“They ask you (O Muhammad) about the Hour (Qiyahmah) when will be its appointed time? You have no knowledge to say anything about it. To your Lord belongs (knowledge of) the term. You (O Muhammad) are only a warner for those who fear.” (Qur’an 79:42-45)

According to Islamic tradition, the Day of Judgment (Qiyahmah) is a terrifying, yet very just event where every human soul accounts for all of their actions. While some Muslim scholars have suggested a 1500-year period, scholarly consensus emphasizes that only Allah knows the exact time. As the Qur’an (33:63) states:“People ask you concerning the Hour, say: “The knowledge of it is only with Allah. What do you know? It may be that the Hour is (very) near!”

Al-Suyooti himself said that the Mahdi will appear after twelve hundred years, yet fourteen hundred years have passed and the Mahdi has not yet appeared. Al-Suyooti also says that people will remain for one hundred and twenty years after the sun rises from the west, then the Hour will begin.

The sun rising from the West refers to the truth that things change. For thousands of years wisdom came from the East; but now non religious wisdom comes from the West; and both sources need to be harmonized. The Muslim Mahdi is active in doing this. For example, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said Iran has launched at least 44 ballistic and seven cruise missiles and more than 600 drones toward the Kingdom since February 28. This is a Mahdi job to bring the Gulf Arabs closer to Israel.

The Qur’an (46:12-14) states “And before it (the Qur’an) was the Book of Moses (in Hebrew), a model and a mercy. And this (Qur’an) is a confirming Book, in the Arabic language, to warn those who do wrong; and good news for the doers of good. 13. Those who say, “Our Lord is God,” then lead a righteous life; they have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve. 14. These are the inhabitants of Paradise, where they will dwell forever; a reward for what they used to do.”

Christianity, Judaism and Islam teach their followers to take care of the earth. Christians, Muslims and Jews also believe that humans should act as guardians and trustees (stewardship  and khalifah) on our planet, and that they will be held accountable by God for their actions.

Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam has a powerful eschatological strand. Islam anticipates the end to the world as we know it, a final historical confrontation between the forces of good and evil; after which human life will be transformed in a positive way.

As a Reform Rabbi who believes that the world wide upheavals we see, are part of the birth pains of the Messianic Age, I offer Christians and Muslims some positive insights from the Jewish Prophets and the Rabbinic Sages.

Many millions of Jews, Christians and Muslims believe the wars of Gog and Magog (Gog u-Magog in Hebrew and “Yajuj and Majuj” in Arabic) which started in the 18th to 20 centuries will come to an end in the 21st century.

It is true that human society changed more rapidly, violently and fundamentally in the last 250 years than ever before in history. Doctors saved the lives of millions. Dictators sacrificed the lives of millions. Populations are exploding in Africa and populations are declining in........

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