In terms of foreign affairs priority, the Islamic world has taken a back seat lately to Ukraine, China/Taiwan and aliens. But like time, the Apocalypse waits for no one. And so in recent months self-styled harbingers of Allah’s End Times agenda have appeared.

Of course, the main Muslim eschatological figure is al-Mahdi, the “divinely-guided one” who will usher in the Islamic Age on Earth. Fifty-one supporters of Iraqi cleric-politician Muqtada al-Sadr were recently arrested for claiming that al-Sadr is actually the Mahdi. Al-Sadr has long been involved in Iraqi affairs; for many years he headed a group called Jaysh al-Mahdi, the “army of the Mahdi,” although he had been a more conventional politician in recent years. The head of the arrested clique was said to have believed himself to be the angel Jibril (Gabriel), “tasked with announcing the appearance of the long-awaited Mahdi.” Another news story on this incident merely reports the angel-addled chap preparing the way for the Mahdi, sans any connection to al-Sadr.

A 16th-century Siyer-i Nebi image of angel Gabriel visiting Muhammad [Wiki, Public Domain}

(The Mahdi is the major eschatological figure of Islam, slightly outranking `Isa, “Jesus.” Unlike the latter, the former is nowhere mentioned in the Qur’an, but only in hadiths, alleged sayings of Muhammad. Still, belief in the Mahdi is deeply held by many Muslims–both Sunni and Shii. The major difference between the two main branches of Islam in this regard is that for Sunnis the true Mahdi will step onto the stage of history towards The End, mainly proving his worth as a politician and military conqueror. For the largest branch of Shiis, the Twelvers, he has already been here as the 12th “Imam,” or rightful leader of the Islamic world–a count that starts with Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law. However, he disappeared in the 9th century AD and will reveal himself, again, in all his power before The End.)

In a related story, two months ago a woman in Pakistan claimed to be a “prophet”–a big no-no in Islam, since Muhammad is believed to have been the final such sent to humanity. She also said her name was Qiyamat, which means “day of resurrection/final judgment.” She was of course arrested by Pakistani authorities for being a “false prophet.” So while she made no reference to the Mahdi, she did wax eschatological.

One of these days, one of these messianic pretenders will avoid the authorities, gain a sizable following, and take over. It’s happened before: medieval Morocco and Egypt, 19th century Sudan, barely avoided in 1979 Saudi Arabia. Let’s hope it won’t be in a place like Pakistan, with nuclear weapons. But as 2076 approaches–the turn of the next Muslim century (1500 AH)–eschatological fervor will ramp up in the Islamic world. Count on it.