Prophecies about Middle East

11 PROPHECIES ABOUT MIDDLE EAST (Fazl Ilahi Anwari) PROPHECIES OF THE BIBLE The book of Ezekiel in the Bible gives a graphic picture of the political development of the present time, wherein Russia has been named as Gogt its political counterpart as Magog, and Palestine, where both Gog and Magog were supposed to come into confrontation with each other, as the Land of Israel. PROPHECY ABOUT RUSSIA’S MILITARY INTERVENTION IN THE MIDDLE EAST And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince ofMeshech and Tubed: and I will turn thee back, and put hook into thy jaws and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords-In the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the swords, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste. (Ezekiel: Ch.38, v.1-4,8) PROPHECY ABOUT DESTRUCTION TO TAKE PLACE IN THE LAND Of? ISRAEL! And it came to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that My jury shall come up in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath have I spoken. Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; so that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the fields, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at My presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall faU, and every waE shall fall to the ground. (Ezekiel: Ch.38, v.18-20) PROPHECY ABOUT RUSSIA’S DESTINED TRAGIC END Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, thus saith the Lord God: behold, I am against thee, o Gog, the chief prince ofMeshech and Tubal; And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north 12 REVIEW OF RELIGIONS parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel; And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and wUl cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shaltfaR upon the mountains of Israel, thou and all thy bonds, and the people that are with thee; I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shall fall upon the open field; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel: Ch.39, v.1-5) PROPHECIES OF THE HOLY QURAN The Holy Quran gives additional details of how Gog and Magog will dominate the world by virtue of their scientific discoveries, will ignore divine commandments, exploit weaker nations, especially the Muslims and finally destroy themselves with their fiery weapons. PROPHECY ABOUT THE HAVOC BY GOG AND MAGOG, THE MISERY OF THE MUSLIMS AND ITS REMEDY AT THE HAND OF THE PROMISED MESSIAH They said, 0 Dhu’l Qarnain, verily, Gog and Magog are creating disorder in the earth, shall we then pay thee tribute on condition that thou set up a barrier between us and them—And on that day we shaU leave some of them to surge against others together. And on that day We shaE present Hell, face to face to the disbelievers. (Al-Kahfv.95,100-1) Commenting upon these verses, the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908), says: The biggest calamity destined to appear in the time of the Promised Messiah is that of Gog and Magog and Dajjal [i.e. traditionally translated as Anti-Christ]. They could constitute a divine trial for the Muslims as a result of their ignoring and disobeying God-It must be known that Gog and Magog are the attributive names of the people who would make use of fire in their productions and hence will be known as Gog and Magog, Ajij (the root of Yajuj Majuj, the Arabic expression for Gog and Magog) being an attribute of fire. Likewise their wars will be with fiery weapons – and there will be a great shaking on the earth because of these two nations, mountains shall begin to move and darkness will prevail everywhere. The Muslims will be severely afflicted by this calamity which will consume all their wealth, dignity and prosperity. At that critical juncture, the Promised Messiah will stand before his exalted Lord and will pray with a pain-stricken voice. And as ice melts before fire, so with a melted heart the Promised Messiah will pray for Muslims over this REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 13 calamity that has befallen them, and wEl continue praying with extreme agony and pain of heart until his prayer shall be heard because he occupies a worthy position before his Lord. Then wiE descend protecting and helping angels from heaven and Allah will do whatever He likes at that time. He will save the people from aE sufferings. Then wiE the Promised Messiah be recognised on earth in the same way as he has been recognised in heaven, and then will his acceptance grow deep among common people as weE as rich people, so much so, that even Kings shaE seek blessings from his garments. All this shaE happen from the Exalted AEah though it is strange in the eyes of people. (Khutba Uhamiah: p. 317-318) PROPHECIES ABOUT THE RETURN Of THE HOLY LAND (PALESTINE) TO MUSLIMS And We have already written in the Book of David, after ‘the reminder, that my righteous servants shaE inherit the Land. (Al-Anbiya: v.106) Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad, the Promised Son and the second successor of the Promised Messiah, commented upon this verse, when the Muslims themselves were the owners of Palestine, as follows: The Quran and the Hadith indeed present a most graphic picture of the present times. They indicate that though in the final conflict between Communism and Western nations the latter wiE lose much of their strength, Communism, which is an anti-God and anti-religious movement, would be destroyed. (Communism and Democracy, p.30-31) SOME OTHER PROPHECIES OF THE SECOND SUCCESSOR OF THE PROMISED MESSIAH RELATING TO THE MIDDLE EAST Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad, who was specially adorned with the knowledge of the Quran from on High, made a number of prophecies during 52 years of his Caliphate, some of which have already been mentioned in the foregoing pages. Others mentioned below have a striking bearing on the political situation of today in the .Middle East. It is astonishing to note that, though many of them still await their fulfilment, the structure of world politics is transforming itself with a very fast and definite speed, on the same design as has been drawn in these prophecies. 14 REVIEW OF RELIGIONS DESTRUCTION OF EUROPEAN CIVILISATION AT THE HAND OF EGYPT In my opinion Egypt is the Muslim baby which Europe has brought up in its own home and for its own benefit that it may spoil thereby the moral character of the Muslim countries. But I have a strong conviction – and this is what I under stand from the Holy Quran and have inferred from some of its ‘Suras’ and have always been telling my pupils – that the destruction of European nationalism is connected with Egypt. And for the same reason I say in this matter that Europe is under a great ittusion in the same way as was the case with the Pharaoh. When Egypt will come under the guidance and care of God, the Exalted, she will succeed in breaking down the anti-moral aspects of the European civilisation as was done by Moses in the case of the Pharaoh. It looks very incredible, though, but those who are alive will surely witness it. (Al-Mubashirat: p. 31) These words were pronounced when Egypt was hardly known as a maj or factor in the Middle East. Today its role as the peace-maker between the Arabs and Israel has given a strange twist to the foregoing words. This verse shows clearly that ‘Al-Ard’ (the Land) here means the countries of the Middle East, which include Palestine also. It is the inheritance of the righteous and is in the possession of the Muslims today. God has used the word ‘Yaretho-ha’ (will inherit) here and not ‘Yamlekoha’ (willpossess). This has clear indication to the effect that the Muslims are and will continue to remain its real heir and even if this land goes in the hands of someone else at sometime, then this possession will be in the same way as the owner lends his property to the lease-holder on trust. This is where the excellence of the divine prophecy lies. Since the Land of the Middle East is that of the Prophets, Allah does not want to desecrate it by aEowing it to be inherited by non-Muslims. (Malfuzat: vVol.4, p.125) The Second Successor of the Promised Messiah (may peace be on him) Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, has commented on this and the subsequent two verses as follows: 1. The Muslims should learn a lesson from it. If they want Palestine back, then they should become righteous, as the Holy Land (Palestine) is eventually promised for the righteous. 2. It is a prophecy of the Quran that the Jews will be made to return to the Holy Land from the ends of the earth in the latter days. There is however no cause of disappointment for the Muslims, their Prophet REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 15 came as a mercy for them and their relationship with him will never frustrate them. 3. Allah has already made Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) pray for the Muslims that He should cause Palestine to be returned to them and thus testify to his truth. We are convinced that the Prophet’s prayer will never go unheard. The world shall see with its own eyes how this is fulfilled. Neither Russia nor America will be of any avail to Israel. (Short Commentary of the Holy Quran, p.421) PROPHECIES OF THE HOLY PROPHET La the Hadith or Sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) we come across many important details of the works of Gog and Magog on the one hand and the misery of the Muslims and their ultimate salvation at the hand of the Messiah, on the other. PROPHECY THAT JEWS WILL SUFFER LASTING DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF MUSLIMS It is reported by Abu Hurairah that before the Last Day comes a severe clash will occur between the Muslims and the Jews, as a result of which the Mush’ms wiR start killing the Jews. The Jews will hide themselves behind a stone or a tree. Even that stone or tree will cry out: ‘0 Muslim, 0 Servant of Allah, here is a Jew hiding behind me, come and MR him’ except an indigenous tree which only grows in Israel which shaR not speak out. (Sahih Muslim – Katab-al-Fitn) PROPHECY THAT GOG AND MAGOG ARE INVINCIBLE FORCES AND THAT MESSIAH IS THE ONLY REMEDY FOR THE MUSLIMS AGAINST THEM HazratMirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India, the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, who was commissioned by God to bring about a spiritual revolution in the world and at whose hand God showed mighty signs in order to establish His existence in this age of materialism, foretold the world that a great catastrophe of world dimension was going to take place, that Middle East would be its central point, and that as a result of this catastrophe Islam which has been mostly ignored by the West will begin to gain world-wide appeal and acceptance. So he said: MIDDLE EAST – THE CENTRE OF WORLD FUTURE CONFLICT God has informed me that – a great catastrophe is destined to take place in the world. All kings shall be involved in a mutual conflict 16 REVIEW OF RELIGIONS with each other. So much bloodshed wiEtake place that the whole earth will be soaked in blood. The subjects of each king too wiH fight among themselves. There wiE be a world catastrophe, the middle point of which will be the Middle East At that time my Promised Son wiR be there. God has concurred these circumstances with his presence. After these happenings our dispensation will make great strides in progress. Kings shall then enter our Movement. (Tazldrat-ul-Mahdi: Vol.11, p.15) Similarly his Second Successor, too, warned the world of the outbreak of a world conflict, the consequent destruction of Gog and Magog and the eventual victory of Islam. We reproduce here some of his prophecies in this regard. GOG AND MAGOG WILL FIGHT TO DEATH – BEGINNING OF MESSIANIC ERA In Islamic literature two expressions have been frequently used to signify the danger that would threaten Islam in the latter days. One of these is the Dajjal and the other Gog and Magog – the same as has been used in the Bible. These two expressions signify two different aspects of the same danger or calamity. Whereas Gog and Magog represent political aspects of the great calamity, Dajjal represents its religious and cultural aspect. The Hadith (Sayings of the Holy Prophet, peace be on him) also relates that after the influence of the Dajjal will have reached its zenith, the Messiah will appear and will fight and vanquish the Dajjal but not with weapons or steel or material means but through moral and spiritual means. The Messiah will rise in the East, the Dajjal will then begin to disappear and Gog and Magog will take his place. This means that the calamity that is to afflict mankind in the shape of Dajjal will yield place to the calamity in the form of Gog and Magog and that, as a result, religion will gradually cease to be the target of attack and the conflict will transform itself into a political struggle. Nations living in Northern and Western regions will group themselves into opposite camps and their material and military power and resources will grow to such an extent that the Muslims will pale into insignificance. The Messiah and his followers will, however, carry on their work of moral- and spiritual regeneration with zeal and prayer. Gog and Magog will fight each other to the death, they will destroy each other with fire (nuclear arms?) and plagues (germ warfare?). Faith will ultimately be restored so that God will, as it were, say to the earth. Let thy blessings return to thee. Greed which is at the bottom of all REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 17 exploitation will disappear and spiritual values will be restored, thus overcoming materialism, till at last the Messianic era will be completed and the Last Day wiE approach, the knowledge of which rests with God alone. (‘Communism’and Democracy’ by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih #, p.29-30) It is also related in the Hadith that in the latter days a fierce struggle will develop between the Jews and the Muslims and that eventually God will bestow victory upon the latter. In the final conflict the Jews will again lose the power that they will have recently acquired and will again be reduced to the same sad state from which they had risen. ISRAEL – A THREAT TO MECCA AND MADINA At the time of the occupation of Palestine by the Jews and the eventual foundation of the State of Israel, he foresaw the Zionist designs behind this political scene Palestine is very close to the last resort of our Master and Benefactor during whose lifetime the Jews, in spite of every sort of kind treatment, never left any stone unturned to oppose him with utter shamelessness and immodesty. Most of the battles broke out on their instigation So, it is not the question of Palestine only. It is the question of Islam as a whole, and it is not the question of Jerusalem alone: it is the question of Mecca, the Holy City. And it is not the question of A, B or C, it the question of the honour of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) himself…..(Al-Fazal: 31.5.1948) PALESTINE IS FOR THE MUSLIMS In order to overcome Zionism and get back the land of Palestine he enjoined the Muslims to become righteous, as this is the only way of changing the divine decree to their favour There is no doubt that the Holy Quran and the Traditions tell us that the Jews would once again take possession of Palestine, but it is not said that they would remain there for ever. The lasting kingdom of Palestine has been promised for the ‘righteous servants of Allah’…. We must try, therefore, through our righteous deeds, sacrifices, unity and humble prayers, to shorten the period of this (first) prophecy to the minimum. (Al-Fazal: 31.5.1948) This has continued to be the stand of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam. 18 REVIEW OF RELIGIONS ATOM AND HYDROGEN BOMBS CANNOT AVAIL AGAINST THE DECREE Of ALLAH Concluding from various verses of the Holy Quran, he reminded the Muslims of the divine assurance in respect of the Holy Land, and warned that neither Russia nor America will avail Muslims against the divine decree. The only remedy of their misery lies in turning towards the Omnipotent The land of’Palestine shall remain permanently in the hands of Righteous Servants of God. So these Righteous Servants, i.e. the people ofMuhammadan dispensation shaE definitely enter this land. This whole structure which is being instaEed there with the help of the UNO and America wiE tumble to the ground at the hand of the Muslims, who empowered by divine help, wiE be able to rehabilitate once again the Muslims there. Neither the atom and hydrogen bombs of America nor Russia’s help would be of any avail. It is the decree of God which must come to pass, however the world may resist. (Tafseer-i-Kabir: VollV, p.576) ISRAEL WILL EVENTUALLY GRAVITATE TOWARDS COMMUNIST BLOCK After the end of the Second World War when events began to move fast and important developments started taking place both in the policies of the Western Democracies as well as in the situation in the Middle East, the Khalifa warned democratic powers of very grave consequences if they did not work carefully upon them to extend a hand of friendship to the Muslim countries rather than to exploit them for the sake of minor and immediate benefits, as the Muslims were their natural allies. In this context, referring to the situation in the Middle East as created by the Western Powers for their own benefit, he wrote: There is a third element which also at the present moment constitutes a grave threat to the very heart of Islam and that is the state of Israel. The prophecies indicate, however, that the state of Israel will gravitate towards Communism and that which the West may have mistakenly supposed and relied upon as a support wiE soon be shown to have grown into a menace. (Communism and Democracy: p.33) Zionist disillusionment at declining American support needs no further comment from us. WARNING OJF THE THIRD SUCCESSOR OF THE PROMISED MESSIAH The third Successor of the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 19 Islam, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad, who is also his grandson, was elected in 1965 as the Third Khalifa (Successor) after the death of the Second Khalifa. He enjoys the privilege of being also the Promised Son as there are a number of prophecies of the Promised Messiah regarding him. In his capacity as the Supreme Head of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam he, too, like his predecessors, warned the world of a third world war. The only way to remain immune from the horrors of this world catastrophe is to turn towards Him with full sincerity. ISLAM WILL TRIUMPHANTLY EMERGE AFTER THE THIRD WORLD WAR The signs of the fulfilment of the prophecies about the victory of Islam are becoming more and more evident. I have just discussed the prophecy about the third world war after which Islam wHl triumphantly emerge in its fuE glory and I have also pointed out that this catastrophe can be averted through sincere contrition and by treading the path of virtue as taught by Islam. It is for you to choose and save yourselves and your children by establishing a true relationship with God based on certainty and conviction or to doom yourselves and your progeny to total annihilation by opting for paths that lead away from Him. The Divine Warner has warned you in the name of God and His Messenger, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him). He has done his duty. It is my prayer that may God grant you the strength and courage to do your duty. (A Message of Peace and a Word of Warning: p. 12) TREE OF GOD Rest assured that this is a tree planted by the hand of God. He will never permit it to go to waste. He will not be satisfied until He has seen it through to its fullness. He will see to it that it is well irrigated and will build a protective fence around it. Thus God will bless my followers with astounding progress and prosperity. Have you left any stones unturned? Had it been the work of man, this tree would have been cut and felled since long and no trace of it would have remained. (Roohani Khazain, Vol. II: Anjaam-e-Atham, by the Promised Messiah, p.64)