The introduction consists of five points.
First Point:
Since belief and accountability are a test, a trial, a competition within the bounds of human will, matters that are obscure, profound, and in need of careful study and experiment cannot be obvious. They should not be so compelling that everyone has to affirm them willy‑nilly. For in this way the Abu Bakrs may rise to the highest of the high and the Abu Jahls descend to the lowest of the low. If there were no will, there would be no accountability. It is because of this mystery and wisdom that miracles are displayed only rarely,
and in this realm of accountability, like some allegorical verses of the Qur’an, the signs of the end of the world, which in the future will be visible and observed, are obscure and open to interpretation. Since when the sun rises in the west it will be so clear everyone will be compelled to affirm it, the door of repentance will be closed and repentance and belief will no longer be accepted. For the Abu Bakrs and the Abu Jahls will be equal in their affirmation of it. In fact, although when Jesus (Upon whom be peace) comes he himself will know that he is Jesus, not everyone will know. Moreover, such fearsome figures as the Dajjal and Sufyan (Antichrist) will not know themselves to be such.
Second Point:
Some of the matters of the Unseen, outside the realm of human perception, that were made known to the Prophet (UWBP) were made known in detail. These he could in no way alter or interfere with, like the incontestable verses of the Qur’an and Sacred Hadiths. Others, he would illustrate employing his eloquence and explain in detail or allegorically suitably to the wisdom of human accountability.
For example, one time when conversing with some people, a deep rumbling was heard. He said: “It is the sound of a rock which has been rolling down hill for seventy years and has at this moment come to rest in the very pit of Hell.” Five minutes after he made this strange announcement, someone came and said: “Such‑and-such a dissembler has died. He was seventy years old, and has gone to Hell,” revealing the meaning of the Prophet’s eloquent words.
Note: Minor future events not included among the truths of belief were considered unimportant by the Prophet (UWBP).
The Third Point
Consists of two points.
The First:
Because in the course of time ordinary people attached literal meanings to some Hadiths which had been narrated in the form of comparisons and allegories, such Hadiths are apparently not conformable with reality. Although they are pure truth, they appear not to be so. For example, two angels called Thawr and Hut, who are among the bearers of the earth and as though the bearers of the Throne, were conceived of as a huge ox and a gigantic fish.
The Second:
Some Hadiths refer to the majority of Muslims, or to the Islamic state, or to the centre of the caliphate, but they were understood to refer to all the people in the world. Although particular in some respect, they were supposed to be universal and general. For instance, it says in a narration: A time will come when no one remains who says: Allah! Allah! That is, “The places where Allah the Most High’s name is mentioned will be closed, and the call to prayer and kâmet will be recited in Turkish.”
Fourth Point:
Just as for numerous reasons and instances of wisdom hidden matters of the Unseen like death and the appointed hour remain secret, so the end of the world, which is its death and the appointed hour of humankind and that of the animal kingdom, has been left secret for many good reasons. Yes, if the appointed hour of death were specified, the first half of life would be passed in absolute heedlessness and the second half in absolute terror, as every day a further step was taken towards the gallows. This would destroy the wise and beneficial balance of hope and fear. Similarly, if the end of the world, its death and appointed hour, had been specified, the Early and Middle Ages would have been virtually unaffected by the idea of the hereafter, and the later ages would have been passed in terror. No pleasure or value would have remained in worldly life, nor, as an act of will, would the worship of Allah the Most High, between hope and fear, have held any importance or purpose.
Also, if the death of the world had been specified, some of the truths of belief would have been clearly obvious and everyone would have affirmed them willy‑nilly. The mystery of human accountability and the wisdom and purpose of belief, which are tied to man’s choice and will, would have been negated.
It is for numerous benefits such as these that matters related to the Unseen remain secret. Everyone therefore continually bears in mind both his death and his continued life, and he works both for this world and the hereafter. He is also aware that the end of the world may occur in any age, or that it may continue, and so works for eternal life within the transitoriness of this world, and strives to build the world as though he were never going to die.
Also, if the occurrence of calamities had been specified, the person who expected one would suffer a calamity perhaps ten times greater than the actual calamity. Divine wisdom and mercy have therefore veiled the time of their occurrence and left it secret, so that he does not suffer that misfortune.
It is because most hidden cosmic events are tied to such instances of wisdom that it is prohibited to give news of the Unseen or to foretell events. So as not to be disrespectful and disobedient in the face of the principle None knows the Unseen save Allah, those people who with dominical leave give news of the Unseen other than questions concerning human accountability and the truths of belief have done so only allusively and indirectly. In fact, the good tidings about the Prophet Muhammad (UWBP) in the Torah, Gospels, and Psalms, are veiled and obscure, in consequence of which some of the adherents of those scriptures put different meanings on those passages and did not believe them.
However, since the wisdom in human accountability necessitates that the questions included among the tenets of belief are communicated explicitly and repeatedly, the Qur’an of Miraculous Exposition and its Glorious Interpreter (Upon whom be blessings and peace) recount the matters of the hereafter in detail, and future worldly events only in summary fashion.
Fifth Point:
Also, the wondrous acts of both the Antichrists (Dajjal) looked to their centuries and were narrated in connection with them; in consequence, the wonders have been imagined to proceed from their persons and this has led to the narrations being understood metaphorically and their true meanings being concealed. Like, for example, one of them travelling by aeroplane and railway train.
And, for example, it is well‑known that when the Islamic Antichrist dies, the satan who serves him will shout out the news to the whole world from Dikili Taş, the obelisk in Istanbul, and everyone will hear its voice saying that he is dead. That is to say, the news will be broadcast by radio, which is wonderful and leaves even satans in amazement.
Also, since the strange circumstances and fearsome activities of the Antichrist’s regime and the covert organization and government that he founds have been narrated as referring to his person, their true meaning has remained obscure. For example, He will be so powerful and persistent that only Jesus (UWP) will be able to kill him; no other solution will be found. That is, it will only be a revealed, elevated, pure religion that will be able to overturn his way and rapacious regime, and eliminate them. Such a religion will emerge among the true followers of Jesus (UWP), and it will follow the Qur’an and become united with it. On the coming of Jesus (UWP), and emergence of the true Christian religion, the Antichrist’s irreligious way will be wiped out and will cease. The Antichrist’s person could otherwise be killed by a mere germ or by influenza.
Also, the explanations and statements of some narrators, made through their own exertions and interpretations, which are open to error, have been mixed up with the words of the Hadith. Their words have been supposed to be part of the Hadith and the Hadith’s meaning has been obscured. It then appears to be unconformable with reality and as though metaphorical.
Also, in early times the social collectivity and its collective personality had not developed as it has at the present and the idea of the single individual [or leader] was predominant. The extensive attributes and widescale actions of the community, therefore, were ascribed to the persons who led them. In order to be worthy and fitting for superhuman, universal attributes, those persons had to have gigantic bodies and be of vast stature and have colossal power and strength a hundred times surpassing their own, so that is how they were depicted. This was not conformable with reality and the narration became metaphorical.
Also, although the circumstances and attributes of the two Antichrists differ from each other, they have been confused in narrations that have come down to us in absolute form; one has been supposed to be the other. Also, the circumstances of the Great Mahdi do not fit the narrations alluding to the earlier Mahdis, and these have become metaphorical Hadiths. Imam ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) mentions only the Islamic Antichrist (Dajjal).
This marks the end of the Introduction. Now we embark on the matters.
Now, with divine assistance, out of hundreds of examples of those hidden events of the Unseen, twenty‑three matters will be explained extremely concisely, since they have been spread by atheists with the idea of corrupting the beliefs of the ordinary people. I beseech dominical mercy that these matters will cause no harm, as the atheists surmised, but that when it is seen that each is a miraculous prophetic utterance and their true interpretations are proved and made clear, they will be an effective means of strengthening the belief of people generally. And I entreat my Compassionate Sustainer to forgive my faults and errors.