Jihadists in global frenzy over coming of prophesied 'Mahdi'

[Batman]

Warnings from Islam's 'messianic whirlpool'

FROM JOSEPH FARAH's G2 BULLETIN
Warnings from Islam's 'messianic whirlpool'
Jihadists in global frenzy over coming of prophesied 'Mahdi'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 29, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern


© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

An Israeli intelligence analyst sees a frenzy of jihadist Internet communications as part of a "dangerous Islamic messianic whirlpool" featuring a number of prophecies culminating in the coming of the "Mahdi," reports the latest issue of the premium online intelligence newsletter Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

Some of the documents obtained in a sweep of Internet communications just before the attack on the Madrid trains are signed by an unknown sheikh – assumed to be a nom de guerre for Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri or others in leadership in al-Qaida.

The communications make a number of predictions about world events pointing to "The coming of the Mahdi" – a messianic figure Muslims expect to come and lead them in victory against the infidels in the last days.

Here is what these communications foresee:


Two European countries will be attacked.

Another attack is planned against the U.S.

Followers are asked to get rid of euros and as true Muslims replace them with gold.

There will be an assassination attempt against a high-ranking Egyptian official.

A mass gathering of jihad warriors is expected in the cities of the twin holy mosques Mecca and Medina.

A divine signal will be given when three celestial stars will be aligned on one axis.

The appearance of a new star, never seen before, will be in plain sight to all humanity.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf and Yasser Arafat will be annihilated in the same month.
The list includes other apocalyptic predictions such as "the march of Islam through Russia, the return of Islam to Andalusia and a victory parade in Jerusalem with liberated Saddam Hussein at the lead. This will follow after a war in Syria and the assassination of King Abdullah of Jordan."

There is no specific time frame for the apocalyptic prophecy, according to G2 Bulletin sources. The most important aspect of the communications is the subsequent attack in Spain, and an important threat to the continental U.S.

The analyst says the Internet is now the most important tool used by the jihadi propagandists. Some of the material is clearly a warning to Muslims to distance themselves from possible target areas.

Further analysis suggests the second European country to be hit, according to the jihad spirit, is probably Italy or the Vatican. This is based on constant verbal attacks on the pope as an enemy of Islam and on rejection of Christian missionary movements in Africa and the Middle East. A direct threat is aimed against American missionaries and indeed some were attacked last week in Iraq.

Experts say the latest Ramadan saw, according to Muslim scholars, three aligned stars. Also the issue of unknown stars is lately highlighted among jihadists such as the news of March 15 about distant unknown galaxies and information about new stars. The new star is explained by the jihadists as the discovery of a new planet.

The jihadists reacted to this information by saying: "Even infidel researchers are aware of the Mahdi's message." G2B reported earlier that U.S. military intelligence experts were studying a video clip of bin Laden in which he stands before a dry-erase board with an Arabic phrase written upon it – "awaited enlightened one."

No one who has seen the video is quite certain of the meaning or the context. But, the Hadith, a collection of Islamic holy writings that supplement the Quran, predicts the messianic figure will arise in the last days of history. This "Mahdi," along with the "Prophet Jesus," will lead the believers to victory over the infidels.

The video raises the question of whether bin Laden sees himself as this Mahdi or if he is expecting another to arise and lead. Either way, the addition of a dimension of Islamic prophecy to the global terror war may seriously complicate matters for planners in the West.

According to G2 Bulletin's military sources, some of the detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay have told interrogators they joined bin Laden's al-Qaida offensive because they think he is the "awaited enlightened one." Others in military intelligence say some of the terrorists crossing the border into Iraq with al-Qaida ties are doing so because of their belief in this Islamic prophecy.

Muslim believers – both Sunni and Shiite – expect the Mahdi to return one day to restore justice to the world. This messenger is not as great as Muhammad, but is a messianic figure found in all branches of Islam.

Interestingly, since the end of 2001, bin Laden has been signing his name "Osama bin Muhammad bin Laden," rather than just Osama bin Laden. This is significant because it gives the al-Qaida leader an apocalyptic dimension. The Hadith says the Mahdi will be recognizable, among other things, by the fact that he carries the name of the prophet.

The Mahdi is supposed to come, according to Islamic clerics, just before the advent of the day of judgment – when believers are severely oppressed in every corner of the world. He will fight the "oppressors," unite the Muslims, bring peace and justice to the world, rule over the Arabs, and lead a prayer in Mecca at which Jesus will be present, according to Islamic scholars.

added info:

http://www.lampholderpub.com/new_page_54.html

[cerulean]

So Osama bin Laden is the Messiah?
Who would have guessed?
In all seriousness, this is interesting. I think US intelligence efforts are greatly hindered by a lack of knowledge of the Arabic language and Arab culture.

[Batman]

Originally posted by cerulean
So Osama bin Laden is the Messiah?
Who would have guessed?
In all seriousness, this is interesting. I think US intelligence efforts are greatly hindered by a lack of knowledge of the Arabic language and Arab culture.

exactly.
there are mideastern Jewish people who know Arabic very well and can be trusted to relay information properly but I recall an article somewhere here on the ISrael forum that the US won't hire them.

[Batman]

an example of this is:Discrepancies Between the Arabic and English Versions of the Palestine State Constitution


The Palestinian State constitution has gone through at least three drafts in an effort led by legal experts in the European Union and the United States.

A comparision of the two versions appears to support the suggestion that the constitution was drafted in English,dated March 25th and then translated into Arabic, March 26th.

The Arabic version leaves out some sentences that appears in the English version and toward the end adds articles that don't appear in Arabic. Here are some key differences between the two versions.

Article 1 of the English version of the constitution reads as follows:

"The State of Palestine is a sovereign, independent republic. Its territory is an indivisible unit based upon its borders on the eve of June 4, 1967, without prejudice to the rights guaranteed by the international resolutions relative to Palestine. All residents of this territory shall be subject to Palestinian law exclusively."

In the Arabic version, there is no word that says "based." This implies that the 1967 lines do not comprise the final border. The wording in both versions are vague. The constitution could have simply read, "West Bank and Gaza Strip."



Article 7 of the English version of the constitution reads as follows:

"The principles of Islamic Sharia are a major source for legislation. Civil and religious matters of the followers of monotheistic religions shall be organized in accordance with their religious teachings and denominations within the framework of law, while preserving the unity and independence of the Palestinian people."

The Arabic version does not use the word "major." The Arabic version reads "Islamic Sharia principles are the chief sources of legislation." The English version intimates that there are other major sources for legislation. The Arabic version gives no such uggestion.



Article 67 of the English version reads as follows:

"The House of Representatives shall be composed of (150) individuals, representing the Palestinian people. They shall be elected according to the Constitution and election law. When running for candidacy to the House of Representatives, the provisions stated in this Constitution and the election law shall be observed. Candidates for the House of Representatives must be Palestinian.

In the Arabic version, the term "House of Representatives" does not exist. The translation is "council of deputies." The English term House of Representatives does not exist for any Arab state and appears aimed at American readers familiar with one of the two houses of Congress.



Article 124 of the English version reads as follows:

"The Speaker of the Council of Ministers, or the minister he appoints, shall negotiate international treaties, and inform the President of the State of the course of negotiations, which in turn have to be approved by the Council of Ministers and endorsed by the President."

The Arabic version does not mention a speaker of the council. Instead, it identifies this position as the "prime minister." More important, the Arabic version does not say that the president must "endorse" treaties. It said the president must certify or confirm treaties. The Arabic version appears to provide the president with greater authority than the English text.

[Hierophant]

boy are they ever gonna be red-faced when they realize that the rocks and trees still dont wanna talk to em!

[Braxamillius]

So how then are we going to end islam? Anyone have any plans?

[Hierophant]

"end islam?" that seems a bit extreme, doesnt it? but if you mean to just put an end to this particular flavor of islam, it has to be done with ideas and education.

One of the strengths of islam, is also one of it's biggest weaknesses. And, that would be its duplicitous nature. Verses from the quran and quotes from ahadith are plentiful for both supporting and denying a claim from anyone to be almahdi (and just about any other claim.) IMHO

[KSO]

Originally posted by Braxamillius
So how then are we going to end islam? Anyone have any plans?

Send all those annoying scientology letters to Muslim countries...

[Robby]

Prophecytoday
__________________________________________________ __

MESSIANIC MILITIA

With the violence increasing in Iraq the United States-led coalition finds itself in a battle on at least three fronts. Coalition troops are fighting not only with the loyalists of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, former Batth Party members, and the militants in the Sunni Muslim community, but the growing militia of the radical Muslim cleric of the Shia Muslim community Muqtada Sadr.

The leader of the Mahdi Army, the militia made up of radical Shia Muslims, Muqtada Sadr is a man with a very interesting background. This Shia cleric has repeatedly called for foreign troops to leave Iraq, and with his followers has held regular anti-US protests. Sadr is a young radical Islamic leader opposed to Iraqi co-operation with the US-led forces in his country.

Sadr is thought to be around 30 years old - a youthful leader in a society, which considers age and experience essential to religious authority. To his supporters, Muqtada Sadr is a figurehead wise beyond his years. But his detractors see him as an inexperienced and impatient radical who aims to dominate Iraq’s most revered Shia institutions.

The youngest son of Muhammad Sadiq Sadr - a senior Shia cleric assassinated in 1999, reportedly by agents of the Iraqi Government - Muqtada Sadr was virtually unknown outside Iraq before the US-led invasion in March 2003. The collapse of Baathist rule revealed his power base: a network of Shia charitable institutions founded by his father.

Muqtada Sadr’s followers patrolled the streets in the poor Shia suburbs of Baghdad, distributing food in the first weeks following the US-led invasion. In fact, his name clearly has powerful resonance - the Shia district of Baghdad, Saddam City, has been renamed Sadr City.

Sadr’s militia, the "Mahdi Army" was created in the summer of 2003, prompted by the radical Iraqi cleric, who preached in his sermons the need for a new force. Young men were recruited at offices near mosques to defend the Shia Muslim faith and their country in defiance of the US-led coalition’s arms controls.

Sadr’s movement continues to take on new members, one year since the invasion, now feeding on dissatisfaction with the coalition among Shia who initially welcomed the ousting of Saddam Hussein and the end to curbs on their faith.

Its appeal is mainly to "those young and desperate Shia in Iraq’s urban slums who have not seen any benefit to their lives from liberation", according to Dr. Toby Dodge, an Iraq expert.

Taking its name from Mahdi - the "promised one" in Arabic - the militia is fiercely loyal to its religious founder. Iraq’s Mahdi Army (MA) militia probably has no more than a few thousand actual members but its potential for organizing unrest is clear from the street battles, which have erupted in Shia parts of the country.

The Mahdi Army’s potential as an armed force was only really felt when violence erupted with coalition forces recently. The ferocious street battles suggest the MA has access to rocket-propelled grenades as well as heavy machine-guns and the ubiquitous Kalashnikov assault rifle.

The young cleric’s supporters have also clashed with followers of Ayatollah Sistani — a Shia leader who has become prominent in the run-up to the planned handover of power to Iraqis on 30 June. In contrast to more moderate clerics such as Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Muqtada Sadr calls on Shia spiritual leaders to play an active role in shaping Iraq’s political future.

The Mahdi Army, by its name implying that it is the army of the Muslim messiah, these militia members are increasingly willing to glory in Jihad —"holy war" — against the non-Muslims occupying their nation of Iraq. Their leader, Muqtada Sadr, is eager to lead the way into a Jihad that will liberate his nation from the enemies of Allah, the United States-led coalition, and set in place an Islamic Republic, which Sadr announce he had established back in the summer of 2003.

__________________________________________________ __

THE MAHDI ARMY'S PROPHETIC PROSPECTIVE

The Mahdi Army, a messianic-type militia with a mission of Jihad, "holy war," is a precursor to the scenario found in Bible prophecy for the region of the world that has the world’s attention, the Middle East. In somewhat of a short period of time, one year, the Mahdi Army has become a well-manned and armed militia.

This militia has become an effective, fierce fight force, even with the name, in Arabic, "Mahdi," which speaks of the Muslim messiah, as mentioned, and is on a mission that will become a world-wide mission.

The Mahdi Army brings to the table the "Islamic factor" and must be considered in a search for understanding of the events that are unfolding on a daily basis in the Middle East, as reported in our newspapers, on our radios and on the screens of our televisions. The Bible will shed much light on this world stage setting in the Middle East and all the players that are involved today.

In the first year of the coming seven year Tribulation Period, a period of intense judgment in the future, is a time spoken of by all the ancient Jewish prophets like Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah and even the book of Revelation. It is from these particular prophetic books that we discover the lowest common denominator of the players mentioned by these prophets, it is their Islamic faith.

Certainly one must include Iraq as a major player in the end times along with Syria, Egypt, Iran, Libya and Afghanistan, among others, and the common ingredient is that they are all Islamic. The Islamic factor is key to understanding the scenario for the Middle East in the last days.

The prophet Joel, in describing the beginning days of future judgement in what he terms "the day of the Lord" reveals information on an invasion of Israel by a massive army. Joel says that it is "a great people and a strong there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it" (Joel 2:2). I believe that Joel is referring to the massive Muslim military might potentially available today from the 1.2 billion Muslims in our world.

An Islamic messianic-type militia, the Mahdi Army in Iraq, with a mission of holy war is indeed setting the stage for the actual fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

[andak01]

Originally posted by cerulean
So Osama bin Laden is the Messiah?
Who would have guessed?

I had a thread here somewhere about personality cults. I was kind of hoping Bin Laden would be captured by now and the luster taken away from his cult. Guess they want it to happen as close to November as possible.

http://www.israelforum.com/board/sho...9198#post69198

BTW, latest State Department figures estimate 18,000 Al Qaida world wide. The ones that I read in 2000 said 5,000. Two comments on that.

1) 18,000 is a MUCH lower number than people here have been bandying about. But these are trained special forces. 18,000 special forces constitute a huge threat.

2) A policy of trying to lure them to their deaths in Iraq would only work if you have a finite enemy and assuming that they actually are stupid enough to take on such a challenge.

We are doing something terribly wrong here. The emphasis should be on cooperation (of international law enforcement) and prevention rather than intervention. Nothing would destroy Al Qaida faster than a year without any attacks. And watching their members sentenced in Muslim courtrooms in Saudi and elsewhere is a lot less of a push towards their sick view of reality than daily visual proofs that they are being martyred and that there is a Crusade.

[Mediocrates]

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/files/story2536.php

"al Qaedaism" by Jason Burke

I'm not sure I agree with all of it, but another interpretation all the same.

[David_in_NYC]

Originally posted by andak01
We are doing something terribly wrong here. The emphasis should be on cooperation (of international law enforcement) and prevention rather than intervention. Nothing would destroy Al Qaida faster than a year without any attacks. And watching their members sentenced in Muslim courtrooms in Saudi and elsewhere is a lot less of a push towards their sick view of reality than daily visual proofs that they are being martyred and that there is a Crusade.

Hardly. The "international law enforcement" approach is what bought us 9/11. The World Trade Center was bombed in February 1993; I was inside. I got to watch while for 8 years the Clinton administration pursued the law enforcement approach, which got us Somalia, the African embassy bombings, the USS Cole, TWA flight 800, etc., etc.

9/11 was the proof that this problem needs to be solved with war, and that treating this war as a law enforcement issue is suicide.

The suggestion, by the way, that any measure of justice can be achieved in Muslim courtrooms, is utterly laughable. How often have we seen our Muslim "allies" take a terrorist into custody while the pressure is on them to perform, then quietly release them afterwards?

[andak01]

Originally posted by David_in_NYC
9/11 was the proof that this problem needs to be solved with war, and that treating this war as a law enforcement issue is suicide.

Well, I'm glad this approach has made us safer. Now I can sleep easy knowing the war is almost over!

[MichaelC]

Originally posted by andak01
Well, I'm glad this approach has made us safer. Now I can sleep easy knowing the war is almost over!

Beats hell out of rolling over with our feet in the air as you would have us do.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Originally posted by andak01
Well, I'm glad this approach has made us safer. Now I can sleep easy knowing the war is almost over!

The war has only begun and on the wrong foot. It's not safe yet. Won't be for a long time.