AL-HAQ

13 Rabiuth Thaani 1443
18 November 2021

Hadhrat Mahdi’s appearance — Theories and speculation

Question

Mufti Abu Lubaabah Shah Mansur says in his kitaab, Dajjaaliyat, on the basis of the manuscripts of Hadhrat Daanyaal (Alayhis salaam) that a state of the Yahudis will be established and 50 years thereafter Hadhrat Mahdi (Alayhis salaam) will appear. Although the foundations of Israel were structured in 1946/47 it was only in 1973 that the United Nations had accorded recognition to it as a state.

On this basis, 50 years will be completed in 2023. Therefore, it is possible that Hadhrat Mahdi’s appearance will be in 2024. Other theories have also been advanced by the Mufti for his conclusion.

ANSWER

All theories propounded regarding the time of the appearance of Hadhrat Mahdi (Alayhis salaam), Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam) and Dajjaal are pure speculation and whimsical thinking which have no valid basis in the Shariah. Allah Ta’ala has kept the date a secret. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the Sahaabah did not venture into the realm of pure, baseless speculation which is tantamount to hallucination.

Whatever the Shariah has left ambiguous, should be left as such. Labouring abortively to unravel the Mysteries of Allah Azza Wa Jal is an exercise in gross futility which not only bereft of benefit, but is counter to goodness and reality. When the mind dwells in ghaflat (obliviousness), then one derives pleasure from mental extravagance. The production of theories by way of mental gymnastics is a sign of diversion from the reality of Maut, the Qabar and Aakhirat.

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had mentioned Signs of the proximity of Qiyaamah. While many of these Signs have transpired and are unfolding in our era, these are not a basis for plotting exact dates for the appearance of Hadhrat Mahdi (Alayhis salaam), Hadhrat Nabi Isaa (Alayhi salaam) and Dajjaal. If Allah Ta’ala had in His Wisdom deemed the exact date to be beneficial for us, He would have conveyed the information via Wahi to Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

There is great wisdom underlying the Mysteries of Allah Ta’ala. Keeping the date hidden from us is for our own benefit. The attempt to fix the date which Allah Ta’ala has kept ambiguous is in conflict with the spirit underlying this Divine Mystery. These speculators are venturing into a domain of futility which never was the terrain of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the Salafus Saaliheen.

One venerable Shaikh of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh Safar Bin Abdur Rahmaan Al-Hawaali, on the basis of the interpretation to the king’s dream given by Nabi Daanyaal (Alayhis salaam) speculated that the state of Israel would collapse in the year 2012. A decade has passed with Israel still in strong existence. This prediction was germane to Hadhrat Mahdi (Alayhis salaam) and attendant developments. There is absolutely no Shar’i substantiation that this prediction was made 333 years before Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam). This too is baseless speculation.

Centuries prior to Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam), Allah Ta’ala despatched the kaafir king of Babylon, Bukhtnasr (Nebucanazzer) to sack Jerusalem, destroy and defile Musjidul Aqsa, and enslave Bani Israaeel. The kuffaar pillaged and plundered Jerusalem, and 70,000 Yahudis, the Ummah of that time, were marched in chains from Jerusalem to Babylon where they languished in slavery. Among the prisoners was also Nabi Daanyaal (Alayhis salaam).

After Bukhtnasar died, the new king saw a perturbing dream which none of his astrologers could interpret. The king was informed that among the slaves of Bani Israaeel was a very pious man who could interpret dreams. This man was Nabi Daanyaal (Alayhis salaam). The king sent for him.

When Hadhrat Daanyaal (alayhis salaam) arrived, the king said:

“I have heard the spirit of divinity is in you and that you are a man of perfect wisdom. The wisemen and astrologers have failed to interpret my dream. I have heard that you are able to interpret intricate dreams and solve such problems. If you are able to interpret my dream, you will be garbed with regal attire. You will be garlanded with a golden chain, and you will be the third highest officer in the empire.” Hadhrat Daanyaal (alayhis salaam) responded: “Retain your prizes by you. Present your awards to someone else. I shall explain this dream to you.”

After the king explained his dream, Hadhrat Daanyaal (alayhis salaam) presented the interpretation which related to the rise and fall of empires. The specific one of interest to us at this juncture relates to the rise of an evil regime thousands of years after Hadhrat Daanyaal (alayhis salaam). He described that future regime as the ‘Reign of Abomination’ (a hated reign of terror), and the ‘Kingdom of Sin’. The establishment of this Reign of Abomination would initiate the process of the end of the world. It will open the era of total immorality and sin. At that time will appear two great, holy personalities and two great evil anarchists.

Armies will be despatched from the north. The sacred fortress will be defiled and the daily acts of sacrifices will be prohibited. Then the Reign of Abomination will be established. Continuing his explanation, Hadhrat Daanyaal (alayhis salaam) said:

“I heard two sacred Voices speaking. First Voice: “When will this event of the sacred abode being trampled and defiled under the feet (of these oppressors) occur?” The second Voice answered: “Two thousand and three hundred days. Thereafter this holy place will be purified.”

In the prediction made by Hadhrat Daanyaal (alayhis salaam), is also mentioned that the ‘Reign of Abomination’ will be terminated after 45 days.

In an attempt to unravel the mystery of the predictions made by Hadhrat Daanyaal (alayhis salaam), the Saudi Shaikh Safar Bin Abdur Rahmaan Al-Hawaali presented the following theory:

The two holy personalities refer to Hadhrat Mahdi (alayhis salaam) and Nabi Isaa (alayhis salaam). The two forces of anarchy are Dajjaal and Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj. The Reign of Abomination and Sin is the state of Israel. The big conundrum or mystery is the time periods mentioned in the prediction of Hadhrat Daanyaal (alayhis salaam) and which is mentioned in the Tauraah.

This mystery, according to the venerable Shaikh Al-Hawaali, is solved when the style of the Tauraah is taken into account. ‘Day’ in terms of the Taurah refers to a year. On this basis, the prediction records that the Reign of Abomination would be

established 2300 years later. Hadhrat Daanyaal had made this prediction 333 years before the advent of Nabi Isaa (alayhis salaam) according to historians. Minus 333 from 2300. The answer is 1967. This was the year that Israel had defeated the Arab armies. Although Israel was established in 1948, its invasion of Jerusalem occurred in 1967, and the prediction pertains to the establishment of the evil regime in Jerusalem. Israel did not have possession of Jerusalem prior to 1967. Thereafter Musjidul Aqsa was desecrated by the conflagration enacted by the Israelis. The Reign of Abomination and Sin, according to the prediction, will be for 45 years:

1967 + 45 = 2012. According to this hypothesis of Shaikh Al-Hawaali, the state of Israel will collapse in the year 2012 or its final demise will commence in that year.

(End of the theory)

The only absolute certitude is the fact that Israel and the U.S.A. will crumble and be destroyed by the Command of Allah Ta’ala. The Qur’aanic dictum is explicit and emphatic:

“For every nation there is an appointed time. When that appointed time arrives, it will neither be procrastinated nor advanced.”

Thus, no empire endures forever. But the drunkenoppressors are too blind to see the lessons of history. They willperish like vermin.

The year 2012 does not have Shar’i substantiation. There is no certitude that the prediction was made 333 years before Nabi Isaa (alayhis salaam). These dates are clouded with ambiguity.

Even Nabi Daanyaal (alayhis salaam) did not fully understand the mystery in what he had interpreted, hence he supplicated to Allah Ta’ala to unravel the conundrum. According to the Tauraah, Allah Ta’ala informed him:

“O Daanyaal, concern yourself with your mission. A lock has been placed on the words and the matter has been decreed. The mystery will be solved at the appointed time.”

From the Divine Reprimand for Nabi Daanyaal (Alayhis salaam), the futility of the speculators should be apparent. Allah Ta’ala withheld the precise information of the exact dates from even Nabi Daanyaal (Alayhis salaam). Despite him supplicating for clarity, Allah Ta’ala refused and reprimanded him, and advised him to be concerned with his mission of Da’wat.

There is no goodness in futile speculation. It is a waste of time and a waste of brains. While in general we can say that Qiyaamah is in close proximity, fixing the year is baseless and devoid of Shar’i substance. Muslims should ask themselves: What are we doing for the event of Qiyaamah? What preparations are we making for Maut and the Qabar? Baseless theorizing comes within the purview of Qur’aanic castigation:

“They follow nothing but conjecture and speculation.” (Al-An’aam, 116)