PRESENTER: Let’s start out by you telling us what he is passionate about. Tell me his position, tell me where he’s coming from, on the end of times theory that he has.
ADNAN OKTAR: We came to this knowledge from the hadith and the Qur’an, from the statements of our Prophet (pbuh), from the reliable hadith books and from the works prepared by the Sunni and Shiite scientists.
PRESENTER: Okay. Alright. And does Adnan feel that we’re approaching the end of time?
ADNAN OKTAR: Of course. That is how it is according to the Christian belief, Muslim belief and according to the Jewish belief. Our Prophet (pbuh) talks about the history of the earth on a calendar of 7000 years, he says 5600 years of this has passed. 1400 remains. We are in 1430 according to the Hagira calendar. I mean it is understood that the acceptance life of this community lasts maximum until 1500 according to the Hagira calendar. We are awaiting for the Doomsday in about 1545, that is to say in 2120 insha’Allah.
PRESENTER: The Prophet Mohammed as I understand and I’m not asking you to repeat this unless I’m saying this wrong but just to make sure. He has prophesized that the world would last 7000 years. We’re 5600 years into this process of the world. Meaning we only have 1400 years remaining. So that is the end of time. 1400 calendar years? American calendar years? Is that right Sir?
ADNAN OKTAR: No, no. According to the Hagira calendar. I mean they should take the year 1980 as a basis. The world has a life from 1980 until the year 2120. The End of Times had started in 1980, Hazrat Mahdi(as) had appeared in 1980 and the Doomsday will come in the year 2120 insha’Allah.
PRESENTER: 2012 then. Okay. Very good, alright. I just wanted to confirm that’s what you meant. So 2012 which I’m looking at at our chatroom which I know that you all have seen. That’s somewhat based upon the Mayan calendar. We hear reports about the Mayan calendar that 2012, the Chinese have said 2012. Not 2012, I’m sorry. Help me understand.
OKTAR BABUNA: Yes, let me repeat it. 2120. 21-20 is the Doomsday.
PRESENTER: Thank you, thank you my apologies. 2120, Okay. 2120, that’s the end of time Okay, thanks Rabbi I got it, thanks guys. How does Jesus fit into this? I was raised a Christian in America as a Christian. I believe the Jesus Christ is the saviour of my soul, he came, died, resurrected and he’s going to come back again. Please help me understand how he relates to your particular belief system?
ADNAN OKTAR: There are maximum 15-20 years time for the arrival of Hazrat Messiah. When he first comes, he will not know that he is the Jesus in the beginning. His close disciples will recognize him. He will come into a Christian community resembling to Islam. He will wander about the whole world, all the humanity will see him. He has long hair. He is blonde, that is to say his hair will be a mixture of golden color and chestnut color. He will have a two-piece cloth in yellow color. He will come with the clothes of his time, with his own original clothes. His shoes will be again his original shoes, the shoes of his time. The shoes he had put on then. He will be turned back to the world with his typical belongings, just as he was back then. Hazrat Messiah has a small nose and grey colored eyes. He has broad shoulders and a thin waist. He has the most beautiful face. He has a sharp gaze. And he will come as an incredibly smart person. And in his times insha’Allah all the world will become Muslims. He will turn the whole world to Islam.
PRESENTER: Did I understand you correctly that you said Jesus won’t know he is Jesus when he comes? Does that mean he’ll be born as a baby? And that God will reveal to him as an adult who he is?
ADNAN OKTAR: No, no. He will come back aged 33 as he was then. That is to say Prophet Jesus had been taken out of time and space two thousand something years ago. He had been taken to the heavens. He will come back to the time and space. It will be the same, he will be the same Prophet Jesus, he will be himself as he was taken to the heavens.
PRESENTER: Ok. So Jesus will come back to earth basically just as he left this earth when he was crucified and will he know that he is the Christ?
ADNAN OKTAR: He had been taken to the heavens. According to our belief, according to the Muslim belief the person who had denounced him was the one crucified, as a penalty for what he has done. The Prophet Jesus was taken directly to the heavens. They couldn’t do anything to the Prophet Jesus (as). And he is in the presence of Almighty Allah right now. This happened as him being taken out of this time and space. Now he will re-enter the time and space. When he comes, not even a single drop of blood would be shed. He will invite the whole humanity to love, peace and brotherhood. Not even the nose of a single person would bleed. He will remove all the weapons from the world. Peace, brotherhood and love will rule the world in its full meaning. We call this the Golden Age. Almighty Allah will send him back as the helper of the Hazrat Mahdi (as), he will help Hazrat Mahdi (as). Him and the Hazrat Mahdi (as), they both come from the same descent, both are the descendants of Hazrat Abraham (as). They look very much alike. Together they will lead the world towards peace, brotherhood and happiness and they will succeed in this by Allah’s leave. However there will be some fake Mahdis and fake Messiahs before that. This is only a sign for their appearance. Those will first call for peace. For instance the Freemasonry called humanity to peace and brotherhood but it have brought cruelty. Communism for instance first called the humanity to peace but then it brought cruelty, torture and sorrow. However when the Mahdi and Prophet Jesus arrive, they will only stand for peace and brotherhood and love. They will be the same in the end as they were in the beginning. That is to say there will be no change in their understanding of love, in their understanding of peace and brotherhood. They will stand for love and peace until the end, until the end of their lives.
PRESENTER: Excuse me, let me ask you couple of questions. Thank you very much that we had that at Woodstock in the 60s. You know, peace and love in whole 9 yards, that’s cool. That’s great, that sounds wonderful. We’d love to have that. What you’re saying Jesus is going come back, that’s going to help; we’re going to be enlightened and be better people and you also mentioned that, myself as a Freemason, I’m a part of a problem here. But I do have a question. What’s your position about your -I hope I say this right- your Muslim brothers that believe in violence right now? What’s your position on that?
ADNAN OKTAR: Violence is something illicit in Islam. In Islam there is convincing, there is communication and there is people accepting the religion willingly. Religion cannot be made to accept by force. This is illicit and the ones doing this is acting contradictory to the Qur’an. And your being a Freemason is not a problem. I do like Masons, they are high quality people. I am just against their beliefs. I mean; I am against their being Darwinist and materialist. And I say this only for the ones in that belief. There is no matter that I cannot agree with a devout Mason. I only mean the Mason who does not believe in Allah, the materialistic Darwinist Mason.
PRESENTER: Okay. My question is, let me -Rabbi Kaufman asked the question early on and I’m not sure that it was answered, if it was, that’s fine. Who are considered to be sincere Jews?
ADNAN OKTAR: According to my conviction, a sincere Jew is the one who believes in the Oneness of Allah, who is meticulous about what is lawful and unlawful, has faith in Allah’s angels, the life in the Hereafter and loves all prophets.
PRESENTER: Okay, Okay, alright. I find it very interesting. I’m going to make a statement when I am really supposed to be asking questions here but perhaps I can get a response to this statement. There are great similarities between… There’s a tremendous amount of overlapping between Judaism, between what I call basic Christianity that I’ve grown up in and been familiar with in the United States and also the Muslim beliefs. Let me ask. Is that true, Okay, am I hearing you right? And the second thing is when Jesus returns to this world, where is the base of his operations, where is he going to establish himself as the ruler, as the savior of the world?
ADNAN OKTAR: There is, of course, similarity between Christianity and Islam. Christians, of course, if considered sincerely, if we consider those who think sincerely, they surely believe in one Allah. But there is something wrong in the creed of trinity. The point is, if they say Prophet Jesus (as) is a manifestation of Allah, if they say all people are the manifestations of Allah, this would be accurate. But saying Jesus (as) is Allah; this is not in compliance with the Qur’an. That is, it is the creed of trinity that is not compatible with the Qur’an. Yet, apart from that, your faith in angels, the Hereafter, in what is lawful and unlawful, your advocating beauty, the right, love, peace and brotherhood are in full compliance with the Qur’an.
PRESENTER II: Okay, alright. I do have something to say. This has been very very difficult for me to follow. Yet, I believe that I followed it fairly clearly. If we could, I’d like for him to cap this thing off so to speak. This has been coming all the way from Istanbul, Turkey. It's a quite expensive phone call. I’d like for him to cap off. You started with the question, let’s end it with the question. What is the message that you want us all that are listening on Mac’s World Live to get out of this last thirty minute conversation? Is that a fair question, Mac?
PRESENTER: Yes.
PRESENTER II: What is the message that you want us, now at the end of conversation, that you want us take away from this? I think that is a fair question.
ADNAN OKTAR: It is the world’s being under the sway of believers, while I say believers, I mean the members of the three religions; that is, Christians, Muslims and Jews. Believers should live sincerely and contentedly by their own creeds in peace and brotherhood. Until the coming of the Messiah, they should live in bliss with the trust and love they have for one another. By Allah’s leave, when Messiah comes, Allah will bring in a single religion all over the world and there will be no compulsion. People will not live under oppression or threat. All people will willingly become Muslims. This is of course our belief, this is how we believe. The answer to your previous question; Messiah will appear in Jerusalem. And he will insha’Allah also come to Istanbul. The coming of Messiah is a matter of moment. There is very little time left for his coming.
PRESENTER: Rabbi Kaufmann says from Jewish perspective that Jesus’ divinity is not a part of Judaism but is a Christian innovation. Yes, similar to Muslims we ascribe zero divinity to Jesus. If you subscribe zero divinity to Jesus then why do you consider him a prophet?
ADNAN OKTAR: Jesus (as) is a prophet. That is, he is one of the great prophets. He is also the prophet of Muslims. In the Qur’an there is enormous praise for Jesus (as) and also for Mary. Jesus’ (as) miracles are cited in the Qur’an. But of course he is not Allah. Prophet Jesus (as) is a servant of Allah because he prays to Allah. It is stated in the Gospel that he prays to Allah. Besides, he eats food, wanders around places; that is, he is a normal prophet.
PRESENTER: But you say that Jesus has no divinity. If he is a prophet, doesn’t that make him divine, doesn’t that make him of God?
ADNAN OKTAR: Surely, he is a prophet like Prophet Abraham (as) and Prophet Noah (as).
PRESENTER: Okay, that flies from the face of basic Christianity, obviously. Judaism will probably say that he is a prophet. That’s what they do say, I think, don’t they Rabbi? That Jesus was a prophet? I’m sure he’ll answer me in a minute.
PRESENTER II: You’re saying that Judaism believes that Jesus is a prophet?
PRESENTER: Yes, yes. He was just a prophet, like Abraham, like anybody else.
PRESENTER II: So that would be similar in a way to what the Muslims say.
PRESENTER: Yes, that’s exactly correct. Prophet Muhammad, Prophet Jesus all preach the same message. Beecam says Jesus doesn’t. The Trinity; Father, Son, Holy Ghost- we’re not on that. Okay, I understand what you are saying. I recognize Jesus really. That’s what Beecam is saying but Rabbi asking the the question; they do. Judaism does recognize Jesus. Jesus was like a reformer who believed that the Temple Cult was corrupt. Okay, so you do believe that Jesus actually existed?
ADNAN OKTAR: That is the point where the problem appears. In fact Christianity and Judaism are very much alike. They are also very similar to Islam. But on the subject of believing in the Oneness of Allah, Judaism and Islam are in a full conformity. On the subject of not ascribing partners to Allah they are in perfect accord. This is the problem between Christianity and Judaism. That is the creed of trinity. Except for that Judaism and Christianity are very much alike.
PRESENTER: Okay, we appreciate that you taking the time to call in today especially from far away. Is there anything else before we let you go, you want to add to the conversation? Otherwise, we thank you for your time today.
OKTAR BABUNA: Yes, there is one website. www.jesuswillreturn.com You can enter this website. And get more detailed information also from www.harunyahya.com. You can download all his books and documentaries.
ADNAN OKTAR: What I will say is that Islam and Judaism are in accord on the subject of faith in Oneness of Allah. The only point it diverges from Christianity is this creed of trinity. Insha’Allah Christianity will abandon trinity, believe in the Oneness of Allah and insha’Allah when Jesus (as) comes the entire world will convert to Islam and we will live in peace and brotherhood.
And also the Jews should in no way be discontent about the latest developments. Their hearts should be at ease. Jews are very much appreciated in Turkey. We love Jews very much. Turkey does not have an adverse attitude against Israel. If our listeners visit my website, they can find detailed information about these subjects. Their hearts should be at ease. There is no problem.
PRESENTER II: It is www.harunyahya.com and the other one is www.jesuswillreturn.com. Gentlemen that will be on our website. This interview will be on our website in perpetually and obviously on your website. We would love for you to download it and have it on your website at the same time. It will be very helpful that way. We have no problem. That’s what we believe here is freedom of speech and the freedom to give your opinion and your position. That’s what we do here on Mac’s World Live on Desmoines Local Live.
ADNAN OKTAR: That is very good, I thank you very much. We love you all, very much. Greetings to everyone.
PRESENTER II: Alright we look forward to having you back in Mac’s World again sometime, okay sir?
ADNAN OKTAR: Okay, I would be very pleased. Thank you.
PRESENTER: Alright thank you very much.
(Mr. Adnan Oktar's live interview on Mac's World Radio, 20th October, 2009)