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At another place it is stated in the Quran:
The meaning is that when the promise of God approaches, He will crumble the wall which was restraining Gog and Magog, and the promise of God is true. And on that day, during the rule of Gog and Magog, God shall let various sects surge against each other like waves. In other words, every sect will strive to make its religion and faith overcome others. Just as an ocean wave seeks to subdue under itself everything that it falls upon, in like manner shall each of the various sects fall upon the others to overwhelm them, and none shall do less than its utmost. Every sect will strive to make its religion supreme. They will be engaged in these struggles when "the trumpet" [sur] will be blown by Divine command, and God will unite all factions upon one faith. {See author's footnote} The blowing of the trumpet here indicates that at that time, in accordance with the Divine law, a reformer will appear from God, coming with heavenly support. Life (spiritual) shall be breathed into his heart, and that life shall penetrate into others. It is to be remembered that the word sur always points to great revolutions, so that when God moves His creation from one state [sura] to another, the time of that change of form is described as "the blowing of the trumpet [sur]". And the mystics, in their visions, can perceive even a physical existence for this trumpet. These are the wonders of a realm the secrets of which are not disclosed to anyone in the world but those who have severed all worldly connections.
The Promised Messiah In any case, the verses given above prove that in the latter days the Christian religion and rule will hold sway over the world, and there will be many religious controversies between various nations, each one wishing to overcome every other. In that age, the trumpet will be blown to unite all nations upon the religion of Islam; that is to say, the heavenly order will be established in accordance with the Divine course, and a heavenly Reformer will appear. In reality, it is this Reformer who is called the Promised Messiah. For, as the troubles would be caused by the Christians, and God’s chief purpose would be to shatter the glory of their cross, hence the man sent to invite Christians to the True Faith has been named Messiah and Jesus in reference to the nations being addressed. The other profound reason for this is that since the Christians made Jesus into a god, attributed their own fabrications to him, perpetrated much deception in the earth, and raised the dignity of Jesus beyond all limits, the sense of honour of that Living, Unique Being required that He send a servant of His from among the Muslims, bearing the name Jesus, son of Mary, and show a miracle of His power, to prove that to raise mortals to divinity is a folly and that God chooses whom He wishes to, and can elevate a handful of mere dust to heaven.
Movement in hearts at time of coming of Reformer It should also be remembered here that when a reformer appears in an age of prevalent evils, at the time of his advent there is a dissemination of light from heaven. That is, with his coming a light also descends upon the earth and is cast into every worthy heart. The world then inclines towards the ways of good and right by itself, in accordance with its capacity. Every heart turns its attention towards investigation and deep thought, and every alert mind is moved to seek the truth from unknown means. In short, a wind blows which makes every ready heart lean towards thoughts of the after-life and awakens its dormant faculties. The age appears to be moving towards some great revolution. These, then, are the signs which testify that the reformer has appeared in the world. And then, as great is the status of the coming reformer, with a corresponding power do these unseen promptings work in the ready hearts. Every good-natured person rises from slumber, and knows not who awakened him. Everyone of a sound temperament finds a change within himself, and cannot discover why the transformation came about. Thus there is a stir beginning to take effect in the hearts, which the unwise people believe started by itself. But this is the radiance which descends invisibly accompanying a mujaddid {Note 1} or a Divine messenger [rasul]. This fact is clearly proved from the Holy Quran and the Hadith, as God says:
That is: "We sent down this Book and this Prophet in the Lailat al-Qadr, {Note 2} and thou knowest that the Lailat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. In it the angels and the holy spirit descend with the permission of their Lord. And it is a time of peace in every affair till the dawn break" (ch. 97). Now although according to Muslim belief the Lailat al-Qadr is the name of a blessed night, nonetheless the fact which God has intimated to me is that, besides this meaning which is accepted by the whole nation, the Lailat al-Qadr also stands for the age when darkness spreads throughout the world, and it is pitch black all around. Then that darkness by its nature requires that a light descend from heaven. So Almighty God at that time sends His luminous angels and the holy spirit down to the earth -- this descent being in the manner appropriate to their nature as angels. Then the holy spirit forms a connection with the mujaddid and reformer who, having been honoured with the robe of Divine election, has been appointed to invite mankind to the truth. And the angels form a connection with all those people who are of a good, righteous and worthy nature, attract them towards the ways of good, and grant them help to do good. Then the paths of peace and good fortune open out in the world, and this continues to develop till religion reaches the fulness that has been destined for it. Now one ought to note that in this chapter God has stated in clear, unequivocal terms that when a reformer comes from Him, heart-shaking angels necessarily descend to earth. Their descent produces a movement and urge in the hearts towards goodness and the path of truth. To think that such movement and agitation comes about by itself, without the appearance of a reformer, is contrary to the Holy Word of God and His ancient law of nature. Such views are expressed only by those who are ignorant of Divine secrets and who follow their own baseless conjectures. Nay, these are the peculiar signs of the coming of a Divine reformer, and are like dust particles for this sun. However, this fact cannot be discerned by just anyone. The clouded vision of the worldly-minded man cannot see this light. In his view, religious truths are a laughing matter and Divine knowledge a folly.
Shaking of the earth: Surah ‘The Shaking’ Other verses describing the signs of the latter days, i.e. verses which speak of the spread, first, of tremendous darkness, and then give the indications of the descent of heavenly light, are as follows:
(ch. 99, verses 1-5) The meaning is that the last days will come "when the earth is shaken with terrible shaking" (v. 1) in accordance with its condition, i.e. a great change will come over the people of the world, and they will give themselves up to selfishness and worldliness. It is then said: "the earth will bring forth all its burdens" (v. 2), i.e. worldly knowledge, worldly cunning, worldly scheming, and worldly qualities to be found in human nature will all become manifest. Also, the earth upon which people live will display all its special characteristics. Many of its properties will be discovered by physical science and agricultural technology. Mines will be dug, and cultivation will become extensive. In brief, the earth will become productive, and implements of all kinds will be invented, so much so that "man will say: what is the matter?" (v. 3), why are new branches of knowledge, new kinds of technology, and new inventions coming into being? Then the earth, i.e. the hearts of men, will tell their story: that all these new things which are happening are not from them, but it is a type of revelation from God (vv. 4,5), for it is not possible that man by his own efforts be able to produce such wonderful knowledge. It must be remembered that the inclusion, with these verses, of other passages that refer to the Day of Judgment is really according to the law of God that has been mentioned earlier. However, there is no doubt that the true and primary meaning of these verses is that which we have explained above. A strong and conclusive proof of this is that if these verses are interpreted literally, it leads to great difficulties. In other words, if we take the meaning to be that at some time, despite the world being populated, there will be such severe earthquakes as to turn the surface of the earth upside down, then this is utterly impossible and cannot happen. It is clearly written in the verse: Man will say, what has befallen the earth? If, then, it were really true that the earth would have been flattened by severe tremors, where would man be to ask the earth this question? He would have been annihilated by the earthquakes in the first place. The laws of physical science cannot be denied in any way. To take meanings which are absolutely false and opposed to actual evidence, amounts to making Islam a laughing stock, and giving the opponents a chance for criticism. Therefore, the true and correct meanings are those which we have explained here.
Christian nations producing shock waves Now it is obvious that these revolutions, calamities and earthquakes of our time, the like of which had not been seen in the world, are being caused by the Christians. This, therefore, is the second argument upon the proposition that it is this nation which is the nation of the latter days by whose hands mischief of all kinds was to abound, and which has performed magical feats of all sorts in the world. And as it is written that the Dajjal {Note 3} shall claim prophethood, and also put forth a claim to Divinity, both these have been done by this nation. Prophethood was claimed in the following manner: the preachers of this nation interfered with the books of the prophets, with much irreverence and boldness, as if they themselves were prophets. They altered the texts as they liked, wrote explanatory notes to suit their own ends, and interfered impudently in every place for the purpose of fabrication. They concealed what was there, manifested that which was not, and gave altered meanings of the text with such authority as if they had received the revelation and were the prophets. Therefore, it is always observed that during debates and arguments they deliberately give such absurd replies, far from the truth, as if they are making up a new gospel. Similarly, their writings are leading to a new Jesus with a new gospel. They are not the least afraid of uttering falsehood, and through cunning they have written thousands of books about this false claim of theirs, as if they have seen Jesus sitting on the throne of Divinity with their own eyes. And they claimed Divinity as follows: they interfered in God’s works beyond all limits. They desired that no secret should be left hidden in the heavens and the earth which they do not fathom, and they resolved to bring all the works of God under their control, wanting all the powers of Divinity to come in their hands so that, if possible, even the setting and the rising of the sun should be in their control, the falling of rain should depend on their actions, and nothing should remain impossible for them. What else is a claim to Divinity! It is exactly this: that one interferes in the works and special powers of God, and is eager even to take His place. Those people who raise objections against the Hadith reports referring to the Promised Messiah and to the Dajjal should consider, at this point, that if these prophecieshad not been from God, but were the work of man, it would not have been possible for them to be fulfilled so clearly and beautifully. Was it ever imagined by anyone that these Christian people would, in some age, strive so hard to make man into god, and in their philosophical enquiries leave no special position for God? Look! the "ass" of Dajjal whose ears are spoken of as being seventy measures apart, corresponds in most ways exactly to the railway train. And as it is recorded in the Holy Quran and Hadith that in this age transport by camel will cease, so we see that rail travel has defeated all such forms of transport, there being little need left for them now, and even that will probably not remain after a short while. Similarly, we have seen with our own eyes that the scholars and philosophers of this (Christian) nation have really produced such trouble in religious matters that a parallel cannot be found from the time of Adam till this day. They undoubtedly interfered in prophethood and in Divinity. What greater proof can there be of the authenticity of these Hadith reports than the fact that the prophecy contained in them has been fulfilled? These verses of the Holy Quran, viz., "When the earth is shaken with a terrible shaking", really refer to this age of the Dajjal, and anyone having the least sense can understand this. The verse is clearly explaining the extent to which this nation will make progress in worldly knowledge.
Prophecies about modern advances Then, among the signs of this age when physical knowledge and technology was to be developed, some inventions and developments are mentioned as examples.
(ch. 84, verses 3-4) "When the earth is stretched" (v. 3), i.e. the earth will be cleared and the population will increase; "and it casts out hat is in it and becomes empty" (v. 4), i.e. all the earthly potentialities will be manifested and displayed, as has been explained just now.
("And when the camels are abandoned." -- 81:4) The meaning is that at that time the camel will become redundant and of no value. "Ishar means a pregnant camel, which is of great value in the eyes of the Arabs. It is obvious that this verse has nothing to do with the Day of Judgment, for the Doomsday is not the time when a male and a female camel could mate, and a pregnancy ensue. This is, in fact, a reference to the invention of the railway train, the camel being mentioned as pregnant to provide a strong argument that an event of this world is referred to, so that one’s mind does not go towards the Hereafter in the least.
"When the books are spread widely and propagated" (81:10), i.e. means of publication and distribution of books will come into existence. This refers to the printing press and the postal service, prophesying that these will be commonplace in the latter days.
"When souls are joined with one another" (81:7). This refers to the relations between nations and countries. The meaning is that in the latter days, due to the opening up of travel routes and the setting up of postal and telegraph services, inter-relations among mankind will increase. A people will meet another people, links and trade connections will extend far and wide, and ties of friendship between distant nations will increase.
"When the wild ones are gathered together with people" (81:5). This means that primitive nations will turn towards civilisation and acquire human values and discernment. The lowest people will gain the honour of material progress and dignity. Due to the spread of physical knowledge and technology, no difference will remain between the high and the low. In fact, the lower people will become dominant so much so as to have the means of wealth and the reins of government in their hands. The meaning of this verse is similar to the contents of a certain hadith.
"When rivers are cut up" (82:3), i.e. there will be an extensive network of canals on the earth, and cultivation will be on a large scale.
"When the mountains are blown away" (77:10). Routes will be constructed through mountains for pedestrians and vehicles, and for trains. {Note 4}
Spiritual darkness with modern advances -- metaphorical prophecies Apart from these, there are also given signs of the coming of widespread darkness. It is said:
"When the sun is rolled up" (81:1), i.e. an intense darkness of ignorance and sinfulness will envelope the earth.
"When the stars become murky" (81:2), i.e. the religious leaders will no longer possess the light of sincerity.
"When the stars are swept off" (82:2), i.e. the truly spiritual divines will pass away. It is certainly not possible that the stars could physically fall on the earth and yet people continue to live upon it. It should be recalled that the Gospels too contain such a prophecy for the advent of the Promised Messiah, to the effect that he shall come at a time when stars would have fallen to the earth, and the sun and the moon would have lost their light. {Note 5} To take these prophecies literally is so much against reason that no sensible person would suggest that while the sun would in reality lose its light, and all the stars would fall to the earth, the globe would continue to be inhabited and the Promised Messiah would come in those conditions. Again it is said:
"When the heaven bursts" (84:1), and similarly:
("When the heaven is cleft asunder." -- 82:1) The Gospels too contain such prophecies about the coming of the Promised Messiah. However, these verses do not mean that at that time the sky will burst or lose its powers. The meaning is that just as a thing which is broken becomes useless, so will the heaven cease to function, so to speak. Blessings will not descend from heaven, and consequently the world will be filled with darkness and obscurity.
Coming of the Messiah At one place it is stated:
"And when the messengers [rusul] are brought at their appointed time" (77:11). This is, in fact, a reference to the coming of the Promised Messiah, and it means to say that he will come exactly on time. It should be remembered that in the word of God the term rusul is applied to the singular as well as to one who is not a messenger. {Note 6} I have explained many times that most verses of the Holy Quran comprise many aspects, as it is established from Hadith that the Holy Quran has outward meanings as well as deeper ones. So if the messengers of God are to gather as witnesses on the Day of Judgment, {Note 7} we believe in and confirm this as well. However, having described here the bad signs of the latter days and then stating at the end that at that time messengers will be brought up at the appointed juncture, the context clearly bears witness that after the height of darkness God will send a messenger of His to judge between the various nations. And since it has been proved from the Holy Quran that that darkness will be caused by Christians, the man appointed by God will undoubtedly be sent to invite them to Islam and to judge concerning them. So it is due to this connection that he has been given the name Jesus, because he has been sent for the Christians as was Jesus, peace be upon him, sent for them. And in the verse "and when the messengers are brought at their appointed time", al [‘the’] refers to the external i.e. the mujaddid whose advent has been promised by the Holy Prophet will be sent at the time of the darkness spread by Christians.
Summary of signs of the Last days From the verses of the Holy Quran we have quoted above, it is very clear that it does indeed contain the prophecy that in the latter days the Christian faith will spread widely in the world, and those people will resolve to efface Islam from the earth and, so far as it is possible for them, omit not even the smallest step in support of their religion. Then will Almighty God turn to the aid of the religion of Islam, and at the time of this tribulation show that He is the guardian of His faith and His holy scripture. At that time, in accordance with His custom and law, a heavenly light will descend and to this light will be attracted every noble soul till all the scattered good souls gather under the standard of one faith. God has stated in plain words that at the time of the tumult of controversies and arguments the "blowing of the trumpet" shall take place, and then all good people shall unite upon one single faith. And it is also stated that at the time of darkness messengers will be sent. Now what greater clarification could there be than this, that God has given the following signs of the Last Days: 1: The dominance of Gog and Magog, i.e. the absolute sway of the Russians and the English. 2: The arising of numerous sects. 3: The debates between these sects, and their falling upon one another like waves of the ocean. 4: The introduction of the railway train. 5: The means of publication of books and newspapers, such as the printing press and the telegraph system. 6: The digging of canals. 7: The growth in population and the increase in cultivation of the earth. 8: The blowing up of mountains. 9: The development of all branches of modern knowledge and technology. 10: The spread of sin and darkness, and the disappearance of righteousness, purity and the light of faith from the world. 11: The coming of the Dabbat al-ard, [‘creature from the earth’] {Note 8} i.e. the proliferation of such preachers of religion who possess not the tiniest bit of heavenly light, and are merely worms of the earth. Their deeds support the Dajjal while their tongues are on the side of Islam. That is, in practical terms they are the servants of the Dajjal, having had their features metamorphosed by him and looking like beasts, but their tongues are like those of human beings. 12: The coming of the Promised Messiah, which has been metaphorically described in the word of God as "the blowing of the trumpet" [nafkh sur]. There are, in fact, two kinds of ‘blowing’ [nafkh]: one is that of error, and the other is that of guidance, as indicated in the following verse: "And the trumpet is blown, so all those in the heavens and the earth will swoon, except such as God please; then it will be blown again, and they shall arise, awaiting" (39:69). This verse has a dual aspect, applying to the Day of Judgment and also to the present world, as do verses such as "Know that God gives life to the earth after its death" (57:17) and "He sends down water from the clouds, according to their measure, then water courses flow" (13:17). As applying to this world, this verse (39:69) means that in the last days there shall come two periods of time: a period of error when everyone, whether of a worldly or heavenly nature, shall become indifferent and negligent, save him whom God protects. And then shall come the second period, of guidance, when suddenly people will "stand up and see", i.e. the indifference will depart and true knowledge will enter the hearts, and the wicked will become warned of their evil, though they may not accept the true faith.
Footnote: Let not a person lacking in experience think that because these passages, after this point, speak of hell, the context requires that the topic here must be about the Day of Judgment. It must be remembered that it is a common form of expression in the Holy Quran, of which hundreds of examples can be found in the Divine Word, that an account in connection with this world has appended to it an account in connection with the Hereafter, but each part in its subject matter is distinct from the other. The Quran is full of this technique. For instance, take the miracle of the rending asunder of the moon as mentioned in the Quran. That was a sign, but the Day of Judgment is mentioned in the same place, and consequently some unwise people who ignore the context say that the rending asunder of the moon did not occur, but will take place on the Day of Judgment. {Go to text}
Translator's Note 1: The term mujaddid, meaning renewer or reviver, and usually rendered as reformer, is based on a hadith which prophesies that, in every century, there is to arise among the Muslims someone who will renew and revive their faith, restoring it to its original purity. Muslims generally accept various illustrious servants of Islam as the mujaddids of the centuries during which they lived; for example, Umar ibn Abdul Aziz, Imam Shafi’i and al-Ghazali, of earlier times, and more recently, Shaikh Ahmad of Sirhind (d. 1624) and Shah Wali-ullah of Delhi (d. 1763), both of India. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to be the mujaddid of the fourteenth century of Islam, which began in 1883 C.E. At this point, Hazrat Mirza has made a distinction between a mujaddid and a messenger of God ( rasul ); the latter being an actual prophet and messenger of God in Islamic terminology, while the former is classed as a non-prophet in the same terminology. However, the word rasul, when taken in its literal Arabic meaning of messenger, can also be applied to a mujaddid. {Go to text}
In about 1890, under Divine inspiration, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad disclosed to the Muslim world that Dajjal was not some monstrous superhuman individual, but was none other than the materialistic forces of modern Western civilisation. They fulfilled all the signs given in the prophecies. For details, see other works of Hazrat Mirza such as Izalah Auham. This explanation of the nature of Dajjal has since come to be accepted by other notable Muslims, including some opponents of the Ahmadiyya Movement such as Sayyid Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (see his English book Faith versus Materialism ). {Go to text}
Translator's Note 7: This is the generally understood meaning of this verse. {Go to text}
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