An Islamic Prophecy

[16Masail]

Prophet Mohammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "There is no prophet between me and him (Jesus Christ عليه السلام ). He shall descend so, recognize him when you see him. He is a man of medium height, (his complexion) is between reddish and white; he will be between (or dressed in) two slightly yellowish garments; His head looks as if it is dripping water even though it is not wet. He will fight people in the cause (for the sake) of Islam, will break the Cross and kill the swine (pig) and abolish Jizya (tax on Christians and Jews); and Allah will put an end to all religious sects except Islam during his (Jesus') time. He (Jesus) will slay the Antichrist (Dajjal) and he will stay in the World for 40 years. Then, he will die and the Muslims will perform the funeral prayer for him."

Source: http://www.discoveringislam.org/return_of_jesus.htm

I'm not an expert in Islam nor the Baha'i Faith but I'll try to tackle this narration, piece by piece.

• "There is no prophet between me and him."
  • What about the Bab? He appeared between Muhammad and Baha'u'llah (return of Christ) and claimed to be a Prophet.
• "He shall descend so, recognize him when you see him."
  • If Jesus was prophesied to literally descend from the heavens, why would Muhammad admonish His followers to recognize Him? Wouldn't that be obvious? Who could miss a man descending from the sky? And since the world is round, how could Muslims "see him" if they live throughout the world?
  • I would like to tie it with John 3:13: "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man." Christ descended the first time through natural means (ie, via birth) so why is it hard to accept His second descent through a similar fashion?
• "He is a man of medium height."
  • Baha'u'llah's passport categorizes His height as medium.
  • Source: http://bahai-library.com/passport_bahaullah
• I have no idea about Baha'u'llah's complexion, garments, and hair texture. Any help?
• Islam means 'submission' in Arabic. That is why the Qur'an (3:85) says, "And whoever desires other than submission as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers." It is submission to the will of God. Hence, Baha'u'llah did fight the people for the sake of Islam.
• "break the Cross"
  • Not sure.
• "kill the swine"
  • Baha'u'llah abrogated the Islamic prohibition of eating pork.
• "abolish Jizya"
  • Baha'u'llah abrogated the Islamic injunction on having Jews and Christians pay jizya (tax for living in an Islamic state and being protected by its army).
• "slay the Antichrist (Dajjal)"
  • "A reference to Siyyid Muḥammad-i-Isfaháni, who is described by Shoghi Effendi as the “Antichrist of the Bahá’í Revelation...Though He [Baha'u'llah] Himself had stringently forbidden His followers, on several occasions, both verbally and in writing, any retaliatory acts against their tormentors, and had even sent back to Beirut an irresponsible Arab convert, who had meditated avenging the wrongs suffered by his beloved Leader, seven of the companions clandestinely sought out and slew three of their persecutors, among whom were Siyyid Muḥammad and Áqá Ján." (Kitab-i-Aqdas, n192)
• "will stay in the World for 40 years"
  • The time period between the intimation of revelation of Baha'u'llah (October 1852) and His death (29 May 1892) is approximately 40 years.
• "he will die"
  • Baha'u'llah had a natural death. This is an important distinction from being martyred.
• "Muslims will perform the funeral prayer for him."
  • "In the Holy Land during the lifetime of both Baha’u’llah and 'Abdu’l-Baha, the Baha’i Faith was not yet recognized as an independent Faith with its own Prophet and Book and laws. All ceremonies had to be conducted in accordance with Muslim, Christian or Jewish law, and by clergy of those faiths. I recently learned that the first Baha’i funeral in the Holy Land was the funeral of Mirza Muhsin, who had been married to one of Abdu’l-Baha’s daughters. He died during the ministry of Shoghi Effendi. Up to that point, Baha’i funerals were conducted in accordance with (Sunni) Muslim rites, as that was the most recent of the divine revelations." (Brent Poirier, fellow Baha'i)

Stay tuned for there are more Islamic prophecies that I am happy to announce that are fulfilled. Keep in mind the nature of narrations (ahadith) and the fact that they cannot be guaranteed of being completely authentic.

 

[16Masail]

"There is no prophet between me and him."

I just thought of a possible explanation. Bahá'u'lláh (1817) has born before the Báb (1819) and therefore, in terms of date of birth, there is no prophet between Muhammad and Bahá'u'lláh. Interestingly, Mirzá Yahyá, a contemporary who repudiated Bahá'u'lláh and claimed his own station, was born c. 1831.

 

[16Masail]

Ahanu, my friend,

What do you know about Bahá'u'lláh's complexion or colour of His garments? Also, can you make sense of these following statements?

"His head looks as if it is dripping water even though it is not wet."

"break the Cross"

 

[wil]

Garments change...funny prophecy, oily hair?

Break the cross.sounds like the end of Christianity.... But that hasn't happened.

 

[16Masail]

Garments change...funny prophecy, oily hair?

Break the cross.sounds like the end of Christianity.... But that hasn't happened.

To me, it is the fulfilment of a collection of narrations (ahadith) that brought conviction to my heart, not simply a matter of having a specific colour of garment. Yes, garments change, but one can be known for wearing a specific type of clothing and colours, sometimes, represent important concepts. For example, the Báb was known for wearing a green turban which symbolised that He was descended from Muhammad.

7 The king asked them, “What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?”

8 They replied, “He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist.”

The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite."

(2 Kings 1:7-8)

 

[16Masail]

Will,

I hope Ahanu will contribute to this discussion. He's very intelligent.

 

[16Masail]

Obviously Baha'ism miserably failed in this prophecy. Your justifications were mostly based on opinion and pure speculation and sometiems outright distortion of the text of the narration.

Check this out:

In Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi (ISO 233/ English: Guided One) is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will rule for seven, nine or nineteen years– (according to various interpretations) before the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) and will rid the world of wrongdoing, injustice and tyranny

(IBNA)

7 YRS: The time period between the intimation of revelation of the Báb (23 May 1844) and His martyrdom (9 July 1850) is approximately 7 years. This marks the ministry of the Báb.

9 YRS: The time period between the intimation of revelation of the Báb (23 May 1844) and that of Bahá’u’lláh (October 1852) is approximately 9 years. This marks the dispensation of the Báb.

19 YRS: The time period between the declaration of the Báb (23 May 1844) and that of Bahá’u’lláh (21 April 1863) is approximately 19 years. Since Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed His mission 10‑11 years after receiving revelation, the believers still regarded themselves as Bábis (followers of the Báb) during this time period.

40 YRS: The time period between the intimation of revelation of Bahá’u’lláh (October 1852) and His death (29 May 1892) is approximately 40 years. This marks the ministry of Bahá’u’lláh.

According to Got Questions Ministries, Jesus ascended to heaven at the age of 33-36 and therefore, if He were to return and minister for 40 years, then He would die at the age of 73-76. Interestingly, Bahá’u’lláh received revelation at the age of 35 and died at the age of 75.

Note that all calculations are done in accordance with the lunar calendar as it is used in Islam where these prophecies arose. If you're going to complain that 6 yrs and 4 months is not the same as 7 years, I'm only going to wish you peace for this is the same excessive level of pickiness that Jews had for Christ and Muslims now have for the return of Christ.

Plus, as I mentioned before, Bahá'u'lláh had a natural death and Muslim funeral. He abrogated jizya and the prohibition on the consumption of pork. It was during His century that diaspora began to return to the holy land and establish the Jewish state. The third temple has been built in the holy land, on Mt. Carmel. And yet, I have more...much more to dismiss it all as coincidence.