The Second Station of The Fifth Ray
In the Name of God, the All Merciful, the All-Compassionate.
The second station: Twenty-three matters
This Station consists of twenty-three Matters concerning the Dajjal (the Anti-Christ) and the Sufyan (the Dajjal to appear among the Muslims.
THE FIRST MATTER
It is related: “The hand of the Sufyan, one of the important figures of the end of time, will be pierced.”
While God knows best, an interpretation of this is as follows: since he is extremely wasteful, indulging in dissipated amusements, the Sufyan cannot preserve his belongings and they are frittered away. There is a proverb: “So and-so has a hole in his hand,” meaning that that person is very extravagant.
Thus, the hadith implies and warns that the Sufyan will provoke intense greed and ambition by encouraging wastefulness. By exploiting human weak spots in this regard, he will subjugate them to himself. The hadith predicts that spendthrifts will become enslaved to him, falling into his trap.
THE SECOND MATTER
It says in a narration: “A fearsome person will appear at the end of time, rising in the morning and on his forehead will be written, ‘This is an unbeliever.’”73
While God knows best what is right in every matter, this may be interpreted as follows: the Sufyan will wear a headgear that is a mark of unbelievers, and will also compel everyone else to wear it. However, since he will compel people to adopt it by law, and given that the headgear in question is made to prostrate in worship around the heads of believers (who prostrate), it is hoped from God that it will become “Muslim,” so that those who wear it unwillingly will not become unbelievers.
THE THIRD MATTER
There is a narration: “The despotic rulers at the end of time and, in particular, the Dajjal will have false heavens and hells.”74
While the knowledge is with God, one possible interpretation is as follows: the narration indicates that prison and high schools (where boys and girls study together), which are among official buildings, (and places of amusement) will exist side by side—one being an ugly copy of Paradise’s gardens where the people of Paradise will have pure servants and spouses, and the other a dungeon and torment-chamber.
THE FOURTH MATTER
It is narrated: “A time will come when no one who utters: Allah! Allah! will remain.”75
While none knows the Unseen save God, an interpretation of this is as follows: the places where people invoke God and recite His Names, together with the religious schools (medrese), will be closed, and a name other than Allah will be used in the public professions of Islam, such as the call to the Prayer and the iqama (the announcement for the start of the congregational Prayer). This does not mean that all humanity will fall into absolute unbelief, for denial of God is as irrational as denying the existence of the universe. Nor is it reasonable to suppose that the majority of humankind, let alone all of them, will deny God. The majority of unbelievers do not deny God: they are in error only concerning His Attributes.
Another interpretation may be this: in order that the believers do not experience the terror of the final destruction of the world, their spirits will be taken away shortly before the end comes. Doomsday will then be visited on the heads of the unbelievers.
THE FIFTH MATTER
There is a narration: “At the end of time, certain persons, such as the Dajjal, will claim Divinity and force others to prostrate before them.”76
While God knows best, an interpretation is this: just as a nomad chieftain who denies the king appropriates for himself and other chieftains kingship proportionate to their power, those who come to lead the schools of naturalism and materialism imagine in themselves a sort of Lordship proportionate to their power. And to demonstrate their power, they cause their subjects to bow down worshipfully before themselves and their statues.
THE SIXTH MATTER
It is related: “The corruption and disorder rooted in rebellion against God at the end of time will be so terrible that no one will be able to restrain their souls.”77 It is because of this that for thirteen (now fourteen) centuries, following the guidance of the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, the Muslim community has sought refuge in God from that corruption and disorder. “We seek refuge in God from the corruption and disorder of the Dajjal and from the corruption and disorder of the end of time,”78 has been the regular invocation of the Muslim community after seeking refuge from the torments of the grave.
While God knows best what is right in every matter, this narration may be interpreted as follows: the corruption at the end of time will attract souls and captivate them. People will indulge in it voluntarily, nay, eagerly. For example, in Russia, men and women bathe naked together in the public baths. And since by nature women have a strong tendency to show off their beauty, they willingly cast themselves into such corruption and are led astray. The men who are enamored of beauty are defeated by their own carnal souls and, with drunken joy, fall into the fire and are burnt. The fascinating amusements, grievous sins and innovations of that time, such as dancing and movies, draw these carnal souls around them like moths, intoxicating them. But if this occurs through absolute coercion, then will is negated and it is not considered a sin.
THE SEVENTH MATTER
There is a narration: “The Sufyan will be an eminent scholar, and he will fall into misguidance on account of his learning. Numerous other scholars will follow him.”79
While the knowledge is with God, an interpretation is this: although, contrary to kings, he has no means of sovereignty such as power, tribal or racial support, courage, and riches, the Sufyan will win his position through cleverness, skillful conspiracies, and political acumen; with his intelligence he will bewitch the minds of many other scholars, causing them to confirm and support his ideas and actions. He will transform numerous teachers into his supporters and try vehemently to establish an education system that is bereft of religious instruction.
THE EIGHTH MATTER
Narrations point out that the terrible corruption and disorder of the Dajjal will occur among Muslims, which is why the entire Muslim community has sought refuge in God from it.80
While none knows the Unseen save God, one interpretation is as follows: the Dajjal who will appear among Muslims is different. In fact, like Imam ‘Ali, may God be pleased with him, some exacting scholars have opined that the Dajjal of the Muslims is the Sufyan.81 He will appear among the Muslims and will carry out his work through deception. The great Dajjal of the unbelievers is different. Those who are killed because of disobedience to the absolute force and tyranny of the great Dajjal become martyrs, while those who obey unwillingly are neither unbelievers nor sinners.
THE NINTH MATTER
In narrations, the events associated with the Sufyan and significant future events are depicted as occurring in the region of Damascus and in Arabia.82
While God knows best, an interpretation is this: since in the early periods of Islam the centers of the Caliphate were in Iraq, Damascus, and Medina, the narrators interpreted these events as occurring close to the centre of Islamic government, as though it was always going to remain thus, and mentioned Aleppo and Damascus. They added their interpretations to the concise predictions of the hadith.
THE TENTH MATTER
Narrations mention the extraordinary power of the figures who are to appear at the end of time.83
While the knowledge is with God, its interpretation is this: they are an allusion to the vast collective personality that those figures represent. Once, the Japanese Commander-in-Chief who had defeated Russia was shown in a picture with one foot in the Pacific Ocean and the other foot in the fort of Port Arthur. The immensity of the collective personality is depicted in the person who represents it, and in his pictures or the huge statues built to commemorate him. As for their extraordinarily vast power, since most of the actions they carry out are destructive and related to animal appetites, they appear to have extraordinary power. For destruction is easy: a single match can burn down a village. As for the animal appetites, since they captivate carnal souls, they are widely sought after.
THE ELEVENTH MATTER
There is a narration which says: “At the end of time one man will look after forty women.”84
While God knows best what is right, this may be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, lawful marriage will decrease at that time or, as in Communist Russia, it will almost disappear. One who flees from being tied to one woman will feel free, and become a shepherd to forty unfortunate women.
Secondly, it is an allusion to the fact that at this time of corruption and disorder, most of the men will have perished in wars, and for some reason most of the children born will be girls. Furthermore, the total freedom enjoyed by women will so inflame their lust that they will acquire superiority over their men folk with regard to reproduction. As this will result in their causing their children to take after them, through Divine judgment, girl children will be more numerous.
THE TEWLFTH MATTER
It says in narrations: “The Dajjal’s first day will be a year, his second day a month, his third day a week, and his fourth day a day.”85
While none knows the Unseen save God, this may be interpreted in two ways:
THE FIRST INTERPRETATION: It is an allusion to the possibility that the great Dajjal will appear near the North Pole or toward the north. For close to the North Pole the whole year is one day and one night. If one travels a day toward the south by train in summer, they come to a region where the sun does not set for a month. If they continue a day further toward the south by automobile, the sun is visible for a whole week. When I was a prisoner-of-war in Russia, I was close to this region. That means the narration miraculously predicts that the great Dajjal will attack from the north toward the south.
THE SECOND INTERPRETATION: Both the great Dajjal and the Dajjal that will appear among Muslims will have three periods of despotism. On their first day, that is, in their first period of government, they will carry out works so vast that they could not ordinarily be performed in three hundred years.
On their second day, that is, in their second period of rule, they will carry out works that could not normally be carried out in thirty years. On their third day or period, the changes they will make could not under normal circumstances be brought about in ten years. On their fourth day or period, however, they will be like ordinary rulers, accomplishing nothing of importance and trying only to maintain the status quo. Of this the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, has informed us with great eloquence.
THE THIRTEENTH MATTER
There is a definite, sound narration which says: “Jesus, upon him be peace and blessings, will kill the great Dajjal.”86
While the knowledge is with God, there are two aspects to this Tradition:
THE FIRST ASPECT: It could only be a wonderful person with the power of miracles and the acceptance of all men who could kill and change the way of the awesome Dajjal, who will preserve himself through wonders which will gradually lead him to perdition because of his haughtiness and denial—wonders such as magic, hypnotic powers, spiritualism, and the ability to make everyone fall under his spell. And thus the person who defeats him will be Jesus, upon him be peace and blessings, the Prophet of the majority of humankind, most of whose mission will concern the great Dajjal’s activities.
THE SECOND ASPECT: Just as the great Dajjal will be killed with the “sword” of Jesus, upon him be peace and blessings, it is the truly pious followers of Jesus who will kill the gigantic collective personality of materialism and irreligion that the Dajjal will establish. Those truly pious followers of Jesus will blend the essence of true Christianity with the essence of Islam and destroy the Dajjal with their combined strength, in effect killing him. The narration: “Jesus will come and follow the Mahdi in the obligatory Prayers,”87 alludes to this unity, and to the sovereignty of the Qur’an and it being followed.
THE FOURTEENTH MATTER
It says in a narration: “The Dajjal will derive significant power from Jews. Many among the Jews will follow him willingly.”88
While God knows best, we can say that what is predicted by this narration has already partly taken place in Russia. The Jews, who had been persecuted by every state, gathered in large numbers in Germany, and in order to take their revenge, played a significant role in the founding of the revolutionary Communist committee. Trotsky, a most terrible individual, took over the leadership of the Russian Army, and then the government after Lenin, a leading light in the spread of Communism. In a sense, they set fire to the Russian legacy which had been achieved over a thousand years. This represents the committee of the great Dajjal and some of his works. They have caused similar upheavals in other countries as well, and fomented much trouble.
THE FIFTEENTH MATTER
The events connected with Gog and Magog are mentioned concisely in the Qur’an (18:98–99; 21:96), and there are some details of them in certain Prophetic Traditions.89 Details in the Traditions are not as explicit as the concise accounts of the Qur’an which are explicit in meaning and content. As a result, they require interpretation; indeed, they need commentary since the narrators’ own interpretations have been mixed in with the texts.
While none knows the Unseen save God, one interpretation of the events connected with Gog and Magog is as follows. Some raiding tribes in the east or north-east of Asia, which in the heavenly tongue of the Qur’an are called “Ya’juj and Ma’juj (Gog and Magog),” together with some other tribes, overran Asia and Europe several times. The narrations in question allude to the fact that they will also cause great chaos in the world in the future. In fact, even at the present moment, significant numbers of anarchists born of Communism appear among them.
Socialism emerged from the seed of libertarianism planted by the French Revolution. Destroying certain sacred values, the ideas socialism inculcated turned into Bolshevism. And because Bolshevism corrupted even more sacred moral, spiritual, and human values, the seeds it sowed will inevitably produce anarchy, which recognizes no boundaries or restrictions whatsoever. For if respect and compassion desert the human heart, intelligence and cleverness turn those with such hearts into cruel beasts: they can no longer be governed through politics. The ground that is the most suitable for the growth of anarchy will be those oppressed, crowded raiding tribes that are backward in respect to both civilization and government. The people who fit this description are certain tribes who caused the building of the Great Wall of China, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Expounding the Qur’an’s concise statements about Gog and Magog, Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, predicted their emergence miraculously and precisely.
THE SIXTEENTH MATTER
It says in a narration concerning Jesus killing the Dajjal that the Dajjal will have a gigantic form—he will be taller than a minaret, while Jesus, upon him be peace and blessings, will be very small in comparison.90
While none knows the Unseen save God, one interpretation is this: it is an allusion to the fact that the spiritual community of heroes that will recognize Jesus through the light of belief and follow him will be very few in number compared to the powerful scientific and military armies of the Dajjal.
THE SEVENTEENTH MATTER
It says in a narration: “The day the Dajjal appears all the world will hear.91 He will travel the world in forty days and have an extraordinary donkey.”92
While God knows best, provided that such narrations are completely authentic, they predict quite miraculously that at the time of the Dajjal, the means of communication and transportation will have become so advanced that an event will be heard by the entire world in a day. It will be announced by the radio and will be heard in the east and the west, and will be read about in all the newspapers. A man will travel the entire world in forty days and see the seven continents and numerous countries. These narrations thus miraculously predicted the telegraph, telephone, radio, trains and airplanes many centuries before they appeared.
Furthermore, the Dajjal will be heard of not by the title of Dajjal, but as a despotic monarch. And he will travel not to occupy lands but to cause corruption and disorder and to mislead people. His mount or donkey will be either a train—one ear or head of which is an infernal firebox, and the other ear of which is a false paradise, beautifully adorned and furnished; he will send his enemies to its fiery head and his friends to the feasting head93—or an awesome automobile, or airplane, or... (silence!)
THE EIGHTEENTH MATTER
It says in a narration: “If my community continues on the Straight Path, it will have one day.” That is, according to the verse, a day—the measure of which is a thousand years of what you reckon (32:5), it will have dominance and splendor for a thousand years. “If it does not continue on the Straight Path, it will have half a day.”94 That is, it will be dominant and victorious for only five hundred years.
While God knows best, this narration does not give news of the end of the world, but rather of Islam’s victorious rule and the reign of the Caliphate. This miraculous prediction turned out to be true. For because toward the end of the ‘Abbasid Caliphate its governing elite lost its way, the Caliphate (represented by Arab Muslims) lasted no more than five hundred years. But because the Muslim Community in general did not deviate from the Straight Path, the Ottoman Caliphate came to its assistance and preserved its government until the beginning of the 20th century. However, since the Ottoman politicians were unable to maintain their direction in the later periods of the state, in its true sense, the Caliphate was able to survive only five hundred years through them. With its demise, the Ottoman State confirmed the hadith’s miraculous prediction.
THE NINETEENTH MATTER
Narrations differ about the Mahdi, may God be pleased with him, who is one of the signs of the end of time and who will be from the Family of the Prophet. In fact, some scholars and saints have opined that he already appeared in the past.
While God knows best what is right, one interpretation of these different narrations is this: the great Mahdi will have numerous tasks. He will carry out duties in the realms of politics, religious life, and government, and will strive for the sake of God in many different spheres of life. Similarly, since at a time of despair every century needs a sort of Mahdi to strengthen morale, through Divine mercy, in every age, or perhaps in every century a sort of Mahdi has appeared from among the descendants of the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, to preserve their forefather’s Law and revived his Sunna. For example, like the ‘Abbasid Caliph al-Mahdi95 in the area of government, and like Gawthu’l-A‘zam ‘Abdu’l-Qadir al-Jilani, Shah Naqshband, the four spiritual Poles96 and Twelve Imams97 in the realm of religious life, many Mahdi-like persons have appeared and performed some of the great Mahdi’s tasks. Since Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, drew attention to these and similar persons and to their missions, the narrations about the Mahdi multiplied and took on various different aspects. For this reason, some of the people of truth say that the Mahdi has already appeared.
There is no family in the world in such solidarity, nor a tribe in such agreement, nor a community or society so enlightened, as the tribe, community and society of the Prophet’s Family.
The Prophet’s Family has raised hundreds of sacred heroes and produced thousands of spiritual leaders in the Muslim Community, and has been nurtured and perfected with the living essence of the truth of the Qur’an and the light of belief and honor of Islam. It is therefore completely reasonable that by reviving the Shari‘a and Sunna of Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, and the truth of the Qur’an at the end of time, and proclaiming them and putting them into practice, they should display to the world the perfect justice and truth of the great Mahdi, their Commander-in-Chief. This is an indispensable necessity, required by the principles of human social life.
THE TWENTIETH MATTER
This concerns the sun’s rising in the west98 and the emergence from the earth of a living creature known as the Dabbatu’l-Ard, or “beast of the earth”.99
The sun rising in the west will be an obvious sign of the end of the world, and because it will be an obvious heavenly event, it will mark the closing of the door of repentance, as repentance is an act of free will and reason. Therefore, the meaning of this narration is clear and requires no interpretation. However, we may add the following observations concerning the apparent cause of the sun rising in the west:
While God knows best, the Qur’an, which is in effect the intellect of the earth, will disappear from its head at the end of time and, as a result, the earth will go mad. With Divine leave, it will collide with another planet and its rotation will be reversed. Through Divine Will, its journey from west to east will be reversed from east to west, and the sun will start to rise in the west. Truly, if the gravity of the Qur’an, which is the firm rope of God that binds the earth to the sun and the ground to the Divine Supreme Throne, is broken, the tether holding the earth will come unfastened. The earth will consequently become dizzy and deranged: on account of the reversal of its usual motion, the sun will rise in the west. Through its collision with another planet, Doomsday will begin at the Divine command.
As for the Dabbatu’l-Ard, its existence is indicated very briefly by the Qur’an.100 As with certain other matters, at present I have no detailed knowledge about it. I can only say this much:
While none knows the Unseen save God, locusts and fleas attacked the people of the Pharaoh,101 while flocks of certain birds unknown in ‘Arabia rained down punishment on the people of Abraha, who were trying to destroy the Ka‘ba.102 Similarly, in order to bring to their senses those who fall foul of the Dajjals’ corruption, rebel against God, and breach Divine limits, and who, through the anarchy of Gog and Magog, embark on corruption and savagery, falling knowingly and willingly into irreligion, unbelief, and ingratitude, a beast will appear from the earth to confront and annihilate them. Although God knows best, that beast is a species of animal. For even if it were a huge creature, it is not possible for one such animal to be everywhere at once. This means that it will be a truly terrible species of animal. As indicated by the verse … except that a crawling creature of the earth had been gnawing away his [Solomon’s] staff (until it broke) (34:14), it may be that the beast will be like a sort of termite which, entering every part of the bodies of humans, from their teeth to their finger-nails, will gnaw away at their bones as though gnawing wood. In reference to the believers’ being saved from it on account of the blessing of belief and their refraining from vice and abuses, the verse makes the creature speak in connection with belief.
Our Lord, take us not to task if we forget or make mistakes (2:286).
All-Glorified are You. We have no knowledge save what You have taught us. Surely You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
Said Nursi
73 al-Bukhari, “Tawhid” 17; Muslim, “Fitan” 101–103.
74 al-Bukhari, “Anbiya” 3; Muslim, “Fitan” 104, 109.
75 Muslim, “Iman” 234; at-Tirmidhi, “Fitan” 35.
76 Muslim, “Fitan” 112; Ibn Maja, “Fitan” 33.
77 For similar narrations see, Abu Dawud, “Malahim” 14; at-Tabarani, al-Mu‘jamu’l-Kabir, 18:220–221.
78 al-Bukhari, “Adhan” 149; Muslim, “Masajid” 129.
79 Ahmad ibn Hanbal, al-Musnad, 4:216; Ibn Abi Shayba, al-Musannaf, 7:491.
80 al-Bukhari, “Adhan” 149; Muslim, “Masajid” 129.
81 Nu‘aym ibn Hammad, Fitan, 1:246; al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak, 4:547.
82 Ibn Abi Shayba, al-Musannaf, 7:496; ad-Daylami, al-Musnad, 2:237.
83 Ibn Abi Shayba, al-Musannaf, 7:496; at-Tabarani, al-Mu‘jamu’l-Kabir, 11:313.
84 al-Bukhari, “Zakah” 9; Muslim, “Zakah” 59.
85 Muslim, “Fitan” 110; at-Tirmidhi, “Fitan” 59; Abu Dawud, “Malahim” 14.
86 Muslim, “Fitan” 110; at-Tirmidhi, “Fitan” 59, 62; Abu Dawud, “Malahim” 14.
87 Muslim, “Iman” 247; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, al-Musnad, 3:345, 367.
88 Muslim, “Fitan” 33, 124; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, al-Musnad, 3:224.
89 Muslim, “Fitan” 1–3, “Ashratu’s-Sa‘ah” 1, “Dajjal” 11; at-Tirmidhi, “Fitan” 23, 59.
90 Ibn Abi Shayba, al-Musannaf, 7:496; at-Tabarani, al-Mu‘jamu’l-Kabir, 11:313.
91 al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak, 4:573.
92 Ibn Abi Shayba, al-Musannaf, 7:496; at-Tabarani, al-Mu‘jamu’l-Kabir, 11:313.
93 al-Bukhari, “Anbiya” 3; Muslim, “Fitan” 104, 109.
94 Abu Dawud, “Malahim” 18; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, al-Musnad, 1:170.
95 Caliph Muhammad al-Mahdi (744–785) was one of the leading Abbasid Caliphs. He was able to govern the vast Muslim state in peace and prosperity for about ten years. (Tr.)
96 It is generally accepted that the four spiritual Poles are ‘Abdu’l-Qadir al-Jilani, Sayyid Ahmad ar-Rufa‘i, Sayyid Ahmad al-Badawi and Sayyid Ibrahim ad-Dassuqi. Sayyid Ahmad ibn ‘Ali ibn Yahya ar-Rufa‘i (1120-1184), the founder of the Rufa‘iya Sufi order, is one of the most renowned and celebrated saints of Islam. Sayyid Ahmad al-Badawi (1198–1275) was another leading saint in the history of Islam. The founder of the Badawiyyah Sufi order, he was born in Fez, Morocco and died in Tanta, Egypt. Sayyid Ibrahim ad-Dassuqi (1235–1277) lived in Egypt. In addition to being a great saint, he was also well-versed in religious sciences. (Tr.)
97 The twelve imams are the founders of the twelve schools of law, including Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam ash-Safi‘i, Imam Malik ibn Anas, and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. (Tr.)
98 al-Bukhari, “Tafsiru Sura 6” 9; Muslim, “Iman” 157.
99 Muslim, “Fitan” 39–40; at-Tirmidhi, “Fitan” 21.
100 When the time for the fulfillment of the word (of punishment) about them comes, We will bring forth for them a living creature from the earth who will speak to them—that people have no certainty of faith in Our signs and Revelations (27:82).
101 So (in order that they might reflect and be mindful), We sent upon them floods and (plagues of) locusts and vermin, and frogs, and (water turning into) blood: distinct signs one after another. Yet they remained arrogant, and they were a criminal people committed to accumulating sins (7:133).
102 Have you considered how your Lord dealt with the people of the Elephant? Did He not bring their evil scheme to nothing? He sent down upon them flocks of birds (unknown in the land), shooting them with bullet-like stones of baked clay (an emblem of the punishment due to them); And so He rendered them like a field of grain devoured and trampled (105:1–5).