Dajjaal … Antichrist

Part 1

In this writing we shall, Inshaa’Allah, attempt to look deeply in the issue of that which in Islamic terminology is called the Dajjaal, and that which is called the Antichrist in biblical terminology …

In order to explore the root of the matter and thus attain, step by step, a deep understanding of the phenomenon, it is essential to review a few very important facts:

As confirmed by jewish, christian and Islamic documents, when Adam (SBUH) was created in his earthly form, Allah commanded the angels, including Iblis (Shaytan, Satan) who was of the jinn and with the angels to prostrate themselves before Adam (SBUH):

We have previously mentioned in part 9 of the article “Names of Mohammad and ‘Ali (SBUT) in the Bible”, and the E-book “Names and characteristics of Mohammad, ‘Ali, … and Mahdi (SBUT) in Jewish, Christian and Islamic documents”:

“Here it is important to mention that although today’s so called old and new testaments of the bible do not mention the event of God’s command to angels and also to Shaytan (Satan)- who is of the jinn and was with the angels- to prostrate themselves before Hadrat Adam (SBUH), but the old jewish and Christian writings do indeed narrate this event, however- as expected- somewhat distorted:

“The pseudepigrapha of pre-Christian Enochic Judaism, the form of Judaism witnessed to in 1 Enoch and 2 Enoch [*], which enjoyed much popularity during the Second Temple period, (Jackson, David R. (2004). Enochic Judaism. London: TT Clark International. p. 2.) gave Satan an expanded role, interpreting Isaiah 14:12-15, with its reference to the morning star, as applicable to him, and presenting him as a fallen angel cast out of heaven (Berlin, Adele, ed. (2011); The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion. Oxford University Press. p. 651.) for refusing, according to Jewish writings, to bow to Adam, of whom Satan was envious and jealous of the power over the earth granted to Adam. (David L. Jeffrey, A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature (Eerdmans 1992), p. 15; Tony Kessinger, The Devil Is in the Details (CrossBooks 2010), pp. 32-35; Michael J. McClymond, Gerald R. McDermott, The Theology of Jonathan Edwards (Oxford University Press 2012), p. 276.) Christian writers explained the motives of the angel's rebellion and the nature of his sin in the same way, but added pride against God, which they mention more frequently than envy or jealousy with regard to humanity. (Cain, Andrew (2011). The fathers of the church. Jerome. Commentary on Galatians. Washington, D.C.: CUA Press. p. 74; Hoffmann, Tobias, ed. (2012). A Companion to Angels in Medieval Philosophy. Leiden: BRILL. p. 262; (Italian) Nicolas (de Dijon) (1730). Prediche Quaresimali: Divise In Due Tomi, Volume 2. Storti. p. 230)” (As cited in the English Wikipedia)

“* [1 enoch and 2 enoch are books ascribed to the Prophet Enoch (who is perhaps the Prophet known as Idris in Islam) which are not part of most current jewish and christian biblical canons. It is noteworthy to mention that we do not claim that these books, as presented today, are undistorted, rather we only say that they do contain some information regarding certain undeniable facts.]”

It is also noteworthy to mention that still this current bible, with all its omissions, additions and distortions, implicitly mentions the prostration event; the following is a quotation from Dr. McElwain from his book “Islam in the Bible”:

“(Hebrews 1:6) is from a non-Biblical Jewish tradition which also appears in the Qur'an: `And let all the angels of God worship him.' The personage primarily referred to in the original tradition is Adam, to whom the angels are commanded to prostrate. The word `worship' in Hebrews refers to prostration before a high personage such as a king.”

In addition, we are going to present a paragraph from Book of Adam, Jewish Encyclopedia, by Louis Ginzberg:

“… Satan hated Adam, for he regarded him as the cause of his fall. After God had created man, He ordered all the angels to prostrate themselves before Adam, but Satan rebelled against God's command, despite the direct bidding of Michael "to worship the image of YHW" (), and answered proudly: "If God be angry against me, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God" (compare Isa. xiv. 13). Whereupon God "cast him out from heaven with all his host of rebellious angels" (Slavonic Book of Enoch, xxxi. 18, and Mek., Shirah, § 2) …”

A major problem within such writings is the point that they consider Satan as an angel … the Qur’an and pure teachings of the Prophet Mohammad and the Infallible AhlulBayt (SBUT) as usual have corrected distortions which have occurred after the Previous Prophets of Allah (SBUT). The jinns and the angels are two different phenomena; the former has been created from fire and is considered from the Sofla (lower) Malakoot and the latter from light and is considered of the ‘Oliya (higher) Malakoot …

Another major distortion is the issue of considering man as an image of God; in this regard we refer readers to “Repudiation of Philosophical and Irfani (Mystical) Fundamentals in Imam Riza (Salaam Be Upon Him)’s Monotheistic Teachings” Last part (7), in this site: kindfather.com

Anyhow, still, although distorted, obviously traces of the prostration event can be found in jewish and christian documents … and of course the Majestic Qur’an clearly narrates the event:

Qur’an 2:34 And when We said to the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate, but Iblis (did it not). He refused and he was haughty, and he was one of the unbelievers.

Qur’an 18:50 And when We said to the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, but Iblis (did it not). He was of the jinn, so he transgressed the commandment of his Lord. What! would you then take him and his offspring for guardian friends rather than Me, while they are your enemies? for the unjust, evil is (this) exchange.

Allah SWT- with the choosing of Adam (SBUH) as His Vicegerent and His Hojjat (Proof), and teaching him the knowledge and then commanding that others were to seek guidance and knowledge thru His Proofs (Qur’an 2:30-34, 2:38-39, …)- was establishing a Divine Sunnah (Tradition); i.e. Allah was commanding others to always obey, follow and seek as the Means, His Chosen Proofs who were coming successively one after the other. In this regard we invite our friends to the E-book “Ghadir: Declaration of the Truth, from creation to eternity” in this site: kindfather.com

To perfect this Divine Tradition Allah SWT had also from the beginning introduced His most perfect and exalted Vicegerents whose Lights were created first and were going to be Allah’s very Last Vicegerents on earth to fulfill the Divine Mission, those who were above all creations and thus were under the Authority of none but Allah Himself, whereas the other creations, humans  even the other Prophets, and angels and jinns, all were to follow the Allah-Chosen Authorities. As mentioned in part 8 of “Names of Mohammad and ‘Ali (SBUT) in the Bible”:

“Abu-Sa’eed al-Khudri said that one day that they were sitting with the Rasool of Allah (SAWA), a person asked him (SAWA) of the meaning of the verse: Have you been Arrogant, or have you been of al-‘Aaleen العالین?! (38:75) That person continued and asked: O Rasool of Allah! Who are al-‘Aaleen (the highest and most exalted creations of Allah), those who are more exalted than the angels?

“When Allah SWT completed the creation of Adam (SBUH), He commanded all the angels to prostrate themselves before Adam (SBUH), and they all did so. But Eblis who was of the Jinn and was in the line of angels, did not prostrate; that is when Allah SWT addressed him and said the above statement (Qur’an 38:75); i.e. He- rebuking Eblis- said, 1) Whether Iblis was being arrogant, or 2) Whether he thought arrogantly that he was of the al-‘Aaleen, and thus did not prostrate. Verse 38:74 has already clarified that indeed Eblis was arrogant and of the disbelievers.

“The person asking the question from the Prophet (SAWA) had realized that al-‘Aaleen had to be the most exalted creations of Allah, more exalted than all other creations and thus were not to be subordinate and under the authority of no other creation; therefore he wanted to know who those so exalted al-‘Aaleen are. Hadrat Mohammad (SAWA) answered:

“I and ‘Ali and Fatemah and al-Hasan and al-Hosain [SBUT]; we were in the Soraadeq of the ‘Arsh (threshold of the Throne) of Allah, we glorified Allah then the angels glorified Him by our glorification (Tasbih) years before Allah created Adam, and when Allah- Undefeated and Mighty- created Adam He commanded the angels to prostrate for him, they were not commanded to prostrate but for our honor [their Lights … being placed in Adam’s generation …]. All the angels prostrated, but Eblis refused to prostrate. Allah said to him: O Iblis! What prevented you from prostrating yourself to whom I have created with my hands? Have you been arrogant? Or have you been of al-‘Aaleen?! He said: Of these five whose names are written on the Soraadeq of al-‘Arsh?! We are the gates through which Allah bestows and by us He guides those who are guided; he who loves us, Allah loves him and enters him to His Heaven, and he who has animosity against us, Allah dislikes him and enters him to His Fire; And loves us not except he whose birth is pure.

(Beshaaraat al-Shi’ah, Shaikh Sadooq; Tafsir Jaame’, vol. 6, p. 46; …)”

As we have also previously mentioned in “Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) Birth, Ascension and Rise, and the Revelation of John” part 3, in regard to the Allah’s acceptance of Hadrat Adam (SBUH)’s returning to Him, the Qur’an 2:37 states that Hadrat Adam (SBUH) was shown “Kalemaat (Words)”; through Adam’s seeking them as the means and thus their Intercession, Allah turned to Adam mercifully, and the Hadiths verify that the “Words” were the Lights of Mohammad, ‘Ali, Fatemah, Hasan and Hosain (SBUT). (Tafsir Qommi; …) 

Again we see incomplete and distorted traces of this in jewish and christian documents; for instance in the same Book of Adam, Jewish Encyclopedia, in regard to Adam and Eve it is said:

“… they [Adam and Eve] were terrified when the darkness of night began to fall upon the earth ('Ab. Zarah, 8a), and the intercession of God's word () was necessary …”

So by Allah’s Choice this Divine Tradition was established that starting with Adam (SBUH) the Prophets of Allah and their Allah-Chosen Successors (SBUT) came one after the other, and they (SBUT) all gave glad tidings in regard to Hadrat Mohammad and the AhlulBayt (SBUT) as the Last and most exalted Vicegerents of Allah who would finally establish the Just Government on earth (please also refer to the E-book “Mohammad and AhlulBayt (SBUT), the Promise of Bible”).

Qur’an 17:77 (This is Our) Tradition with regard to those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you, and you shall not find a change in Our Tradition.

As mentioned in the article “From Hajj to Ghadir” in this site:

“Shaikh Tabresi in the most respected book Al-Ehtejaaj, vol. 1, p. 55 … has narrated from Imam Mohammad Baaqer (PBUH) who has said:

“The Rasool [Messenger] of Allah intended Hajj from Medina … and Jebra’el [Gabriel] (PBUH) descended to him and told him:

“O Mohammad! Surely Allah -Grand is His Name- says salaam to you and tells you: Indeed I did not take [back toward Me] any Prophet of My Prophets and no Rasool of My Rasools except after the completion of My Religion and the emphasis of My Hojjat [Proof]; and of that certainly, two obligations from what you need to deliver to your people have remained upon you: the obligatory incumbency of Hajj and the obligatory incumbency of Wilayat [Allah Ordained Lordship] and Caliphate [Successorship] after you. And surely I did not leave My earth without a Hojjat and I never ever will leave it without … so fulfill your Covenant and give your will; and that which is with you from Knowledge, and the heritage of the Knowledge of Prophets before you, and the weapon, and the Ark [of the Covenant], and all the Aayaat [Signs, Communications, …] of the Prophets, entrust and give them to your Wasi and your Caliph after you, My Baaleghah [completed, expressive, …] Hojjat upon My creations, Ali son of AbiTaaleb, then install him as a Sign and an Authority for humankind, and reestablish his pact and his Covenant and his allegiance, and remind them of that which you took of them for My allegiance and My Pact which you made firm with them, and My Covenant that you made with them regarding the Wilayat of My Wali and their Mawla [master and lord] and the Mawla of every believing man and woman, Ali son of AbiTaaleb. Indeed I never took any Prophet of the Prophets except after the perfection of My Religion and completion of my blessing through the Wilayat of My Awliya and Mo’aadaat [enmity] of My enemies, and that is the ultimate of My Tawhid [Oneness] and My Religion and completion of my blessing upon My creations through the following of My Wali and his obedience; and such is indeed I never leave My earth without a Qayyem [executor, guardian, …] so that he would be My Hojjat upon My creations. Thus on this day I have perfected you’re religion for you, and have completed My blessing and grace upon you, and I have chosen and become pleased of al-Islam as Religion for you through My Wali and the Mawla of all believing men and women, Ali My Abd [servant] and the Wasi of My Nabi [Prophet], and the Caliph after him, and My Baaleghah Hojjat upon My creations. His [Ali’s] obedience is Maqroon [next to and coupled] with the obedience of Mohammad, My Nabi, and his [Ali’s] obedience with the obedience of Mohammad is Maqroon with My obedience; Whoever obeys him has surely obeyed Me, and whoever disobeys him has surely disobeyed Me. I have installed him [Ali] as an ‘Alam [sign, emblem, …] between Me and My people. Any one knowing him has been a believer, and any one denying him has been an unbeliever, and any one taking a partner in his [Ali’s] allegiance has been a polytheist, and any one achieving My Presence [dying] with his Wilayat enters al-Jannat [Paradise], and any one dying with his enmity enters Fire. So O’ Mohammad! install Ali as an ‘Alam and take pledge of allegiance from them and reestablish with them My Covenant and My Pact which you had made firm with them in regard to him. Surely I take you toward Me and I call you back to Me …”

For an implicit indication of the succession of Allah’s Proofs in the current bible, please refer to “Names of Mohammad and ‘Ali (SBUT) in the Bible” part 5.

So the disbelieving arrogant Shaitan who wished to be above all and wanted to be worshipped … designed a satanic scheme, a so-called tradition of his own, to confront the Divine Tradition … and we are going to Allah-Willing explore this satanic tradition …

To be continued …