In Search of the Anti-Christ
-by Javed Ahmad
Frankly speaking, the story is too long. And to make it short, all I can say is that for some superstitious reasons the West has always viewed the East as an enemy. And this attitude has developed from pride, prejudice and age old ignorance. And the problem with the Arabs actually resulted from the creation of "Israel". It is, so far, a political matter between the Arabs and Israel. There is no way US and the West can justify their blind support towards Israel. United Nations couldn't justify this matter, as a result this remarkable organization became a matter of neglect. Thus, this issue is an open hipocracy and conspiracy. Therefore, a matter of shame for mankind as a whole.
The search for 3rd Anti-Christ is nothing but a pure madness. Who was the first Anti-Christ? "Napoleon"- a Christian! And who was the second Anti-Christ? "Hitler"- again a Christian! Both were Europeans!! Now just guess, who could be the third Anti-Christ? I'm pretty sure, it will be again a Christian or a Jew from Israel. Or it could even be a combined forces of the West! Still, it will not be an "Arab" nation. Khoemini, Quaddafi, or Saddam, none of them qualified for the position of 3rd Anti-Christ. Then whom are we looking for ?
You see, whoever submits to "Islam" transforms into a different human being. Islam literally means "submission to Allah's will".And it also means "Peace". Now you tell me, a religion which preaches peace and tranquility for all of mankind, a religion which makes belief in Prophet Musa (Moses), and Prophet Isa (Jesus) as a condition of faith then how can a believer of this magnificent religion possibly create an Anti-Christ ? If any muslim goes against Prophet Isa (peace be upon him), or disbelieves in him will cease to be a muslim. A complete chapter in the Qur'an has been dedicated to "Mary", mother of Prophet Isa! And there are several honorary mentions of this magnificent Prophet in different parts of the Qur'an. I'm sure you didn't know all this, did you ? Yes, we are the Muslims, and as Allah puts it in the Qur'an, "... the best of the nations...".
"We have sent it down as an Aribic Quran, in order that ye may learn wisdom. We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories, in that We reveal to thee this (portion of the) Qur'an: Brfore this, thou too was among those who knew not." (Qur'an: Joseph(12):2-3).
Although Islam was revealed to Arabs in their language Arabic (well it had to begin somewhere!), but it is a revelation for all of Mankind and the Jinns (Spirits).
"Behold, We turned towards thee a company of Jinns (quietly) listening to the Qur'an: when they stood in the presence thereof, they said, "Listen in silence!" When the (reading) was finished, they returned to their people, to warn (them of their sins)." (Qur'an: Winding Sand-tracts(46):29).
Thus, not only Arabs, you and I and who ever is interested, has the right to verify, have access to, and to accept or reject this religion. This book, 'The Quran', is also called "the Book of reading". The first revelation came with the word "Read!"
"Proclaim! (or Read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, who created- created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! Any thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- He who taught (the use of) the pen,- taught man that which he knew not. Nay, but man doth trangress all bounds, in that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient. Verily, to thy Lord is the return (of all)." (Qur'an:Read(96):1-8).
But alas, most of us don't read. As Allah sadly says in the Qur'an,
"Then the Apostle will say: "O my Lord! Truly my people took this Qur'an for just nonsence."(Qur'an:the Criterion(25):30).
Unfortunately, we are now living in a world of conspiracy and deception. One has to be extremely cautious to make a clear distinction between "Truth" and "Falsehood". We must stay informed. And we must have the desire to hear the other side of the story aswell. Otherwise, we won't be able to do justice to anybody, not even to ourselves.
Today it is no secret that today's Christianity has changed so much that there is hardly any resemblance with the original Christianity preached by Jesus the Christ. The information revealed from the "Dead Sea Scrolls" found in Qumran caves in Palestine, and in comparison to the "The Gospel of Barnabas" discovered in the grave of Saint Barnabas, tells us the amazing but sad history of conflicts between the Jews, the Roman Empire, and the Early Christians. Today's Christians are no where near to the 'Early True Christians'. They believed in 'Community Rule' living isolated from urban settlements. They didn't have preists or churches. All they had was 'Community Rule' where everyone participated as true democracy. They lived a peaceful and simple life helping one another as a member of a community. They were all saintly people. Did not believe in war and conflicts. Therefore, even being large in numbers, they could never organize themselves to make a stand against the persecuting Roman Empire. Roman army persecuted them mercylessly right and left by the thousands without much resistance. Many of them committed suicide in large numbers instead of fighting back! As a result, they all have now perished. This is what the true Christians were like. They did not believe in Jesus as a 'Son of God', instead they believed him as a Prophet. They did not know the concept of 'Trinity'. They believed in 'One true God'.
Then Paul, a self proclaimed desciple of Jesus, who never even met Jesus, began to preach his own ideas and interpretations, and called it "Christianity". He began to establish "Churches" all over and began to appoint "Preists" to propagate his religion. It was him who declared that it is 'okay' to eat "Pork". Where as the early Christians abhored pork as 'unclean meat', and stayed away from 'strong drink' (alcohol). They believed in marriage and families, they were not promiscuous. Now you tell me, who are the true Anti-Christs ? Muslims, or the Christians ?
Have you seen the movie called, "The Message" starring Anthony Quinn?
Note: This little article is a result of correspondence I had with someone through email regarding Islamic issues. Instead of forgetting about the whole issue, I've decided to upload this letter (later updated and modified) on the internet for the curious wondering minds.