Purging of The Earth
PURGING OF THE EARTH
All the revealed and religious books tell with one accord that when the Divine Leader will lay the foundation of Divine Government, the hardened criminals of this world will make an unfruitful effort to impede him. Thus there will be so many battles between the Representative of God Almighty and the Devil. Zorastor has foretold that there will be a last battle between the ungrateful and Supuntamenu viz. God and Devil. The forces of God Almighty will be victorious. The duration of this battle is also not known. We are not sure whether this fight will simultaneously enwrap the whole of the world or if there will be a region-wise conquest to establish Divine rule. The Holy Quran has mentioned even the words of the order of the war:
“And fight them until mischief of Devil is no more, and religion is all for Allah.”
Al-Anfal( The Spoils of War 39)
“Allah willed that He should cause the Truth to triumph by his words and cut the root of the disbelievers.”
Al-Anfal( The Spoils of War 7 )
“Fight them! Allah will chastise them at your hands and He will lay them low and give you victory over them, and He will heal the breasts of folk who are believers.”
Al-Tauba (Repentance 14)
“When ye! meet in battle, Those who disbelieve, then smite their necks.”
Al-Muhammad (4)
It has been told in the explanation of the preceding verses of the Holy Quran presented by the Holy Prophet’s Family, that the same relates to the last age. The representatives of the Devil will make an international alliance to fight with the Divine forces. The prophet David told this fact in the following words:
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his anointed, saying let us break their hands as under, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heaven shall laugh: The lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”
Psalms No. 2(1-6)
It has been told by the prophet Samuel about the end of the opposing forces:
“The pillars of the earth are the Lord’s and he has set the world upon them. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth.”
Samuel (I) Chapter 2(8&10)
All the religious books of the world make a mention of this revolution and war against the non-believers. The difficulty for me is how to bring in order, all the incidents of the coming time which are lying scattered in these books. It is rather next to impossible. For example, I can write the incidents of that war, I can tell about the specialties, style of war, and arms and weapons of the Divine Forces but I am unable to tell as to when and where the first attack will be made. Similarly, the latter sequence of the battles also cannot be told. The collection of scattered incidents of wars in the various religious books brings us to the conclusion that the C.IN.C of that war will be one and the same personality, although different religions have given him different names. It also appears that the bits of a single picture are lying scattered here and there in the said books.
When the last Great Leader arranges to bring about a universal revolution, he will first of all bring together those sincere companions who will wholeheartedly support his movement and will be strong enough to face the whole world for it. This has been told by various prophets in their own manner. Holy Quran says:
“Allah will soon bring a people whom He loveth and who love Him, humble toward believers, stern toward disbeliever, striving in the way of Allah, and fearing not the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of Allah which He giveth unto whom he will.” Al-Maeda (The Table Spread 54)
At another place in the Holy Quran, the companions of the last Leader have been termed as ‘Strong support‘.
Al-Hud (80)
It has been told by Imam Sadiq (A.S) about the said companions that “each one of them will be having power of 40 young persons. Their hearts will be stronger than steel. If they attack a mountain, they will push it back. They will not put their swords into sheaths until they please their God.”
(Kate-ul-Bayan)
They have been named as ‘other or better nations’ in another place in the Holy Quran.
“I swear by the Lord of the rising places and the setting places of the planets that We are Able to replace them (by others) better than them. And we are not to be outrun.”
Al-Maarij (The Ascending Stairways 40-41)
The book of Jeremiah provides:
- Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say. Their quiver is an open sepulcher. They are all mighty men,”
Jeremiah Chapter 5(15-16)
“Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord Thy God and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.”
Isaiah Chapter.55(5)
“This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. For he hath looked down from the heights of his sanctuary: from heaven did the Lord behold the earth: To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to lose those that are appointed to death: To declare the name of the Lord in Zion and his prays in Jerusalem. When the people are gathered together, and the kingdom to serve the Lord.”
Psalms No.102(18-22)
These few references show the quality of the helpers, assistants, and companions of the Last Great Leader. It also becomes clear that the companions will be his contemporaries, who will present themselves to him from various countries. Holy Quran says: “Verily a direction has been prescribed for everyone to which he turns his face. So you should take the lead to perform good deeds. Lord will gather you from wherever you will be. He has control over everything.”
Al-Baqarah (The Cow)
In Tafseer-e-Ayashi it has been said that Lord the Beneficent will bring together the companions of the Great Reformer from various corners of the world. They will assemble like spring clouds. Some of them will lie in their beds at night and when they awake, they will find themselves in the court of their Great Leader. Others will ride the clouds in the day and reach there. Some will go on foot and reach there at once.
“All shall become faint but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary’ and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah Chapter 40(31)
“And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds.”
Jeremiah Chapter 23(3)
“I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. I will undo all that afflict thee.”
Zephaniah Chapter 3(18-19)
It is proved from the preceding quotations that the righteous and pious people, irrespective of their religion will assemble from wherever they may be. They will come like troops and assist the Great Leader. A question arises as to the number of persons who will assemble first of all. The Traditions divide them into two groups:
- Companions and Adjutants:- They will be 313 and will reach the very first night. 50 women will be in addition to them.
- Helpers and Assistants:- There are 10,000 in number as told by Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S) when the oath of allegiance is taken at Faran Mountain, the number of people gathering there will be 10,000.
“The Lord came from Sinai and rose up from Seir unto them. He shined forth from Mount Paran, and he came with ten thousand of saints. From his right hand went a fiery law for them. yea, he loved the people.”
Deuteronomy Chapter 33(2-3)
It means that at the start of the movement, there will be 10363 individuals but later on the number will increase because all the pious and righteous persons of the religions other than Islam will join the movement. The Great Leader will bring out the sacred Box of Israelites from the cave of Antakia mountain as proof of his Divine Authority. It is said that then the Jews will embrace Islam and their number will be 30,000. Similarly, the oppressed and deprived persons of other religions will at once join him for assistance. This is the explanation of sura Nasr of the Quran made by Holy Imams:
“When Allah’s succored and triumph cometh thou seest mankind entering the religion of Allah in troops.”
Syed Hasani and a big portion of his army will join the Divine troops. Shoeb, the son of Saleh and Sheikh Yamani will also join along with a major portion of their armies. In a similar way, millions of people will accept the Divine call. Various scriptures tell that the pious and righteous persons of the past ‘Ummahs’ of Prophets will come to life again and join the new revolution. It cannot be told how many persons of any period will be recalled. But this much stands sure that the pious people of every prophet’s time will come back in this world.
Prophet Nehemiah while repeating the promise made by Moses says: “But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments and do them, though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.” Nehemiah Chapter 1(9)
This promise was made to the whole race of Israel.
“All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him.”
Psalms No.22(9)
The references in this connection can be multiplied. The Traditions mention some of the persons by name that they will join the forces of the Great Leader after they are brought to life once again. 313 individuals, will arrive in the first lot, including 15 persons from Israelites who will be brought to life. Moses, Yusha son of Noon, the believer from Pharaoh’s family, and seven sleepers of the cave are also among the said 313. Shamoon Pitrus who disappeared alive will also be among the first lot. Some persons relating to the time of Jesus Christ will also join the Divine forces. Similarly, some other non-Muslim righteous persons after being given new life, are also to join and assist the Great Leader. Some of the Companions of the Last Prophet (P.B.U.H) will also be given a new life such as Sulman-e-Muhammadi, Abu-Dajana, etc. In addition to human troops, the army of angels has also been mentioned in all the scriptures to assist the Greet Leader. It has been told in Tafseer Kate-ul-Bian and Ayashi etc. that angel Gabriel will come in the shape of a white bird near the spout of Kaaba and will take the oath of allegiance first of all. God will send 5000 marked angels for the help of the Greet Leader, The angels, who came to help Imam Hussein (A.S) in Karbala, 3000 in number, will also join the Divine forces. So it cannot be said with certainty as to what will be the real number of the troops.
The arrival of angels is proven from other books in addition to the Islamic literature.
“Lord my God shall come and all the saints with thee.”
Zecharia Chapter 14(5)
- For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
Matthew Chapter 16(27)
In that golden age, all the past prophets who are 1,24,000 in number are to come back again into this world with their pious followers. The angels of the earth and sky are also to come. It cannot be said definitely whether all the prophets will come simultaneously or one after the other, or with some prescribed intervals. Anyhow this much is sure that they are to come back in this world and are to fulfill their promises with their followers, in the time of the last Great Leader.
In all the books of ‘Ghaibat’ (Disappearance), it has been told that when the Great Leader reaches Kufa and stays at ‘Vadi-us-Slam’ 70,000 truthful persons will be brought to life by him. Each one of them will come out of his grave saying “I am at your service.” Later on, they will join his army. When he reaches Kufa an army of 46,000 angels will be with him in addition to 6000 soldiers of genii.
In short, a big army will be there to assist him in which there will be no old man. All the soldiers will be young. The following Tradition can help us to judge the number of his army to some extent. Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S.) says: ” The encampment of the Great Leader will be spread in 49 Miles” The following prophets will also come into this world once again to join the Divine Army: Moses, Yusha son of Noon Saleh, Shoeb, Ayub. The later prophet himself says I will rise on the last day with my body and will see my reliever with my own eyes. The following persons will also join Khizer, Idrees, Ilyas, and Jesus Christ. Out of the companions of the Holy Prophet, the following will join: Salman, Abu Dujana s/o Harasah Tamimi, Miqdad S/o Aswad, Malik-e-Ashter. Four persons from the progeny of Imam Hussein (A.S) and four persons from the progeny of Aqeel (A.S).
“And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the Children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
St.Matthew Chapter 8(11-12)
