1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

33 Questions

Who is Imam al-Mahdi (as)? Is he alive today or coming in the future? Why will Jesus come down to earth and be a follower and supporter of him?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Imam al-Mahdi (ATFS) is the 12th and last divine leader of the 12
divine Imams (AS) about whom the Holy Prophet (SAWA) informed that: My
successors will be the 12 Imams (AS) and all of them will be from
Quraish. In another Hadeeth, the Holy Prophet (SAWA) mentions that the
1st of them will be Ali (AS) and the last of them will be Imam
al-Mahdi (ATFS)

Imam al-Mahdi (ATFS) has been mentioned in hundreds of authentic
Hadeeths from the Holy Prophet (SAWA) narrated in both the Shia as well
as Sunni books. All Muslims believe that the authentic Hadeeths are
informing about the very important fact related to the future of the
world.  Imam al-Mahdi (ATFS) is the promised saviour who will
establish the world wide state of justice and peace.

Imam al-Mahdi (ATFS) was born in Samarra in Iraq on 15th Sha’ban in
the year 255 Hijri under the tremendously dangerous political pressure
from the tyrannical Abbasid ruler who were expecting his birth and trying to
kill him. That is why he had to have 2 occultation – the minor one
which lasted about 70 years during which he used to communicate with
the Ummah via appointed persons called Safeers. He had Safeers one
after the other who were based in Baghdad. The 1st of them was known
as Usman bin Saeed, the 2nd was his son Mohammad bin Usman, the 3rd
was Husain bin Ruh and the 4th was Ali bin Mohammad al-Samari or
Saymuri.

Before the death of the 4th Safeer, Imam al-Mahdi (ATFS) informed him
to inform the Ummah that there will be no nominated Safeer after him
as the major occultation will start during which the general deputy of
the Imam will be most pious scholars who gained from the knowledge of
the Ahlul Bayt (AS) and practiced it.

Imam is alive by the miracle of Allah (SWT) though his age now is 1185
years but it is the order of Allah (SWT) and we have in the history
that the lifespan of Prophet Nuh (AS) was 2500 years and also we
Muslims believe that al’Khidhr (AS) who was alive during
the time of Prophet Musa (AS) is still alive which means over 4000
years.

Imam al-Mahdi (ATFS) during his major occultation meets and
guides people without letting them know and in rare cases for the very
pious, they know that its him but as the tyrant people are after his
life Allah (SWT) kept him away from their danger and his movements and
meetings are completely secret.

He will return back to the public life when Allah (SWT) permits him to
establish the worldwide state or peace and justice. He will declare
his reappearance from the Ka'aba in Makkah. His pious assistants will
be 313 from many parts of the worlds from male and female very pious
believers. He will also be supported by ten thousand pious believers
who will help him in managing the administration of the world. 
No place in the world will remain away from the pan-state of justice
and peace.

The time of his reappearance in public life is not known to us but we
believe it won’t be very far away from now as Allah (SWT) says in the Holy
Qur’an in Surah 70, Ayat 6 and 7(They see it too far and we see it not far)( انهم يرونه بعيدا ونراه قريبا)

Prophet Jesus (AS) is one of the five most important prophets who are
called Ulul-Azm. He is alive in the sky after Allah (SWT) saved him
from the criminal attempt of his enemies who wanted to crucify and
kill him.

Prophet Jesus (AS) will be permitted by Allah (SWT) to come down to
the earth after the reappearance of the Imam al-Mahdi (ATFS) in public
life to support him. This is the main reason that Imam al-Mahdi (ATFS)
will not have any opposition from the Christian world.

Wassalam.
If the Qur'an denies the crucifixion and death of the real Jesus, then does it also deny his resurrection as believed by the Christians?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Jesus (AS) is alive in the sky, s here is no question of resurrection.

What many Christians believe today does not mean necessarily the real teachings of Jesus (AS).

Wassalam.
There are over a billion Muslims and over a billion Christians on earth. Is it in the best interests of peace to proclaim, as contained in the Qur'an, that Jesus was not crucified and it was an imposter who died?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Truth must be said and no one knows The Full Truth more than Allah.

We must say what Allah (SWT) said in Qur'an. The Truth does change because of people.

Jesus (AS) did not die and he is still alive in the sky and will come back to the earth in the time of the re appearance of Imam Al-Mahdi (AS). This fact will make the Muslim World and Christian World closer to each other.

Wassalam.
In Sura 4:157 it states that Jesus was not crucified. How do we know that the Prophet Mohammed made that statement? And doesn't this statement discount the validity of Christianity as a bona fide religion?
Amina Inloes

The first part of this question is really a question about the authenticity of the Qur'anic text: is it all as the Prophet Muhammad stated, or could anything have been added to it over the centuries?

Since, from the time of the Prophet, the Qur'an was heavily memorized and was transmitted by multiple transmitters, and was compiled early in Islamic history, it is unlikely that anything was added to it, as it would not have been accepted by the people. There was also a lot of strictness in copying the Qur'an. (This is in contrast to other historical manuscripts, which may easily have had interpolations) It is virtually impossible to find anyone who seriously argues that anything was added to the Qur'an after the time of the Prophet Muhammad.

For more information on the compilation of the Qur'an, you could consult Qur'anic Sciences by Abbas and Masuma Jaffer.

(From an Islamic theological perspective, the entire Qur'an is the word of God not specifically the Prophet, so technically this verse is seen as the word of God not the word of the Prophet; for the Prophet's style of speech, one could consult the hadith.)

As for Christianity itself... Certainly Christianity IS a world religion that is acknowledged as an existing religion in the Qur'an. There have been many interpretations of Christianity and ways that it is lived, and there were a number of sects in and around the Arabian Peninsula.

The Qur'an praises some aspects of Christianity and acknowledges it a religion of God, while at the same time it criticizes some beliefs or gives a different viewpoint. This is one of those differences and clearly it is a major theological difference, but it doesn't mean that Christianity as a whole has no truth or merit to it.

While the Qur'an teaches that all prophets before the time of Islam, including Jesus, taught the same message, it does not say that every religion that emerged was absolutely correct or identical. Even just considering Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, there are obviously major differences between them! Rather, the position of the Qur'an is that some people deviated from the teachings of their prophets or introduced incorrect beliefs or practices, and this is why there is variance in religions.