Callinghome

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Where was Mohammed?

Written by Layth

[DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE IS CONTROVERSIAL IN ITS FINDINGS AND ONLY REPRESENTS THE VIEWS OF THE AUTHOR. IT MAY NOT REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF OTHER FREE-MINDS MEMBERS. HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN POSTED FOR ITS THOUGHT-PROVOKING CONTENT]
Preface: This article has been written with the intent of looking into humankind's history through the legacy of the Patriarch Abraham and some of the messengers that followed. The search for the actual Mohammed will take us to several locations in the Middle East, ending with conclusions that are quite different from today’s perceived history.
---------------------------------
Over 1,400 years ago a new 'Scripture' was introduced to the World which re-confirmed man's covenant with God and re-introduced the laws of God that were similarly revealed to Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
This Scripture was known as the ‘Quran,’ and its recipient (an Arab speaker) was to spread the word to all regions - starting with his own.
“And this is a Scripture which We have sent down, blessed, authenticating what is present with him, and that you may warn the capital of the towns and those around it. And those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they are dedicated to their contact-method.” (The Message 6:92)
This new Prophet was Mohammed (see 48:29) , and in this article we will attempt to separate 'Myth' from 'Reality' and piece together the correct narration of where he lived, and where he preached, from the Scripture itself...
Part I - History of Messengers.
The revelations in the Scripture serve to provide us with much information about communities of the past and about their lives without which we would be left fumbling for information.
“We relate to you the best stories through what We have inspired to you in this Quran; and before it you were of those who were unaware.” (The Message 12:3)
1. Noah.
Our search for Mohammed takes us back to the times of Noah and the Great Flood. This was the time when all civilization on Earth was simply 'wiped-out' and man-kind had to start again.
“They denied him (Noah), so We saved him and those with him in the Ship, and We drowned those who denied Our revelations; they were a blind people.” (The Message 7:64)
Thus, the slate was wiped clean.
“So We saved him (Naoh) and the people on the ship, and We made it (the Ark) a sign for the worlds.” (The Message 29:15)
Once the Ark settled, then Noah and those with him had the difficult task of re-establishing a human community on Earth.
2. 'Aad - People of Hud.
After Noah's community, the next nation that we hear about from the Scripture being established is that of ‘Aad (Hud is there messenger).
Hud tells his people:
“Are you surprised that a reminder has come to you from your Lord through a man from amongst you to warn you? And recall that he made you successors after the people of Noah, and He increased you in status. So recall God’s grace, that you may succeed.” (The Message 7:69)

“As for ‘Aad, they turned arrogant on Earth, without any right, and they said: “Who is mightier than us in strength?” Did they not see that God, who created them, was mightier than they in strength? And they were denying Our revelations.” (The Message 41:15)
This indicates to us that although other people may have been roaming the Earth, ’Aad was a power unto its own which earned them the status of a nation and earned them the right to be sent a messenger (only nations large enough to have capitals are sent messengers 28:60).
Ø Their Punishment:
“Consequently, We sent upon them violent wind, for a few miserable day, that We may let them taste the humiliating retribution in this life, and the retribution of the Hereafter is more humiliating; they can never win.” (The Message 41:16)
Ø Other Clues:
“And ‘Aad and Thamud (were annihilated). Much was made apparent to you from their dwellings. The devil had adorned their works in their eyes, thus he diverted them from the path, even though they could see.” (The Message 29:38)
The above verse tells us that the remains of 'Aad (as well as the nation of Thamud which will be covered next) were still VISIBLE at the time of the Scripture’s revelation. Thus, we can say that this is a place we can still find (i.e. it is not buried or fully destroyed).
“Do you build on every high place a symbol, for the sake of vanity! And you take for yourselves strongholds, perhaps you will live forever? And if you attack, you strike ruthlessly?” (The Message 26:128-130)
We are also told that 'Aad was building 'Alters' or 'Symbols' on every hill and were very merciless towards their enemies.
“Did you not see what your Lord did to ‘Aad? Irum, with the great columns? The one which was like no other in the land? And Thamud who carved the rocks in the valley?” (The Message 89:6-9)
The town of 'Irum' mentioned in the verse above is always thought to be a town separate from ‘Aad. However, in the context of the verse, and the way it follows the introduction of 'Aad (and how it is sandwiched-in before Thamud) leaves no doubt that Irum with the Great Columns is the name of ‘Aad's main town or enclave.
Ø Summary of 'Aad:
1. Inherited the land after Noah (7:69);
2. Powerful Nation (41:15);
3. Homes are still visible (29:38);
4. Alters were built on 'High-Points' (26:128);
6. Main City 'Irum' boasts great columns (89:6-9).
3. 'Thamud' - People of Saleh.
The next in the line of Nations are the people of 'Thamud'.
“And recall that He made you (Thamud) successors after ‘Aad, and He established you in the land so that you make palaces on its plains, and you carve homes in the mountains. So recall God’s grace, and do not roam the Earth as corrupters.” (The Message 7:74)
In the above verse, it is made clear to us that Thamud were carving their homes from the Mountains, and making Palaces in the flat of the Valley.
“And He is the One who destroyed `Aad the first. And Thamud, He did not let remain.” (The Message 53:50-51)
The above verse (by calling ‘Aad the 1st) seems to indicate that Thamud is a continuation of the Empire that ‘Aad began.
Ø Other Clues:
“And Thamud who carved the rocks in the valley?” (The Message 89:9)
Here we find more confirmation that Thamud were a Sculpture community who had advanced to make homes from the rock as well as mansions...This also tells us that Thamud is situated in a 'Valley' area.
“Has news come to you of the soldiers? Pharaoh and Thamud?” (The Message 85:17-18)
And that Thamud was a 'Military' Nation.
“Will you be left secure in that which you have here? In gardens and springs. And green crops and palm trees laden with fruit.” (The Message 26:147-149)
With enough provisions...
“And ‘Aad and Thamud (were annihilated). Much was made apparent to you from their dwellings. The devil had adorned their works in their eyes, thus he diverted them from the path, even though they could see.” (The Message 29:38)
And that there homes are still standing!
Ø Summary of Thamud:
1. Inherited the land after 'Aad (7:74);
2. Homes carved out of mountain (7:74);
3. Is a Continuation of the Empire of 'Aad (53:50-51);
4. Situated in a Valley (89:9);
5. Military Community (85:17-18);
6. Provisions of water and gardens available (26:147-149);
7. Homes still standing (29:38).
The above list of clues makes our search much easier for these lost communities...
Conclusion for ‘Aad & Thamud:
All the information found in the Quran draws us to one single finding:
‘Aad & Thamud have continued after one another IN-THE-SAME place.
There are only two places in the Middle East that have distinct stone carvings (we chose Middle East because that is where civilization first began after the Earth's re-birth in Mesopotamia, and where the Arabs and Arabic language originated from - 26:195):
Medien Saleh - Northern Arabia;
Petra - South of Dead Sea.
Pictures of Medien Saleh:
Above pictures show interior, which is a Tomb. There are also inscriptions in ancient Arabic (Nabatean) on the front of each Tomb claiming which family had burial rights there (click here for more photos).
Although both places are remnants of the 'Nabataean' Kingdom (the fathers of the Arabs), our research eliminates 'Medien Saleh' as being the central city for the following reasons:
§ Medien Saleh has 'tombs' carved out of the rock, whereas Scripture tells us they carved 'homes' (7:74);
§ Medien Saleh is situated in a 'flat-land' with 'rock-peaks' around it. The Scripture tells us to look for a 'Valley' (89:9);
§ Medien Saleh has no water water source to host crops and gardens, while Petra has an advanced water system used for irrigation (26:147-148).

Petra.
Thus we are left with 'Petra' which fits all our clues for being 'Irum' with the Great Columns (89:6-9):

Petra also happens to be situated in a 'Valley' (89:9) and is well described by all archeologists as being a 'Military Complex' (85:17-18).
Also, an 'advanced' hydraulic water system was in place with the walls of the narrow entrance 'Siq' lined with channels (originally fitted with chamfered clay pipes of efficient design) to carry drinking water to the city, while a dam to the right of the entrance diverted an adjoining stream through a tunnel to prevent it flooding the Siq (26:147-149).
Petra has only recently been attracting archeological excavations; however, excavations have only been done on less than 2% of the ancient city. According to some archeological research, Petra dates back to 3,500 BC:
"In Abraham’s time, Petra was known as Salah. It is located in the mountains of Seir, the land of the Edomites. Petra is the Greek name for Sela, or Selah, a city of ancient Edom. The Hebrew word sela means "lofty, craggy rock, fortress, stronghold, cliff."
The site of Petra seems to indicate the presence of multiple civilizations, the last of which were the Nabateans (Arabs) and the Romans (Byzantines) upto the 6th century A.D. when it was struck by a devastating earthquake in 551 A.D. and the city fell out of disuse (http://nabataea.net/lhistory.html).
Thus, in conclusion to this part of the research, it can be said with some certainty that the ancient city of Petra is indeed the location where the civilizations of ‘Aad and Thamud once lived and flourished.
4. Abraham.
Now that we have seen the development of nations after Noah, we will move on to the story of Abraham in which many developments take place.
Ø Abraham leaves the town he lived in due to his people idolatry;
“And he (Abraham) said: “You have taken idols besides God in order to preserve some friendship among you in this worldly life. But then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will disown one another, and curse one another. Your destiny is Hell, and you will have no victors.” (The Message 29:25)
Ø Abraham is shown the location of the 'Shrine/Sanctuary';
“And We have appointed to Abraham the location of the Sanctuary: “Do not set up anyone with Me, and purify My Sanctuary for those who will partake, and those who will enforce, and those who kneel and prostrate.” (The Message 22:26)
Ø The Sanctuary is in a ‘blessed land’ also called 'Bakka';
“The first Sanctuary established for the people is the one in Bakk’a, blessed, and a guidance for the worlds.” (The Message 3:96)
Ø Abraham with Ismail raise the foundations of the Sanctuary;
“And as Abraham raised the foundations for the Sanctuary with Ishmael: “Our Lord accept this from us, You are the Hearer, the Knowledgeable.” (The Message 2:127)
Ø The Sanctuary is declared for Pilgrimage;
“The Safa and Marwa are amongst God’s symbols. So whosoever makes Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary, or is merely passing through, commits no error that he should traverse them. And whoever donates for goodness, then God is Appreciative, Knowledgeable.” (The Message 2:158)
Ø One of Abraham's progeny resides in an area near the Sanctuary:
“Our Lord, I have resided part of my progeny (Zuriya) in an uncultivated valley near your Restricted Sanctuary. My Lord, so that they may uphold the contact-method. So let the hearts of the people incline towards them and give provisions to them of the fruits that they may give thanks.” (The Message 14:37)
5. Lot.
The story of Lot is given certain clues in the Scripture that we can piece together to draw our findings.
Ø Lot emigrates with Abraham;
“Thus, Lot believed with him and said: “I am emigrating to my Lord. He is the Noble, the Wise.” (The Message 29:26)
Ø Lot settles around a community which turns wicked:
“And Lot, when he said to his people: ‘You commit a lewdness that no others in the world have done before! You sexually approach men, and you commit highway robbery, And you bring all vice to your society.’ But the only response from his people was to Say: “Bring us God's retribution, if you are being truthful!” (The Message 29:28-30)

Ø Lot’s people/story comes in succession after that of Noah, ‘Aad, and Thamud.

“And my people, let not your hatred towards me incriminate you that you suffer the fate of what afflicted the people of Noah, or the people of Hud, or the people of Saleh; and the people of Lot were not far off from you.” (The Message 11:89)
Ø The town of Lot is near/on an established path:
“And it (town of Lot) was on an established path. In that is a sign for the believers.” (The Message 15:76-77)
Ø The people of Lot rebel and are destroyed:
“He said: “Here are my daughters if it is your intention.” By your life, they are in their drunkenness, blundering. So the scream took them at sunrise. Thus We turned it upside down, and rained upon them with fiery projectiles.” (The Message 15:71-74)

“They said: “O Lot, we are your Lord’s messengers; they will not be able to harm you, so travel with your family during the cover of the night and let not any of you look back except for your wife, she will be afflicted with what they will be afflicted. Their appointed time will be the morning. Is the morning not near?” (The Message 11:81)
Ø Lot's town is left partially standing as a 'Sign':
“And We left remains of it as a clear sign for a people who understand.” (The Message 29:35)

“And We have left in it a sign for those who fear the painful retribution.” (The Message 51:37)

Where Was Lot’s Town?

With regards to the location of the town of Lot (Sodom & Gomorrah), it is generally viewed that the area around the ‘Dead Sea’ in Jordan/Palestine is where the historic events took place. In-fact, if we use the marker that we have established ‘Petra’ and then measure using the information we are given in the Scripture, we can draw our own similar conclusions as follows:
§ Lot’s story, as well as that of ‘Aad and Thamud, were known in the town of Medain - located east of the Sinai area, in which Moses sought refuge during his initial flee from Egypt http://www.wyattmuseum.com/images/wpe97.jpg
§ The town of Lot was on an established path (15:76-77);
§ Signs are left from the town for all to see (51:37, 29:35);
The key information from the points above that will help is the one about the ‘established path’. If we look at the current evidence of ancient highways/paths that used to intersect the region, then we find that there is indeed the ‘King’s Highway’ that dates back to before the time of Moses and is still in existence today.

“The King’s Highway crossed half the Fertile Crescent, from Egypt to Syria, spreading goods and culture throughout the Middle East. It has been a favored trail since before history was recorded and today is paved for the most part.” (http://www.ancientroute.com/HeadrFtr/tkingshwy.htm)

Click here for a more detailed map of the King’s Highway.

Taking ourselves back to the 6th century A.D. in order to recreate the time-line of the revelation, we find that the path known as the King’s Highway was still in use with a number of towns established on its path as shown in the Madaba map below dating back to that period:

A reconstruction of the ‘Madaba Mosaic Map’ which dates back to the 6th century A.D.

As such, and in staying within some proximity of the town of Petra, we find that the towns around the Dead Sea (Zoara, Karak and Madaba) are potential candidates. Further research would indicate that both towns are inhabited by the “ Moabites” who have their origin traced to the messenger Lot.
(http://198.62.75.1/www1/ofm/mad/legends/legends029.html)

For reasons which will be relevant later on in this article, we will settle on this path east of the Dead Sea as the place where the messenger Lot was situated and where the remains of the people of Lot should be found.
Ø Lot is from Abraham's Progeny;
It is mistakenly assumed that whenever the 'Progeny/Zuria' of Abraham was mentioned, it only referred to Ismail or Isaac or their descendants. However, this is not the case:
“And We granted him (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob, both of whom We guided; and Noah We guided from before; and from his progeny is David, and Solomon, and Job, and Joseph, and Moses, and Aaron. It is such that We reward the good doers. And Zachariah and John, and Jesus, and Elias; all were from the upright. And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot; and each We have preferred over the worlds.” (The Message 6:84-86)
This is the part that most Muslim scholars totally missed, although in Christian and Jewish scriptures Lot is recognized as Abraham's nephew.

Part 2

Part II - Mohammed
Now that we have looked at the sequences and clues with regards to the previous messengers, it is time to move on to the seal of the prophets, Mohammed:
“And if Our revelations are recited to them, they Say: “We have listened, and if we wish, we could have said the same thing. This is nothing but tales of the ancients!” And they said: “Our god, if this is the truth (this Quran) from You, then send down upon us a rain of stones from the sky or bring on us a painful retribution.” But God was not to punish them while you (Mohammed) are with them, nor will God punish them while they continue to seek forgiveness. And why should God not punish them when they are turning others away from the Restricted Temple, and they were never its protectors! Its protectors are the righteous; but most of them do not know. And their contact-method at the Sanctuary was nothing but noise and aversion. Taste the retribution for what you have rejected.” (The Message 8:31-35)
Here we have a number of conclusive points which need to be looked at:
Ø Revelations are newly being revealed through Mohammed (8:31);
Ø The Restricted Temple/Sanctuary is at this location/place (8:34-35);
Ø Mohammed is living amongst these people (8:33);
Taking all the previous information into account, this would mean that Mohammed began his mission in Baca where Abraham originally with Ismail established God’s Restricted Temple/Sanctuary.
Now, according to the Sunnis and Shia, we are told that this location is Mecca (Arabia) where the great Kabaa (cube) is located and where millions of pilgrims have made their way for centuries to visit this shrine while performing the rituals/rites of pilgrimage.
However, we must pause here for a moment and ask some vital questions:
1. Since the pilgrimage was first called to by Abraham and was known by the prophets who came after him (e.g. Moses making an oath – measured by the years of pilgrimage), then why are the so-called followers of Moses and Jesus (Jews & Nazarenes) unaware of the significance of Mecca or the need to visit the Temple there?
2. If Mecca was the place where Abraham first raised the Shrine, then why do the Sunnis and Shia claim in their history that the prophet and his followers were facing Jerusalem in their daily Salat before switching to Mecca a few years later?
3. If the Sunnis and Shia are fabricating the history of the Jerusalem qibla (focal point), then why is there physical evidence found in the form of a mosque with two qiblas located in Medina and dating back to the prophet’s time?
4. What benefit do the Sunnis and Shia have in promoting (to this day) that Jerusalem was the 1st qibla?
The reason for the above questions and the obvious doubt that is being placed on Mecca’s authenticity is not due to any secret conspiracy or hidden agenda, but is due to the existence of evidence in the Scripture which has been totally ignored by the masses.
Ø Mohammed is situated near Lot's town (Soddom);
“And you pass by their ruins (Sodom) in the morning; And in the night. Do you not understand?” (The Message 37:137-138)

“And they have come upon the town (Sodom) that was showered with a miserable shower. Did they not see it? No, they do not expect any resurrection.” (The Message 25:40)
How can someone pass-by the remains of another people EVERY MORNING & EVERY EVENING?
The only way you can achieve that, is if you LIVED NEAR THERE!
Thus, we can determine, with certainty, that Mohammed was indeed within the vicinity (possibly with a day’s journey) of the ancient town of Lot.
Ø Jerusalem – City of God?
In looking to the area surrounding the location where the town of Lot may have once stood, we find ourselves near the historic city of Jerusalem which is claimed by all descendants of the Abrahamic faith to be a site of importance for monotheism.
Map of Dead Sea Region
The Jews give the site value as being where Abraham was about to sacrifice his son and as being the site of David and Solomon’s Temple to God.
The Christians believe that this where Jesus spent his last days, preaching at the Temple, praying at the Mt. of Olives, then crucified by the Jews/Romans.
The Muslims claim that Jerusalem was location of the ‘1st qibla’ (focal point) that they performed the Salat toward for a period of time before shifting away; they also believe this was the site where the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven during the miraculous ‘night journey’.
Ø More clues for Jerusalem;
“And you pass by their ruins (Sodom) in the morning; And in the night. Do you not understand?” (The Message 37:137-138)
If the towns to the east of the Dead Sea (Moab) are indeed where the remains of Lot’s town are to be found, then interestingly enough, from the city of Jerusalem, which is situated over 2,500 ft above sea level, the Dead Sea and the mountains of Moab are visible from the mount of olives in Jerusalem itself. Thus, if the people of Jerusalem were looking out in the morning, or upon returning in the evening, they would be able to glimpse the land where Lot’s town stood and was destroyed by the Lord!
Clear view of the Dead Sea and beyond as seen from Jerusalem
“The Mount of Olives, which generally parallels the city on the east side, across the Kidron Valley, comprises a line of three low hills, averaging approximately 2,700 feet in elevation. From here, the drop to the Dead Sea, twenty-five miles to the east, is 4,200 feet. Because of this extreme difference in elevation, the Dead Sea and the mountains of Moab beyond are clearly visible from the Mount of Olives.”
(http://www.ancientsandals.com/overviews/jerusalem.htm)
Ø More clues for Jerusalem;
“And call out to mankind with the Pilgrimage, they will come to you walking and on every transport, they will come from every deep enclosure. So that they may witness benefits for themselves and recall God’s name in the appointed days over what He has provided for them of the animal livestock. So eat from it and feed the needy and the poor.” (The Message 22:27-28)
Looking at the verse above which speaks of pilgrimage, it is noted that the location of the pilgrimage is clearly elevated hence people are coming to it ‘from every deep enclosure’. As already pointed out, Jerusalem is located well above sea level (averaging 2,700 ft), making it an ideal description for people which would be approaching it from the low lands.
Ø Jerusalem Trade Route;
“This should be cherished by Quraysh. The way they cherish the journey of the winter and summer. So let them serve the Lord of this sanctuary. The One who fed them from hunger. And protected them from fear.” (The Message 106:1-4)
Located on the ‘Ridge Route,’ Jerusalem was on or near three active trading center for both sea and land routes that stretched between East & West.

Jerusalem Trade Route (click to enlarge)
Ø Location of the Temple (Dome of the Rock?);

Aerial view of the Dome of the Rock that is situated on the Temple Mount area
An architectural masterpiece, the Dome was built in 687 A.D. by AbdulMalik Bin Marwan in what is still a puzzle to historians as the Dome was not constructed like any mosque, but more like a ‘temple/shrine’:
What is so unique is that the Dome of the Rock was never built as a mosque and was never used for this purpose. The character of the building is not that of a typical mosque. No similar building can be found anywhere else in the Islamic world. It was not built facing Mecca but as an octagonal form corresponding to the points of the compass. The main entrance is from the south, not the south-east (the direction of Mecca) as in other mosques. The builders did not build a Michrab (showing the direction of Mecca) in the southern part of the building. Even today, when the Arabs pray on the Temple Mount they do not do it in this building. Only in 1947 did the Mufti Hajamim el Husseini, who made a covenant with Hitler agreeing to kill all the Jews in the land of Israel, decide to build a Michrab. He explained that the Jews were going to rebuild the Temple on the same location of the Dome of the Rock, the site of the First and Second Temples; in this way he believed he would be able to prevent it. However, this act never made the Dome into a mosque and the Moslems continued to pray in the El Aqsa mosque on the southern part of the Temple Mount. (source)
Some historians (such as Al-Yaqubi) have attributed this strange structure to the political situation at the time and the desire of Abdel Malik to retain the power base of Islam in having the pilgrimage located at Jerusalem rather than Mecca:
`Abd al-Malik prevented the people of Sham from the hajj and this is because Ibn al-Zubayr was taking the pledge of allegience from the pilgrims. When `Abd al-Malik had found out about this, he prevented them from setting out to Makkah. But the people protested and said: "Do you prevent us from doing the pilgrimage to the Sacred House of Allah while it is a duty from Allah upon us ?" He said: "Here is Ibn Shihabuddin al-Zuhri narrating to you that the Messenger of Allah said: "The caravans should not be set out except for three mosques, the Sacred Mosque, my present Mosque and the Mosque of Jerusalem" [which] stands for the Sacred Mosque for you. And here is the Rock on [which] it is narrated that the Prophet set his foot before ascending to the heavens, it stands for the Ka`bah. Then he built a Dome on the Rock, suspended silk curtains on it and appointed servants for it. And told the people to revolve around it like they revolve around the Ka`bah and so it was during the rule of Bani Umayyah.[ Ahmad b. Abu Ya`qub Ibn Wadih al-Ya`qubi (Ed. M. T. Houtsma), Tarikh, 1883, Volume II, Leiden, p. 311.1]
Ø The Kaaba – Jerusalem;
“God has made the Kaaba to be the Restricted Sanctuary, to enforce for the people, and for the restricted month, and for the donations, and for regulation; that is so you know that God knows what is in heavens and what is in Earth, and that God is aware of all things.” (The Message 5:97)
We are told that the word ‘Kaaba’ means a ‘cube shape’ and that the site in Mecca has been constructed in accordance with this design requirement.
A photo of Mecca's Shrine (the Kaba) taken in 1950
However, the meaning of ‘cube’ associated to this word has no basis in the Scripture itself nor even to the Arabic language still in use today (the word for cube is mu’ka’ab, not kaaba or kaab).
The word ‘Kaab/Kaaba’ are associated in Arabic to any feature that is protruding, such as the bones to the side of the ankles as can be seen below:
“O you who believe, if you rise to attend the contact-method, then wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles (Kaabain); and if you have had intercourse, then you shall bathe. And if you are ill, or traveling, or you have excreted feces, or you have had sexual contact with the women, and you could not find water, then you shall select from the clean soil; you shall wipe your faces and your hands with it. God does not want to make any hardship over you, but He wants to cleanse you and to complete His blessings upon you that you may be appreciative.” (The Message 5:6)
Thus, any construct, regardless of its shape can be called a ‘Kaaba’ as long as it stands out from the plain.
What we need to ask to be more detailed is: ‘are there any special features that are protruding at the site of the temple of Mecca or Jerusalem that would give it the description of being a Kaaba’
With regards to the temple of Mecca, we have no apparent evidence of any special structure, however, with regards to the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, we have as the name indicates, a special feature that is the presence of a Rock Formation that protrudes from the earth as part of the original mount and upon which the Dome was built.
A photo of the Rock within the Dome
What is interesting to note regarding the stone is that it is attributed as the spot where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son in fulfillment of the vision he had seen. This would technically make the stone the marker given the name by God of “Maqam Ibrahim” (place/location of Abraham) which we are told would be found within the Temple/Sanctuary:
“The first Sanctuary established for the people is the one in Bakk’a, blessed, and a guidance for the worlds. In it are clear signs: the place of Abraham (maqam Ibrahim). And whoever enters it will be secure. And God is owed from mankind to make Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary, whoever can make a path to it. And whoever rejects, then God has no need of the worlds.” (The Message 3:96-97)
Please note the apparent discrepancy for the site of Mecca where the alleged “Maqam Ibrahim” has been placed outside the alleged sanctuary/temple:

Photo of “Maqam Ibrahim” – Mecca Arabia
Ø Back to Lot;
“Our Lord, I have resided part of my progeny (Zuriya) in an uncultivated valley near your Restricted Sanctuary. My Lord, so that they may uphold the contact-method. So let the hearts of the people incline towards them and give provisions to them of the fruits that they may give thanks.” (The Message 14:37)
If Jerusalem is indeed the location of the original Temple (which the author believes to be the case), and if Lot’s town/area was within sight of Jerusalem, then the above verse would fit more perfectly with Lot (who is from Abraham’s progeny 6:84-86) rather than the alleged tradition of it being Ismail who was charged with establishing a town that people would converge upon possibly on their way to the pilgrimage call (Lot’s town was on an established path, so people stopping there before moving on to Jerusalem, as well as Lot promoting the pilgrimage to travelers on that path, would make perfect sense).
Note: The above information narrows down Lot’s town to one situated in a ‘valley’ on the established path.

Part 3

Part III - Mohammed Emigrates.
This is where the Sunnis and Shia begin to agree with the narration taken from the Scripture. After preaching the message of God to his own community of Baca; and after finding much resistance and oppression...Mohammed Emigrates from his home after all attempts to establish a 'God Alone Community' are met with failure and defeat.
“And many a town was stronger than your own town, which drove you out. We destroyed them, and there was none who could help them.” (The Message 47:13)
Ø The Migration/Hijra:
“O prophet, We have made lawful for you the wives to whom you have already given their dowry, and the one who is committed to you by oath, as granted to you by God, and the daughters of your father's brothers, and the daughters of your father's sisters, and the daughters of your mother's brothers, and the daughters of your mother's sisters, of whom they have emigrated with you. Also, the believing woman who had decreed herself to the prophet, the prophet may marry her if he wishes, as a privilege given only to you and not to the believers. We have already decreed their rights in regard to their spouses and those who are still dependant. This is to spare you any hardship. God is Forgiver, Merciful.” (The Message 33:50)

“God has pardoned the prophet and the emigrants and the supporters that followed him in the darkest hour, even though the hearts of some of them nearly deviated, but then He pardoned them. He is towards them Compassionate, Merciful.” (The Message 9:117)
We can clearly read that Mohammed (and his followers/supporters & family members) all emigrated from their town of Baca ...
Ø Medina/Yathrib:
This place of Emigration was known as 'Yathrib':'
“And a group of them said: “O people of Yathrib, you cannot make a stand; therefore, retreat.” And a small party of them sought permission from the prophet, saying: “Our homes are exposed,” while they were not exposed. They just wanted to flee.” (The Message 33:13)
There is nothing in the Scripture to contradict the current city of Medina (Western Saudi Arabia) from being the historic ‘Iatribu/Yathrib’ that Mohammed immigrated to as per the archeological remains (graves, homes, mosques, etc..).
Jurisdiction of Rome around the period 600 A.D.
In-fact, looking at the map of Rome's jurisdiction at the time, it would make perfect sense that Mohammed would migrate south away from Rome's influence towards a place where they had no jurisdiction.
Ø Beca/Jerusalem is still Mohammed's Focal Point.
“The first sanctuary established for the people is the one in Bakk’a, blessed, and a guidance for the worlds.” (The Message 3:96)
Although Mohammed has been evicted, he is still upholding the focal point of the Temple in Jerusalem…This would explain why the Sunnis and Shia record until today that the prophet did indeed face Jerusalem for the first part of his stay in Medina (as evidenced by the mosque with two qiblas) and why they still call Jerusalem the ‘1st qibla’.
But the question still remains: ‘how was the qibla changed?’
Ø God Establishes a new Focal Point (Qibla):
“The foolish from amongst the people will Say: “What has turned them away from the focal point that they were on?” Say: “To God is the east and the west, He guides whomsoever He wishes to a straight path.” (The Message 2:142)
Here is a clear 'turning' away from the existing focal point to newer one.
In-fact, this is where traditions and archeology meet with the Scripture as they relate that when the prophet came to Medina, he set the focal point towards the North East (in this case they claim Jerusalem), and that after a period of time he set it in the opposite direction.
What is an interesting point to note is that if we drew a straight line from Medina to Jerusalem (in-line with the original qibla as per the Scripture), and then we extend the same line completely in the opposite direction (in-line with the turning away from the qibla as per the Scripture), we see that the alleged temple of Mecca, contrary to what the Sunnis and Shia claimed, does not come onto this path.
An imaginary line drawn from Medina to Jerusalem and opposite.
Ø Why Change to a New Focal Point?
Establishing a new 'Focal Point' (or Qibla) has precedence in the Quran and was done during the time of the Exodus when Moses and his companions were on the run from Pharaoh and needed to face towards the direction where their enemy would come from during their Salat.
“And We inspired to Moses and his brother: “Let your people leave their homes in Egypt, and let these homes be your focal point (Qibla) and uphold the contact-method. And give good news to the believers.” (The Message 10:87)
As for Mohammed's people...it was a 'test' of sorts:
“And as such, We have made you a balanced nation so that you may be witness over the people, and that the messenger may be witness over you. And We did not make the focal point that you became on except to distinguish who follows the messenger from those who will turn on their heels. It was a great thing indeed except for those whom God had guided; God was not to waste your belief. God is Merciful and Compassionate over the people.” (The Message 2:143)
Ø The Medina/Yathrib Expansion:
During his time in Yathrib, Mohammed and his followers were forced into a number of conflicts which gave them governance over lands/areas they had previously not been involved with.
“And He inherited you their land, their homes, their money, and lands you had never stepped on. God is able to do all things.” (The Message 33:27)

“And recall when you were but a few who were weak in the land, you were fearful that men might capture you. But He sheltered you, and He supported you with His victory, and He provided you with good provisions, so that you may be thankful.” (The Message 8:26)
Ø Financial Growth & Development:
“You should know: “Of anything you gain, that one-fifth shall go to God and the messenger, and the relatives, and the orphans, and the poor, and the wayfarer.” You will do this if you believe in God and in what We revealed to Our servant on the day of the Criterion, the day the two armies clashed. God is able to do all things.” (The Message 8:41)
Ø Military Strategy & Experience:
It was during this ‘Yathrib Campaign' that it would seem most of the warfare' verses were revealed (4:77, 47:20, 2:217).
“And prepare for them all that you can of might, and from the steeds of war, that you may instil fear with it towards God’s enemy and your enemy, and others beside them whom you do not know but God knows them. And whatever you spend in the cause of God will be returned to you, and you will not be wronged.” (The Message 8:60)
Ø Rome was to be fought!
This was a prediction of the inevitable battle against an organized and well trained army...The results as we shall see were quite disastrous.
“Say to those Nomads who lagged behind: “You will be called on to fight a people who are very powerful in warfare, unless they surrender. Then if you obey, God will grant you a good reward, but if you turn away as you turned away before, He will punish you with a painful retribution.” (The Message 48:16)

Part 4

Part IV – Baca/Jerusalem is liberated
Ø Roman Victory, Muslim Loss;
“The Romans have won*, at the lowest point** on the Earth. But after their victory, they will be defeated. In a few more years. The decision before and after is for God, and on that day the believers will rejoice.” (The Message 30:2-4)
* Most translation have made a mistake in the vowels of 30:2-4 thinking (or making us think) that Rome was 'Defeated' then 'Won'. They claim that the reason the Muslims ‘rejoiced’ during the victory of Rome was because it was a war between Rome and Persia, and the Muslims rejoiced that Rome had won since Rome was a Christian nation and thus closer to their beliefs. If we put this nonsense explanation aside and simply reverse the vowel markings, then we can see that the proper context becomes Rome ‘winning’ and then ‘losing’ at which point the Muslims rejoice.
**Note that the 'lowest part of the earth' is a dead giveaway that the battle was fought near the Dead Sea as it is the lowest body of water on Earth, lying 408 meters (1,340 feet) below sea level.
The battle where Rome defeated the Muslims could be the archeologically supported battle of 'Mutah' of 632 A.D. In this first major battle between the Muslims and Rome, the Muslim army was decimated with a retreat called to save as many lives as possible. The battle has been reported as follows:
“One hundred thousand Roman soldiers, sent by the Roman king were armed to teeth with war equipment. They were also skilled at various war methodologies. They formulated contingents of six thousand soldiers, each called a "Legion". The Legion was divided into thirty groups, each of which was called "Manipool". Each Manipool consisted of two hundred soldiers. This was further subdivided into two groups each with one hundred soldiers and was called "Century". All the Roman soldiers wore steel helmets and armour. Their shields were large and their spears and swords extraordinarily long. They were also familiar with the formation of flanks.

The commander of the Islamic army, Zayd bin Harith zealously said, "We have come to fight in the way of Allah, if we kill the enemy for victory, Paradise is our reward. The same is ours if we die and are defeated. Only those fear the enemy numbers who lack Faith in the hereafter. Why should we be afraid of the numbers of the enemy?" These words of Zayd bin Harith induced rejuvenation among the Muslims and they became prepared for the battle. " (http://www.usf.edu.pk/wyw-35.html)
Mut'ah is located just south of Karak, near the Dead Sea
The results of the battle of Mut’ah (according to history) were disastrous for the Muslim army. Zeid and a large number of his comrades were killed, while the leadership of the army fell by default to Khalid Bin Al-Waleed who, in the face of defeat, called for an immediate retreat of all remaining fighters/soldiers. The remains of some of the most prominent figures who took part in the battle of Mut’ah are still found at that location:
"The most important companions of the Prophet buried in Jordan include: Zeid ibn al-Haritha; Ja’far bin Abi Talib (cousin of the Prophet and elder brother of Ali, who was the husband of the Prophet’s daughter Fatima and the father of al-Hassan and al-Hussein); Abu ‘Ubaydah ‘Amer Ibn al-Jarrah (one of the "Blessed Ten" companions promised Paradise); Mu’ath bin Jabal (the Prophet’s governor in Yemen); Shurhabil bin Husna (the Scribe of the Qur’anic Revelation), and Dirar bin al-Azwar (a great general). In fact, many more companions of the Prophet are buried in Jordan." (http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/tourism7.html)
Above is the tomb of *Zeid as well as other reported companions of the prophet buried at Mutah.
*It should be mentioned that 'Zeid' (the prophet's adopted son) is one of the few people mentioned by name in the Scripture (33:37)
However, after a few more years, the prophesized victory did come...
Ø Roman Loss, Muslim Victory;.
“The Romans have won, at the lowest point on the Earth. But after their victory, they will be defeated. In a few more years. The decision before and after is for God, and on that day the believers will rejoice.” (The Message 30:2-4)
In fulfillment of God’s promise, and in confirming the truth of the prophecy, the Muslim army once again set out to battle mighty Rome. This event fits the description of the historic 'Battle of Tabuk' that has been reported as the Prophet Mohammed's final military campaign before his death.
Tabuk is in northwest quarter of Arabia, near the border of today’s Jordan
The army, with Mohammed at its head, found a complete collapse of Roman fighting spirit and will:
"Muhammad had been giving to Byzantium a good portion of his thought and careful planning. He was convinced that Muslim power at the northern frontier with al Sham should be firmly established if those who had been evacuated from the Peninsula and who had emigrated to Palestine were not to return and attack again. It was in consequence of this care that Muhammad mobilized a very massive army when he heard that the Byzantines were about to advance on the northern frontier, and he himself led that army all the way to Tabuk. The Byzantines had withdrawn toward the interior upon hearing of the march of that army." (click here for source).
Ø The Restricted Temple is finally liberated:
After what seems like an impossibility...Mohammed is finally home...The Temple at Baca/Jerusalem is liberated:
“God has fulfilled with truth His messenger's vision: “You will enter the Restricted Temple, God willing, secure*, with your heads shaven and shortened, having no fear.” Thus, He knew what you did not know, and He has coupled with this a near victory.” (The Message 48:27)
* Please note that 'secure' could be understood as the prophecy that there would be no resistance, and that Rome would capitulate and give-up the land of God’s Temple.
The son/prophet of Baca has now returned to his homeland, and has finally been able to defeat those that fought to suppress and oppress him and his people...
Ø The Focal Point (Qibla) is Shifted Back to Baca/Jerusalem.
It can be hypothesized that the change in qibla away from Jerusalem was one of the largest single contributors to the situation we see today where Muslims do not follow God’s system. This hypothesis would make the most sense especially of the re-shifting of the qibla back to Jerusalem did not take place until close to the end of the prophet’s life, soon after or during his liberation of Baca/Jerusalem:

“The foolish from amongst the people will Say: “What has turned them away from the focal point that they were on?” Say: “To God is the east and the west, He guides whomsoever He wishes to a straight path.” (The Message 2:142)

“And as such, We have made you a balanced nation so that you may be witness over the people, and that the messenger may be witness over you. And We did not make the focal point that you became on except to distinguish who follows the messenger from those who will turn on their heels. It was a great thing indeed except for those whom God had guided; God was not to waste your belief. God is Merciful and Compassionate over the people.” (The Message 2:143)

“We see the shifting of thy face towards the sky; We will thus set for you a focal point that will be pleasing to you: “You shall set yourself towards the Restricted Temple; and wherever you may be, you shall all set yourselves towards it.” Those who have been given the Scripture know it is the truth from their Lord. And God is not unaware of what you do.” (The Message 2:144)

“And wherever you go out, you shall set yourself towards the Restricted Temple. And wherever you may be you shall set yourselves towards it; that the people will have no room for debate with you, except those of them who are wicked. You shall not fear them, but fear Me; so that I may complete My blessings upon you and that you may be guided.” (The Message 2:150)
The Muslims today are confused to the above verses in thinking that the shift towards the ‘Restricted Temple’ was God’s command for Mohammed when he shifted away from Jerusalem (and they assume towards the shrine of Mecca). The problem with this understanding is that in 2:142 the “change” had already taken place and the people were commenting about it (i.e. 'what made them change from their Qibla?'). While in 2:144 the Prophet is given “new” instructions to use the focal point of the “Restricted Temple” (which cannot be Mecca because the first change of Qibla that was meant to be a “test” has already happened and thus the people were all facing the focal point opposite Jerusalem).
Ø The prophet foretold in the 'Scriptures' has finally come to pass:
“And when Jesus, son of Mary, said: “O children of Israel, I am God's messenger to you, authenticating what is present with me of the Torah and bringing good news of a messenger to come after me whose name will be ‘most acclaimed.’ But when he showed them the clear proofs, they said: ‘This is clearly magic’” (The Message 61:6)
Ø And the prayer of Abraham has been answered...
“Our Lord, and send amongst them a messenger from among themselves, that he may recite to them Your revelations and teach them the Scripture and the wisdom, and purify them. You are the Noble, the Wise.” (The Message 2:129)

Part 5

Part V – Mecca Arabia
Ø What of Mecca?
“And He is the One who withheld their hands against you, and your hands against them in the interior of Mecca, after He had made you victorious over them. God is Seer of what you do. They are the ones who rejected and barred you from the Restricted Temple, and barred your donations from reaching their destination. And there had been believing men and women whom you did not know, and you may have hurt them, and on whose account you would have committed a sin unknowingly. God will admit into His mercy whomever He wills. Had they become separated, We would then have punished those of them who rejected with a painful retribution.” (The Message 48:24-25)
Mecca at the time of the Prophet seems to have been an insignificant town that was causing a nuisance to the mission of monotheism. This city was not on any significant trade-route at the time nor does its name even have mention in any historical manuscripts which covered the area. Also, it becomes very clear from the context of 48:24 that the prophet and those with him are already inside the very interior of the town called Mecca, yet they remain blocked from the Restricted Sacred Temple (i.e. Mecca is not where their destination is).
Mecca appears to have been a pagan center where the religion of the Nabataens (worship of Allat, Uzzah, and Manaat) flourished like other Nabataen towns. The Kaba (cube) which was used as the center of pagan rituals, is an emulation of the Kaba of Abraham which the Nabataens may have certainly come to know through the call of Abraham to the pilgrimage many centuries ago.
Points that are worth reflecting when studying the subject of Mecca include:
1. The mosque in Medina with 2 qiblas has been demolished and rebuilt.
The physical evidence which shows that the turning of the qibla away from Jerusalem was simply in the ‘opposite’ direction and not towards Mecca has been conveniently destroyed by the Saudis and a new mosque has been rebuilt with two qiblas, but with the second qibla aligned towards Mecca.

The Mosque in Medina with the two focal points (Qiblas) seen above has been re-built by the Saudi Royal Family during the last 30 or so years.
2. A number of mosques built in the early days after the prophet’s death have their qiblas aligned away from Mecca and further north, closer to Jerusalem.
"According to archaeological research carried out by Creswell and Fehervari on ancient mosques in the Middle East, two floor-plans from two Umayyad mosques in Iraq, one built at the beginning of the 8th century by the governor Hajjaj in Wasit (noted by Creswell as, "the oldest mosque in Islam of which remains have come down to us" - Creswell 1989:41), and the other attributed to roughly the same period near Baghdad, have Qiblas (the direction which these mosques are facing) which do not face Mecca, but are oriented too far north (Creswell 1969:137ff & 1989:40; Fehervari 1961:89; Crone-Cook 1977:23,173). The Wasit mosque is off by 33 degrees, and the Baghdad mosque is off by 30 degrees (Creswell 1969:137ff; Fehervari 1961:89)." - http://debate.org.uk/topics/history/bib-qur/qurarch.htm
3. The location of the Kaaba in Mecca at the floor of a valley (where it is prone to flash floods) is more in-line with pagan rites than those of offering people sanctuary and safety at God’s Temple.
“The Ka’bah is situated in a wadi between two low hills, Marwah and Safa and was thus frequently exposed to flash floods caused by upper Meccan rainwater which ran down into the wadi and was channeled towards the Ka’bah. It is on the face of it, strange to find a religious center built in such a dangerous position, but it is precisely in such a position – low on the slopes of a wadi subject to flash floods – that cult centers were situated in the Negev.” (The Origins of the Muslim Descriptions of the Jahili Meccan Sanctuary; Yehuda D. Nevo, Judith Koren, Jan. 1990)
4. The rituals associated with Mecca until today are all indicative of the pagan rites known and recorded for the region at the time.

Pagan elements associated with the Kaba in Mecca.
“The precise alignment of the Black Stone with the winter sunrise is not coincidental. Allat, the main idol of the prophet's people, was a fertility goddess and this is confirmed by archeological evidence from Nabataean sites. As typical of such fertility goddesses their symbols and rituals are related to the sun. In this case, the direction of the winter sunrise marks the location where the sun is "reborn". Now if you take a closer look, you will see that the enclosure of the Black Stone is in the shape of a dilated female vulva and the Black Stone is in the shape of the crown of the head of the newborn baby deity as it is coming out of the vulva.

Come closer yet and you will see that people are kissing the head of the newborn baby deity. Kissing the head is an ancient Arab tradition for asking for forgiveness. So kissing the top of the head of the newborn idol as traditionally done to ask for forgiveness, results in the pagan's sins being wiped out as if he or she was a newborn.

Hang around for a while and you will observe that people spin seven times around the Black Stone. A pre-quranic manuscript written by Epiphanius in the fourth century CE describes the ritual of spinning seven times as part of the birth festivals of the Nabataean idols Allat and Dhushara around the winter solstice. The number seven was considered sacred in Arab and pagan symbolism in general because of the five sacred planets plus the sun and the moon that the ancients venerated. To this day many people in the Arab world celebrate what is termed in Arabic Subu', which is a traditional festival that takes place on the seventh day after the birth of a newborn and on the seventh day after a pilgrims' return. Like the pagan pilgrimage that we observed and Epiphanius described, as part of the Subu' birth celebrations, people traditionally go around the house seven times while carrying the newborn baby. (http://free-minds.org/articles/history/ayman1.htm)
Ø What of the Safa & Marwa and other sites at Mecca?
“The Safa and Marwa are amongst God’s symbols. So whosoever makes Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary, or is merely passing through, commits no error that he should traverse them. And whoever donates for goodness, then God is Appreciative, Knowledgeable.” (The Message 2:158)
The entire ‘Abraham married his slave girl Hajar and then left her in the wilderness with Ismail based on the wishes of his wife Sarah’ not only has no basis whatsoever in the Book of God, but also conflict greatly with the character of a Prophet who is devoted to God and who would never be pressured by any human into abandoning or harming another person(s). As far as we can ascertain, Abraham was married to one woman, the same woman who gave him Ismail and then, many years later, Isaac. We can also ascertain that Abraham lived near the area of the Temple (Jerusalem) and therefore would not have traveled many thousands of kilometers to carry out such an act of inhumanity.
With regards to Jerusalem, if we are looking for two high points, then they are easily located. The site where the Temple is situated is a hill known as ‘Mt. Moriah’ (Marwah?) while to the east is an adjacent, but higher, mount known as ‘Mt. of Olives’ where a commanding view towards the Dead Sea and the mountain of Moab can be gained.
Topographical model showing the Temple (Mt. Moriah) and the Mt. of Olives immediately east.
Ø What of the ‘People of the Elephant’
“Have you not seen what your Lord did to the people of the elephant? Did He not cause their schemes to go astray? And He sent upon them formations of birds in flight. Striking them with fiery projectiles. Until He turned them like devoured hay.” (The Message 105:1-5)
The Mecca propagandists have attributed he above verses to their religious town claiming that God, before the birth of Mohammed, sent birds to destroy the elephant army of Abraha, who had journeyed all the way from Africa (Habasha) to destroy the temple at Mecca since it was competing with his call for an organized religion.
However, upon closer examination of the verses, it appear that the people who are being referred to as ‘people of the elephant’ are none other than the people of Lot who were identified in the Scripture as being destroyed by ‘fiery projectiles’:
“Have you not seen what your Lord did to the people of the elephant? Did He not cause their schemes to go astray? And He sent upon them formations of birds in flight. Striking them with fiery projectiles. Until He turned them like devoured hay.” (The Message 105:1-5)

“They said: ‘O Lot, we are your Lord’s messengers; they will not be able to harm you, so travel with your family during the cover of the night and let not any of you look back except for your wife, she will be afflicted with what they will be afflicted. Their appointed time will be the morning. Is the morning not near?’ So when Our command came, We turned it upside down, and We rained on it with hardened fiery projectiles.” (The Message 11:81-82)

“Thus We turned it upside down, and rained upon them with fiery projectiles.” (The Message 15:74)

Part 6

Part VI - Questions/Misc.
Ø Baca/Jerusalem - How Was it Forgotten?
One of the most alarming points raised in this article is how the city of Jerusalem and home to Abraham and Mohammed and many prophets in-between lost its significance and became of secondary importance for the people who claimed to be followers of the last prophet!
There are three main reasons that may be viewed as being factors in this historic confusion:
1. The change in the Qibla;
“The foolish from amongst the people will Say: “What has turned them away from the focal point that they were on?” Say: “To God is the east and the west, He guides whomsoever He wishes to a straight path.” (The Message 2:142)
2. God’s decree that allows interference with the delivery of His Message;
“We have permitted the enemies of every prophet, human and Jinn devils, to inspire in each other with fancy words in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications. That is so the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter will listen to it, and they will accept it, and they will take of it what they will.” (The Message 6:112-113)
3. God’s pledge revealed in the final Scripture to keep His Temple ‘off-limits’ to idolaters;
“O you who believe, those who have set up partners are impure, so let them not approach the Restricted Temple after this calendar year of theirs; and if you fear poverty, then God will enrich you from His blessings if He wills. God is Knowledgeable, Wise.” (The Message 9:28)
Ø Previous Structures Preceding the Dome of the Rock;
Since the location of God’s Temple is deemed to be that where the current Dome of the Rock stands (constructed in 687 A.D.), then it should stand that previous structures have existed on this site since the time of Abraham?
Research shows that indeed this site was the location where the Temple of Solomon stood, and, more recently, the Temple of Herod that was standing during the time of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem.
Reconstruction of Herod’s Temple, which was standing during the time of Jesus in the 1st century A.D.
It should be noted that all sites were centered around the outcropping rock, also known as the ‘holy of holies’ in Jewish tradition (click here for more design details for the historic Temple).
Misc.
Ø The History of the Arabs;
During the course of this research, a number of interesting facts came to light which, when viewed with the information revealed in the Scripture, gave us a more detailed knowledge of our ancient past.
§ Arabic language originated with the Nabataen’s – who’s kingdom was the area of today’s Jordan and stretched to include Jerusalem. This information is relevant as the Scripture was revealed in an Arabic tongue.

“We have sent it down an Arabic compilation, perhaps you will comprehend.” (The Message 12:2)

In addition, The Aramaic-speaking Nabataeans created a new writing form to add to those in use in the Middle East of their day. They developed a running "cursive" or semi-ligatured script, which was used for both lapidary inscriptions and more common graffiti. This writing form would later evolve into the "Arabic" writing still in use today. (source)
§ Nabataen’s were dedicating worship to female god’s named ‘Allat, Uzzah, and Manaat’ in addition to the main deity Allah.

Allat (found at the temple of the winged lions) & Uzzah (found carved at the treasury) (see link)

“Have you considered Allaat and Al-`Uzzah? And Manaat, the third one?” (The Message 53:19-20)

“The Temple is the most important Nabataean temple discovered up to the present time. Seen by the excavator as dedicated to the goddess 'Allat, one of the three major pre-Islamic female deities, the Temple is really a complex of related facilities, including a worship center, residential quarters, and workshops, a combination never before seen in Nabataean religious installations.” (http://todacosa.com/petra/aep /temple-winged-lions.htm).

In-fact, other historians who have studied the 'Nabataeans' have concluded that they worshipped a 'Triple' female god-head (The chief Nabatean goddess was al-Uzza, who reigned with her sisters Allat and Manat).
Ø Israel and the Temple (Jerusalem);
“And We decreed to the Children of Israel in the Scripture, that you will make corruption twice on Earth, and that you will become very high and mighty.” (The Message 17:4)
A prophecy has existed in the Scripture that did not begin to materialize until this last century...The Children of Israel were destined to regroup and gain strength and influence in the world (as began in 1948).
However, this prophecy is very bad news for the Children of Israel as it will conclude with their humiliation and complete defeat at the hands of a people who will retake God’s Temple.
“If you (Children of Israel) do good, then it will be good for you, and if you do bad, then so be it. But when the promise of the second time comes, they will make your faces filled with sorrow and they will enter the Temple as they did the first time, and they will strike down all that was raised up.” (The Message 17:7)
Which Temple is being referred to here?
The Zionists have taken physical control of Jerusalem and its Temple since 1967 and are working continually to make it their capital. Unless the Zionists plan to physically move on Mecca – Arabia, then it is safe to pronounce that this Jerusalem Temple is the one that will be liberated as its was the first time during the prophet’s mission:
“God has fulfilled with truth His messenger's vision: “You will enter the Restricted Temple, God willing, secure, with your heads shaven and shortened, having no fear.” Thus, He knew what you did not know, and He has coupled with this a near victory.” (The Message 48:27)
Questions to be Asked.
If you are a Muslim and totally reject the above article as being preposterous or made-up regardless of the physical evidence that has been presented, then please ask yourself the following questions:
1. Why did the early Muslims according to the evidence conduct the Salat facing Jerusalem (1st Qibla) if Mecca was the location for God’s Temple?
2. Why is there a clear contradiction in the Sunni/Shia traditions whereby they claim that Mohammed only faced Jerusalem for about 18 months after arriving to Medina (i.e. until 624 A.D. which corresponds to his 2nd year of the Hijra), yet they neglect to mention what qibla he faced for the 12 previous years since he apparently declared his messengership in 610 A.D!
3. Why does Islamic tradition hold that the Prophet journeyed to Jerusalem before his ascension to heaven during the ‘night journey’?
4. Since you believe that Abraham (and Ismail) raised the foundations of the Kaaba in Mecca, then why do the faiths after Abraham (Jewish & Christian) not acknowledge that Abraham traveled as far south as Mecca or that their pilgrimage was to that area?
5. Do you accept the physical evidence that the Arabic language as revealed in the Scripture is a product of the Nabataens who were dominant in the Jordan/Palestine area?
6. Can you find Mecca as being on any ancient trade map, or recorded as a center for pilgrimage or major religious activity before the 7th century A.D?
7. Do you believe the remains of Lot's town are in or near the town of Mecca or the town of Jerusalem?
8. Why is the rock outcropping (which is attributed as “Maqam Ibrahim”) located inside the Temple at Jerusalm (as per the description given in 3:98) while the “Maqam Ibrahim” in Mecca is located outside the shrine/temple conflicting with the description given in the Scripture?
9. Why was Mohammed adamant on facing the mighty Roman (Byzantium) army to the North. Did the Roman's hold something dear to make him take such a risk?
10. Why did Abdel Malik construct a magnificent Dome around the rock outcropping in Jerusalem as a ‘Temple/Shrine’ with no mihrab facing Mecca and no features of a typical mosque?
11. Why did Abdel Malik call people to pilgrim to Jerusalem and away from Mecca as per some historians?
12. Why did the Caliph Suleyman as late as 717 A.D. show confusion in whether it was Mecca or Jerusalem that the pilgrimage should be conducted to? (see source)
13. Why does the prophecy associated with Israel’s 2nd rising speak of their defeat by the retaking of the ‘Temple’? Is Israel planning to occupy Mecca any time in the future? Or, is God speaking of His Temple in Jerusalem that they have already occupied during the 1967 war?
14. Why is the ‘kaaba’ of Mecca located at the base of a valley where it is prone to flash floods? Is this in-line with the monotheistic purpose of providing a sanctuary for the pilgrims, or, is it related to the pagan practices of Arabia as found at other such sites in the Negev?
15. Why do pilgrims in Mecca circle around the cube 7 times, as well as running between two hills 7 times? Does this seem to be an act associated with God’s system where He asks us to ‘think’ and ‘reason’, or, is it more associated with the empty pagan rituals of the time?
Answering these questions may lead you on the journey that needs to be taken about now...
Or, you may simply continue on the same path you found your parents and peers upon.
Worshippers giving their backs to the Temple/Shrine first raised by Abraham
----------------------------
Perhaps it is time to once again walk in the footsteps of our Patriarch Abraham by calling for the great pilgrimage and assembling mankind to honor the blessings of the Lord…
“And call out to mankind with the Pilgrimage, they will come to you walking and on every transport, they will come from every deep enclosure. So that they may witness benefits for themselves and recall God’s name in the appointed days over what He has provided for them of the animal livestock. So eat from it and feed the needy and the poor. Then let them complete their duties and fulfill their vows, and let them partake at the ancient Sanctuary.” (The Message 22:27-29)

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Imam Mahdi, A FALSE PROPHECY

The following will give a detailed explanation on how the Imam Mahdi prophecy found in some Hadith is infact a lie. If proven to be a lie, this would conclude that Mirza sahib's claim to be Imam Mahdi would also be a lie.First of all we know very well that their is no mention or prophecy contained within the Quran which clearly portrays the coming of a Imam Mahdi. Second, we also know that Hadith were compiled 200 years after the sad demise of our beloved prophet Mohammed (s). During the time period in which Hadith were being collected, we also know that many sects had already formed. These sects tried to influence their beleifs within the collected writings of Hadith. Let us provide evidence. The following Hadith was narrated in Sahih-Muslim, one of the most authentic collections of Hadith. The narration is of the popular Farewell Khutba given by the prophet Mohammed (s) before his sad demise. "I leave with you Quran and Ahlul Bayt, if you follow these two, you will never go astray."(Sahih Muslim 44, Number 2408; Ibn Hanbal 4/366; Darimi, Number 3319.) Sunnis including Ahmadis always portray the Hadith which would read otherwise"I leave with you the Quran and my Sunnah, if you follow these two, you will never go astray" Now clearly with reading the words Ahlul Bayt (People of the House), one would easily find Shia influence on this Hadith, knowing that Shia believe in the high status of the Ahlul Bayt; OR one is ready to accept that that the last sermon did indeed want us to follow the Ahlul Bayt and not the Sunnah, which would then conclude that the Shia are right, and MGA's claim must have been false regardless because MGA denied the imammah of the Ahlul Bayt and Shia regime.I will provide more evidence on how other sects, and specifically the Shia had influence on the narrations and collections of Sunni Hadith, but before I do so, we must understand the idea of Imam Mahdi.We already know that the Mahdi prophecy is no where to be found in the Quran, thus the promise from Allah (swt) Himself does not exist. Whats more interesting is that Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim too rejected the idea about the coming of an Imam Mahdi, as there is no Hadith found in any of these books about the coming of an Imam Mahdi, and these two books are considered to be the two most authentic books of Hadith. Even the Lahori Ahmadi website confirms:"The reports about Messiah have been accepted by all the great authorities of Hadith, whereas the reports relating to Mahdi have been rejected not only by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, but also by many eminent scholars of Hadith. There is no doubt that all these reports have been greatly tampered with for various reasons, so much so, that even those who believe in the coming of Mahdi only accept the fundamental fact of his advent."www.aaiil.org/text/books/...ahdi.shtmlThe Lahori Ahmadi party clearly admits to the weakness in these Hadith concerning Imam Mahdi, and yet wants to create excuses that "there must have been a reason" why both parties agreed to some extent why this person would come. Yet, in reality the only reason the Sunnis believe in the coming of the Imam Mahdi is because of the narrations given in some unauthentic Sunni Hadith. Yet the Sunnis do not realize that such Hadith were influenced by the Shia party. Here is some proof.Ahmadis know very well the prophecy contained in Dar-Qutni about the two sets of eclipses that would take place. The facts however about this Hadith are not recognized by Ahmadis! "Imam Ali bin Umar Dar-e-Qutni states in his collection: My Ustaad Abu Saeed Istakhri narrates from his Ustaad Muhammad bin Abdullah, who narrates from his Ustaad Ubaid bin Yaeesh, and he narrates from Yunus bin Bukair, and he from Amar bin Shamir, and he from Jaabir who narrates that Muhammad bin Ali said."Now first and foremost, the chain of narration concludes that this is a statement of Muhammad bin Ali and not of prophet Mohammed (s)! It should be noted that Muhammad bin Ali is the great-grandson of Imam Ali (ra), and thus the statement comes from Muhammad bin Ali who belonged to the ahlul bayt and honored by the Shia regime. Furthermore it is also narrated by Amar bin Shamir who comes as one of the beginners in the chain of narrations. Who is Amar bin Shamir?
Quote:
Allama Zhahabi, a great authority on hadith has the following entry in his famous critique, Meezaanul I'tidaal: Amar bin Shamir: A Shia from Kufa. This man is a Shia who insults the Sahaba, and fabricates narrations in the name of authentic Ulema. Imam Bukhari says: His narrations are rejected. Yahya says: His narrations should not be recorded. Suleimani says: This Amar used to fabricate narrations for the Shias. Imam Nasaai says: His narrations have been discarded. (Meezaanul I'tidaal vol. P.26 Allama Ibni Hajar quotes the following in his work, Lisaanul Meezaan: Ibni Abi Haatim says: I asked my father(Abu Haatim) about him (Amar bin Shamir), and he replied: His ahadeeth are totally rejected, a weak narrator, a person one should never get involved with. The Muhadditheen have forsaken him. Abu Abdullah Haakim (a high ranking authority on hadith) states: He has many fabrications narrated from Jabir Ju?afi, and no-one else besides him (Amar bin Shamir) narrate these blatant fabrications from Jabir. (Lisaanul Meezaan vol. P. 367)
Infact Imam Dar Qutni HIMSELF deemed Jaabir and Amar bin Shamir as unreliable ! "Both are unreliable narrators. Their narrations are not admissible as proof to substantiate any claim." (Dare Qutni vol.2 p.65) References: www.central-mosque.com/fiqh/mahdi.htmClearly we reach two conclusions from this evidence. One, that the narrators are Shia, and two that as Shia they specifically awaited the return of their 12th Imam, Imam Muhammad Mehdi. See Websites: www.shia.org/mehdi.htmlht...mehdi.html : www.imammehdi.orgWe know that the Shia regime follow what they know as the 12 Imams of the Ahlul Bayt. Imam Muhammed Mehdi was the son of the 11th Imam, Imam Hasan Askari. Apparently the very young Imam Mehdi disappeared and was said by the Shia to return at the end of times along with Isa. No Sunni Muslim believed in the coming of Imam Mehdi but until the narrations were compiled. The collections were infact compiled after the so called disappearence of Imam Mehdi. Here are the descriptions of the Imam Mehdi as narrated in Tirmidhi:1. Mahdi is going to come in the last days to make a universal Government,2. Mahdi is from the Ahlul-Bayt of Prophet,3. Mahdi is from the children of Fatimah (AS), the daughter of Prophet,4. Mahdi is different than Jesus (the messiah),5. Jesus will be one of the followers of Imam Mahdi and prays behind him.The last one in particular seems to be controversial simply because the Shia believe that the 12 Imams were superior to all Israelite prophets, and equal in status to prophet Mohammed (s). To say that Jesus would pray behind Mehdi is blasphemy in itself. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad does not fulfill much of any of the Imam Mahdi prophecies! Including:The Messenger of Allah said: "Al-Mahdi is one of the children of Fatimah (the Prophet's daughter)." (Sunni reference: Sunan Ibn Majah, V2, Tradition #4086)"The Messenger of Allah said: "The world will not perish until a man among the A appears whose name matches my name."(Sunni reference: Sahih Tirmidhi, V9, P74)MGA is claimed to be persian and indian, NOT ARAB."All looked towards his son Hasan and said: A person will be born from his seed whose name will be the name of your Prophet and he will resemble him in disposition but not in outward form." [Sunan Abu Dawud, p. 241]. MGA was not a son of Fatimah or Hasan. MGA is not from among the ahlul bayt!There are many more Hadith similar to this which have nothing to do with MGA and his claims. Maybe MGA should have studied the facts before making his claim!Conclusion: The entire concept of Imam Mahdi is derived from the Shia regime who believed in the coming of this individual. The Shia helped to insert such beleifs within the writings of Sunni Hadith.

Chapter 2: Claims of the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement:Section 3: Mahdi:

In Spite of the Weakness and Discrepancies of the Reports about Mahdi their Collective Evidence cannot be Rejected:There is a clear distinction between the two sets of reports, one relating to the advent of Messiah and the other to the appearance of Mahdi. The reports about Messiah have been accepted by all the great authorities of Hadith, whereas the reports relating to Mahdi have been rejected not only by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, but also by many eminent scholars of Hadith. There is no doubt that all these reports have been greatly tampered with for various reasons, so much so, that even those who believe in the coming of Mahdi only accept the fundamental fact of his advent. Because of the extreme differences and discrepancies found in their details they refuse to approve of these reports in toto. Nawab Siddiq Hasan (an Ahl Hadith scholar of India) who was expecting an early advent of Mahdi, even during his lifetime wrote: There is no doubt in it that the bases of these reports are very often defective [Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan, Hujaj al-Kiramah (Shah Jahan Press, Bhopal), p. 365.]. At another place, in the same book, he has written that all the details about the reports of Mahdi only show this much that he would certainly appear, though his appearance may occur in any form. The question here naturally arises: when al-Bukhari and al-Muslim have not accepted these reports and other scholars of Hadith have also regarded their bases as defective, why should not these be considered as absolutely weak or fabricated and be rejected entirely? The attitude that if there is discrepancy in details, the basic fact itself should be rejected does not only go against all the principles of accepting Hadith but also of history. On the other hand, the difference in the details show that there is somewhere a fundamental reality behind all this. If in reports relating to Mahdi different parties for their own ulterior motives have mixed up false reports, this is quite feasible, although this again proves that behind these reports there is something substantial which both the parties had wanted to seize upon to serve their own ends. The original is, therefore, grossly distorted. When historical reports (and even a non-believer in ahadith gives at least this much status to them) differ in details, the common factor among them is at least accepted as true. In reports concerning Mahdi, the appearance of Mahdi himself is such a common factor; therefore this at any rate cannot be put aside. The reason why Bukhari and Muslim did not accept them is the weak and defective way of their reporting. But when weak and defective reports have at least gained historical status, then according to the rules of history we are forced to consider and accept their common and collective testimony as true. Besides that we cannot reject the possibility of different persons being referred to in these reports and that some signs may be fulfilled in one person and others in another, as the word mahdi is also used in a very broad sense. It means one who is guided and the heir to all truths and in whom the attribute "Guide" for God is fully represented, and thus this word can be applied to every guided person as for instance the first four righteous successors of the Holy Prophet had also been called Mahdis. In his Tarikh, Imam Suyuti has reported a saying of Wahb ibn Munabih: "If there has been any Mahdi in this ummah it is `Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz [Al-Shaikh Jalal ud-Din Sayuti: Tarikh al-Khulafa (Sarkari Press, Lahore, 1870 C.E.), ch. ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, p. 234.]." In view of this wide significance if different signs are fulfilled in different persons they can all be called Mahdis.
Common Factors in the Reports about Mahdi:Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi mention a report by Ibn Mas'ud that The world will not come to an end unless a person from the people of my house becomes the ruler of Arabia whose name will be identical to mine [Sunan Abu Dawud: Kitab al-Malhim (Mujtabai Press, Delhi, 1318 A.H.) Vol. 2, Dhkir al-Mahdi, p. 239.]. A report from Umm Salmah reads thus: Mahdi is from me, having a bright forehead, high nose and will fill this earth with equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and violence [Ibid., p. 240]. In Abu Dawud it has been again mentioned that Hazrat `All looked towards his son Hasan and said: A person will be born from his seed whose name will be the name of your Prophet and he will resemble him in disposition but not in outward form [Sunan Abu Dawud, p. 241]. In Musnad of Ahmad it is again reported from `Ali that the Holy Prophet said: Mahdi is from the people of my house [lmam Abu `Abd Allah Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, vol. 1, p. 84.]. In another report we find: Even if a day is left from the age of this world, God will certainly raise a person from among us who will fill the whole world with justice as it was filled with oppression [Ibid., p. 99]. In another report by Ibn Mas'ud it has been mentioned that: There will be no Qiyamah unless there is a person from among the people of my house who is raised as a ruler, whose name will be my name [Ibid., p. 376]. There are many reports by Abu Said Khudri. In one of them we find: Mahdi will be from my ummah ... will fill the earth with fairness and justice [Ibid., vol. 3, p. 26], and in another : I give you the glad tidings of Mahdi who will be raised in my ummah at a time of digression and distress of people. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and violence [Ibid., p. 37]. Yet in another it has been stated: He said that we feared that new things would crop up after the Holy Prophet, then we asked him and he said: Mahdi will be raised in my ummah, five, seven or nine (years) [Ibid., p. 21]. Similarly Ibn `Asakir has reported in his Tarikh : A person from the family of Hasan will appear from the Eastern countries. Even if mountains stood in his way he will demolish them and make his way through [Hujaj al-Kiramah, p. 355.]. And in Tibrani and Abu Na'im the following report occurs: I swear by my Lord Who appointed me with truth, that Mahdi of this ummah will be of these two, i.e., of Hasan and Husain [Ibid., p. 356]. And it is reported from Dar Qutni that: Mahdi will be from the family of my uncle `Abbas [Ibid., p. 355]. Yet there is another report which reads : O 'Abbas! God started this matter with me and will end it with a young man of your progeny who will fill this earth with justice as it was filled with violence [Kanz al-`Ummal (Da'irat al-Mu'arif al-Nizamiyyah Press Hyderabad, 1314 A.H.) vol. 7, p. 188; Hujaj al-Kiramah, p. 356.]. And there is a report in Ibn Majah: There is no Mahdi except `Isa [Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Yazid ibn Majah Qazwini, Sunan Ibn Majah, ch. Al-sharat al-Sa`ah, p. 302.].
Now the common factors in these reports are reduced to this, that a Mahdi would appear in this ummah in the later ages having a strong resemblance with the Holy Prophet filling the earth with equity and justice. But these reports differ as to which family he would belong. He might be "from me" (i.e., the Prophet) or from the people of his house, or from the seed of Hasan and Husain or of ibn 'Abbas and it has also been mentioned that he might be only a person from the nation of Muhammad. The reports of his being from the seed of Hasan, Husain or `Abbas, definitely contradict one another. Therefore, this part of the reports has to be given up, but the reports which contain expressions such as "from me", "from the people of my house", "from my ummah" can easily be reconciled, for they may imply his spiritual resemblance to the Holy Prophet, as the Prophet is reported to have said about Salman of Persia: Salman is from the people of my house [Zurqani, vol. 2, p. 126.]. Similar expressions have been used as well for other persons. Thus a member of this ummah having strong resemblance to the Holy Prophet can be regarded as from him or from the people of his house. The common factor in these reports, therefore, is that Mahdi will be a person belonging to the nation of Muhammad. This view is supported by the report in Ibn Majah where only `Isa has been called Mahdi.
Another important point which is clear from these reports is about the Divine appointment (bi'that/bay-sut) of Mahdi. Now the word appointment for human beings (in Islamic terminology) is used either for prophets or for mujaddids. But as prophethood has come to an end with the Holy Prophet, therefore Mahdi can be raised in this nation only as a mujaddid. As to the reports in which his equity and justice have been mentioned, it must be borne in mind that one type of law and order is the responsibility of the government of the day and the other type of justice is connected with the appointed ones (mamureen) of God whether they are in possession of temporal power or not. What type of justice has been referred to in these reports will be discussed later. Oppression and violence which have been particularly mentioned here are the same which have been spread by the followers of the Religion of the Cross. On the one hand, they have raised a humble servant of God to the pedestal of Divinity as the Quran says: The heaven may almost be rent thereat, and the earth cleave asunder, and the mountains fall down into pieces, that they ascribe a son to the Beneficent! [The Quran: 19:90-91] and, on the other, they have inflicted sufferings on their fellow beings by their peculiar philosophy that it is only the white people who have the right to rule over other nations; the latter being created for the service of the white.
Whether Mahdi will Spread Islam by the Sword:Strangely enough, a common misconception prevalent among Muslims about Mahdi - that he would spread Islam at the point of the sword - has not been mentioned at all in these reports. Not only the Muslims, but the non-Muslims as well, have come to associate the very name of Mahdi with bloodshed and fighting. The book Iqtarab al-Sa'ah, supposed to be written by the son of Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan, contains the following words about Mahdi: He will call people towards God with the sword. The one who refuses will be killed [Nawab Sayyid Nur al-Hasan Khan, Iqtarab al-Sa'ah (Mufid `Am Press, Agra, India, 1301 A.H.), p. 94.].
When we look into the ahadith we find only the words yamlik al-'Arab i.e., he will be the ruler of Arabia, and for the spread of equity and justice the earth has also been mentioned in these reports. The words yamlik al-`Arab which confine his territory to Arabia are either an interpolation of a reporter or meant for another person whose kingdom will be limited to Arabia [Apparently these words seem to apply to 'Abd Allah ibn Zubair who did not enter into bai'at of Yazid. When Yazid died in 64 A.H. 'Abd Allah ibn Zubair was elected as the khalifah. The people of Hijaz, Yemen and Iraq also submitted to his rule. Mu'awiyah ibn Yazid's rule was limited to Egypt and Syria, but after his death the people of these countries also took bai'at of Zubair, but soon after they revolted and separated themselves from him. Thus Zubair's kingdom remained confined to Arabia. In 73 A.H. during the reign of 'Abd al-Malik, Zubair was attacked by Hajjaj and was martyred by him. Thus his reign was spread over a period of nine years. Reports concerning Mahdi mention seven or nine years of his rule. These words, therefore, may refer to 'Abd Allah ibn Zubair. If it is kept in view that these ahadith have been greatly tampered with, the part mentioning the period of Mahdi’s kingdom for seven or nine years can be applied to him as well.]. Reference to his kingdom on one side and the abundance of wealth on the another may have led people to believe that Mahdi would propagate Islam with force. This view is supported by a statement in Iqtarab al-Sa'ah which says that: Wars will be waged at his hand, treasures will be dugout, city after city will be conquered from East to West [Nawab Sayyid Nur al-Hasan Khan, Iqtarab al-Sa'ah, p. 64.]. It seems that on account of such conjectures the wrong conception of a warrior Mahdi gradually got its way among Muslims. Some reports might have also been fabricated in this connection. But Sihah Sittah (six authentic collections of hadith): and Musnad of Ahmad which refer to the benevolence of Mahdi do not mention any report to show that Mahdi will wage wars or conquer the whole world or convert unbelievers to Islam at the point of the sword. How was it possible when the coming of such a Mahdi was decidedly against the clear verdict of the Qur'an that: There is no compulsion in religion [The Quran, 2:256]. How could indeed such a Mahdi come who would act against this injunction and wield the sword to convert the people to Islam?
This Wrong Conception was Removed by the Mahdi himself:May God bless Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian who has completely rooted out the false conception of Mahdi's spreading Islam with the sword, which has opened the eyes of Muslims and has made them realise that the story which was forged by their enemies to stem the progress of Islam was unwittingly accepted by Muslims themselves. Had there been no other argument for his being a Mahdi, this alone was sufficient to prove that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claim of being the guided one (mahdi) of God was correct. The greatest obstacle today in the progress of Islam is the world-wide misconception that Islam was propagated at the point of the sword. The enemies of Islam made full use of this weapon to scare the people away even from the name of Islam. As for Muslims themselves, instead of removing this blot from the beautiful face of Islam, they lent a helping hand to its opponents by their wrong belief in a warrior Mahdi. No doubt there had been other Muslim scholars also who had rejected the reports, about the advent of Mahdi, or doubted their authenticity such as Ibn Khaldun [Muqaddamah] and the Mu'tazalites, but it had no general effect on Muslims. There was also a reason for this attitude, because the complete rejection of these reports meant the rejection of a fundamental reality as well, i.e., the coming of Mahdi himself, which was basically true and was a prophecy of the Prophet Muhammad [Hujaj al-Kiramah, p. 386.]. It was necessary, therefore, that unless the truth had manifested itself and the Promised Mahdi had come, the total rejection of this prophecy should not have any effect on the general body of Muslims. When the real claimant appeared he sifted out the truth from falsehood and showed in what way the true part of the prophecy was fulfilled. The rest he showed was added either by the carelessness of the reporters or by wilful interpolation. There have been, of course, several other claimants to Mahdihood also but every one of them was interested in his own person and claim and cared nothing about making Islam free from false objections. Everyone picked up certain words and expressions from the reports and tried to apply them to himself but paid no attention to the removal of this false belief that Islam was propagated by the sword. There had been some pious persons from among these claimants as well and they might have identified their own temporal victory with the victory of Islam but the extermination of this outlandish conception of a warrior Mahdi who would wield the sword for the spread of Islam was destined at the hands of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, and thus a great obstacle was removed which stood in the way of the progress of Islam. His claim of being a Mahdi showed to the world that the secret and glory of Islam was correlated with such a claim.
Not one, but let hundreds of such claimants appear for the glory and success of Islam, and Muslims should welcome them with open arms. To obstruct their cause, under suspicions and misunderstandings, is to obstruct the cause of Islam and the Muslim nation. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was no doubt a claimant to Mahdihood but he made his claim a source of the onward march of Islam. The prophecy relating to Mahdi has been fulfilled today with such clarity that the fundamental fact behind it has been gradually accepted by all Muslims. The conception that Islam was, or will be, thrust upon non-Muslims with the sword is loosing its hold on their minds. Islam has never stood in need of violence for its progress, and never shall a time come when such a course will be applied for its propagation. Even non-Muslims have also started releasing that the advancement of Islam was simply due to its spiritual force and not to the use of any sword. And it is indeed a fact that the real success of Islam was brought about not by a powerful emperor but its conquests were mainly due to its dynamic spiritual force. The following passage by an American scholar confirms this view:
"The other great religions won their way slowly, by painful struggle, and finally triumphed with the aid of powerful monarchs converted to the new faith. Christianity had its Constantine, Buddhism its Asoka, each lending to his chosen cult the mighty force of secular authority. Not so in Islam. Arising in a desert land sparsely inhabited by a nomad race, previously undistinguished in human annals, Islam sallied forth on its great adventure with the slenderest human backing and against the heaviest material odds [Lothorp Stoddard, The New World of Islam, p. 1.]."
In short, the real Mahdi of Islam is he who has clarified the real meaning of Mahdihood and has shown to the world that the Mahdi of Islam is a spiritual Mahdi and that Islam's success depends on its intrinsic spiritual values and not on outward force.
Messiah and Mahdi are one:There was yet another great misunderstanding about Mahdi which the Founder of the Ahmadiyyah Movement [Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian] removed. Messiah and Mahdi were considered to be two separate persons, although it was indicated in a report of Ibn Majah: There is no Mahdi except Isa (Laa Mahdi Ila Eesaa) [Sunan Ibn Majah (Matbah Nizamiyyah, Delhi.) 1905 C.E., ch. AI-sharat al-Sa'ah, p. 302.]. There is a positiveness about these words that there is no other Mahdi. This can only be interpreted that the Promised Mahdi is another name of the Promised Messiah. If the name Mahdi in some other reports has been given to some one else, it is to be accepted in a general way, as for instance, the first four Khalifahs have also been called Mahdis. `Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz, too, has been given this name. Now this report of Ibn Majah could not be untrue as it was against the general conception among Muslims about Mahdi, and such a thought could not have occurred to the reporters. On the other hand, this hadith supports the reports by Bukhari and Muslim as they also mention the coming of only one person in later ages and that is Jesus. The coming of any other person is not at all mentioned in these two authentic collections (Sahihain). Thus the report of Ibn Majah has made it clear that if in some reports the appearance of Mahdi is suggested besides the coming of Jesus Christ, this also refers to Jesus. Now here we should stop and think that if we do not try to solve the difficulties involved in the reports about Mahdi in the light of this hadith we shall have to admit that besides al-Bukhari and al-Muslim other works of Sihah Sittah (six authentic collections of reports) have incorporated a lot of fabricated matter in their collections. And if these reports were not fabricated, why did Bukhari and Muslim reject a prophecy of such magnitude and did not even care to mention it in their works? The report of Ibn Majah: There is no Mahdi except `Isa solves both these difficulties. Al-Bukhari and al-Muslim have only reported the second name of this reformer and other books of Sihah have mentioned both the names of `Isa and. Mahdi.
This is not the only hadith which shows that Messiah and Mahdi are one, but if we carefully study other reports, they also point towards the same conclusion. Evidently, there cannot be two Amirs (leaders) or Khalifahs at one and the same time. Hazrat Abu Bakr immediately after the death of the Holy Prophet gave a reply to the Ansar (helpers) who said: One leader from us and one from you [Al-Bukhari, Kitab Fadail Ashab Al-Nabi, H. No. 1638a.] that this was not possible and there could not be two leaders at the same time. If this report is true, how could there be two leaders, i.e., the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, simultaneously? If it is said that one will be an assistant to another we do not find it mentioned in the reports. Both Messiah and Mahdi have been called imams. In al-Bukhari: and al-Muslim: imamu-kum minkum and amma-kum minkum occur for the Promised Messiah who has also been called Arbiter and judge. Hakam and imam are identical. In Musnad of Ahmad he has been clearly referred to as "Arbiter, judge and imam." [Imam Abu `Abd Allah Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, vol. 2, p. 394 and p. 272.] About Mahdi it is a wide-spread belief, that he will be an imam and some think that he will be a king also. In this case Messiah must be his wazir (aider, assistant). But, on the other hand, this is also acknowledged that the Messiah will be superior to Mahdi as Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan quotes in his book a saying by imam Shaukani: There is no doubt that Jesus is superior to Mahdi [Nawab Sayyid Nur al-Hasan Khan, Hujaj al-Kiramah, (Shah Jahan Press, Bhopal), p. 385]. At any rate there can be only one imam at a time and when Jesus and Mahdi are both called imam then it necessarily follows that Jesus and Mahdi are also one.
The third argument in favour of this view is that the Promised Messiah has also been called Mahdi in the reports. Accordingly, there is a hadith from Abu Huraira to the effect that: Whoever lives from among you shall meet Jesus, son of Mary who is imam, Mahdi, arbiter and judge [Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, vol. 2, p. 411.]. Besides all this if we look deep into the matter we observe many other similarities to show that these are only two different names of one person. The time of their advent is the same, they shall have the same office, the same work and the same complexion, then how could they be two separate persons? That the time of their appearance is the same is acknowledged by all. About their office I have discussed above that both of them have been called Imam, Amir, Khalifah and Mahdi. Their work and duty is also the same. The making of Islam dominant over other religions is the work of the Messiah and the same has been assigned to Mahdi as well. So much so that the breaking of the Cross and killing the swine, thought to be the special duties of the Messiah, have also been attributed to Mahdi as has been mentioned in Hujaj al-Kiramah:
"The religion of Islam in his time will be established as it had been in the age of grace of the Prophet Muhammad. He will be a ruler over all the world and shall break the Cross and kill the swine. All these signs have been briefly discussed by Ibn Hajar in connection with the coming of Mahdi [Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan, Hujaj al-Kiramah, p. 363.]."
Spreading of peace and justice has also been assigned to both. It is frequently reported about Mahdi that he will fill the earth with justice and the Messiah has also been called arbiter and judge. Their complexion is also the same. The coming Messiah is of wheatish colour, quotation has been given before [Kanz al-'Ummal, vol. 6, p. 126.]. Mahdi is of the same complexion as is found in report by Na'im ibn Hammad that: He will be of wheatish complexion from among the people (of the land) [Kanz al-'Ummal, vol. 7, p. 262.].
A Prophecy becomes a Great Miracle after its Fulfilment:The prophecy about the advent of Mahdi is from among those prophecies which are related to this age. The Mujaddid of this century has shed such light on them that all the darkness which surrounded them has been dispelled and they have become a manifest sign for the truth of the Prophet. These prophecies were buried under so many obscurities that there were many who denied their authenticity and even those who believed in them were also bewildered (at the great contradictory mass of such reports) and were at times inclined almost towards its rejection. Accordingly it was said: We admit that Mahdi will not appear. What harm is there if he does not? [Hadith al-Ghashiyyah, p. 343.] Or: Leave Mahdi aside. The descent of Jesus is at least unanimously agreed by Christians and Muslims alike. Let him descend [Ibid.]. And in another book it has been mentioned that: We admit that Mahdi may not come. This does not contradict any important belief of the people of Islam. But the son of Mary will indeed appear according to all of them. May God bring him soon, for his coming as well will serve the same purpose for which we expect the advent of Mahdi [Nawab Nur al-Hasan Khan, Iqtarab al-Sa`ah, p. 147.]. That person has indeed rendered a great service to Muslims who has removed all the cobwebs from these prophecies and has thus placed before us a clear evidence of the truthfulness of the Holy Prophet. It is easy to say what difference does it make to Islam whether Mahdi comes or not, but the first advantage of Mahdi's advent has been that it has brought to light a new testimony in favour of Islam, or in other words, a miracle of Islam has manifested itself in this age. The miracles of all the prophets have come to an end with their death, but the miracles of the Prophet Muhammad have continued to manifest themselves ever since and will remain so till the Last Day. As a matter of fact, the faith which the fulfilment of a prophecy creates in one's heart is not even created at the occurrence of a great miracle, because a miracle may contain some elements of doubt in it, but the fulfilment of a prophecy is in fact a ‘talking witness’ which stands before friends and foes alike. Moreover, at the occurrence of a miracle there are only a few persons present who witness its truth, but a prophecy after its fulfilment does not stand in need of another evidence. It becomes an evidence itself. Has that person not done any service to Islam who has explained the hidden truths behind these prophecies and has thus helped to strengthen our faith in Islam? Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's interpretations concerning the prophecies about Mahdi do not seem to be the result of his intellectual investigations, but were the work of Divine light given to him which helped him to discover the truth underlying these reports. This discovery consisted of two great facts. Firstly, it was wrong to associate the name of Mahdi with the sword and to believe, as the opponents did, that Islam was spread at the point of the sword - the authentic reports being devoid of any such mention - and, secondly, that Jesus and Mahdi were not two separate persons but two names of the same reformer.
The Significance of the Two Names:As has been discussed above, there was a profound reality hidden behind these two names, therefore the mujaddid of this age was assigned two great tasks which entitled him to receive the names of Messiah and Mahdi. On the one hand, Islam had a big encounter with Christianity, - for, according to the Quran and Hadith, Christianity was going to attain great power in the world, - and, on the other, the present age was particularly suited for the propagation of Islam among Christians. Islam had won the hearts of millions of people of other religions before, but Christianity had not offered its due quota to Islam. It was, however, destined that the sun of Islam should rise over Eastern countries first. Therefore, it was mostly in the East that the light of Islam spread in the beginning, but then according to the law of nature this sun was going to shine over the Western countries as well. In a report of the Prophet this had been described as the rising of the sun in the West. Again, it is to the same effect that the Holy Prophet has referred to: I have been given two treasures; one red (Eastern nations) and another white (Western nations) [Sunan Abu Daud, Kitab al-Fitan, Vol. 2, p. 233.]. As encounter with Christianity and the propagation of Islam in Christendom were the two tasks of the mujaddid of this age, therefore, the title Ibn Maryam or `Isa was given to him. He mentions that fact in the following couplet: As I have been given light for the Christian people, the name of the son of Mary has been given to me for this reason. Again, because he was commissioned to strengthen the inner solidarity of Islam, save Muslims from going to immoderate extremes, cure them of the habit of takfir (denunciation of Muslims as heretics) and place before them the sublime object of preaching of Islam, which was in fact the object of the life of the Prophet Muhammad, therefore the name Mahdi was also given to the mujaddid of this age. The only reality behind all this is that the perfect mujaddid of the fourteenth century was like the full moon that was going to shine in the world. For shedding the light of Islam in the Christian world he was called Messiah or son of Mary, and for illuminating the hearts of Muslims with the light of Islam he was called Mahdi. That is why the Holy Prophet declared that: He has been given my name [Ibid., Kitab al-Malahim, Vol. 2. p. 239.]. The point that Mahdi is superior to Jesus, though Jesus was a prophet of God, only means that, as a Mahdi, he will manifest the truth of Muhammad and, as a Messiah, the truth of Jesus, the former being superior to the latter; it is because of this that Mahdi is superior to Jesus.
Other Prophecies about Mahdi:Prophecies about the advent of Messiah and Mahdi have been discussed by me elsewhere. Here I should only like to mention about the place of his advent. There is no doubt in it that some reports also suggest Makkah or Madinah as the place of his appearance and the sanctity of these places might have turned the attention of the reporters towards these towns. But there are reports which not only indicate the place of his advent in the East but even his companions are also reported to be from among the Eastern people. The reporters' own imagination in normal circumstances could not have gone to that extent. Accordingly, following are the words of the reports of Abu Na'im and Ibn `Asakir : From the offspring of Hasan ibn 'Ali, a person (i.e., Mahdi) will appear from the East. If mountains are in his way he will demolish them and make his way through [Hujaj al-Kiramah, p. 355; Najm al-Thaqib, vol. I, p. 51.]. Here the reference to his being the offspring of Hasan ibn `All has been due to the wrong impression that Messiah and Mahdi were considered to be two different persons. A report in Ibn Majah says: Some people will come out from the East and will support Mahdi, i.e., they will help him in his domination [Sunan Ibn Majah, ch. Khuruj al-Mahdi, p. 310.]. Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan also writes:
"Men of Divine gnosis will enter into fealty with Mahdi by God's guidance and Divine visions. Holy people will be with him to strengthen his message and to support him ....These will be nine persons in the footsteps of the Companions (of the Prophet); they would prove their covenant true which they made with Allah. They would all be non-Arabs ('ajami) and none would be an Arab from among them [Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan, Hujaj al-Kiramah.]."
If the companions and supporters of Mahdi are non-Arabs, it clearly shows that the place of his advent is not Makkah, but some other country outside Arabia, and it has been just stated that his companions would be coming from the East. Undoubtedly, in view of this, the place of Mahdi's advent should also be an Eastern country as has been mentioned in one of the reports: Mahdi will appear in a village the name of which will be Kadi'ah [Jawahir al-Asrar, p. 55. The original name of Qadian was Islam Pur Qadi Majjhi which was gradually shortened to Qadi, being generally pronounced as Kadi. If it is kept in view that the form of foreign words in the Arabic language undergoes a little change, for instance, London is altered into Landarah, the change of Kadi into Kadi'ah is easy to understand.]. This name is so identical with Qadian (or Kadi, with which Qadian was formerly known) that, if read with the reports of the general signs of Mahdi, it becomes clear that such reports are only applicable to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian.
Some of the Signs are only in the form of Metaphors in the Prophecy about Mahdi:There are some signs of course about Mahdi's advent which do not apply in their literal sense to the Founder of the Ahmadiyyah Movement. For instance, that he will be a king for seven years or that he will possess large treasures. This is, however, accepted on all hands that prophecies are couched in metaphorical language, because the future events are shown in the form of visions and dreams which are subject to interpretation like other prophecies. The Quran has also called ru'ya' and kushuf as God's speaking from behind a veil [The Quran: 42:51], therefore the apparent expressions should not mislead a person. About the Promised Messiah, for instance, it has been mentioned in a report that he would come with two yellow mantles [Abu 'Isa Muhammad ibn 'Isa Tirmidhi, al-Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, vol. 1, p. 38.]. A yellow mantle is interpreted with a disease and this in fact pointed to two diseases with which the Promised Messiah was going to suffer. It is surprising to note that about Mahdi it has also been mentioned that: On him there will be two shining mantles as if he is from among the men of Israel [Abu Na'im, Iqtarab al-sa`ah, p. 128; Hujaj al-Kiramah, p. 360.]. About possessions of kunuz (treasures) as well the same mistake is committed and kunuz is taken to mean treasures of gold and silver. But when the Holy Prophet says: I have been given two treasures, red and white [Sunan Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Fitan, vol. 2, p. 133.], no one takes them to be treasures of gold and silver and it is only interpreted as signifying two groups of people. Similarly a saying of Hazrat `Ali has been recorded in Hujaj al-Kiramah that: Blessings of God be upon the renouncers (taliqan) that at that place are treasures of God, but these are not of gold and silver but consist of people who have recognised God as they should have and they would be the helpers of Mahdi [Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan, Hujaj al-Kiramah, p. 396.]. When in such reports treasures of Mahdi have been considered as his helpers, there should be no difficulty in interpreting metaphorically the expression kunuz appearing in other traditions. It has also been mentioned in a hadith that: La hawla wa la quwwaw (there is no power except His power) is a treasure from among the treasures of paradise [Ibn al-Athir, al-Nihayah fi Gharib 'l-Hadith wal-Athari, vol. 4, p. 36.]. Now this is not a treasure of gold and silver but only, as it is stated in al-Nihayah, the reward which has been stored [Ibid.]. Again, it has been mentioned in some of the reports that Mahdi will also dig out treasures from under the Ka'bah. Now gold and silver are not buried under this holy place. On the other hand, it is the riches of knowledge and wisdom which were manifested by the Prophet Muhammad and have been concealed from the eyes of the world with the lapse of time. The real treasure is, in fact, the wisdom and Divine gnosis which were lost in the Age of Corruption and only letter and form-worship was left with the Muslims. Thus, whoever restores the lost glory of wisdom, it is he who really digs out treasures and distributes them among the people. The istikhraj kunuz (i.e., the digging out of treasures from earth) therefore, in the case of Mahdi does not mean digging of gold and silver, but it is only a metaphorical expression which implies the imparting of knowledge and wisdom by Mahdi to his people, which is indeed the task of all God-sent reformers. Their kingdom is also a spiritual one, and, if God wills, He may favour them with temporal power as well. But their actual kingdom is always spiritual. Now, if a person insists on the literal meanings of these reports, it would be impossible for him to accept all the reports which are so contradictory in their details that even those who generally believe in them also entertain doubts as to their literal fulfilment. The contradictions in them are so great that either the whole lot have to be rejected under the principle when two things contradict, they cut each other, or only their general and collective testimony should be accepted. A part of them should be interpreted metaphorically and a part, of course, has to be left aside. When we follow this principle these reports invariably apply to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Founder of the Ahmadiyyah Movement. That Mahdi will not spread Islam with the sword and that he and the Messiah are one, these two points have made it definitely clear that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is indeed the Promised Mahdi. It does not make any difference if a ruler Mahdi may also appear at some future time, but, just for the sake of mere possibility, it is not right to reject the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad which have been fulfilled.

Q:) Is it a authenticate hadith that Imam mahdi will come during the month of ramadan and also there will 2 eclipse?
A:) A Narration does appear in some books of hadith that a dual eclipse shall occur during the Ramadaan of the year in which Imam Mahdi is scheduled to make his appearance. For the benefit of readers, I reproduce the text and commentary of this particular narration: Imam Ali bin Umar Dar-e-Qutni states in his collection of ahadith: ?My Ustaad Abu Saeed Istakhri narrates from his Ustaad Muhammad bin Abdullah, who narrates from his Ustaad Ubaid bin Ya?eesh, and he narrates from Yunus bin Bukair, and he from Amar bin Shamir, and he from Jaabir who narrates that Muhammad bin Ali said: 'Verily, for our Mahdi there are two signs which have never as yet concurred since the creation of the heavens and earth; first is the eclipse of the moon on the first night of Ramadan, and second is the eclipse of the sun during the middle of that same Ramadan. This (concurrence of a solar and lunar eclipse) has never happened since Allah created the heavens and earth.' (Dare Qutni vol.2 p.65) THE CHAIN OF TRANSMISSION:
Sanad or Isnaad are Arabic terms which mean the chain of transmission through which a hadith or narration is transmitted. In order to verify whether a hadith or narration is authentic and reliable, the narrators whose names appear in the sanad are scrutinised. This procedure, known in Islamic terminology as Jarah wa Ta'deel, was used extensively by the Imams and Muhadditheen of old. They have set out a code of conduct according to which they examined and critically analysed the narrators of any hadith. If even one Raawi (narrator) is discovered to be unreliable or untrustworthy, the entire narration becomes seriously suspect. Such a hadith or narration can never be accepted as a basis for any Islamic belief or practice. They adopted this procedure in order to prevent fabrications and false narratives from creeping into the pristine pure teachings of Islam. It has quite rightly been said: ?If these chains of transmission were non-existent then everyone and anyone would say what they like.? Upon studying the chain of transmission quoted above we firstly notice that this sanad does not reach right up to Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam. It stops on Muhammad bin Ali, the great-grandson of Ameerul Mumineen Hazrat Ali radhiyallahu anhu. Such a narration, where there is no direct link with Rasoolullah sallall?hu alaihi wasallam, is termed Munqati?, and most Ulema do not regard such a transmission as tenable proof for any Deeni practice or belief. Secondly, two names appear in this chain, viz. Amar bin Shamir and Jaabir. Let us now study statements of the Muhadditheen regarding the authenticity and integrity of these two:
The author, Imam Dare Qutni himself, after quoting this narration, singles out these two figures in the chain of transmission and states: ?Both are unreliable narrators. Their narrations are not admissible as proof to substantiate any claim.? (Dare Qutni vol.2 p.65) Allama Zhahabi, a great authority on hadith has the following entry in his famous critique, Meezaanul I'tidaal: Amar bin Shamir: A Shia from Kufa. Yahya (bin Mu'een) says: (He is) a non-entity.? Jauzjaani says: A misguided impostor. Ibni Hibbaan says: This man is a Shia who insults the Sahaba, and fabricates narrations in the name of authentic Ulema. Imam Bukhari says: His narrations are rejected. Yahya says: His narrations should not be recorded. Suleimani says: This Amar used to fabricate narrations for the Shias. Imam Nasaai says: His narrations have been discarded.(Meezaanul I'tidaal vol. P.268) Allama Ibni Hajar quotes the following in his work, Lisaanul Meezaan: Ibni Abi Haatim says: I asked my father(Abu Haatim) about him (Amar bin Shamir), and he replied: His ahadeeth are totally rejected, a weak narrator, a person one should never get involved with. The Muhadditheen have forsaken him. Abu Abdullah Haakim (a high ranking authority on hadith) states: He has many fabrications narrated from Jabir Ju?afi, and no-one else besides him (Amar bin Shamir) narrate these blatant fabrications from Jabir.(Lisaanul Meezaan vol. P. 367) From the above it is evident that this narration is very weak and flimsy, and cannot serve as the basis for any firm belief or practice. You will notice many signs attributed to Imam Mehdi's appearance in the books of hadith, which are derived from extremely weak, unsound, and doubtful narrations. Some of these appear to come from Shia sources, of which the above is a typical example. Note the words, Verily, for our Mahdi..... The Shiahs have their own concept of a Imam Mehdi, which differs vastly to what the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jama-ah believe and teach.
Apart from the above, let us consider some other aspects to this narration. Assuming that the narration is sound and good, the content matter is difficult to reconcile with scientific evidence (which we are presently using to figure out these signs). It states that the lunar eclipse will occur on the first night of Ramadaan. Now it is common knowledge that lunar eclipses only occur when there is full moon, and that can be on the 13th , 14th , or 15th nights of the Islamic month. According to the information obtained from the Observatory, the lunar eclipse will occur on 9 November, and that should be somewhere in the middle of Ramadaan. Logically too, one cannot imagine an eclipse of the new moon (which too many may happen every month when they go out to sight the moon!).
Secondly, this particular concurrence of eclipse, I believe, will not be visible from the same belt of earth. The lunar eclipse on November 9, 2003 will be visible from America, Africa, and Europe, while the solar eclipse on 23 November will be seen from Antarctica (of all places). For this sign to be accepted, both eclipses must be seen from the same belt of earth, and in particular, from Arabia, for this is the context of this sign of Imam Mehdi. It seems that this is not the case with this particular eclipse. When I enquired from the same Observatory several years ago about the same phenomenon, they replied that a dual eclipse is not uncommon and happens often. (That is, at different parts of the world) They provided some charts which depict different areas where both solar and lunar eclipses will occur over the next two decades (i.e. up to 2015), advising me to study these charts. Apparently they were too busy to enlist places and dates where a dual eclipse was to occur. Nonetheless, this observation of the Observatory (if you'll excuse the pun) that such a happening is not uncommon means that you will frequently find a situation when in one area of the world there is a solar eclipse and, concurrently, at another place there is a lunar eclipse. This, of course, can and does happen frequently. They further stated that a dual eclipse from the same belt of the earth is less frequent. Well, if you can recall, in June 1992, here in South Africa we had a similar experience of a lunar and solar eclipse in the month of June, for which we even offered Salaatul-Kusoof in the Musjid. Both were visible in South Africa.
Thirdly, the signs attributed to Imam Mehdi are all unique in their occurrence. This dual eclipse, too, must be unique. Yet, it appears that such a dual eclipse in one month in the same area of the world has already happened. The words in the narration clearly state that "this has never happened since Allah created the world". So if we are to accept the narration as it is, with an eclipse of new moon and all, how do we reconcile this statement when we have already experienced a dual eclipse in one month? Yes, one might say that such an event has never happened before IN RAMADAAN, or that an eclipse of the new moon has never yet occurred, and it may be a "first". The first is possible, the second (of it being a "first") improbable, but the first is dependent upon acceptance of the second - first accept that eclipse of the new moon is possible, then say it will happen for the first time in Ramadaan.
Furthermore, a lunar eclipse is called such because the entire moon is cast into shadow, and that's what makes it so dramatic. But the crescent at the start of an Islamic month is already barely noticeable, what's so grand about it not being noticed at all? (Ask the people of PE who go moon-sighting every month!)
Lets move on to another aspect. Sorry for the quick shift in line of thought, for perhaps you may need time to sift through my maze of confusion above. Leaving alone the authenticity of such an event, what is important is not to create hysteria among people for no reason. Also, not to present something of Islam which may turn out to be false. The prediction we now discuss was brought up several years earlier by a certain Moulana. I believe some people, after listening to his talk of the dual eclipse in 2003 or 2004, actually intended selling up and going to settle in Makka to await the coming of Imam Mehdi. Now this is not healthy for anyone. Besides, the hadith shareef is very clearly THAT IMAM MEHDI WILL APPEAR WHEN PEOPLE LEAST EXPECT, AND THE FIRST GROUP OF ULEMA AND BUZRUGS WHO TAKE BAY'AT AT HIS HANDS WILL DO SO UNEXPECTEDLY. Now if this is the case with the pious people who will be honoured to take first bay'at at his hands, do we think we can do better by either searching out for him, or awaiting his advent? This is something that will take its natural course. None of the signs are such that people can actually predict them with accuracy. Yes, once it really happens, then one can attribute it to the Imam. Once Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Ali were passing by a certain area of Iraq, on the banks of the Tigris or Euphrates River. The former remarked: "I've heard Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) speak of the treasures that this area will throw up. Perhaps I should make an attempt to unearth these treasures (thus fulfilling the prophecy)." Ali (Radhiyallahi anhu) said: "O Ameerul-Mumineen, forget it and just keep walking ahead. These treasures are not your department. Instead a youth among the Quraish, who will be called Mehdi, will see to this." This incident proves that such signs must take their fixed course and cannot be pre-empted. I believe that we should concentrate on the signs that are chronicled in authentic and sound ahadith, so that we are sure of our teaching and belief, and we do not run the risk of inadvertently endorsing a Shiaconcept. Despite extensive research we could not find any other hadith book recording this event as given above, besides the work of Imam Daare-qutni, from which we have obviously quoted. Sometimes the author will cite a narrative purely to reject and criticise it, which I think is what the author of Daarie-Qutni has done. Also, all subsequent books that do mention this event quote it from the same Daar-e-Qutni. Insha-Allah, an updated version of our book, The Story of Imam Mahdi will soon be handed in for publication. We shall be referring therein to this incident. Was-salaam

Siraj Desai

Callinghome

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Where was Mohammed?

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Imam Mahdi, A FALSE PROPHECY

About Me

Blog Archive