Contemporary Muslim Apocalyptic LiteratureAlthough apocalyptic visions and predictions have long been part of classical and contemporary Islam, this book is the first scholarly work to cover this disparate but influential body of writing. David Cook puts the literature in context by examining not only the ideological concerns prompting apocalyptic material but its interconnection with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Arab relations with the United States and other Western nations, and the role of violence in the Middle East. Cook suggests that Islam began as an apocalyptic movement and has retained a strong apocalyptic and messianic trend. One of his most striking discoveries is the influence of non-Islamic sources on contemporary Muslim apocalyptic beliefs. He trenchantly discusses the influence of non-Islamic sources on contemporary Muslim apocalyptic writing, tracing anti-Semitic strains in Islamist thought in part to Western texts and traditions. Through a meticulous reading of current documents, incorporating everything from exegesis of holy texts to supernatural phenomena, Cook shows how radical Muslims, including members of al-Qa'ida, may have applied these ideas to their own agendas. By exposing the undergrowth of popular beliefs contributing to religion-driven terrorism, this book casts new light on today's political conflicts. |
Contents
Classical Muslim Apocalyptic Literature | 1 |
Building a New Vision of the Future in the Wake of Six Days War | 13 |
Interpretations of the Present | 59 |
The Controversy About Dating the End of the World | 84 |
Quran 1748 From Banu Israil to the State of Israel | 98 |
The Mahdi and World Conquest | 126 |
Prophecies of America The SecondAd and its Downfall | 150 |
Apocalyptic Predictions Concerning Afghanistan | 172 |
The Figure of the Antichrist | 184 |
Problems with the Texts and How They Are Overcome | 201 |
Conclusions | 214 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abd al-Hamid Abd al-Hamid 1997a according Afghanistan Ahmad al-Aqsa Mosque al-Hakim al-Hawali America anti-Semitic anti-Semitic conspiracy theory Antichrist apoca apocalyptic literature apocalyptic scenario appearance Arab Arif armies attack Ayyub Banu Isra'il Bashir Abdallah battle of Armageddon believe biblical Byzantines Cairo caliphate Christians cited classical Muslim classical sources conquest conservative conspiracy theory contemporary corruption countries Da'ud destroy destruction domination earth Egypt enemies entire evil example exegesis faith fight future God's Gog and Magog groups hadith humanity interpretation Islam Israel Jerusalem Jesus Jewish Jews Jirrar kill land Lesser Signs lims Mahdi material messianic modern Muslim Muhammad Muhammad Isa Da'ud Muslim apocalyptic literature Muslim apocalyptic writers Muslim apocalyptists Muslim world Mustafa neoconservative nuclear political predictions prophecy prophet punishment Qur'an radical Muslims religious Revelation rule Salim says Shi'i Taliban Tawila Temple texts tion tradition truth United Usama bin Ladin verses victory vision West Western Zionist