Page 18 - A Call for a Turkish-Islamic Union

A CALL FOR A TURKISH-ISLAMIC UNION

cited such places as Iraq, Damas-

cus, Kufa and Medina, which were
the centers of the caliphate in their own
times. However, the common feature of these
accounts is that the events of the end times will
take place in the center of the caliphate. The final
center of the caliphate was "Istanbul." The caliphate was
officially abolished at the beginning of the last century, and
it was never transferred anywhere else after that time. Conse-
quently, Istanbul is the only city to still bear this spiritual title.

The two standards, sword and robe of our Prophet (may Allah
bless him and grant him peace), together with other sacred
trusts, are kept in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul.

It is related from Abdullah ibn Shurafa: "The banner of our
Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) will be
adorned, together with Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)." (Al-Burhan fi
Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-zaman, p. 65)

Nuaym ibn Hammad narrates from Abu Jafar; "Hazrat
Mahdi (pbuh) will appear in the evening with the banner,
robe, sword, signs, radiance and beautiful expression of our
Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). (Mar'iy
Ibn Yusuf Ibn Abi Baqr ibn Ahmad ibn Yusuf al-Maqdi'si
Faraidu Fawaidi'l Fikr Fi'l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntazar)
The Mahdi (pbuh) will appear with the banner of our Prophet
(may Allah bless him and grant him peace). That banner is
unstitched, black, and has four corners. It has never been un-
furled since the death of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and
grant him peace) but will be unfurled by Hazrat Mahdi
(pbuh). (The Book of Portents of the Awaited Mahdi, pp. 41-
42, 52, 54)

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