Soldiers of the Prophesied Mahdi!
April 2, 2008
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
The Shiites of the Mahdi Army, now fighting the Iraqi government for control of southern Iraqi, is led by Muqtada Al-Sadr, who issued these chilling words regarding this Shiite Army’s role “At The End Of Time”: “This Will Be The Army Of The Reformer [The Mahdi], Allah Willing… At The End Of Time, The Mahdi Will Appear, And… We Will All Be His Soldiers”
The following excerpts, from an article presented by Mufti A.H. Elias and Mohammad Ali ibn Zubair Ali, describe some characteristics and events associated with the arrival of the Mahdi.
Begin Excerpts
Imam Mahdi (Descendent of Prophet Muhammad PBUH)
by Mufti A.H. Elias and Mohammad Ali ibn Zubair Ali
Who Is Imam Mahdi?
Note: Please do not confuse Imam Mahdi with Hadhrat Isa (Jesus) Alayhis Salaam. They are two different
persons, and both will come during the last days. According to Hadeeth, Imam Mahdi will appear first, and Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) will appear during Imam Mahdi’s lifetime. Furthermore, only Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) will be able to kill Dajjal (the “anti-Christ”).
The term “MAHDI” is a title meaning “The Guided one”.
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (R.A.) says that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “This world will not come to an end until one person from my progeny does not rule over the Arabs, and his name will be the same as my name.” (Tirmidhi)
Hadhrat Ali (R.A.) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “Even if only a day remains for Qiyamah to come, yet Allah will surely send a man from my family who will fill this world with such justice and fairness, just as it initally was filled with oppression.” (Abu Dawood)
His Features
Hadhrat Abu Saeed Khudri (R.A.) relates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “Al Mahdi will be from my progeny.
His forehead will be broad and his nose will be high. He will fill the world with justice and fairness at a time when the world will be filled with oppression. He will rule for seven years.”
End Excerpts
The Islamic Mahdi would be considered by Islam to be their version of their Messiah. I would consider him from our prophecies to be the one called the Antichrist. I would consider him to be the beast and his army among those who suffer the fate of Revelation 19:19-21.
Revelation 19:19-21 – And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
[21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Begin MEMRI Excerpts
Middle East Media Review Institute
Special Dispatch Series – No. 1883
March 31, 2008
Muqtada Al-Sadr, Iraqi Leader of the Al-Mahdi Movement, Supports Armed Attacks on U.S. Forces in Iraq, Says Al-Mahdi Army Will Be
The following are excerpts from an interview with Muqtada Al-Sadr, leader of the Al-Mahdi Army in Iraq.
The interview aired on Al-Jazeera TV on March 29, 2008.
To view this clip, visit here: http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1726.htm.
To view a MEMRI Iranian Media Blog post on this interview visit:
http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/6541.htm.
“Saddam Was Occupying Iraq with his Dictatorship and his Reckless Policies… [But] the Military Intervention Of The Occupying Forces… [Is Not] Liberation”
Muqtada Al-Sadr:
[…]
“It is the duty of the Al-Sadr movement and of the Iraqi people to strive to gradually liberate Iraq. The liberation
of Iraq does not mean only bearing arms.
There is also cultural liberation, social liberation, military liberation, and so on. The assault against Islam is not only military. It is both cultural and military, and it requires, at any given period, diversification of the resistance.
But the liberation of Iraq remains a national duty, and a primary goal of the Al-Sadr movement.
[…]
“It is true that Saddam was occupying Iraq with his dictatorship and his reckless policies, which were hundreds of miles removed from reason – policies that were, in fact, devoid of any reason.
However, the military intervention of the occupying forces of all nationalities does not constitute liberation. The proof is that we did not get rid of Saddam or the Ba’thists. They are still around and still have a negative influence in Iraq.
“The second thing is that the American influence on the Iraqis is even more negative than that of the former Ba’th Party. The Iraqi people still suffers as it did in the days of the Saddam – there are no services, there is a lack of security, and we still suffer from all the things we suffered from in the past.
Therefore, this was occupation, not liberation. I call it occupation. I have said in recent years: Gone is the ‘little Satan,’ and in came the ‘Great Satan.'”
Interviewer: “After five years of war, do you still believe that Iraq is occupied?”
Muqtada Al-Sadr: “Bush used to say that his picture would hang in all the Iraqi homes. No, sir. His picture is now trampled underfoot by the Iraqis.”
“Resistance Automatically Appears Wherever There is Occupation; Allah Willing, the U.S. Will Be Vanquished, Just Like It Was in Vietnam”
Interviewer: “But is Iraq still occupied by the American forces?”
Muqtada Al-Sadr: “Yes, it is, and American popularity is dropping daily – why daily? It is dropping by the minute.”
[…]
Interviewer: “What we abroad understood was that you disbanded the Al-Mahdi Army, because you had lost control over it.”
Muqtada Al-Sadr: “The Al-Mahdi Army is under control, or at least most of it.
They are obedient, loyal, and faithful.
They are even capable of gradually liberating Iraq, Allah willing, along with some other resistance forces.” […]
“This Will Be The Army Of The Reformer [The Mahdi], Allah Willing… At The End Of Time, The Mahdi Will Appear, And… We Will All Be His Soldiers”
“This will be the army of the Reformer [the Mahdi], Allah willing. At the end of time, the Mahdi will appear, and if by that time, we are still around, and if we are capable mentally, physically, militarily, and in terms of faith, we will all be his soldiers, Allah willing.
Hence, the Al-Mahdi Army is a matter of faith, and it cannot be disbanded.”
[…]
Interviewer: “What is the strategic goal of the Al-Mahdi Army?”
Muqtada Al-Sadr: “At present, it is to liberate Iraq, and to defend the Iraqi people in times of crisis, and at the moment Iraq is in a crisis – it is occupied – and should be liberated.”
Interviewer: “So you state clearly that the goal of the Al-Mahdi Army is…”
Muqtada Al-Sadr: “To defend Iraq. I never have and never will deny this.”
Interviewer: “So you continue with this?”
“What Is More Important is to Make Society, Not Just the Government, Islamic”
Muqtada Al-Sadr: “Of course, and if I’m not around – if I am killed, if I die, retire, or whatever – the goal of the Al-Mahdi Army will remain the liberation of Iraq.”
Interviewer: “Let me say that this comment might sound peculiar to many…”
Muqtada Al-Sadr: “It will sound peculiar only to the Americans.”
Interviewer: “The general belief abroad is that you are retiring…”
Muqtada Al-Sadr: “These are merely tactics… Allah willing, these tactics will not weaken our resolve to liberate Iraq.”
[…]
“As Long As There Is Occupation in Iraq, Federalism Will Constitute The Partitioning Of The Country”
Interviewer: “You say this unequivocally?”
Muqtada Al-Sadr: “Yes. If there was no occupation, my answer would be different. Then there would be room for discussion.”
[…]
Interviewer: “Do you fear there will be more sectarian violence in Iraq in the near future? I am not talking about the resistance, but about internal violence.”
“The Al-Sadr Movement is Islamic Even More Than it is Iraqi; An Attack Against Any Islamic Country or People Will Mean that the Al-Sadr Movement will Become an Interested Party”
Muqtada Al-Sadr: “Sectarian violence? It’s possible, because the Americans are in Iraq, and they are constantly touching on this sensitive spot – Shiites against Sunnis, Kurds against Arabs… They are always… I have seen this on TV or somewhere… The Americans are responsible even for the car bombs.
[…]
“The Al-Sadr movement is Islamic even more than it is Iraqi. An attack against any Islamic country or people will mean that the Al-Sadr movement will become an interested party.”
Interviewer: “In what way?”
Muqtada Al-Sadr: “It will defend Islam however necessary. It will do whatever it can at the time. If any Islamic or Arab country is attacked, the Al-Sadr movement will be an interested party.” […]
“I Am Close to the Shiites Ideologically – But Politically, I Am Close To The Sunnis”
“Obviously, I am close to the Shiites ideologically, but politically, I am close to the Sunnis and the decisions they make.
Many of the decisions of the Al-Sadr movement correspond to those of the Sunnis.”
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