Some Shi’ite Muslims wonder if Saudi King’s death means the Imam Mahdi must now arise
King Salman bin Abdull azziz aka Salman ibn Abdilaziz Al Saud
Saudi Arabia has a new king:
January 23, 2015
New Saudi King Salman is pledging to continue the policies of his half brother, the late King Abdullah, who was buried Friday in the capital, Riyadh.
Abdullah, who died early Friday after a long illness, was laid to rest in an unmarked grave following a simple ceremony attended by the Arab and Muslim world’s top leaders. One of the world’s few absolute monarchs, he was believed to have been 90 and recently had been hospitalized with a lung infection. http://www.voanews.com/content/saudi-king-abdullah-dies-at-90/2610297.html
A while back, I noticed that some Islamic prophecy watchers believed the once King Abdullah died a leader called the Imam Mahdi would raise up.
Here is something more recent about that:
According to Shiite hadiths, after the death of a king named Abdullah in the Hijaz — a western region of present-day Saudi Arabia — no successor to the throne would be accepted, and disagreements would escalate and persist until the rise of Imam Mahdi.
The Shiites believe that divine Imams are heirs to the political and religious Ummah, or Islamic nation. These 12 imams are successors to the Prophet Muhammad and to the head of the caliphate, with Mahdi being the final Imam who disappeared, or went into occultation. Mahdi will be revealed only in the end-times, along with Jesus, to deliver peace to the world.
According to the book “250 Signs Until the Appearance of Imam Mahdi,” Prophet Muhammad said: “On doomsday, a man who is carrying the name of an animal ascends to the throne, after which a man named Abdullah comes to the power. Whoever informs me of his death, I will inform him of the rise [of Mahdi]. After Abdullah passes away, for several days and months, the government will appear.”
A seminary teacher based in Qom told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, “The animal-named man can be King Fahd because one meaning of Fahd’s [name] is rapacious animal and cheetah, which matches what Prophet Muhammad said.”
The Bahar al-Anvar, a book of hadiths, quotes the sixth Shiite Imam Sadegh as saying: “When Abdullah dies, people will agree on no one, and this issue will be kept alive till the rise of Imam [Mahdi]. An age of a hundred-year reign comes to an end, and an age of a [kingdom lasting] a few days and months arrives.”
The Shiite scholar in Qom said, “Currently, there is a possibility of a power struggle in Saudi Arabia, as King Abdullah has tried to make up the new post of deputy crown prince. Actually, with regard to [this], if Prince Salman becomes the king and Muqrin bin Abdulaziz is named the crown prince, the next deputy crown prince will be Mutaib bin Abdullah, so we can expect tensions between King Abdullah’s sons and Salman’s brothers to escalate after Abdullah passes away.”…
Some believe that the rise of terrorist groups in the Levant, along with their black flags, is another sign of Mahdi’s resurrection.
The Nahj al-Balagh, a collection of the first Shiite Imam Ali’s sayings, quotes the imam as saying: “When you witness black flags, don’t move, because their calls are void and null and you shouldn’t help them. Their heart is like iron fillings, and they don’t honor their promise. Their names and monikers are taken from the names of cities.”
The Qom-based scholar explained the quotation, “Black flags can suggest the Islamic State, which is killing hundreds of innocent people in the region with brutality, and [regarding people named after cities], I can mention Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi or Omar al-Chechen.”
He added, “Many in the seminary of Qom believe that the rise of Imam Mahdi is imminent. Even important figures in the seminary have expressed their hope for this event to happen and has called for our readiness to help him.”
“What’s happening in the region is very similar to what our Imams have predicted about preconditions for the rise of Imam Mahdi, so the moment of truth may have come.”
Historian Muhammad Hossein Rajabi Davani told an Iranian newspaper: “With respect to promises in Shiite hadiths, we are certainly experiencing doomsday, but doomsday has no time frame and it’s not known when it begins and ends.”
Yet, certain Shiite narratives and hadiths contradict the aforementioned narratives, suggesting different signs for the rise of Imam Mahdi. Today, however, many are speculating about the events that will follow the Saudi king’s death, as well as its impact on global developments. With the death of King Abdullah, according to some analyses, stability in Riyadh may come to an end, setting off a chain of prophecies and the resurrection of Mahdi. http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/01/iran-saudi-arabia-king-abdullah-end-times.html##ixzz3PgTxcRoE
However, since King Salman began office today and no one seems to believe that King Abdullah died 40 days ago, this would indicate that the Shi’ite prophecy, should it have any validity may not be applicable at this time. Yet, it is always possible that Shi’ites and others could rise up against King Salman.
It perhaps should be pointed out that in addition to becoming king of Saudi Arabia, King Salman also assumed the role/title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. This means that he has responsibility for essentially the two holiest sites according to Islam.
It should be understood that within both Shi’ite and Sunni Islam is the belief that a leader will arise and run an Islamic caliphate with one known as the Imam Mahdi, so it is not just the Shi’ites (Iranians are mainly Shi’ites and Arabs are mainly Sunni). The Bible itself tells of the rise of a power that resembles an Islamic caliphate called the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:2-8; see also The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation).
The death of King Abdullah may embolden some in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere to take actions that could contribute to the rise of the biblical King of the South.
Perhaps it should be mentioned that some believe that the Imam Mahdi will be the son of one named Abdullah. Notice:
Hazrat Imam Mahdi (A.S.) ( Courtesy: http:// www.kr-hcy.com/ articles/ imam-mehdi )…
The term “MEHDI” is a title meaning “Guided one”. The Mehdi is a normal man who is going to follow the true Islam. His name will be Muhammad and his father name will be Abdullah. He is a descendant from Ali and Fatima (daughter of the prophet Muhammad) so he will be descendant from al-Hasan or al-Hussain or both. The Mehdi will be very just and his capital will be Damascus. The Mehdi is NOT a prophet but he is the final Rightly Guided Khalifah. The Mehdi will lead Muslims to a great victory against the Sufyaani and the Romans. This great war or Armageddon…
DETAILS OF IMAM MEHDI
The following are facts taken from the sayings of the Messenger of Allah( Sallallahu alayhi wasallam):
Name and Title
His name will be the same as that of (The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu alayhi wasallam), i.e. Muhammad. In addition, his father’s name will be Abdullah. His title is the-Mehdi, meaning the guided one. The Holy Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam also called him Khaleefatullah, meaning “the Deputy of Allah”.
FAMILY LINEAGE
Imam Mehdi will belong to the tribe of Quraish and the family of Fatima, the offspring of Imam Hasan…
BIRTHPLACE
He will be born in Madina Shareef.
PHYSICAL FEATURES
He will be tall with a fair complexion, having a broad forehead and an aquiline nose, with a mole on his right cheek.
SIGNS BEFORE HIS APPEARANCE AS THE MEHDI
The world will be filled with a great amount of injustice and oppression. There will be widespread evil in which all people will be heavily involved.
Muslim countries and their people will have become so weak that even animals would defeat them in battle.
Muslims would be totally disunited, hence their state of weakness. On the other hand, the Kuffar of the whole world would be united under one leader…
Throughout the world earthquakes would occur frequently. Innocent people will be put to death…
The Abdaals and pious leaders will all be on the lookout for Imam Mehdi, knowing that only he could bring relief to the failing Ummah…
HIS LEADERSHIP, BATTLES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
With his army now bolstered by saintly and pious people Imam Mehdi will defeat his enemies…
During his rule, the Muslims will experience great economic enrichment. There will be no droughts and lands will be exceptionally fertile…
Imam Mehdi will conquer the city of Constantinople (presently known as Istanbul). The story behind this conquest is as follows:
After the earthquakes, which destroyed his enemies, and the subsequent amassing of Muslim armies under his leadership, the Imam will leave Makkah for Madina, where he will offer salaam at the Rozah Mubarak (The Grave of The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
Having done this his next step would be to proceed on to Damascus, where the bulk of the Nasara (Christian) forces along with the tribe of Kalb would be deployed, as was previously mentioned.
In Damascus, the Imam will set up his headquarters. From here, he will conduct military operations against the enemies of Islam and defeats them (such as the ones in Jerusalem), and from here, he will rule.
In response to this, the Roman forces will attack, and destroy the city of the Prophet (Madina), and start to gather their forces against its inhabitants…
After the slaying of Dajjal by Prophet Eessa, Imam Mehdi will not live for very long. A few months will elapse and this great Imam, a man who provided the perfect sequel to Allah’s Supreme Religion -ISLAM, will pass on to the realms of the hereafter. The Muslims will perform his Janazah Salat and bury him, and the Messiah son of Maryam will then become the new ruler of the Muslims. (http://www.nooredarwesh.com/main/imam-mahdi-as viewed 05/01/10)
Abu Nadra reported: We were with the company of Jabir Ibn Abdillah… Jabir Ibn Abdillah kept quite for a while and then reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) having said: “There would be a Caliph in the last (period) of my Ummah who would freely give handfuls of wealth to the people without counting it.” I said to Abu Nadra and Abu al-Ala: Do you mean Umar Ibn Abd al-Aziz? They said: NO, (he would be Imam Mahdi). References: Sahih Muslim, English version, v4, chapter MCCV, p1508, Tradition #6961 Sahih Muslim, Arabic version, Kitab al-Fitan, v4, p2234, Tradition #67 (Imam Mahdi (Descendent of Prophet Muhammad PBUH) by Mufti A.H. Elias and Mohammad Ali ibn Zubair Ali. Islam.tc, http://www.islam.tc/prophecies/imam.html viewed 02/03/2012)
And while there have been earthquakes in various places, etc., Muslims need to be careful about this as this individual does not seem to be one who is trustworthy according to the Bible (cf. Daniel 11:27), nor will his European counterpart be (Daniel 11:27-44). Another point to make is that while some Muslims expect the Mahdi to be someone who is released from centuries of suspension from paradise (that is the main Shi’ite view), the above one states that he will simply be a “normal man” who is to follow “true Islam.”
Since this “Mahdi” is supposed to be somehow an “anointed” one, the following prophecy might include him:
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:24).
The Greek word for “christs” (χριστος) basically means anointed. Thus, while the Mahdi probably will not claim to be Jesus (nor will the elect possibly accept him), he will likely and falsely claim that he is anointed. And it is possible that some signs and/or wonders may follow him or be attributed to him–so this many deceive many. Hence, the idea of some type of supernatural influence with the final King of the South should not be ruled out.
Though not all Muslims expect the Imam Mahdi, some still seem to long for a leader to unify the Arab World. Some Muslims are looking for a political-spiritual leader, sometimes called the Caliph in English, to rise up (Caliph is a shortened version of “Khalifah rasul Allah” meaning “Successor to the Messenger of God”). The title caliph has been given to the head of state in Muslim-governed countries in the past and currently there are a couple of leaders who use that title now (including the head of ISIS, aka the Islamic State).
The passing of King Abdullah may be considered significant to some Muslims and this could have an affect on affairs in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. The final King of the South of biblical prophecy will rise up (Daniel 11:40-43).
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? A related video is Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
Obama Administration Pushing for an Islamic Empire? Because of the rise of groups such as the Islamic State, the Obama Administration and others are pushing for a coalition of Arab nations along with Turkey. Does this resemble the final King of the South of Bible prophecy? Is there an Islamic antichrist? Does the Bible teach that terrorism and the sword will affect the USA and some of its allies? What does the Bible teach in Ezekiel about a confederation involving Egypt? Will an Arabic confederation end in destruction for those who strongly support it? Are the 10 nations in the Arab coalition the ten kings of Revelation 17:12-13? Are the 10 nations including the USA and Turkey the ten nations of Revelation 17:12-13? Who is? Was the pushing of the Obama Administration to do this predicted by in 2009 in a writing by Dr. Thiel? What does the Bible show?
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
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