In the Muslim and Christian traditions, the promised second the coming of Isa bin Mariam (Jesus Christ) is directly related to the city of Damascus and this has given rise to many Christians and Muslims re-read your Scriptures in the context of current tragic events in Syria.
Christians Turn to the Old Testament Book of the Prophet Isaiah (Isa. 17: 1), which says: “Behold, Damascus is excluded from the number of cities and will be a pile of ruins “(synodal translation).
All further content of the 17th chapter of Isaiah is understood as a description “last war” – Armageddon. Christian opinions here divided: some consider this a prophecy about the invasion of the Assyrians in 732 BC, as a result of which Damascus was destroyed, others – vision of the last days of mankind.
A photo from open sources
Muslims rely on the next ayah from the surah of “al-Nisa” (Quran 4: 159 “:” Among the people of Scripture there will be no one who does not will believe in him until his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be witness against them “(Tafsir Yusuf Ali points out that among commentators there is no consensus on who the phrase “before death. “Most traditional commentators point of view that Isa did not die on the cross, but was taken by Allah to heaven and therefore alive incarnate, refers to him, because according to the extra-Qoran tradition, Isa will come at the end of time and fight with the Dajjal, preparing the ways for Imam Mahdi. Then follow universal death and after it – Resurrection and Judgment. Smaller part commentators suggest that the phrase refers to “the people of Scripture.”).
More clearly and unambiguously, the hadith indicates the connection of the personality of Isa (Sahih Muslim, Book 41, Hadith 7015), which says: “Allah will send The Messiah, the son of Mariam and he will go down to the white minaret in the eastern side of damascus wearing a saffron-colored robe and hands resting on the wings of two angels. ”
Imam Abdullah Anteply, Duke’s Muslim “chaplain” US University explained to Huffington Post correspondent following: “In Islam, there are two points of view on this kind prophecies. Some Muslims are of the opinion that such prophecies should be understood literally as they are stated in Quran and Hadith.
However, most of the followers of our religion interpret them allegorically, not literally. So for me, as for Muslim imam such a prophecy means unity Christians and Muslims at the end of time and their joint actions on building a kingdom of peace and justice on earth. And for that the immediate presence of Christ is not at all necessary. ”
And here is the Christian point of view set forth by Professor David Lose from Luther Seminary, author of Attaching Meaning Scripture “:” Most people read prophecies and consider them as signs hinting at the future, and not as metaphors designed to give vitality and comfort to being in present. If you look at the text of the Bible carefully, then see in it allegorical descriptions of what is already happening events. ”
Yasmin Hafiz, Huffington post
Syria war
