|
Jesus' prophecy (Matt. 24:15) is therefore a specific reference to what befell Islam - that is, Islam is the holy Temple that was desecrated. But it is very important to realize that Islam was not itself the abomination of desolation. Rather, the abomination is what happened to Islam over its 1,260-year existence. The transgression against Islam can be seen in a number of ways, most notably: (l) the Christian rejection of Islam, and (2) the destruction of the spirit of Islam from within by those who professed it but did not truly follow its spiritual teachings. (82:1) According to the Book of Revelation, God will send 'two witnesses' who, 'clothed in sackcloth' will prophesy 1,260 years. 'Abdu'l-Baha explains that 'these two witnesses are Muhammad the Messenger of God, and 'Ali, son of Abu Talib' (Some Answered Questions, 48). 'Abdu'l-Baha further explains: (82:2) It is said they are 'clothed in sackcloth', meaning that they, apparently, were to be clothed in old raiment, not in new raiment; in other words, in the beginning they would possess no splendour in the eyes of the people, nor would their Cause appear new; for Muhammad's spiritual Law corresponds to that of Christ in the Gospel, and most of His laws relating to material things correspond to those of the Pentateuch. This is the meaning of the old raiment. (Some Answered Questions 49) (82:3) Some Christians had long believed that the transgression against the sanctuary of the Temple was a symbol of the corrupting of the Faith of God.
(82:4)
|