Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 6 : Uniting in Ideological Warfare

When humanity's present living conditions are scrutinized, the need for alliances among believers become apparent. Social ills, among them conflicts, wars, genocide, poverty, famine, social injustice, and moral degeneration, pose a serious threat to many countries. Moreover, a great number of innocent people suffering under those conditions are desperately waiting for a helping hand to be extended. Conscientious people around the world are trying to help them. Aid packages are dispatched to areas affected by famine, peace envoys are trying to protect people in war zones, and efforts are being made to curb crime and decadence. But these efforts are regional and limited to finding solutions to the most pressing issues. In fact, it is actually possible to eradicate all kinds of human suffering and to bring happiness, security, and prosperity to the world.

However, achieving this goal depends on identifying the true causes of such ills - the decline of religious morality - and eradicating their ideological basis. The fact that the law of the strong prevails throughout the world is partly responsible for this situation, for this attitude engenders a social model based upon self-interest. Even more seriously, it has replaced acceptance, love, sympathy, compassion, and cooperation with conflict, greed, and dispute. In short, it disregards humanity's obligation to serve God, view this life as a realm of testing designed to win His good pleasure, and strive for the Hereafter.

The ideological changes that took place in the nineteenth century laid the foundations for the spiritual collapse in the next century. Whereas the majority of people believed in God's existence until that time, these changes enabled atheism to become a major influence. In the eighteenth century, such materialists as Denis Diderot (d. 1784) and Baron D'Holbach (d. 1789) asserted that the universe had existed forever and that only matter existed, and this view found an ever-increasing following in Europe. In the nineteenth century, atheism expanded further with the influence of such thinkers as Ludwig Feuerbach (d. 1872), Karl Marx (d. 1883), Friedrich Engels (d. 1894), Friedrich Nietzsche (d. 1900), Emile Durkheim (d. 1917), and Sigmund Freud (d. 1939).

Charles Darwin (d. 1882) did the greatest service to atheism by devising his theory of evolution, which was designed to oppose creation. Darwinism provided a scientific answer to the question of how humanity and other life forms emerged - a question that atheists had never managed to answer until that time. He proposed that nature had a mechanism that could enliven dead matter and give rise to millions of species. Many people, unfortunately, believed this erroneous idea.

At the end of the nineteenth century, atheists had formulated a worldview that, they claimed, explained everything. They postulated that the universe was not created, but had existed since eternity and thus had no beginning. They assumed that its clear order and equilibrium was coincidental and devoid of purpose. Darwinism claimed to answer the question of how humanity and all other beings were created. Marx and Durkheim provided atheistic answers to history and sociology, and Freud did the same for psychology. These theories, however, were shown to be baseless and without merit by the scientific, political, and social developments of the twentieth century. And, moreover, discoveries in astronomy, biology, psychology, and social behavior completely destroyed atheisms' propositions.

During this period, however, movements based on Darwinism and materialism devastated humanity. Such ideologies as communism, fascism, racism, nihilism, and existentialism caused people great sorrow and engendered countless conflicts, wars, and calamities. Their aftereffects continue to be felt today, albeit with a lesser impact, and certain circles persist in defending Darwinism as a scientific fact. We will briefly scrutinize how Darwinism is being imposed on nations and what the consequences are. But first, we want to point out an important fact.

At present, the burden of responsibility rests upon the shoulders of all conscientious believers to do something about the global situation created by all ideologies opposed to religious morality. All Christians, Jews, and Muslims should join in this effort, for they are the target of these atheistic ideologies. Therefore, the sincere People of the Book and sincere Muslims must cooperate, join forces, and tell the world of Darwinism's false worldview, which is based on materialism, not science. All of the other anti-religious ideologies (e.g., communism, fascism, racism) as well as decadence must be fought together on an ideological level so that the world can enjoy peace, tranquility, and justice in the near future. When this great task has been completed, suffering, hardship, killing, calamity, injustice, and destitution will make way for enlightenment, calmness, prosperity, wealth, health, and good fortune.

Darwinism: The Source of Corrupted Values

The theory of evolution proposes that life emerged coincidentally and then developed and evolved as a consequence of the struggle for survival. Consequently, Darwinism's underlying message is that you are not answerable to anyone; that you owe your life to coincidence; and that you must fight and, if necessary, oppress others in order to survive, as you are living in a world of self-interest and conflict. These are the moral implications of such Darwinist slogans as natural selection, struggle for survival, and survival of the fittest. Obviously, this worldview is the exact opposite of the worldview based on religious morality. Moreover, if forms the basis of the anti-religion front.

Studying society's values is enough to expose Darwinism's destructive nature. When we look at present-day societies, we see that most people live for self-preservation, a good job, material wealth, more money, entertainment - in other words, for success in the struggle for survival. Such people naturally seek a good and happy life. However, religious morality also requires people to take care of the needy, cooperate with each other, and avoid selfishness. Darwinism does not concern itself with other people; in fact, it teaches its adherents that if any benefit can be had from the hardship of others, so be it.

Especially among the young people, luxurious houses and cars, unlimited financial means, fame, wealth, and power have become ideals. Not wondering about the purpose of their existence and hardly ever pondering God's existence and might, they consider themselves to be independent beings who have no responsibilities toward our Creator. They would rather not be reminded of death, which is a reality for all beings, resurrection, and the Day of Judgment.

But such willful ignorance does not affect the truth. Even if they ignore such questions until death comes for them or turn away from all reminders of truth, they remain nothing more than created and feeble servants who will die one day and be brought to His presence for judgment. These people often are not even aware of Darwinism's influence on their lives. Worse, great number of them believe that Darwinism is a subject matter of biology and therefore none of their concern. Even if they are not aware of the theory of evolution's influence, their continued exposure to it deeply affects their worldview.

People who consider themselves to be highly evolved animals reflect their corrupted worldview in their behavior and decision-making: They are selfish, greedy, ruthless, and cruel, and oblivious of the need to practice compassion, mercy, devotion, and modesty. This attitude naturally gives rise to social disorder and causes social as well as moral collapse.

Another undesirable side effect is the ensuing belief that one's personal self-interest is the only thing that matters. Within such societies, altruism, love, respect, and compassion have all been forgotten. Such conditions push people into loneliness and despair. Out of these conditions come stress, discontent, unhappiness, and worry, all of which make many people's lives living nightmares. The resulting spiritual void drives some people to alcohol, drugs, gambling, suicide, or other disastrous courses.

Decadence continues to spread rapidly in societies whose people have abandoned spiritual values. The rising levels of homosexuality and prostitution, sexual crimes, rape, and sexually transmitted disease are important indicators of decadence. Prostitution destroys families and people's self-respect. Homosexuality and other sexual practices that all divinely revealed Books have condemned are now considered normal in many parts of the world, and people who oppose such immorality are accused of being out of date. It is certainly no sign of progress that homosexuals can get married officially in some countries, coordinate their efforts at the international level, and display aggressive behavior against religious morality.

Decadence is also widespread in the political realm. The twentieth century was characterized by the most horrific and destructive wars in human history. Countless people were killed, injured, or disabled in terrorist or anarchist attacks. Such cruelty is perpetrated by anti-religion ideologies (e.g., communism, fascism, and racism), all of which are offshoots of Darwinism. Regional wars, conflicts, and bloody acts of terror continue to erupt in many parts of the world.

At present, vast numbers of people live in destitution and hardship. Statistics reveal that famine, destitution, and the gap in wealth distribution have reached alarming levels. These negative developments are the natural consequences of a world order based on selfishness, self-interest, and other materialistic values.

Social degradation is also reflected in the increasing number of crimes committed. Throughout the world, illegal activities are increasing and the scope of criminal activities continues to expand. These are the natural consequences of abandoning spiritual and moral values. People far from religious morality consider all types of crimes (e.g., theft, fraud, robbery, and blackmail) to be normal and do not believe that such practices can ever be eradicated.

This gloomy picture is the result of the increasing penetration of materialist philosophies over the past two centuries. Beginning in Europe, it has now spread around the world. This product of rejecting belief in God, which features such lies as you are not answerable or you are highly evolved animals that struggle for survival in the jungle, has proven to be remarkably resilient.

Two Choices

Having presented and explained the reasons for humanity's current deplorable state, we now must ask the following question: What is the best and most appropriate thing to do about the prevailing conditions?

For anyone who sees the destructiveness of immorality, injustice and degeneration, there are two options: either ignore it or mobilize to fight it. Those who choose the first option remain passive and uninterested in what is happening around them. They fool themselves by asking rhetorically: Am I going to save the world? or What could I do, anyway? In conversations, they express their sorrow over the sad state of affairs and donate some time or money to various charities, but make no effort to eradicate these evils. Such people should remember that those who remain silent in the face of suffering, hardship, and evil, or who do not do their utmost to combat them, share in the responsibility for their continued existence.

The second option, mobilizing all means in an ideological struggle to save the world from its present condition, is the one that all sincere believers choose. They never give up the struggle and continue to contribute as best they can. Sincere, reasonable, conscientious, and responsible people must choose this second option. Since the evil and immoral tyrants present a united front against religious morality, sincere People of the Book and sincere Muslims must unite against this alliance of evil, pool all of their mental and material resources, and then fight this ideological war together. All sincere Jews, Christians, and Muslims are responsible for doing their utmost in this regard. By embarking on this path, they ensure the gradual emergence of honest, respectful, loving, accepting, sensitive, and virtuous people who will live together in an environment of peace, tranquility, security, happiness, and prosperity.

In the present environment of hardship and troubles, sincere Jews, Christians, and Muslims must be even more accepting, conciliatory, complementary, and respectful of each other. They should not forget that unity, togetherness, and cooperation bring success, and that dispute, argument, and conflict bring nothing but weakness. The current situation demands the immediate formation of such an alliance. Besides the ideological warfare against the enemies of religious morality, all believers must prepare for the most celebrated era in human history: the second coming of Jesus (pbuh).

Chapter 7 : The Second Coming Of Jesus (PBUH) The Messiah

In this chapter, we will examine the revelation of Jesus' (pbuh) second coming, as described in the Bible and the Qur'an. Like all other Prophets, Jesus (pbuh) is a distinguished and celebrated person who was blessed by God with superior moral qualities and sent to guide his people to the righteous path. However, certain other qualities set him apart from the other Prophets: He was born without a father and will return to Earth at some point in the future. The Qur'an, Prophet Mohammed's (may God bless him and grant him peace) hadiths, and the works of Muslim scholars all confirm this fact.

All of the information we have indicates that Jesus' (pbuh) second coming is imminent. The time of his return, expected for centuries by both Christians and Muslims, is on the verge of being fulfilled (God knows best.) What we need to do now is to learn how to best prepare ourselves and our world for his arrival. For genuine believers in God, the best way is to join together in order to establish his teachings in our societies and attain the honor of being counted among his supporters.

Jesus' (pbuh) Return in the Bible

The Bible describes Jesus' (pbuh) second coming in detail. However, it also states that only God knows the time and place of his arrival (Matthew, 24:36; Mark, 13:32-33) and that he will come unexpectedly, which is why people must be aware and ready (Matthew, 24:44, 25:13; Mark, 13:35-37; Luke, 12:40).

The circumstances and telltale signs of his return that are known are given below: Anarchy and chaos will increase in the End Times (the final period of the world); wars and conflicts will be commonplace; decadence will be widespread; love and trust between people will be lost; treachery, infidelity, and cruelty will increase; and most people will be far from religious morality. One other indication will be the large number of false Prophets or Messiahs that will appear. The Bible describes this era as follows:

Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming: 'I am Jesus,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All of these are the beginning of birth pains... At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false Prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew, 24:4-14) It also depicts the situation of the societies before Jesus' (pbuh) second coming, as follows:

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the Last Days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (2 Timothy, 3:1-5)

According to the Bible, when these developments are taking place, Jesus' (pbuh) return will be imminent (Matthew, 24:33). One further telltale sign will be the widespread denial that he will really come. The Bible reveals this, as follows:

First of all, you must understand that in the Last Days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say: "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (2 Peter, 3:3-4)

Jesus' (pbuh) Return in the Hadith

The signs of the End Times as described in the hadiths of Prophet Mohammed (may God bless him and grant him peace) are very similar to those described in the Bible. Our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) also related in detail the circumstances and condition of the world in this time, and revealed that Jesus (pbuh) would be sent back to Earth during that period. Some of these signs are given below:

When anarchy prevails throughout the world, mischief appears, roads are cut, some attack others, the elder do not show mercy for the younger, and the younger fail to be polite toward the elder…18

The Hour will come when one kills his own brother.19

The Hour will come when the evil ones become successors in your world.20

The Hour will come when violence, bloodshed, and anarchy become common.21

The unlawful things become lawful… is one of the signs of the Hour.22

Large cities perish, as if they never existed.23

In the End Times, such people will appear who will trade their religion in return for worldly benefits. To appear clement, they will wrap around sheep skin; their tongues will be sweeter than candy, but their hearts will be as hard as a wolf's heart.24 There are two great events before the Day of Judgment... and then years of earthquakes.25 Deceiving years will pass by. During those years... people will trust the traitorous person, and the honest person will be deemed traitorous.26 People will not respect the elderly or show mercy to the young ones. Adultery will become widespread... to such an extent that people will commit adultery in the middle of a street.27 Hunger and the high cost of living will become widespread.28

The Hour will become near when people cease to do good deeds, and do not enjoin good deeds and forbid bad deeds...29 The increase in the number of evil ones, deeming liars as honest and honest ones as liars, deeming traitorous ones as reliable, and reliable ones as traitorous… are among the signs of the Hour.30

Those who pay attention to what is going on in the world, both in their own area and more further a field, can see that these signs are taking place one after the other in our own time. We receive almost daily news of conflict from different parts of the world; people are troubled by corruption, injustice, and other social ills; and dishonesty, fraud, cheating, fornication, and sexual license are rising by the day. Disregard for moral values prevents true love and compassion between people, and an atmosphere of distrust and anxiety eventually engulfs everyone. The numbers of devastating famine, earthquakes, and other natural disasters are increasing, and shocking events are clearly happening all around us. Of course such events have taken place in the past, but never have these signs occurred so clearly and comprehensively as they are right now. This situation is a clear sign, God willing, of Jesus (pbuh) the Messiah's imminent return, a truly historic event and a cause for excitement and joy for all believers. Over the next few pages we will examine the evidence for Jesus' (pbuh) return in the Qur'an and our Prophet's (may God bless him and grant him peace) hadiths.

Jesus' (pbuh) Characteristics According to the Qur'an

The Qur'an contains a great deal of information about Jesus (pbuh). For example, he was born without a father, following the good tidings that an angel revealed to Mary, and performed miracles, by God's will, such as speaking with people while still an infant. Throughout his life, he was an exemplary servant of God and called people to become genuine servants of God. The following are some of Jesus' (pbuh) features:

Jesus (pbuh) is the word and Messenger of God:

O People of the Book! Do not go to excess in your religion. Say nothing but the truth about God. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only the Messenger of God and His Word, which He cast into Mary, and a Spirit from Him. (Qur'an, 4:171) He was given the name Jesus (pbuh) the Messiah:

When the angels said: "Mary, your Lord gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, of high esteem in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near." (Qur'an, 3:45) He is a sign for humanity:

… and she [Mary], who protected her chastity. We breathed into her some of Our Spirit and made her and her son a Sign for all the worlds. (Qur'an, 21:91)

His mother Mary was chosen and preferred by God above all other women:

And when the angels said: "Mary, God has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you over all other women." (Qur'an, 3:42) He spoke with people while still in the cradle:

[The angels said:] "He will speak to people in the cradle and also when fully grown, and will be one of the righteous." (Qur'an, 3:46) He performed many miracles by God's will:

As a Messenger to the tribe of Israel, saying: "I have brought you a Sign from your Lord. I will create the shape of a bird out of clay for you and then breathe into it, and it will be a bird, by God's permission. I will heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead to life, by God's permission. I will tell you what you eat and what you store up in your homes. There is a Sign for you in that, if you are believers." (Qur'an, 3:49)

Remember when God said: ''Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessing to you and to your mother, when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown; and when I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you created a bird-shape out of clay by My permission and then breathed into it and it became a bird by My permission; and healed the blind and the leper by My permission; and when you brought forth the dead by My permission; and when I held back the tribe of Israel from you, when you brought them the Clear Signs, and those of them who did not believe said: 'This is nothing but downright magic.' "(Qur'an, 5:110)

He preached the Bible sent as guidance and confirmation of the Torah (errors, myths, and legends entered the Bible at a later date):

And We sent Jesus, son of Mary, following in their footsteps, confirming the Torah that came before him. We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light, confirming the Torah that came before it, and as guidance and admonition for those who guard against evil. (Qur'an, 5:46)

Then We sent Our Messengers following in their footsteps and sent Jesus, son of Mary, after them, giving him the Gospel. We put compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him. They invented monasticism - We did not prescribe it for them - purely out of desire to gain the pleasure of God, but even so they did not observe it as it should have been observed. To those of them who believed We gave their reward, but many of them are deviators. (Qur'an, 57:27)

He was supported with Purest Spirit:

We gave Moses the Book and sent a succession of Messengers after him. We gave Jesus, son of Mary, the Clear Signs and reinforced him with the Purest Spirit. Why, then, whenever a Messenger came to you with something your lower selves did not desire, did you grow arrogant, and deny some of them and murder others? (Qur'an, 2:87)

These Messengers: We favored some of them over others. God spoke directly to some of them and raised up some of them in rank. We gave Clear Signs to Jesus, son of Mary, and reinforced him with the Purest Spirit. If God had willed, those who came after them would not have fought each other after the Clear Signs came to them, but they differed. Among them are those who believe and among them are those who do not believe. If God had willed, they would not have fought each other. But God does whatever He wills. (Qur'an, 2:253)

His Disciples assisted him:

O you who believe! Be helpers of God as Jesus, son of Mary, said to the Disciples: "Who will be my helpers to God?" The Disciples said: "We will be the helpers of God." One faction of the tribe of Israel believed, and the other disbelieved. So We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became victorious. (Qur'an, 61:14)

He was a role model for the Israelites:

He [Jesus, son of Mary] is only a servant on whom We bestowed Our blessing and whom We made an example for the tribe of Israel. (Qur'an, 43:59) The unbelievers conspired to assassinate him, but God foiled their plots and raised him up to His presence:

They planned, and God planned. But God is the best of planners. When God said: ''Jesus, I will take you back, raise you up to Me, and purify you of those who do not believe. And I will place the people who follow you above those who do not believe until the Day of Resurrection. Then you will all return to Me, and I will judge between you regarding the things about which you differed." (Qur'an, 3:54-55)

Jesus' (pbuh) Second Coming According to the Qur'an

The Qur'an reveals that Jesus (pbuh) did not die and was not killed. Rather, he was raised up to God's presence and will be returned to Earth at a time of His choice.

This part of the book will examine the Qur'anic evidence for this. (For detailed information, see Harun Yahya, The Glad Tidings of the Messiah, Global Publishing, [Istanbul: 2003].) 1. Those who sought to kill Jesus (pbuh) failed. Thus, their claim to have killed him is based only upon their assumption: And [on account of] their saying: "We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, Messenger of God." They did not kill him and they did not crucify him; rather, it was made to seem so to them. Those who argue about him are in doubt about it. They have no real knowledge of it, just conjecture. But they certainly did not kill him. (Qur'an, 4:157)

2. Jesus (pbuh) did not die, but was taken from the dimension of human existence to the presence of God:

God raised him [Jesus] up to Himself. God is Almighty, All-Wise. (Qur'an, 4:158) 3. Jesus (pbuh) is a sign for the Hour:

He [Jesus] is a sign of the Hour. Have no doubt about it. But follow me. This is a straight path. (Qur'an, 43:61) This verse signals Jesus' (pbuh) return in the End Times, because Jesus lived approximately six centuries before the Qur'an's revelation. Therefore, we cannot understand his first life as a sign of the Hour or, in other words, a sign of the End Times. Given this interpretation, Jesus (pbuh) will return in the End Times, and that this is a sign of the Day of Judgment. (God knows best.) 4. Jesus' (pbuh) followers will be preferred over unbelievers until the end of time:

When God said: ''Jesus, I will take you back and raise you up to Me, and purify you of those who do not believe. And I will place the people who follow you above those who do not believe until the Day of Resurrection. Then you will all return to Me, and I will judge between you regarding the things about which you differed." (Qur'an, 3:55)

God says that Jesus' (pbuh) true followers will be superior to the unbelievers until the Day of Judgment. He only had a few followers while he was alive on Earth and, after his ascension to God's presence, the true religion revealed to him was gradually falsified. During the next two centuries his followers were persecuted ruthlessly, for they did not have any political power. Therefore, we cannot say that the early Christians dominated the unbelievers and, therefore, that they were the subject of this verse. Today, Christianity is far from its original state as the real religion taught by Jesus (pbuh). In this situation, the expression I will place the people who follow you above those who do not believe until the Day of Resurrection, takes on a clear meaning: A community of Jesus' (pbuh) followers will live until that time. This community will emerge on Jesus' (pbuh) second coming and be preferred over the unbelievers until the Day of Judgment. (God knows best.)

5. All People of the Book will believe in Jesus (pbuh) before he dies:

There is not one of the People of the Book who will not believe in him before he dies; and on the Day of Resurrection he [Jesus] will be a witness against them. (Qur'an, 4:159)

This verse contains three promises in relation to Jesus (pbuh), all of which have not yet been fulfilled: first, Jesus (pbuh) will die like all other human beings; second, all People of the Book will believe in him before he dies. (Both of these prophecies will be realized when he comes again); and third, Jesus (pbuh) will be a witness over the People of the Book on the Day of Judgment. (God knows best.) 6. Jesus' (pbuh) second coming is proclaimed in Surah Maryam:

[Jesus said:] "Peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I am raised up again alive." (Qur'an, 19:33) When this verse is considered together with Surah Al 'Imran 3:55, an important fact emerges, for this latter verse states that Jesus (pbuh) was raised up to God's presence. This verse contains no reference to his death or killing. However, Surah Maryam 19:33 speaks of the day that Jesus (pbuh) will die. This second "death" is only possible with Jesus' (pbuh) return to Earth to live among humanity for a certain number of years. (God knows best.) 7. The following verse indicates his return to Earth:

He will teach him [Jesus] the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel. (Qur'an, 3:48) When we look at other verses to understand the meaning of Book in this verse, we realize the following: As it is used in conjunction with the Bible and the Torah in the same sentence, it must stand for the Qur'an, as the verse below suggests:

He has sent down the Book to you with truth, confirming what was there before it. And He sent down the Torah and the Gospel. (Qur'an, 3:3) Many other verses state that wisdom and the Book were revealed to Mohammed (may God bless him and grant him peace). The following is one such verse: God has sent down the Book and Wisdom to you, and taught you what you did not know before. God's favor to you is indeed immense. (Qur'an, 4:113) As the book revealed to Prophet Mohammed (may God bless him and grant him peace) was the Qur'an, the Book referred to in Surah Al 'Imran 3:48, which Jesus (pbuh) will be taught, is most probably the Qur'an. Given that Jesus (pbuh) knew the Torah and the Bible, obviously he will learn the Qur'an on his second coming. (God knows best.)

8. Surah Al 'Imran 3:59 states: "The likeness of Jesus in God's sight is the same as Adam." This verse points out similarities between the two Prophets. For example, both Adam (pbuh) and Jesus (pbuh) did not have a father. Moreover, it could be indicating that Jesus (pbuh) will be brought down to Earth in the End Times, just as Adam (pbuh) was brought down from Paradise. (God knows best.)

9. The word kahlaan, in Surat al-Ma'ida 5:110 and Surah Al 'Imran 3:46 is further proof for Jesus' return to Earth. These verses are as follows: Remember when God said: ''Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessing to you and to your mother, when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown." (Qur'an, 5:110) [The angels said to Mary:] "He [Jesus] will speak to people in the cradle and also when fully grown, and will be one of the righteous." (Qur'an, 3:46)

The dictionary meaning of kahlaan, which denotes the adult stages of Jesus' (pbuh) life, is between 30-50 years of age, at the borderline of youth and old age. Islamic scholars agree that this word denotes that part of a person's life that begins after one becomes 35 years old. Islamic scholars base their view on the hadiths, transmitted by Ibn `Abbas, that Jesus (pbuh) was raised up to the heavens at the beginning of his thirtieth year and that he will live for another 40 years on his return. Scholars say that his old age will occur after his return to Earth. Therefore, this verse is a proof for Jesus' (pbuh) return.31

All Prophets spoke with people, invited them to religion, and taught religion at a mature age. But the Qur'an does not use this word for any other Prophet. Thus, kahlaan indicates Jesus' (pbuh) miraculous return to Earth, as the expressions of while in the cradle and when fully grown come one after the other in the verses, indicating the two miraculous times.

Jesus' (pbuh) speaking from the cradle was a miracle, for such a thing had never happened before. This suggests that the expression when fully grown, which appears immediately after the other, is also a miracle. If this expression indicates Jesus' (pbuh) life before he was raised up to God's presence, Jesus' (pbuh) speech would not have been a miracle. This is why the verse points out two miraculous times: when he was in the cradle (the first) and when fully grown (the second). Therefore, the expression when fully grown most probably indicates the miraculous time following his miraculous return to Earth, when he will speak with people again. (God knows best.)

Recognizing Jesus (pbuh)

People are curious about how Jesus (pbuh) will be recognized on his second coming and what features will reveal his true identity. As a person of superior knowledge, intellect, body, and virtue, he will have an expression of Prophethood on his face. His strong fear and respect of God and deep faith will enlighten his face. This enlightenment on his face will be so revealing that people who encounter him will know that they are dealing with a superior human being.

God reveals that he is "of high esteem in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near" (Qur'an, 3:45). Thus, Jesus (pbuh) will be recognized by his respectability, honor, and superiority, just as all other Prophets were. Those who see him will know him instantly, and their hearts will have no doubts; those who have denied his return will realize their error straight away. Jesus (pbuh) will be recognizable by the qualities of Prophethood, but other signs will also make him recognizable, such as that he will have no family or relatives, and no one will have known him from an earlier period in his life.

No One Will Know Jesus (pbuh) When He Returns

How will we recognize Jesus (pbuh)? Surely he will have all the attributes of a Prophet, which will enable believers to recognize him. Moreover, no one will have seen or known him before, and no one will know his past. No one will know his physical qualities, face, or voice. Even if some people make such claims, they cannot prove them, for everyone who knew Jesus (pbuh) has been dead for approximately two thousand years. Mary, Zachariah (pbuh), his Disciples, the Jewish leaders of that era, and those who were taught by Jesus (pbuh) have all died. As we explained earlier, Jesus (pbuh) was created without a father, by God's command Be! Centuries later, he has no known relatives. In fact, God compares Jesus' (pbuh) creation to Adam's (pbuh):

The likeness of Jesus in God's sight is the same as Adam. He created him from earth and then He said to him: "Be!" and he was. (Qur'an, 3:59)

No doubt, this situation removes the threat of false Messiahs. On his second coming, no one will be able to cast doubt on Jesus (pbuh) as the Messiah, because he will be instantly recognizable by this fact: No one will be able to say that he or she knows him. Besides, Jesus (pbuh) will have all the attributes of His chosen Messengers: virtue, pureness, wisdom, convincing speech, foresight, and modesty. Naturally, these will set him apart from false Messiahs and enable true believers to recognize him in the light of faith and to believe in him.

Jesus (pbuh) will remove all of Christianity's false beliefs and practices, free both the Christian and the Islamic worlds from their errors, and call all people to live by the true religion and superior morality. One Qur'anic verse states that all People of the Book will believe in Jesus (pbuh) (Qur'an, 4:159). Thus, Jews will also believe in Jesus (pbuh) as the Messiah and enter the alliance of all three divinely revealed religions in the pursuit of delivering peace, tranquility, and justice to the world.

Islamic sources contain a great deal of information on the new world order to be established under Jesus' (pbuh) leadership. Many hadiths also give the good tidings about his return. A few of them are given below:

I swear, the son of Mary [Jesus (pbuh)] will perform hajj or umra or perform both.32 The Hour will not come until you see ten signs: the smoke, the Dajjal, the Beast, the Sun rising from the West, the descent of Jesus (pbuh) son of Mary…33

By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, son of Mary [Jesus (pbuh)] will shortly descend among you people [Muslims] as a just ruler...34 Hadiths reveal that a Golden Age era will begin after Jesus' (pbuh) return, a time in which wealth, tranquility, peace, happiness, and ease of life will rule. It will see new developments in art, medicine, communication, manufacturing, transport, and many other fields, completely unlike what we have seen in any other time. In addition, morality will define the lives of people. The hadiths describe this era, as follows: Earth will fill with union of faiths, just as a bowl is filled with water. No enmity will remain among people. And all enmities, struggle, hostility, and jealousy will disappear.35

People will have so many possessions that no one will accept any.36 Earth will fill with justice, just as a bowl is filled with water. Everyone will worship God. No strife or war will remain… Earth will be like a silver table; it will grow its plants, just as it was in the time of Adam. A bunch of grapes will satisfy a person. A group of people will feed on a single pomegranate. An ox will be very cheap, just as a horse will be very cheap.37

Awaiting Jesus (pbuh)

For us Muslims, Jesus' (pbuh) second coming is of utmost importance. Born as a miracle of God, he invited the Israelites to the righteous path, performed many miracles in their presence, and is the Messiah and God's word (Qur'an, 4:171). When he returns, the differences between Christians and Muslims, who actually share the same values and have the same belief in God, will be resolved. According to the Qur'an, Christians are the closest to Muslims in terms of affection. Once their differences have been resolved, Muslims and Christians will unite, and the Jews will believe in Jesus (pbuh) and find enlightenment (Qur'an, 4:159). Thus, these three divinely revealed religions will merge into one religion based on belief in God and obedience to Jesus (pbuh), and will then ideologically defeat all anti-religion philosophies and idolatry, thus finally ridding the world of war, conflict, racism, ethnic hostility, tyranny, and injustice. People will live in a golden age of peace, happiness, and tranquility.

This will be one of the most significant events in world history. The merger of the three divinely revealed religions will mean that both North and South America, Europe, the Islamic world, Africa, Russia, and Israel will form an alliance under a common religion, something that has never been witnessed before.

Jesus' second coming is one of the greatest miracles in human history. God's chosen Prophets, by His will, performed various miracles. By His grace, 2,000 years ago in Palestine Jesus (pbuh) revived the dead, cured lepers and the blind, and gave life to lifeless objects (Qur'an, 5:110), all by God's will.

It will be a great miracle to witness Jesus' (pbuh) return to begin life once again without parents and as an adult. He will also perform new miracles so that existing materialist philosophies, already weakened to the point of collapse on a scientific as well as philosophical level, will be destroyed. People will see clear proof of God's existence and might.

Based on the signs revealed in the Qur'an and the hadiths, as well as the scholars' opinion, we believe that this event is imminent. We Muslims are excited about this and are doing everything we can to prepare ourselves and the world for the arrival of this celebrated guest. We call on Christians to be sensitive, conscientious, and passionate about this too.

Is Christendom Ready for Jesus' (pbuh) Return?

The love of Jesus (pbuh) made Christians virtuous throughout history. God describes Christians in the following terms: You will find the people most affectionate to those who have faith are those who say: "We are Christians." That is because some of them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant. (Qur'an, 5:82)

Another verse speaks of the Christians' positive morality:

Then We sent Our Messengers following in their footsteps, and sent Jesus, son of Mary, after them, giving him the Gospel. We put compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him. (Qur'an, 57:27)

Throughout history Christians endured much tyranny, withdrew from the world's pleasures, and made many sacrifices. All of these are proof of their sincerity, but at a time when Jesus (pbuh) return is imminent, this sincerity needs to be reaffirmed. The New Testament states repeatedly that Jesus (pbuh) will return. For example, it says that he [Jesus] will appear a second time, … to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (Hebrews, 9:28). Since this promise is certain, all Christians are obliged to make this the basis of their worldview, be ready and waiting at all times, and act accordingly wherever they may be.

Many Christians are convinced that Jesus (pbuh) will return soon, because most of the prophecies related to the Messiah's arrival have been fulfilled already. The expansion of religious morality across the world, the near collapse of materialist philosophies, and the fact that people are turning to the belief in God are important signs. It would be there inappropriate for Christians to remain impassive about this event.

Since his second coming is imminent, this must become the most important issue on Christendom's agenda. Since Jesus (pbuh) will unite all believers, the differences between Christians will soon be rendered meaningless and therefore, the separations, disputes, and animosities must be abandoned. As all Muslims and Christians will unite under one common belief when he arrives, it is necessary to begin working on overcoming the bias and distrust between them straight away.

The last chapter of the Bible says:

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of Jesus [Messiah], and He will reign forever and ever. (Revelation, 11:15) Come, let us prepare together for Jesus' (pbuh) imminent arrival. Knowing that he will teach us the truth, let us respect our differences in faith. Let us try to bring the peace, brotherhood, compassion, love that he envisages to the world. Let us fight together the ideological war against the philosophies and ideologies that oppose him and deny God. Come, let us await one of the world's greatest miracles together.