Unseen Islamic State Treatise on Calendars: Full Text, Translation & Analysis
by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi • Oct 17, 2015 at 6:54 pm
This treatise of the Diwan al-Buhuth wa al-Eftaa’ (Research & Fatwa-Issuing Department), previously unseen in the outside world, concerns the question of whether one can use ‘Miladi’ dating, best known in its current and most widely used form as the Gregorian calendar. In short, the conclusion is that the Islamic State must ultimately erase all traces of Miladi dating as it is a system of dating associated with the disbelievers, in particular the Christians. On the basis of the principle that one must not imitate the disbelievers, one should not use Miladi dating. Rather, the system to be followed is the ‘Hijri’ dating, which begins from the time of the migration [hijra] of the Prophet from Mecca to Medina [c. 622 CE] and follows the Arabic lunar calendar. Read more.
Translation of the Fatwa (by Al-Tamimi), in pertinent part, is below:
In the contemporary eras the Crusaders have succeeded in appointing idolatrous tyrants loyal to them to whom they have entrusted the implementation of their plans, including making the Muslims follow these disbelievers. Among such matters is the replacement of the Hijri dating with the Miladi dating.
Indeed the Ummah of Islam is an ummah of Truth, sovereignty and will, and it is not content with being followers of the disbelievers, the enemies of God and His Messenger (SAWS), and thus finds that the Companions, may God be pleased with them, when they realized the important of dating, put in place an Islamic dating system and did not assent to the dating of the disbelievers. Thus the Miladi dating that the Muslims have adopted in our time must be removed and Islamic dating must take its place. For we do not consider it permissible to use Miladi dating for affairs.
Does the above Fatwa bring this prophecy passage to your mind?
Daniel 7:25 NASB “He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 26 ‘But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. (Italics supplied).
My interpretation of Daniel 7:7 – 28 has two periods of its fulfillment: an early period and an end-of-days period. Daniel 7:7 – 8 NASB has already been fulfilled. It was the first period of fulfillment (beginning in 622 A.D.) when Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina, followed by Islam’s onslaught of the Middle East, led by Muhammad, and then his Companions after his death in 632 and following. Daniel’s prophecy intends to describe later periods after the initial period by the use of the phrase “I kept looking” (Daniel 7:9 NASB, 11, 13, 21). Daniel 7:17-18 NASB describes the entire time period of the four empires (Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and the fourth kingdom, Islam) as it looks back from the end to the beginning. It states, ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 ‘But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.'” Clearly, Daniel 7:18 has not occurred yet. Daniel then wants to know more about the fourth empire which is the empire described as the final empire and the empire of great destruction. This empire was “different” than the previous empires, and it “trampled down the remainder with its feet.” (Daniel 7:19 NASB). Daniel 7:21 NASB then skips to the final days by the phrase, “I kept looking … until the Ancient of Days came….” During this period just prior to the Ancient of Days coming, the fourth beast will wage war against the saints and overpower them for a “time, times and half a time” (Daniel 7:25 NASB). The Court will sit for judgment and the dominion of the beast will be taken away, annihilated,and destroyed forever.” Daniel 7:26 NASB.
Hallelujah — the intended alteration in times and law will not occur. Judgment will be passed in favor of the saints! But notice — the saints will be overcome for “time, and times, and half a time.” Revelation 13:7-8 NASB.
Jesus come quickly.
Blessings.
Jack
You wrote, ” four empires (Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and the fourth kingdom, Islam)”. The fourth beast has historically been identified as Rome by Biblical scholars. Rome oppressed, taxed , harassed and murdered Christians throughout its empire for hundreds of years. Interpreting the fourth beast as Islam could make sense but what about Rome?
The Roman Empire only occupied a very thin edge of the Babylonian Empire in AD116 and only for a relatively brief, inconsequential length of time. In other words, history simply does not record Rome “crushing” and “shattering” the Babylonian Empire.
Notably, Rome did not fully conquer Greece. Rome left the borders to the Greek Empire largely intact. The Greek language continued as the dominant language of the Roman Empire, and the Romans did not destroy the Greek gods. They even embraced them and gave them Latin names. In contrast, Islam completely eliminates all vestiges of the religious faiths of the kingdoms it conquers, except for those living under Dhimmi status, which is just a precursor to eventual elimination.
The Greek Hellenistic culture continued under the Roman Empire. Rome did not ‘crush’ Greece as depicted in Daniel’s vision of the fourth empire. Rome did not do what Daniel describes. Islam did.
In Daniel 7:7, “devour” means not only conquer militarily, but geographically, culturally, religiously and changing languages. Rome did not do this. Islam, however, has done this for its entire history and is doing this today right now.
I agree Capt!
Squashy, how are you? Your question, “What about Rome?” is addressed in chapter 5 of my book (33 pages!). Happy to send a free copy of my book (or a pdf) if you like. A couple of points though —
1. The Roman Church did murder Christians (and Jews) by the hundreds, perhaps 1,000’s; but their purpose was (from Rome’s perspective only) to purify the faith, not to annihilate it. Rev 12:17 describes an attempt to annihilate those who “hold to the testimony of Jesus.” I think this is important since the Roman Catholic Church did not do this. The Roman Empire did, but the Roman Empire collapsed in 5th century A.D. Rev 12:17 encompasses more than 500 years after Christ but the continuing time until his return.
2. The Roman Empire did attempt to annihilate Christianity (I interpret the ten horns of the beast in Rev 13 as the ten emperors of Rome that persecuted the church until the time of Constantine in the 4th century; but as I stated, Rome collapsed upon itself so it cannot fulfill the extended time period of Rev 122:17. This is one reason why some interpreters suggest tat Rome will one day be “revived” in some other form, i.e., the European Union. The problem with the European Union is it failed in fufilling Daniel 2.
I could go on and on. But let me know if you want to read chap 5 and I will get it for you.
Blessings.
Jack
All references to a 3.5 year time period involve affliction of genuine believers, be they Jewish or Christian.
(Dan 7:25) He shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws — and they shall be given into his hands until A TIME AND TIMES AND THE DIVIDING OF A TIME.
This has been understood to be referring to the persecution of believers in the time period just prior to Jesus’ return. It is also 1400 years of Islam described in one single verse. Historically and in the present day, where Islam spreads, changes in law accompanies it, along with severe discrimination and persecution of non-Muslims.
Notice that the text of (Dan 7:25) says “He will INTEND to make alterations in law and time”. The text gives us a clue that the anti-Christ type person or religion will not be entirely successful, at least not within the context of where (Dan 7:25) takes place. Other prophetic scriptures indicate there will be a military resistance to Islam, by non-Muslims (Ezek 28:7-8)
Wherever Islam spreads, laws are changed and saints get slaughtered. The “times, time and half a time” (3.5 year period) is made readily apparent through the merciless persecution and martyrdom of genuine Christians. Persecution violence (like murder) and sexual atrocities (like rape) committed by Muslims against Christians has been going on for all of Islam’s 1400 year history, so a literal 3.5 year period is not be in view here.
If the 3.5 year time period of (Daniel 7:25) is mirroring the “forty two months” of (Rev 11:2), both may be identifying a different, exclusive end times persecution of Christians unlike earlier persecutions in its scope and severity. John the Revelator’s application of this figurative use of time periods may have been picked up through his knowledge of the Old Testament, where it used in end times verses like (Dan 12:7 time, times and half a time) (Dan 12:11, 1,290 days) and Dan 12:12 1,335 days).
(Dan 12:7) It shall be for a time, times, and half a time that he can scatter the power of the holy people.
From an historical perspective, it is a significant fact that the persecution of the Jews by Antiochus IV Epiphanes is said to have lasted 3.5 years. That (Daniel 12:7) is referring to an end times period of persecution finds its mirrored match in the Revelation, though not in the literal sense of 3.5 years, but in the sense of describing a period of intense persecution.
(Rev 11:3) And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophecy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
The stated time period of “a thousand two hundred and sixty days” should be understood to be a variation of the 3.5 year motif indicating persecution and affliction during the time of their ministry, of which they ultimately succumb but are later resurrected.
In (Rev 11:9-11) it is said of the two witnesses that they were dead for “three and a half days”. Their 3.5 day time of being dead and unburied in the streets may be a literal time since the surrounding context includes those who look upon their bodies. But since chapter 11 is filled with figurative language, perhaps we should not be so quick to depart from a figurative interpretation.
The “dead bodies” may be just be representing how martyred believers have always been treated by those who despise the truth. The 3.5 days, to be consistent with the “three and a half” motif of other scriptures may simply be describing their death as being martyrdoms.
The life of these witnesses is characterized by persecution and affliction (the one thousand two hundred and sixty days of Rev 11:3), while their physical bodies lie irreverently ignored, martyrs during a time of severe persecution (the three and a half days).
(Rev 13:5) And there was given to the beast a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and power was given to him to continue forty and two months.
Obviously this is an aggressive, hostile enemy of the one, true God as the entirety of Revelation Chapter 13 describes. This is the same “forty two months” of (Rev 11:2), where the city (the community of Christians) is suffering intense persecution.
Rev 11:2 “..and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months…”
Luke 21:24 has the exact same wording when it says…
(Luk 21:24) And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luke 21:24 is obviously referring to the real city of Jerusalem, since Jerusalem and the Jewish temple were overrun and destroyed by mostly Syrian and Arabian conscripts in service to the Roman Empire. This is the 70AD fulfillment of Daniel 9:26.