Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that no prophet (peace be upon them all) came without warning his people of Al-Masih ad-Dajjal, the Imposter Messiah or AntiChrist. Allah knows best whether or not the remnants of these prophecies exist in the Bible. Regardless, pertaining to al-Masih ad-Dajjal or not, there are verses in the Old and New Testaments which tell of a person to come in the End of Time who will be a fierce world leader who will torture and persecute the righteous.

Naturally then, Christians, believing themselves to be on the correct path, understand these verses to pertain to themselves...assuming themselves to be the "holy people" and "saints" spoken of in the following prophecies:

It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Revelation 13:7)

He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand. (Daniel 7:25)

A king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty and also the holy people. (Daniel 8:23-24)

While these prophecies do not contradict the Muslim understanding of al-Masih ad-Dajjal, we do not obtain information about him from their books. We have a wealth of reliable information passed down to us from the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) via ahadith. The point of this short article is not discuss the features of the AntiChrist, however.

Instead, I call attention to the above Biblical excerpts to raise our eyebrows, to make us think, and to make us question. Many reports come out in US and European media regarding the persecution of Christians in Muslim lands. It was said of Sudan, Sierre Leone, Iran, Afghanistan, Phillipines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and others. Such accounts are frequently quoted by evangelical Christian leaders, often to raise money and to attack Islam.

Specifically, in Sudan, there were recurring reports of Muslims crucifying Christians in the southern parts of the country. These claims were deemed fabrications after investigation by Amnesty International. Yet, still to this day, programs such as the 700 Club and Jack Van Impe Ministries continue to propagate these stories.

Now this is not to deny that there are times when Muslims wrong individuals or even entire peoples. We should stand up against evil no matter who perpetrates it, especially if it is ourselves. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has commanded us to do good and to forbid evil. This is essential to our deen.

Stepping back from these isolated reports though, reveals a striking picture. According to the World Health Organization, over 80% of the world's refugees are Muslim. We represent 20-25% of the population, but 80% of its refugees! And the trend is worsening. Kashmir, Eritrea, Palestine, Chechnya, Kosova, Bosnia, Iraq, Turkey,...

So if these are in fact the Last Days, as many Christians claim, and their own prophecies say that the righteous will be persecuted, we should compel them to ask, "Who are the persecuted?" The myth of Christian persecution must persist, or they will soon discover that they are not those mentioned in their prophecies. If they discover this, they question their book or they question whether or not they are on the right deen. Muslims are the ones being raped, tortured, persecuted, and killed for their religion. The stories of Christian persecution are designed to call people toward Christianity, away from Islam, and overshadow the reality that more than 80% of the world's refugees are Muslim.

This is not to call blame. We have none to blame but ourselves. We should understand the need for the likes of the 700 Club and Jack Van Impe Ministries to perpetuate these myths. Without them, they get no funding, they lose listeners, and they bring doubt on their book. We should question accounts of such stories. We should verify them and we should beware of backbiting. We should make du'a, read Qur'an, and hold fast to our deen. And of course, we should turn off our televisions.

Allah knows best

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