutinized him and was convinced that his face was not that of an imposter. I went closer to him and made the declaration of faith that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
The Prophet turned to me and asked: ‘What is your name?’ ‘Al-Husayn ibn Sailam,’ I replied.
‘Instead, it is (now) Abdullah ibn Salam,’ he said (giving me a new name). ‘Yes,’ I agreed. ‘Abdullah ibn Salam (it shall be). By Him who has sent you with the Truth, I do not wish to have another name after this day.’
I returned home and introduced Islam to my wife, my children and the rest of my household. They all accepted Islam including my aunt KhaIidah who was then an old lady. However, I advised them then to conceal our acceptance of Islam from the Jews until I gave them permission. They agreed.
Subsequently, I went back to Muhammad and said: ‘O Messenger of God! The Jews are a people (inclined to) slander and falsehood. I want you to invite their most prominent men to meet you. (During the meeting however), you should keep me concealed from them in one of your rooms. Ask them then about my status among them before they find out of my acceptance of Islam. Then invite them to Islam. If they were to know that I have become a Muslim, they would denounce me and accuse me of everything base and slander me.’
Muhammad kept him in one of his rooms and invited the prominent Jewish personalities to visit him. He introduced Islam to them and urged them to have faith in God…They began to dispute and argue with him about the Truth. When he realized that they were not inclined to accept Islam, he put the question to them:
‘What is the status of Al-Husayn ibn Sailam among you?’
‘He is our sayyid (leader) and the son of our sayyid. He is our rabbi and our alim (scholar), the son of our rabbi and alim.’
‘If you come to know that he has accepted Islam, would you accept Islam also?’ asked Muhammad.
‘God forbid! He would not accept Islam. May God protect him from accepting Islam,’ they said (horrified).
At this point I came out in full view of them and announced:
‘O assembly of Jews! Be conscious of God and accept what Muhammad has brought. By God, you certainly know that he is the Messenger of God and you can find prophecies about him and mention of his name and characteristics in your Torah. I for my part declare that he is the Messenger of God. I have faith in him and believe that he is true. I know him.’
‘You are a liar,’ they shouted. ‘By God, you are evil and ignorant, the son of an evil and ignorant person.’ And they continued to heap every conceivable abuse on me…”
The following Qur’anic verse was revealed for Abdullah:
“And a witness from the Children of Israel testified to this (Quran being from God) like (the Torah). So he believed while (most of) you (Jews) are too proud (to believe).” (46:10)
Legacy
A Man walking on Earth and is walking in Heaven
Abdullah ibn Salam was the first Muslim that was promised Paradise while he was still alive. In a Hadith, it was reported that The Prophet one day while he was sitting with the best of Sahaba (Friends of the Prophet) He said, “Do you want to see a man walking on Earth and I see him walking in Paradise?” Each one of the Sahaba looked in silence towards the Prophet hoping the Prophet to mention his name. The Prophet said “it is that man there”. Sahaba looked and saw Abdullah ibn Salam walking in the distance.
It was relayed in another Hadith that The Prophet asked ibn Salam what was the reason he converted to Islam and his tribe did not?” Ibn Salam replied “Oh, Prophet of Allah, I was a scholar able to read the Bible in its mother language, and when I heard the Quran, I felt it of the same taste of the Bible”. Abdullah ibn Salam was a quiet person to himself. He participated in major battles during and after the life of Muhammad. He was consulted by prominent Muslims including Khalifs up to the end of his life. Abdullah ibn Salam was passionately devoted to the Quran and spent much time reciting and studying its verses. He was deeply attached to Muhammad and was constantly in his company. Much of his time he spent in the masjid, engaged in worship, in learning and in teaching. He was known for his sweet, moving and effective way of teaching study circles of Sahabah who assembled regularly in the Prophet’s mosque.
His name was “Mu’ammar ibn Sulaim” but the prophet gave him a new name “Abdullah ibn Salam” meaning “The servant of God, son of Peace”
If I was riding in a vehicle with someone and he would say to me, “Islam is quite the religion isn’t it?” The only thing I would need to say is, YES, IT TRULY IS.”
The use of these symbols { } represent additions put in to make the understanding to the reader clearer.
