“This (Prophet) is a warner from [i.e., like] those who warned in the past. The inevitable Day draws near.” (Qur’an 56:56-57)
“What are the unbelievers waiting for, other than the Hour to come upon them suddenly? Its Signs have already come. But what good will it be to remind them once the Hour has actually arrived?” (Qur’an 47:18)
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As regards the Ibadi school, we are Muslims who are focused on the NOW.
We are not bound by the past. Nor do we have to suffer while waiting for some salvinc figure (Mahdi/Jesus) etc…
The Ibadi school is here to remind the Muslims that Islam is not about the past or even the future. It is about NOW.
Right here, Right NOW! Where do I stand with Allah (swt) right NOW!
Not yesterday, not tomorrow, right now, because death can come at any time.
Tomorrow is too late to be prepared for death. Death may come before tomorrow.
So best to be prepared to meet death, NOW!
The following is from our beloved teacher and Shaykh, Shaykh Hafidh Hamed Al Sawafi (hafidullah)
1. Muhammed (saw) is the last messenger and he is the first big sign. Upon his arrival, the sands of the hour glass started to pour rapidly.
2. We Muslims believe that there will be haqq and batil until the very end.
3. Very importantly, Qiyyamat can come anytime. Unexpectedly, therefore every Muslim
Must be prepared to die, to die upon haqq. Have your affairs in order.
4. Any liar is a dajjal, and there have been many dajjals and the biggest dajjal is the one who lies about the deen.
5. Any Taqiyi (Allah fearing) Muslim is Mahdi. All Allah fearing Muslims collectively =Mahdi, and those who oppose the truth and love for lies to flourish collectively =dajjal.
6. There is no coming of Mahdi, or Jesus (as), and certainly no coming of Dajjal, in the way Sunni and Shia say. None of that at all. Jesus (as) climbing down a ladder in Syria, some epic battle in which Dajjal is killed and then Jesus (as) gets married, and all the pigs are killed, crosses are broken and Jews get slaughtered and then everything goes south once more. None of that.
#3 is the most important and crucial point of all the points.
This is the nasiha (advice) given to us by our respected teacher, Shaykh Hilal Al Wardi (hafidhullah) concerning the so-called “Dajjal”
From Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili (hafidullah)
Related by our honourable brother, Assad Al Muharrami, from His Eminence Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili (hafidullah) as he states concerning
The Masih Dajjal case:
“Seeking the help of Allah (swt ) from the fitnah of Masih Dajjal is authentic about the Blessed Prophet (saw) as it is also in the Musnad of Imam Al Rabe and the two Shaykhs and others. But this does not mean it is a specific individual who is described by attributes that make them special. As what is said about Dajjal cannot be depending upon on identifying his state and description, even if some have talked about Tawattur narrations that describe him.”
“That which is being pushed by tawatur is conditioned on it being free of disturbance and contradictions (of which there are many). But the authenticity of seeking Allah (swt) help from the dajjal includes all dajjals coming with a fitnah, as dajjal is a description that isn’t limited to one individual. It is a fitting description for all who deprive people and confuse them on matters in relation to their deen. And how many are the dajjals who are cautioned against seeking help from Allah (swt) is required from their evil in our age.?
Source: (Burhan Al Haqq 168/8)
Ibadiya’s Perspective of Christ’s descent, Anti-Christ, Mahdi
Some legends and crises are depicted in a number of Hadiths by some Islamic schools of thought. These show that the Prophet knows the unknown, and he tells about some events and phenomena that will take place right before the Hereafter. Some of these events are Christ’s descent and the Anti-Christ’s appearance.
Ibadiya’s perspective is that these contradict the Qur’an. The Qur’an and Hadiths are complementary, not contradictory.
First: Such Hadiths contradict the Qur’an since they describe the Hereafter as if the Prophet knows exactly the period when the Day of Resurrection comes. The Qur’an informs us that this day will come suddenly and neither the Prophet nor anyone else knows about when it will come. Allah says: “They ask you about the (final) Hour: ‘When will be its appointed time?’ Say: ‘The knowledge thereof is with my Lord [Alone]. None but He can reveal when it will occur. Heavy were its burden through the heaven and earth. Only, all of a sudden, will it come to you.’ They ask you as if you were eager in search thereof say: Say: ‘The knowledge thereof is with Allah [Alone], but most men know not.’ (Qur’an 7:187)
Second: These Hadiths give exact numbers of the dates of these crises. For example:
We said: Allah’s Messenger, how long would he stay on the earth? He (saw) said: For forty days, one day like a year and one day like a month and one day like a week and the rest of the days would be like your days.
Source: (https://sunnah.com/muslim:2937a)
The Qur’an, however, does not present these numbers with such events. Allah, when promising victory to Muslims, does not specify a period of time for such victory to happen. Allah says: “It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth [Islam] to cause it to prevail over all world views, even though the pagans may detest (it)” (Qur’an 9:33). The promise of victory in the Qur’an is not linked to a specific period. Allah says: “The Romans have been defeated. In a land close by: but they, (even) after (this) defeat of theirs, will be victorious. Within a few years, Allah is the Command in the Past and in the Future: on that day, the believers will rejoice.” (Qur’an 30: 2-4)
Third: These Hadiths assume a change of natural laws before the Hereafter. The Hadith mentioned above talks about altering the length of the day from 24 hours to a week or month or year. This length requires slowing down the rotation of the earth, which, in effect, would cause the earth to freeze, destabilize, and would cause scarcity of life on earth. The same goes for Hadiths in Abu Huraira professing the sun to rise from the west as a sign of the Hereafter.
Source: (https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4635)
This entails that the earth will rotate in the opposite direction, which also would cause slowing down the earth’s movement, then it might stop. It seems that those who innovated and created such stories did not know that the earth is round, and it rotates around itself. They thought that the sun rotates around the earth, which led them to think that the sun could rise from the west. They did not realize that for the sun to rise from the west, it should stop rising from the east first. This is, of course, if we assume that the atmosphere acts normally after all these tremendously notorious changes. Allah says: “(Such has been) the practice of Allah already in the past. No change will you find in the practice of Allah.” (Qur’an 48:23)
Fourth: These Hadiths are geographically restricted as they talk about places of the sons of Israel. They mention Damascus, Iraq, Jerusalem, Constantine as if events will only be restricted and connected to the geography of those who have changed the Injeel and Torah.
Fifth: These Hadiths talk about primitive weapons such as swords and arrows. Such weapons relate to the second century of Hijra [the time when Hadiths were recorded]. They are so primitive compared to the most basic new weapons of this century. How about the coming centuries?! This contradicts the precision of the place, time and characteristics of our current situation.
Sixth: These Hadiths profess the opening of Constantine when the anti-Christ appears, and the Christ descends. Ibn Al Hajaj specifies a chapter in his book, the title of which is “The Chapter of Constantine’s Opening, Appearance of Anti-Christ and Descend of Christ.”
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (saw as saying:
The Last Hour would not come until the Romans would 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). When they will arrange themselves in ranks, the Romans would say: Do not stand between us and those (Muslims) who took prisoners from amongst us. Let us fight with them; and the Muslims would say: Nay, by Allah, we would never get aside from you and from our brethren that you may fight them. They will then fight and a third (part) of the army would run away, whom Allah will never forgive. A third (part of the army) which would be constituted of excellent martyrs in Allah’s eye, would be killed and the third who would never be put to trial would win and they would be conquerors of Constantinople. And as they would be busy in distributing the spoils of war (amongst themselves) after hanging their swords by the olive trees, the Satan would cry: The Dajjal has taken your place among your family. They would then come out, but it would be of no avail. And when they would come to Syria, he would come out while they would be still preparing themselves for battle drawing up the ranks. Certainly, the time of prayer shall come and then Jesus (peace be upon him) son of Mary would descend and would lead them. When the enemy of Allah would see him, it would (disappear) just as the salt dissolves itself in water and if he (Jesus) were not to confront them at all, even then it would dissolve completely, but Allah would kill them by his hand and he would show them their blood on his lance (the lance of Jesus Christ).
Source: (https://sunnah.com/muslim:2897)
In reality, Constantine was opened in 1453 by Muslims and nothing of this sort happened at that time. On the realization of this, it became circulated among the Muslims about conquering Constantinople twice.
It is plausible that these were the hopes and wishes of various Christian sects who were opposed to the particular Christian sect who had control of Constantinople at the time. Seeing that Istanbul was formerly Constantinople, it is also plausible that some Muslims use these hadith to whip up anti-Turkish sentiments. Wallahu Alim. Allah knows best and His help is sought.
Seventh: These Hadith talk about legends as if they are signs of the Hereafter. Whosoever recites the Qur’an will find that the signs of the Hereafter have already taken place. Allah says: “Do they then only wait for the hour that it should come on them all of a sudden? But already come some tokens thereof, and when it comes to them, how shall they have their reminder?” (Qur’an 47:18).
The most important portents are sending the Prophets and Messengers. Allah also says about the sending of the blessed Prophet Muhammed (saw) as a Messenger:
“This is a Warner of the series of the Warners of old. The (hour) ever approaches draws nigh” (Qur’an 53:56-57).
He also says: “Or some created thing that is yet greater in your breasts. Then they will say: “Who shall bring us back [to life]?” Say: “He Who created you first!” Then they will shake their heads at you and say: “When will that be?” Say: “Maybe it will be quite soon” (Qur’an 17:51).
It is reported that the Blessed Messenger (saw) said:
“Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`idi:
(a companion of Allah’s Messenger (saw) Allah’s Messenger (saw), holding out his middle and index fingers, said, “My advent and the Hour’s are like this (or like these),” namely, the period between his era and the Hour is like the distance between those two fingers, i.e., very short.
Source: (https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5301)
Even if one wants to interpret the following ayat of the Qur’an: “And (He/It) shall be a sign of (the coming of) the Hour (of judgment): therefore, have no doubt about the (Hour). And follow Me” (Qur’an 43:61)
Like the prior prophets, it is speaking about the fact of his already having come. Not some future event.
The following is the correct understanding of the verse:
Eight: These Hadiths describe the Hereafter in exact words and give a lot of numbers and details about that period. A person who lives until that time will not find it hard to realize its arrival. This, of course, contradicts the “sudden” on which the Qur’an insists. Allah says: “Do they then wait for the Hour that it should come on them all of a sudden?” (Qur’an 47:18).
Ninth: The Ummah does not agree on the validity of these narrations. There is, thus, no doubt that this news has spread from the People of the Book.
Shaykh Abdullah As Salmi (hafidullah) says: “Let it be known that the Prophet has no Prophet after him. What people narrate that Christ will descend has not been heard before” — meaning that nothing from this is firmly established.
Shaykh Nasser bin Abi Nabhan (hafidullah) says: “Some people narrate that Allah sends the Mahdi and Anti-Christ appears. They also believe that Christ descends. All of this is a far cry from the truth. What we know is that Jesus is dead.”
Abu Al Hassan asks about whosoever claims that there is a Day of Resurrection before the actual Hereafter in which those who were dead will be killed and those who were killed will die. He answered, “Lie!” Allah says: “Say: “It is Allah who gives you life, then gives you death, then He will gather you together for the Day of Judgment about which there is no doubt” (Qur’an 45:26). He also says: “And if you die or are slain, lo, it is unto Allah that you are brought together” (Qur’an 3:158).
Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d:
I saw Allah’s Messenger (saw) pointing with his index and middle fingers, saying. “The time of my Advent and the Hour are like these two fingers.”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4936)
Therefore, it is not acceptable to have such claims about the Hereafter.
Jesus (as) descends:
Ibadhiya believe that Jesus (as) has died just like any other human being. Our evidence for this belief is:
1.“Behold! Allah said: “O [Jesus]! I will take you and rise you to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme, and I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject Faith, to the Day of Resurrection, then shall you return unto Me and I will judge between you in the matters wherein you dispute.” (Qur’an 3: 55). This proves that Jesus has died. It also proves that those who believed in what Jesus preached will gain victory over the Jews till the Day of Resurrection. This is what happened when Constantine accepted Christianity as a formal religion of the Roman Emperor. Then, Islam came and instilled Monotheism which Jesus and all the other Prophets have been sent with.
Jesus, as mentioned in the Qur’an, proved his death “Never did I say to them aught except what You [Allah] did command me to say: “Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” And I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them, when you did take me you was the Watcher over them” (Qur’an 5: 117). Until today, the Jews are living in scattered areas.
2. The idea of Jesus descending contradicts the concept of mortality stressed in the Quran. Allah says: “And we granted not to any man before you permanent life (here): if then you should die, would they live permanently?” (Qur’an 21:43). It also contradicts the verse “Before you, also, the Messengers We sent were but men, to whom we granted inspiration: if you know this not, ask of those who possess the Message. Nor did We give them bodies that ate no food, no were they immortals.” ( Qur’an 21: 7-8) Which proves the death of all the Prophets including Jesus (as). Allah’s way on earth that humans die after a while. Jesus’ immortality refutes Allah’s way, and this can not be believable. Allah says: “(Such was) the practice (approved) of Allah among those who lived Aforetime: no change will you find in the practice of Allah.” (Qur’an 48: 23). Noah, however, lived for such a long time on Earth as mentioned in the Qur’an.
3. It contradicts the verse “Get you down, with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling – place and your means of livelihood- for a time. Allah said: “Therein shall you live, and therein shall you die, but from it shall you be taken out” (Qur’an 7: 24-25). However, many Muslims believe Jesus is living in Heaven above us!!
4. The idea also contradicts the Qur’anic verses by saying that tax (Jizyah) is exempted from the people of the Book. In the following narration:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (saw) said, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, surely (Jesus,) the son of Mary will soon descend amongst you and will judge mankind justly (as a Just Ruler); he will break the Cross and kill the pigs and there will be no Jizya (i.e. taxation taken from non Muslims). Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it, and a single prostration to Allah (in prayer) will be better than the whole world and whatever is in it.” Abu Huraira added “If you wish, you can recite (this verse of the Holy Book): — ‘And there is none Of the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) But must believe in him (i.e Jesus as an Apostle of Allah and a human being) Before his death. And on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness Against them.” (4.159) (See Fath-ul-Bari, Page 302 Vol 7)
Source: (https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3448)
As known, tax is an obligatory payment by the people of the Book as mentioned in the verse “Fight those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of truth from among the People of the Book until they pay Jizyah with willing submission.” (Qur’an 9: 29)
So, these narrations establish the idea that Jesus will descend with a new law that exempts Jizyah. As known, the Islamic law is eternal and will not be altered because Muhammed (saw) is the last Messenger. Allah says: “Muhammed (saw) is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the Prophets. And Allah has full knowledge of all things.” (Qur’an 33:40). These narrations, however, propose that Jesus is the seal of the Prophets since he will come at the end of the world.
There are three types of Bid’ah introduced in the belief in the second coming of Jesus (as)
- The idea that a Prophet (saw) left the world with an uncompleted task.
- Stripping a Prophet from the office of anbiya. In order for it not to contradict that the Prophet (saw) is the seal and final Prophet. No one has the authority to strip a Prophet of Prophethood!
- The idea of the Prophets coming non sequentially. Which has never happened. In order for it not to contradict that the Prophet (saw) is the seal and final Prophet.
Anti-Christ and the Awaited Mahdi
Many Muslims believe that there is a man with an uncanny ability who will appear at the end of life. This man, the awaited Mahdi, spreads justice after injustice has pervasively spread. Because this belief contradicts the Qur’anic verses, which promise Muslims victory if they follow Allah’s orders, we do not believe in it. Moreover, such beliefs might discourage hard work and the concept of striving to succeed. The concept of Mahdi has Torah roots as it in reality promises the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). The Blessed Prophet (saw) is everything the Children of Isra’il had hoped for and more.
As for the Anti-Christ which such hadiths ascribe, it does not appear in the Ibadi school because miracles are attributed to Prophets and Messengers. Assigning these miracles to impostors negates the Messages of the Prophets. That was exactly what happened with Jews, who created and supported impostors to deny their Prophet’s warnings. Allah says: “Allah has heard the taunt of those who say: “Truly, Allah is indigent, and we are rich!” We shall certainly record their word and the act of their slaying the prophets in defiance of right” (Qur’an 3: 181).
Our school considers any person who fights Allah through bad deeds to be an impostor. Currently, the number of impostors has increased. Imam Abu Al Hassan Al Basiwi (ref. Aljami’. Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Oman) is asked: “What do you think about the impostor? Do they have a specific feature?” He says: “All wrong doers are impostors. I do not know the ‘particular’ impostor to whom you are referring.”
Source: (http://bintibadh.blogspot.com/2020/04/ibadiya-history-methodology-principles.html?m=1) With additional comments and edits by us.
May Allah (swt) bless our sister Bint Ibadh for this! May Allah (swt) bless her and cause her blog to be a testimony for the day of judgement! Amin
One can see that an increasing number of Muslims (both from the Sunni and Shi’i) are starting to move away from the view that a Mahdi will come.
For example:
In summary, these ideas about waiting for some future salvic figure to “save” the Ummah is a trap. It is a trap that will not bring us any good. One 12er Shi’i cleric has been led to tell the truth about their “Mahdi” who is presumably hiding somewhere:
One of the great scholars of Ahl Sunnah has tried to save the concept of Mahdi arriving, and now what are our brothers and sisters from Ahl Sunnah going to do after 59 years have passed and now Mahdi?
So none of these Mahdi types ever brought anything good for this ummah. We have the Qur’an and the Sunnah and that is what we are to base our lives upon. No doubt many think tanks who wish the Muslim Ummah ill would prefer us to not have ambitions of setting up Islamic governance. They prefer us to keep our eyes on the sky seeking and waiting for salvation, rather than having greater economic, military, political, cultural cooperation among our Ummah. Allah (swt) knows best!
If you are interested perhaps you would like to read these articles:
May Allah Guide the Ummah.
May Allah Forgive the Ummah.
Prima Quran 