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• 21 Rabi' II 1435

English Translation of Allamah Sayyed Murtadha Kashmiri’s Friday prayers Sermon
• Before the emergence of Imam Al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) four standards (or flags) will appear, two of which oppose the Imam (a.j) and two support the Imam (a.j).
• The Sufyani & Dajjal (or Antichrist) are symbols of the forces and tendencies fighting the Imam (a.j).
• The two standards of the Khorasani and the Yamani are the ones that pave the way for the emergence of Imam Mahdi (a.j ) and their emblem is; grief for Imam Hussein (a.s.).

Speaking during Friday prayers sermon in the city of Birmingham – UK, Allamah Kashmiri began with the words of the Almighty ((Before this We wrote in the Psalms, after the Message (given to Moses): My servants the righteous, shall inherit the earth.)) Holy Quran- The Prophets: 21.

This verse is among many other verses in the holy Qur’an referring to the absolute & most important of certainties and that is Imam Al-Mahdi (a.j), whose emergence will purify the world and fill it with fairness and justice after having been filled with injustice and oppression. He (a.j) will make a comprehensive change to the map of the whole world, the aim of which shall be to apply the just rule of Allah on this earth and to raise the word of Tawheed (oneness of Allah) in every corner of the globe. ((And We wished to be Gracious to those who were being depressed in the land, to make them leaders (in Faith) and make them heirs and to establish a firm place for them in the land, and to show Pharaoh, Haman, and their hosts, at their hands, the very things against which they were taking precautions.)) Holy Qur’an - The Narrations: 5 &6.

However, this comprehensive change will face fierce challenges from hostile forces - leading to armed conflict with the Imam (a.j)

These forces have been articulated in narrations from the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) and the Imams of his household (a.s.) as the ‘standards’ (or flags), which are four:
• Two standards opposing the Imam (a.j)
• Two standard supporting the Imam (a.j)

The first and second opposing standards are the Dajjal and the Sufyani. The third and forth are loyal supporters and defenders of the Imam’s (a.j) movement.

This movement of the Imam (a.j) needs supporters and aides to counter these transgressing forces. What is said about the Imam’s (a.j) supporters being three hundred and thirteen, those in fact, are the leaders of the Imam’s State; government apparatus and battalion and corps commanders. This number (313) is not the whole army – otherwise our asking the Almighty that we may become the Imam’s (a.j) supporters and aides will be pointless if the numbers are already limited. The Imam (a.j) needs supporters and armies in every country and city to pave the way for him, protecting him and defending Islam.

Narrations have defined the first power as Dajjal (or Antichrist), and he is a man with one eye; described in more like symbolic terms, but in our perception this is not the case. Rather, it is a tendency and a culture existing in the world - expressed as Dajjal - a physical force with all its elements in the east and west; as referred to by the following quotes from narrations:

1. “Written between his eyes [the word] ‘infidel’ and every human-being, whether educated or illiterate can read this.” And who among us does not know that the forces of evil are infidel!
2. “He is one-eyed, sees only with one eye” and perhaps the narration alludes to the infidel culture where only the materialistic side of life is important. As for spiritual values, they have no place in the lexicon of this civilization. And considering human minds at the time [hundreds of years ago], could not fathom more than this reference the narrations mentioned them and other matters, in the symbolic form.
3. “The biggest human fitna witnessed since Allah created Adam to this very day” which is the fitna of Dajjal.
4. From reference to him; “the Dajjal comes out with light and fire”. The light is modern inventions where progress and technology evolve day after day so that humanity may benefit. The fire is the method that destroys humanity - comprising of lethal weapons, bombs, missiles and other means of mass destruction.
5. “The Dajjal leaves no inch of ground, without putting his foot there”, a reference to Western civilization, which has not left an inch of ground without invading and leaving behind its foot-prints.
6. “Riding on a donkey with a stride as far as the eye can see and a height of seventy lengths”; a reference to modern transport facilities; aircrafts of different speeds and types that abound in the world today.

If we collect these narrations and group them together, we conclude the Dajjal to be but a symbol of the infidel forces of civilization. The Imam (a.j.) will face these powers with their various lethal machines and formations and eliminate them with the support and superior power granted to him by Allah Almighty. ((We will, without doubt, help our messengers and those who believe, (both) in this world's life and on the Day when the Witnesses will stand forth,-)) Holy Qur’an -The Believer: 51.

As for the second standard of opposition and fight against the Imam (a.j.), the Sufyani; this is represented by the devious movement from within the Muslim community. Therefore the Dajjal represents external forces and the Sufyani the internal forces, referred to by the following narrations:

1. “A man from within yourselves saying what you say”; and the addressees of this narration here are none other than the Arabs. This presence is within the Muslim community and not from the outside, and this force bears the name of Islam and its banner, inviting people to Islam. Hence we see this force today slaughtering people under the slogan of “Allaho-Akbar” and “There is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” ... etc.
2. “Spares no one from killing and crucifixion”; and as we see that the behaviour of these forces is not limited violations on Muslims and their children, it even exceeded to demolishing mosques and tombs of saints.
3. “Disembowels wombs of women and kills boys.”
4. “Mosques close down.”
5. Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.) says: “As though I see the Sufyani (or) his accomplice in the courtyard of Kufa and his caller calls out “Whoever brings a head of a Shi’a [of Ali] will be rewarded with one thousand Dirhams. Then neighbours will inform on their neighbours by saying ‘he is from them’, i.e. a Shi’a, and he will be beheaded and the neighbour will get his one thousand Dirhams – on that day those informers will only be children of prostitutes.”

This Sufyani force will fight Imam Mahdi (a.j) and will be defeat by his supporters and those who pave the way for him.

As for the third and fourth standards supporting the Imam (a.j), the Khorasani and Yamani standards, narrations describe them by one meaning but different words: “People will come out in support on Al-Mahdi (a.j)”, “people will come out supporting and paving the way for Imam Al-Mahdi (a.j)”, “a man will come forth supporting and paving the way for the emergence of Imam Al-Mahdi (a.j)”, “a man from the best of Arab horsemen will come forth “, “black flags will appear from ...so if you see the black flags rush towards them regardless – for among these flags will be the representative of Al-Mahdi (a.j)”

This reference to black flags could be the banners of grief for Imam Hussain (a.s.). In another narration about the flags: “until they reach the Tigris square”, and in another narration “until they reach Kufa.”

Please note, from my talk and narration extracts, I am not forecasting the appearance of the Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance). This movement depends on the appropriate circumstances and personnel being in place.

Momineen should therefore live the state of anticipation as ordered by the prophet (s.a.w.w.) and the Imams (a.s.) and increase their reciting of the following well-known dua for the reappearance of the Imam (a.j): O Allah, be, for Your representative, the Hujjat (proof), son of Al¬-Hasan, Your blessings be on him and his forefathers, in this hour and in every hour, a guardian, a protector, a leader, a helper, a proof, and an eye; until You make him live on the earth, in obedience (to You), and cause him to live in it for a long time.

For further references on narrations one can refer to the following sources: Alzam Al-Nassib; Muntakhab Al-Athar for the 12th Imam (a.j); Yaomul-Khalas; Sak Al-Khalas; Aqeedatul-Massih Al-Dajjal; Mowssoua’tul [encyclopaedia] Imam Al-Mahdi (a.j) as well as other sources that address this inevitable event.

We ask Allah Almighty to hasten his reappearance and fill the earth with fairness and justice and permitting us to become his supporters and aides – Allah listens and responds.