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THE END OF DAYS ACCORDING TO ISLAM

Victor M. Eskew

 

            Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all have doctrines involving eschatology, that is, the time of final events on earth.  Some things are agreed up by all of the groups.  There are also many things that differ among them.  In this article, we want to discuss Islam’s view of “The End of Days.”

            The most common name given to final events in Islam is “The End of Days.  The name in the Arabic is Yawm al-Qiyamah.  This phrase can also be translated “Day of Resurrection.”  Muslims will also speak of End Times, Armageddon, Apocalypse, and Judgment Day.

            There is only one mention of end times in the Qur’an.  Surah 69 is known as the “inevitable.”  “Taken as a complete 42 lines, the Surah clearly implies the coming of the End of Days and the need to be ready – not the detailed blow by blow complete destruction of planet Earth” (www.one-islam.org, “Islam Extinction of the Earth”).  Other authorities in Islam present the numerous features of the End of Days.  The event is summarized in an article entitled, “End of Days.”  “There will be a time of great tribulation on Earth followed by the appearance of a great Savior and/or of a Messiah, who will usher in the Kingdom of God on earth and bring an end to suffering and evil” (www.one-islam.org).

            Islam teaches that there are signs for which to watch that will give evidence that the End of Days is near.  These signs fall into two categories, lesser signs and greater signs.  The lesser signs involve moral, cultural, political, and national events.  Moral decay, especially homosexuality and drugs, crime, natural disasters, and wars are part of these lesser signs.  These “signs” can exist at almost any point in the history of man.  Thus, they can always be used by false prophets concerning the end of the world.

            The greater signs are much more specific and detailed. 

 

First, there will be the rise of the Caliphate which was discussed in our previous article. 

 

Second, there will be the rise of al-Dajjal.  This is the antichrist.  His birth heralds in the beginning of the End of Days.  The teachings of Islam describe the antichrist as follows:  1) He can only see out of one eye.  2)  He has the word “kafir” between his eyes.  3)  He has hair all over his body.  4)  He will be born in a time of immorality.  5)  He will appear on the road between Iraq and Syria.  6)  He will make Jerusalem the center of his operations.  7)  He will fight against the Muslims.  There are some Muslims who believe that the al-Dajjal has already been born and is at work. 

 

Third, there is to be the rise of Shia Mahdi.  This is supposed to be the end time deliverer of the Muslims.  “He will be a slender, brown skinned man of medium height, with a broad forehead, hooked nose, finely arched eyebrows, clear, dark eyes, white teeth with gaps between them, and slightly bowlegged” (Unmasking the Islamic State, Sookhdeo, p. 46).  He will be about 40 years of age when he begins his work.  Some tell us that he will also be slow of speech.  According to Shia beliefs, there have been twelve divinely appointed imams since Muhammad.  The last one was Muhammad ibn Hasan ibn Ali.  In 873, he went into hiding.  His hiding is called “occulation.”  It is he who is supposed to be the Mahdi who will reappear at the End Times.  He is supposed to set in motion a course of events that will bring about the end of the world.  There are some Muslims within ISIS who believe that Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, is the Mahdi himself.  He, too, believes it and has changed his name to Muhammad. 

 

Fourth, Jesus Christ will return to earth near the city of Damascus.  He will fight against al-Dijjal, the antichrist.  “The original Prince of Peace will become the jihadist warrior of the apocalypse” (It is about Islam, Glenn Bech, p. 26).  In addition to waging war on the antichrist, Jesus will also help Mahdi oversee and enforce Islamic law around the world.

 

Fifth, there is to be a Final Battle at Dabiq.  Dabiq is a town in northern Syria.  It is here that the forces of Christianity and Islam are to meet and engage in a final conflagration (Beck, 20).  A hadith related by Abu Hareyrah, Muhammad said:  “The Last Hour would not come until the Romans land at Al-A’maq or in Dabiq.  An army consisting of the best (soldiers) of the people of the earth at that time will come from Medina (to counteract them).”  The “Romans,” are now believed to be the army of the United States.  It is they who are to land at Dabiq and fight against the Muslims, “the best soldiers of the people of the earth.”  Dabiq was captured by ISIS in August, 2014.  It has been used for Islamic propaganda.  It was in this town that Peter Kassig, an American aid worker, was beheaded.  Two interesting comments were made on the video of the beheading.  “Here we are, burying the first American Crusader in Dabiq, eagerly awaiting for the remainder of your armies to arrive” (Speaker #1).  And again, “We are waiting for you in Dabiq” (Speaker #2).  These were statements made to tempt the United States to enter into battle at Dabiq, the place of the final battle at the end of the world.

 

Sixth, after the final victory of the Muslims, the Mahdi will rule for a period of seven years, then he will die. 

 

            Let’s think seriously about the things we have mentioned.  It is possible that the imams in the mosques are pointing their adherents to the End of Days.  The call for a Caliphate has gone out.  All of the lesser signs are present.  The antichrist is said to be here.  Too, the person known as Mahdi is living.  The Fundamentalists of the Muslim faith believe that they can hasten the End of Days if they can entice the United States to enter into the final battle with them.  Sookhdeo writes:  “The Islamic State’s beheadings of western hostages in Syria and its many other acts of brutality, are designed to provoke the West, especially the US, into sending their ground forces into Syria.  This will initiate the final apocalyptic war of the end times which Muslims are divinely promised to win” (p. 49-50).  If our Commander-in-Chief knows about this teaching and is inclined to believe it, he will not go forth into battle against the Muslims.  On the other hand, if he does not believe the teachings of Islam, he could fight against them, defeat them, and make their prophecies null and void. 

            What do Muslims believe will happen after they have established their kingdom throughout the world?  There are several options about which one reads.  Some believe that this is the end.  They teach that Muslims will rule the world forever.  Others believe that Allah will eventually destroy the earth and all will appear before Allah in judgment.  All those who have rejected Islam have no hope of heaven.  Muslims will appear before Allah with a book of their deeds.  If the good deeds outweigh the bad, they will go to heaven.  If not, they will be sentence to hell.