Al-Baghdadi and his band of extremists - ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) - have declared the establishment of a caliphate and a call to arms, sparking theories of an inevitable apocalypse among Muslims.
Interestingly, the Muslim doomsday prophecies seem to have a close resemblance to Christian apocalypse predictions.
As per the Christian theories on the End of the World, based on Biblical accounts, it is believed that during the Apocalypse period, an anti-Christ would appear in the world (in Middle East somewhere near Israel), bringing with him the Armageddon or the end of the world.
At this point, the pious will be taken away by Christ, while the evil ones will have to go through trials and tribulations, till finally Jesus decides to end the Satan's rule on earth.
Similarly, Muslims, too, believe in the Apocalypse.
A theory doing the round on Twitter among the Shia Muslims is that it is ISIS, who are the messengers of Satan.
Regarding the previous tweet about the evil "Ashaab Ad Dawlah," pay attention 2 how #ISIS meets the criteria: pic.twitter.com/zXzmAIsCvk
— Mubin Shaikh (@CaliphateCop) July 2, 2014
There is a strong comparison being drawn by Muslims, based on the signs prophesied in Kitab al-Fitan, "The Book of Tribulations" by Nu'ayam ibn Hammad.
"When you see the black flag, remain where you are and do not move your hands or feet," the prophecy in the book says, "Thereafter, there shall appear a feeble folk to whom no concern is given. Their hearts will be like fragments of iron. They are representatives of the state. They will fulfill neither covenant nor agreement. They will invite the truth, though they are not from its people."
The prophecy also says, "Their last names are taken from the names of their home towns and their first names are from a Kunya. Their hair will be long like that of a woman. They shall remain so, till they differ among themselves, and then Allah will bring forth the truth from whomever He wills."
The Islamic doomsday believers suggest the prophecy is about ISIS as the group bears a black flag and were seen as nobody's among the other fighting groups in Syria.
The group calls itself the Islamic State. And the most strongest of the connection is the fact that most ISIS fighters keep long hair. The group is also known for being the most brutal in the world.
Similarly, another prophecy based on Islamic book Musnad of Iman Ahmed, it is stated that the anti-Christ will rise from the remnants of the group that fought against the Prophet.
The ISIS, which is an offshoot of al-Qaeda, are considered Khawarij's, meaning those who opposed the leadership of Ali, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad.
The Islamic prophecy, but, has an anti-climax, as it is believes that while the ISIS will eventually bring on the doomsday, however, in the end, a savior, who will fight for Jesus will also rise from them.
A statement by CaliphAli (RA) that mentions the evils of "Ashaab Ad Dawlah": "..hearts like fragments of iron." #ISIS pic.twitter.com/uZjTIJ2Huu — Mubin Shaikh (@CaliphateCop) July 2, 2014
