text:
Opinions On Shoulder Holsters
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Handguns: Holsters and Accessories
> Opinions On Shoulder Holsters
January 5, 2013, 11:44 AM
I hear people either love them, or hate them. Do they offer any type of advantage over a waist band holster?
What are y'alls thoughts?
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Old Fuff
January 5, 2013, 11:58 AM
Well they are probably the best way to carry a 6" or longer revolver and still be able to sit down. For that matter they will get any handgun above the belt line, and that's advantageous if you do a lot of sitting or need to have access while in a car. Obviously heavy guns won't tend to drag your pants down, as can be the case with OWB rigs.
Beyond this I haven't found any special advantages to justify using shoulder holsters.
January 5, 2013, 12:05 PM
Old Fuff has the answers, of course. If you need to carry a very large gun, the shoulder holster is a bit easier to do that with than most belt holsters.
If you're sitting down and/or driving during most of the times when you might need to be able to get the gun in a hurry, the shoulder holster again can be more advantageous than other designs, depending on several factors.
As for disadvantages, they tend to "print" worse than most folks believe, especially the horizontal versions. They tend to trade weight at the belt for weight on the shoulders, which isn't always a good thing. They also are hard to practice with easily as few ranges and NO competition venues allow their use due to the near impossibility of drawing without committing a muzzle-direction violation and/or sweeping other shooters and sometimes yourself.
On the other hand, they're really good if you're going for a vintage '70s'-'80s cop show look. :)
January 5, 2013, 12:20 PM
:DI use double 1911 holsters to hold up my pants. Also keeps the weight even so I don't walk sideways.
Seriously, I have more hip/lower back problems hat shoulder problems. So it works for me.
Old Fuff
January 5, 2013, 12:30 PM
As far as law enforcement or civilian CCW use is concerned, Chicago lost a detective one day who was wearing a conventional vertical shoulder that had an open front and held his revolver with a horseshoe shaped spring clip.
His coat was open and unbuttoned. While he was talking to what he thought was a low-level criminal that individual spotted the gun butt and reached forward, grabbed the handle, jerked the gun out of the holster, and shot the detective - all this in the blink of an eye! Such rigs offer very little security against grabbers, and if the covering garment is buttoned or zipped any draw will be obviously slow. In this context they are a poor choice, Hollywood movies not withstanding.
Billy Shears
January 5, 2013, 12:37 PM
I am an average sized guy -- 5'9" and 165lbs. I have never found a horizontal shoulder holster that I could use for a typical four inch barrel auto pistol. The muzzle always prints through the back of the concealing garment, and the grip tends to swing away from the body. Perhaps there are people who can use them, but I don't see how anyone who is not unusually thick through the chest can.
I have a vertical holster for a 6 1/2" barrel S&W .44 that actually conceals better than any horizontal rig I've ever tried on. And even at that, I wouldn't consider it all that good for concealment. It takes a very loose outer garment, and it still has a problem with the grip swinging away from the body, though perhaps slightly less so than a horizontal rig.
As has been said, the shoulder holster has a place for really long-barreled guns, people who spend a lot of time seated and may need to draw from that position, and people with lower back problems that may not be able to comfortably wear a pistol on their belts. For almost any other use, a belt holster will be both more practical, and more concealable.
January 5, 2013, 12:40 PM
Couldn't see myself trying to cc with one. Loved em downrange though for carrying around base without swaping duty rig. OC yes, CC no.
January 5, 2013, 01:02 PM
BulletArc47: I have used a shoulder holster since the 60`s. I don`t like alot of weight around my waist and I have several. I use a shouder rig while hunting or just out walking around. I use a vertical holster most of the time, and mine are very comfortable. Great for siting or riding in a car or aircraft. I started using them in the Military. All the pros and cons pointed out here are absolutly correct, you have to choose for your self. If you decide to try one buy a rig that has wide shoulder straps and of high quality. I personaly like a Shoulder Holster and use them a lot.
January 5, 2013, 01:45 PM
I have a shoulder rig for each of my pistols, I also have a OWB and IWB for most of them. It really depends on what you are doing at the time.
I find it easier to draw from the IWB or OWB holster and that is what I use around the house, but outside with a jacket or vest on I find the shoulder holsters more comfortable and easier to hide your firearm with.
So get both.
January 5, 2013, 07:39 PM
I'll second what Jim ^^^said. I use both, although not as often with the shoulder rigs. They definitely fit in to a well rounded weapon/holster option.
January 5, 2013, 08:34 PM
As said; depends on what I'm doing, or what I'm wearing.
Have Alessi "Bodygaurd" SH's for P-35's, 1911-5" and Commander. With winter clothing the SH is my preferred means of carry.
January 5, 2013, 09:01 PM
Now you've done it, Huntershooter, you've let the cat out of the bag, and the best kept secret in shoulder rigs will now be out. Backorders are gonna take longer now! (Ah, but worth the wait!) http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m247/matquig/DSC06273.jpg
January 5, 2013, 09:43 PM
I have one and love it. I use it frequently for my 1911 in winter. I can use it during the non-hot months too with an open shirt, but mind the wind.
January 5, 2013, 09:51 PM
Before Retiring had to do a lot of driving and Coat & Tie was required Dress.
Galco Miami Classic was my choice (Both Ends attached to Belt)
Sig P220 45ACP was my usual Carry Gun
When Sig introduced the 239 I switched to it in 9MM.
January 7, 2013, 05:24 PM
I like them, mostly because I am usually sitting and spend large amounts of time in a car. Otherwise, they are less concealable.
I am often struck by the cost until I factor in the cost of a good holster and a good belt combined.
The best part is that I keep my guns in the holster and can swing them on out the door quickly, without dorking around with threading a holster through a belt.
January 7, 2013, 06:26 PM
I love shoulder holsters. They're great for carrying a full size handgun and two extra mags without a lot of weight on your belt. However, if you don't have thick straps your shoulders will pay for it, sometimes even thick straps don't help.
They do print worse, but a baggy patterned dark colored shirt helps. I never button up my shirt, atleast not past two buttons, when using one though. It helps decrease the printing. Sudden gusts of win can make for an awkward exposure though.
January 7, 2013, 06:29 PM
I love shoulder holsters. They're great for carrying a full size handgun and two extra mags without a lot of weight on your belt. However, if you don't have thick straps your shoulders will pay for it, sometimes even thick straps don't help.
They do print worse, but a baggy patterned dark colored shirt helps. I never button up my shirt, atleast not past two buttons, when using one though. It helps decrease the printing. Sudden gusts of win can make for an awkward exposure though.
January 7, 2013, 06:35 PM
A shoulder rig allows me to go poo without worrying about leaving my gun on the back of the toilet.
Kid :neener:
January 7, 2013, 06:41 PM
I have a very old Galco Jackass rig later kind of became the Miami Vice rig. At any rate I have two holsters for either a 1911 or a PT92 as well as a magazine holder for the other side. This is the only way I carry the PT92 ever but do carry the 1911 with either and IWB or OWB holster depending on dress, time of year etc. The shoulders holster have advantages and disadvantages as no way of carrying concealed is always perfect.
January 7, 2013, 06:53 PM
FWIW: I always place my gun down in the crotch of my downed pants when using a public restroom for a sit down job. There it is in easy reach, and you will not forget it, or accidentally have it slip from some other location and hit the floor.
January 8, 2013, 11:17 AM
I have a DeSantis rig that will carry a pistol and one extra mag. It looks cool in the mirror but I have never found it to be practical. I've found I prefer either ITW or pocket. As far as holding your pants up, I learned that a real gun belt will do the job and is not available at Sears, Dillards or the like. Your going to have to go a real gun belt maker ($60-$100) and there are lots of them. If you do ITW, you'll find you need to go one size larger on your pants so you can still hit the buffet line more than once:D.
January 9, 2013, 09:09 PM
Well they are probably the best way to carry a 6" or longer revolver and still be able to sit down. For that matter they will get any handgun above the belt line, and that's advantageous if you do a lot of sitting or need to have access while in a car. Obviously heavy guns won't tend to drag your pants down, as can be the case with OWB rigs.
Beyond this I haven't found any special advantages to justify using shoulder holsters.
This about sums it up!
I neither love nor hate shouder rigs. My "primary" carry position is going to be 0300, because my primary duty pistol rides there, and 29+ years of conditioned reflex are difficult to overcome; why fight nature? There are plenty of times, however, when I might want my second gun to ride in a shoulder rig. To be clear, the gun riding at the primary hip position may be the smaller one, particularly when wearing a shouder rig.
I like a high-end 1980s nylon vertical rig, now long out of production, for a big revolver.
I like my Andrews Monarch for an SP101 snubby. The thin strap that crosses the mid-back
makes ALL the difference! I may order an additional hoister body component from Andrews,
to make it a double rig.
My problem with shoulder rigs is that I live in a hot, humid climate, which largely relegates my shoulder rigs to rather short periods in the winter.
January 9, 2013, 09:22 PM
I have a shoulder holster for my G30 when I ride my Harley.The rest of the time, IWB works for me.
January 9, 2013, 09:24 PM
Upon further reflection:
One advantage of shoulder rigs with no tie-downs or other atachments to the belt, is when one has, shall we say, a delicate bowel. I used to have an iron stomach, but that was decades ago. Cilantro is my enemy, and some cooks chop it so fine I do not recognize it.
When seated inside some vehicles or aircraft, a shoulder rig may either be more comfortable, or allow better access while seated and strapped-in, or both. One of my photo assignments was in a police helicopter; the pilot and tactical flight officer wore shouder rigs. Some sporty cars can be as confining as some aircraft.
January 10, 2013, 06:36 PM
As others have mentioned, shoulder holsters have a place in vehicles. I spend a lot of time in a vehicle on long trips, and I use shoulder holsters for those trips. I prefer horizontal carry holsters for that purpose as there is no need for tiedowns to connect the belt. That being said, not all shoulder holsters are created equal. I have had good luck with the Mitch Rosen Stylemaster, but I bought mine used as the MSRP is above outrageous.
Not all guns are candidates for horizontal carry. The biggest guns that work for me are Glock 19s and Colt Double Eagle Officer's ACP models. Guns with short slides and longer grip frames work best for this mode of carry -- the opposite of what works best for IWB carry.
Russ Jackson
January 10, 2013, 06:40 PM
Look cool but can be very uncomfortable in a lot of situations. Bathrooms can be an issue. Look like a good answer but in reality not that great IMO.
January 10, 2013, 06:49 PM
Actually the horizontal ones that do not have ties to the belt are excellent if bathroom use is an issue.
4v50 Gary
January 10, 2013, 09:08 PM
Agree with farscott. When you go to the toilet the gonne is in the same place. You never have to remove it from the holster before sitting down.
January 10, 2013, 10:18 PM
I bought a cheap vertical military/tank holster from cheaper than dirt, and I really like it for my 5.5" cap and ball 1858. It really like how it displaces the 2lb weight. With a spacious over short, you really can't tell I'm packing a chunky smokewagon.
January 26, 2013, 10:26 PM
I am one of the people that love them. Well I love mine that is. I have a Galco Miami Classic 2 that I use for my glock 26, have also used it for the g17 as well. What made me turn to a shoulder holster is that no belt holsters are comfortable for me. Not in the waistband nor on the waistband. Unfortunately, I have boney hips and zero backside to hold the weight up. I've tried the crossbreed holsters as well as the galco king tuk and hated them both. My shoulder holster allows me to comfortably carry my firearm and 2 mags all day long. Also very quick on the draw.
January 27, 2013, 04:48 PM
Good for if you are sitting in a vehicle for long periods.Ever try using a public restroom with a belt holster or a duty rig??Good for climates where you will be wearing a jacket and not taking it off,or layered under several garments.
February 17, 2013, 01:59 AM
I am not sure how "cool" they look; and I am sure I don't "look cool". However, I was pleasantly surprised how well the Army issue Galco one helps conceal a large Beretta M9, even on my short, pudgy body.
I find the Galco vertical one quite comfortable and concealing for a Smith & Wesson 29 or 28, or a Model 15. One of my main attractions to the shoulder holster is that I can throw on the whole assembly of gun, knife, flashlight and reload at once, rather than snaking my belt through all the impedimentia and then struggling with the weight of the pants, etc.
I do quite a bit of walking, hiking, and sitting in a car.... activities that, over the years, lent the crossdraw methods some value to me. :)
February 27, 2013, 10:56 PM
My CC SH is a generic nylon/cotten pad, light colored camo one I picked up a/t same GS where purchasing my P11. It was 15.00. Has a vertical holster and 2 mag holders on the off-hand side. The nice thing is that it's completely reversable if one happens to be LHD. It works well for winter, but the imprint is just too large for fair weather use.
It's my intent to get a smaller CC pistol like a Beretta TC, KT P32, LCP, Seecamp .32, etc. when the weather breaks. I'll use some sort of waistband rig or a T-shirt strap/holster w/a loose shirt over top. Shoulder rig imprint is visible 2 blocks away. :p
March 3, 2013, 01:05 PM
I have the old Galoco rig, but I tend to go with IWB carry most of the time. It is just easier for me, and if I am someplace that I want to take off my jacket, its still concealed. The main exception to this is when Im on my motorcycle, as the shoulder rig tends to feel a bit more secure, and offers a bit easier access as opposed to IWB carry when wearing chaps.
Sav .250
March 3, 2013, 02:52 PM
If the time "ever" comes when you need to draw, where would you lke it to be.
Personal choice.
March 7, 2013, 01:30 AM
I spend a lot of time outside and I live in an isolated rural area. This time of year I carry a M686P/6" in a Bianchi shoulder rig. Major benefits are when wearing layered outer clothing access is a lot faster than a hip carry rig. The hip length Carhartt coat has a waist band draw string, dusters are also too long for quick hip access. Undoing a couple of snaps/zipper at the top of the coat is easier for access than trying to lift up the coat.
The shoulder rig is also advantageous when driving the pickup or tractor, as well as in the saddle. I'm used to drawing from the field interview stance so drawing from a shoulder rig is not an impediment. Now that spring temps are warming up, I'll transition to a 1911/38 Super IWB or OWB, but I still like the mag in a shoulder rig for the tractor or saddle. :)
I don't need to worry about using a shoulder rig in competition since I carry 7 and 8 round revolvers.
Texan Scott
March 7, 2013, 02:45 AM
I'm considering getting one for carry of a large framed revolver. Anyone that's used the Galco vertical rig, can you tell me how the gun breaks out of the holster? Through the front, or out the top? (ie, how hard is it to draw from?)
The idea is that even in warm weather, I could conceal under a loose snap front shirt. (Where I live, no one looks twice at jeans and a loud pearl snap shirt).
March 7, 2013, 02:36 PM
I have a couple of different shoulder rigs, in both vertical or horizontal carry models. I like the Galco rigs the best. It is nice to be able to grab the rig and have everything in one package.
Lately, I have been wearing my 3" S&W M-36 in a "Frankenstein" combo rig that I made up. It has a Galco harness and a the holster and ammo pouches are from an old Bianchi shoulder holster.....
I am also a big fan of "Chest" rigs, especially when I am out running around the ranch. They are great for riding on an ATV or in a Jeep:
This is my Ruger SBH in a "Guide's Choice" chest rig:
March 7, 2013, 05:19 PM
I have a shoulder holster for my SA revolver. In cold weather my belt is covered up by my overalls. Clipping a holster on my pocket or the bib of my overalls is ok but a deer is in the next county by the time I draw the gun. I can draw my pistol without making a lot of noise with the shoulder holster. Others have mentioned the shoulder holster is great in a vehicle.
March 8, 2013, 11:51 PM
For Texan, the Galco vertical holster that I was issued, and then bought, has a "thumbreak" much like many retention holsters, and is reversible. On mine, the "botton" or "snap" is in a protrusion which is pushed open by the thumb, the thumb next to and turned toward the torso, the gun coming out the front with little upward movement.
I hope I am making sense... I use mine for medium and large revolvers, including a 6" barrelled. 357. The other side of the "spider harness" attaches to a homemade speedloader/flashlight/knife arrangement, and I think it balances quite well. :)
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Wednesday, October 23, 2013
The City of Goose Creek named Oct. 9 Alex Jamison Day in honor of a young hero.
About 40 people, mostly family and neighbors, gathered in the Brickhope amenity center building on Oct. 7 to honor and celebrate 9-year-old Alex Jamison, who lives in the Brickhope subdivision of Goose Creek.
Alex, who was 8 at the time, woke up the morning of Feb. 25 but could not wake up his pregnant stepmother even after shaking her. He took a course of action that saved her life and the life of the girl who would become his younger sister.
After being unable to reach his dad, he called his biological mother's phone and she told him to call 911, which he did from the house phone. Alex put both the cell phone he used to call his mother and the land line he used to call 911 in loudspeaker mode and held them about two inches apart so his mother could explain the situation to dispatchers.
The Goose Creek Fire Department "Team A" responded to the call and rescue crews were able to transport Kim Jamison, his stepmother, to a local hospital.
On March 6 members of GCFD Team A and Fire Chief Steve Chapman honored Alex for his action in calling 911 at the right time. Chapman gave Alex a certificate, a baseball cap and firefighter's patch during a ceremony attended by firefighters and about 15 others at Trident Baptist Church, which houses Trident Baptist Academy, where Alex attended third grade.
The morning of the emergency call, Kim Jamison, his stepmother, gave birth to a baby girl named Randi Kay Jamison shortly after 10 a.m. The day before the March 6 ceremony Mrs. Jamison was starting to awaken from her induced coma.
On Oct. 7, Goose Creek Mayor Michael Heitzler read the "Alex Jamison Day" proclamation at Brickhope.
"The fire department relies on the community to call 911," Heitzler said. "There is hope Alex's heroism will inspire other kids to become aware of when to call 911 and be prepared for an emergency."
Alex stood next to the mayor and City Councilmember Franklin Moore as the proclamation was read and all eyes were on the young Goose Creek hero.
"He's definitely a model for young men everywhere," Moore said.
Alex thanked the mayor and smiled brightly.
"I had to learn how to walk again," said Mrs. Jamison, who works at Roper St. Francis Healthcare. "I was in ICU for two weeks. I want to thank everyone for recognizing Alex and for the love and prayers of the whole community."
Alex is currently a fourth grader at Boulder Bluff Elementary, his father Randy Jamison said.
"We just thank God for all of this," Mr. Jamison said. "It was a long road to get to where we are now.
"The baby is doing awesome. Alex is doing good. My wife, her mobility is getting better."
Mr. Jamison was overseas working as a government contractor when the incident occurred. He was home within a day.
"It was scary," Mr. Jamison said. "The baby wasn't due for three months. It was like a movie - everything happened so fast.
"I just flew back 9,000 miles from anther country, my wife was not doing well, nor the baby, and I became an instant father with a second child.
"We didn't know what the outcome would be. My wife and I would FaceTime every night. She said she wasn't feeling well - that was the night I got the call."
Alex's biological mother, Latonia Pearson, was in attendance and smiling exuberantly as only a proud mother can.
"He's very intelligent, very smart, very caring," said his grandmother Rosetta Jamison, who was there with her husband Willis Jamison. "He always puts other people first. He's an A-student. He loves his baby sister."
She added that Alex plays soccer, football and baseball and wants to be a preacher.
Mary Reilly, of Brickhope's Cornerstone of Hope Ladies Group, helped organize the event.
She read the following statement as Alex stood next to her: "Someday when you are a wee bit older you will truly understand how your actions profoundly impacted your family . . . As your little sister gets older she will not only see you as her big brother but also as her hero and protector."
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"Dude, I just got lucy with my gf"
"Dude, I just got lucy with my gf"
Nathan Conroyによって 2008年02月29日(金)


text:
Easy recipes for kids. Yippeee!
Introducing the Ella's Kitchen cook books! All the things you love about Ella's Kitchen in 3 exciting books. Packed full of yummy recipes and fun ideas for getting kids cooking and enjoying food.
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text:
on December 1, 2012 - 8:22 PM
A Clarence doctor has been charged with sexually abusing a 49-year-old woman during a medical appointment in his Depew office, according to investigators of the state Attorney General's Office.
Dr. Dharam Paul Garg, 62, of Shimerville Road, faces a felony charge of committing a criminal sexual act and a misdemeanor count of sexual abuse.
Garg admitted in a signed statement that he had sexual relations with the patient over the past two years, according to the Attorney General's Office.
What sparked the investigation occurred Nov. 9 in Garg's office at 3218 Walden Ave., according to the patient, who provided authorities with a video recording of the incident taken with her cellphone.
After the woman provided the recording to authorities, investigators with the state Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, state Department of Health Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement and Depew police questioned Garg, who specializes in internal medicine, in his office.
Garg was arraigned Friday before Depew Village Justice Gordon N. Willis, who set bail at $50,000 cash and $150,000 bond.
The investigation into Garg's medical practice is continuing, said Michelle Hook, a spokeswoman for the state Attorney General's Office. Garg is scheduled to return to court Dec. 5.
Garg was the second doctor in the past week charged with a felony. An emergency room physician from Youngstown was arrested Tuesday after federal drug agents raided his home. Dr. Daniel Gillick, 62, was charged with misdemeanor possession of crack cocaine. He was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh B. Scott, who released him on $5,000 bond.
email: email@example.com


text:
Quantity must be a valid number.
Minimum quantity is 50 per Supersaver type. Quantity must be in increments of 10 (60, 70, etc.).
Select a Supersaver type.
Select a shipping state.
*Supersavers are non-refundable. Cannot be redeemed or exchanged for cash or equivalent. Minimum purchase quantity of 50 per Supersaver per order and in increments of 10 after (60, 70, 80, 90….etc.) No restrictions or expiration date. Customer responsible for additional fees associated with special engagements or upgrades. May be redeemed at all U.S. Cinemark theatres. Cinemark brands include Cinemark, Century Theatres, CinéArts, Rave and Tinseltown.


text:
- Flat Rate Shipping. Any Size Order! -
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Order as many items as you like with our $6.99 flat rate shipping.
This item ships within one business day.
Order as many items as you like with our $6.99 flat rate shipping.
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Cheer on your favorite team in this Draft Him tee! Show your love for the Seattle Seahawks and Marshawn Lynch in this cool tee. Featuring a lace-up collar, shimmer mesh fabric and foil mesh Seattle Seahawks and Marshawn Lynch graphics, this tee will keep you looking amazing while supporting your favorite player!
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text:
Top Definition
When a guy wants a chicks pussey so bad that he does anything and everything for her.
Look at John, man he's diung everythng for her, he's pussey whipped.
de J*$#@^ R*$$ 24 Februarie 2004
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When a male is so obsessed with a female, that he would do anything to get/keep her.
My mate calls his girlfreind every half an hour to an hour just to make sure she still loves him.
de LeNnE 24 Februarie 2005


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on December 5, 2012 - 12:31 AM
The U.S. Department of Transportation is releasing $1.6 million of a $15 million grant, which will be used to complete planning and design to bring cars back to the 500 block of Main Street.
The city has been returning cars to Main Street in stages, and the 500 block, the longest section of the project, will cost $22 million.
The block is bounded by Chippewa and Mohawk streets and includes such landmarks as the Hyatt Regency Buffalo, Fountain Plaza and Rotary Rink.
In Fall 2013, construction on the 600 block of Main is expected to end and construction in the 500 block is expected to begin. At that time, the rest of the grant will be released, said Sen. Charles E. Schumer
The funding was announced Tuesday by Schumer and Mayor Byron W. Brown.


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Source: Reuters
quote: So Google's ability to partner with local collectors and providers of regional data in relation to it's mapping service is constrained by it's strategic business function.
quote: As well as the data collectors collecting data from regional sources there are also specialist sectoral sources of data (Yelp is an example) who collect data about a particular topic and which are also a threat to Google's core business and who are thus also unlikely to enter into any agreements to share user data for use in Google's maps.
quote: That works very well on the whole but it is weakest precisely in those areas where entities other than Google own the best data.
quote: So Apple can partner with Yandex the Russian search engine to supply local data for Apple's maps in Russia and let Yandex collect local data because neither Apple nor Yandex are threatened by that data sharing. In contrast Yandex would be very threatened if it had to share it's data with Google.
quote: If that were true, then why is the Google Maps API far and away the most widely used in the world?
quote: it is Google users who submit corrections or amendments to Google maps. In many respects it is like a wiki.
quote: Except Yelp also uses the Google Maps API on all their listings.
quote: Surely the same problem applies to Apple and it's partners? If a company that's not Google has mapping data for a particular area, what says theyre going to go to Apple?
quote: From a technical standpoint, this is probably Apple's biggest weakness. Having to deal with dozens of different mapping companies, each with their own little fiefdoms responsible for mapping various little pieces of the world. This also causes problems with each company supplying it's data in different formats - some vector, some bitmap, some at one scale, some at another scale. All of these have to be converted to a universal format that the Apple maps API can recognise. These are the likely causes of many of the stranger errors being seen on Apple Maps.


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"Liv Tyler and Royston Langdon have confirmed their separation. They remain good friends and devoted parents to their son Milo and are requesting that their family's privacy be respected at this time."
Tyler, 30, and Langdon, 36, wed in 2003 in a private ceremony at a villa in the Caribbean. Their son Milo was born in December 2004.
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Jacqueline Lea "Jacki" Currence Brake, 50, a resident of Mill Creek, passed from this life Tuesday, April 30, 2013, in Davis Memorial Hospital in Elkins.
She was born Friday, March 15, 1963, at Elkins, a daughter of the late Franklin Delmer Currence and Joyce Ann Armstrong Currence.
On Jan. 7, 2003, at Mingo, she married Robert "Robbie" Brake, who survives in Mill Creek.
Article Photos
Jacqueline Brake
Others left to cherish Jacki's memory are, her mom, Diane B. Currence, daughter, Joy Ann Shifflett, and stepson, Roger Lambert, all of Mill Creek; her eight siblings, Patrick Bryan Currence of Elkins, Franklin Douglas "Doug" Currence and wife, Brenda, of Elkins, Richard Edward Currence and wife, Karen, of Mill Creek, Timothy Lee Currence and wife, Loretta "Sis," of Elkins, Josetta Michelle Fortney and husband, Allen of Mill Creek, Denise Deakins and fiance, Nathan Larke, of Burton, Ohio, Jason Alan Currence and Kathryn Renee Currence and husband, Donnie, all of Mill Creek; several nieces and nephews, and her three special puppies, CC, Midget and Buffy.
Jacki was preceded in death by a daughter, Meagen Dawn Currence; and a sister, Terri Ann Currence.
Jacki attended the schools of Randolph County, had worked various jobs and was disabled at the time of her death. Jacki enjoyed camping, crocheting, cooking, computer games, flowers, shopping and her Bible studies. She never met a stranger and will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
Visitation will be conducted at the Randolph Funeral Home and Cremation Services Friday, May 3, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., the funeral hour. Interment will follow in the Brick Church Cemetery at Huttonsville.
The Randolph Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been entrusted with the arrangements for Jacqueline Lea "Jacki" Currence Brake. Send online condolences to the family at www.therandolphfuneralhome.com.


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Other manufacturers also grabbed some of the awards, though, so it wasn't just about the South Korean company. Take a look at the 2013 GSMA award winners right below.
source: GSMA Awards
1. ray77 (Posts: 126; Member since: 17 Nov 2012)
yes two years in a roll great for samsung... yahooo!!!! >-
36. abdane (Posts: 494; Member since: 07 Oct 2011)
where is apple ? i dont see their smartphone or tablet ! LOLOL
61. stealthd (unregistered)
They didn't participate in the show. The awards were only considered for devices that were part of it.
64. stealthd (unregistered)
Woops, my bad, iPhone 5 was considered. Thought it was more like a trade show like CES which Apple doesn't usually participate in.
70. donfem (Posts: 646; Member since: 30 Mar 2011)
Probably because "Samsung" paid for the votes. :)
2. deadstroke (Posts: 113; Member since: 22 Jan 2013)
awesome great work Samsung!!
41. tusshharish (Posts: 342; Member since: 23 Oct 2012)
sorry to say but in my opinion nokia lumia 920 should win this award.........
42. SuperNexus (Posts: 127; Member since: 18 Jan 2013)
seriously Lumia 920???????
Any particular reason?
52. samystic (Posts: 230; Member since: 25 Mar 2012)
wake up! gimme 5 reasons why Nokia 920 does not deserve a mention... fanboism aside, 920 has features needed when needed
60. SuperNexus (Posts: 127; Member since: 18 Jan 2013)
you give me 5 reason why lumia 920 is better than G s 3.
54. tusshharish (Posts: 342; Member since: 23 Oct 2012)
any......i will told you many.........nokia 920 has pureview technology that beats other phones badly including icrap sgs3 htc on x etc.........it also have unique design which far better than others.....it has supersensitive touch ......also many nokia maps city lens nfc live tiles..........etc etc......what does gs3 has??.......crappy design that u will find 5 to 10 phones similar to it......and quad core processor nokia beat s3 with dual core if you dont believe me see comparison on youtube........and nokia lumia 920 has great colours.......sgs3 looks creepy in their every colour...........and android is not very neat and clean.........though wp8 lacks of apps but still it looks very attractive.....sgs3 has only great hardware its not innovative..../....but nokia lumia 920 is most innovative and great ............/.
i am nokia fanboy and i love nokia lumia 920.....
56. xoatomxo (Posts: 57; Member since: 26 Apr 2011)
I havent seen a person having Nokia in NYC for years now.
59. SuperNexus (Posts: 127; Member since: 18 Jan 2013)
oh you are fanboy ..then god help you kid.
Fanboy are like Zombie who do not have brain....you guys are just like i$heep the only difference is Nokia replace Apple.
Even a world most stupid creature can learn but Fanboy never learn.....
Lumia 920 is overpriced phone....design is good but other than that nothing else..
Thats what selector think........but since you are a fanboy and fanboy never think...
God Bless you.....Nokiazombie
73. quesoesgrande (Posts: 217; Member since: 03 Aug 2011)
Yes, you certainly are a fanboy. What you don't realize, is that your OPINION is just that. They teach kids in kindergarten the difference between fact and opinion these days. By the way, you must be talking about the original Galaxy line. Android 4.0 is EXTREMELY neat and clean, though more complex than other operating systems. Samsung also, through TouchWiz, added tons of INNOVATIVE, EXCLUSIVE features to the GS III. I agree that Samsung could make a more premium design, but that would raise the already expensive costs. The S3 is SOMETIMES beaten in YouTube comparisons, but Samsung has no control over that. Windows Phone is made to run on less and do more; Android isn't and Samsung can't change that. Besides, I believe that Samsung has proven its handset in sales. Perhaps the Lumia models are selling well, but that's because they have to. Samsung still has WAY outsold all Lumia models.
65. Taters (banned) (Posts: 6474; Member since: 28 Jan 2013)
The Lumia 920 loses automatically because it has a 4.5 inch screen yet it is more difficult to handle than 5 inch monster like the Xperia Z, DNA, and butterfly. Heck, it is heavier than the 5.5 inch Note 2. Sorry, but that is a parameter that Nokia can't skimp on. It is like building a two door coupe that is heavier than a 4 wheel drive turck with heavy towing capacity. That just doesn't fly.
75. akki20892 (Posts: 3901; Member since: 04 Feb 2013)
right dude........s3 have nothing it have andoird and few features in..........but look at nokia lumia 920 all features, can easily beat s3......!!!
78. quesoesgrande (Posts: 217; Member since: 03 Aug 2011)
Can you name those features, or will you trash a handset with a ridiculously higher number of sales than every Lumia combined with no evidence? I think the 920 is fantastic, but you are tarnishing its name by showing us its supporters are mindless fanboys. I have never owned a Samsung or Nokia, but I still respect both of their flagship devices. Also, find a grammar teacher. Both you and the other fanboy are further tarnishing the phone's name by making yourselves look ignorant.
3. pokharkarsaga (Posts: 384; Member since: 23 Feb 2012)
samsung is on a hattrick
11. Topcat488 (Posts: 1396; Member since: 29 Sep 2012)
Like the number on your post... Samsung is on a 3-peat. Congratulations Sammy... ;)
32. SamsungFan (Posts: 201; Member since: 16 Apr 2012)
Samsung will be the best ....always
4. Peter27 (Posts: 233; Member since: 13 Jul 2012)
congrats Sammy
5. wildcard (Posts: 65; Member since: 15 Jan 2013)
that is great my boy sammy did it again (((:
6. wildcard (Posts: 65; Member since: 15 Jan 2013)
it see there is a losser here ha haha ha
7. wendygarett (unregistered)
No Apple device? Points taken, Apple sucks :)
62. stealthd (unregistered)
You don't understand how trade shows work do you . . .
8. pratyushgaur.6 (Posts: 24; Member since: 21 Feb 2013)
I am not Samsung Fan, I am Android fan and happen to have Samsung Products cos' they make best Androids.....I am so happy to see both Android and Samsung doing great here.
Android Forever!! Awesome!!
9. platformwars (Posts: 86; Member since: 14 Sep 2012)
I hope to see a change next year.. want HTC or SONY device to be the best device of the year.. Dont like the all plastic Samsung Products.. even though they are the best in terms of Software Enhancements and Hardware Optimizations.. but i personally dont like the all plastic bodies..
Love what HTC has done with the One and SONY with the new Xperia.
14. pratyushgaur.6 (Posts: 24; Member since: 21 Feb 2013)
If only my friend, body construction won prizes...Apple would have grabbed all the prixes.
Samsung does best, what needs to be best. They succeed in whatever they do!!
71. donfem (Posts: 646; Member since: 30 Mar 2011)
I guess the car you drive is made of steel... that is assuming you even drive
10. centurion (Posts: 25; Member since: 28 Jan 2013)
l feel the forces is stronger wiz samsung hehehehe great for samsung
12. darac (Posts: 2156; Member since: 17 Oct 2011)
Well that was really easy to guess.
No online poll for fanboys and Microsoft to hijack, like they did on Gizmo and Engadget
13. reyenrique (Posts: 99; Member since: 07 Oct 2012)
good for samsung
15. Droid_X_Doug (Posts: 5993; Member since: 22 Dec 2010)
Let me guess - all of the red votes are from Android/Sammy haters?
34. imsickwithsmartphone (Posts: 153; Member since: 28 Jan 2013)
Can't deny about that XD
85. quesoesgrande (Posts: 217; Member since: 03 Aug 2011)
They're the Nokia fanboys upset that their 920 couldn't beat the best phone available. (I might make an exception for the Note 2.)
16. DarkShadow (Posts: 51; Member since: 01 Feb 2013)
samsung rules again!!! ^_^
17. cGmC11 (Posts: 139; Member since: 02 Apr 2012)
The next year the Galaxy line will be pulled by the HTC One (M7)!
26. wendygarett (unregistered)
HTC will continue to fail for cheating the customers two years back, who always making a device that not just easily obsolete, but crap until the sudden death keep happen... Right now consumer has made smart choice to ditch away the HTC
29. tiara6918 (Posts: 2036; Member since: 26 Apr 2012)
Why?did your one x die all of a sudden?
50. ojdidit84 (Posts: 458; Member since: 16 Jul 2011)
You have to admit. It's pretty funny watching WendayGarett go back and forth on his/her(?) opinion of smartphone manufacturers over the past month. Makes for a good laugh.
47. samsung_royally (banned) (Posts: 8; Member since: 27 Feb 2013)
HTC sucks as always
80. quesoesgrande (Posts: 217; Member since: 03 Aug 2011)
Why all the hate on HTC? I already dealt with the Lumia fanboys... I really don't want to ruin Samsung's day of triumph... I LOVE my Sensation. Especially with ICS, it's a great phone. I want the HTC One too. I really think HTC has a winner this year. I guess the S4 and Note3 are going to be winners too. Unless someone can give me a reason other than battery life as to why they instantly hate HTC at the first mention, I'm skipping Samsung this year.
81. quesoesgrande (Posts: 217; Member since: 03 Aug 2011)
Again that is.
86. quesoesgrande (Posts: 217; Member since: 03 Aug 2011)
I think it's funny how you all hide behind the dislike button. Instead of confronting me, showing your opinion, and possibly swaying me to believe it, you hide in fear behind the anonymous red dislike button. All your doing is proving I'm right...
18. PointMaza (Posts: 60; Member since: 14 Dec 2012)
WTF??? Samsung?
23. wendygarett (unregistered)
Wtf? Troll? Please go away
19. N-fanboy (Posts: 543; Member since: 12 Jan 2013)
I'm a Nokia fan, but i couldn't agree more on the awards... SGS3 was out there for the most part of the year. So congrats samfans
28. darac (Posts: 2156; Member since: 17 Oct 2011)
A reasonable Nokia fan.
How refreshing :p
But the S3' win is not just because of the market dominance. Lumia 920 was also in the mix for the award, despite of only two months of availability
82. quesoesgrande (Posts: 217; Member since: 03 Aug 2011)
I was thinking the same thing! Nice to see someone from the Nokia camp isn't a mindless fanboy! Thank you N-Fanboy. I find your name ironic, by the way! :p
20. ramonleonjr62 (Posts: 48; Member since: 17 Oct 2012)
you will never see this on Cnet hahahaha!!! Good 4 Sammy :))
21. PointMaza (Posts: 60; Member since: 14 Dec 2012)
no award for apple huh!
apple makes innovation where is it? lol
now it's proved that apple is crap
87. quesoesgrande (Posts: 217; Member since: 03 Aug 2011)
This is where we've taken things too far. Lets celebrate our victory, but lets not become fanboys in doing so. It's fine to point out that Apple didn't get any awards, but we do the same things the Lumia fanboys were towards the top of the page if we call Apple names. Please don't tarnish Samsung's great handset with fanboyism directed to it...
24. redmd (Posts: 1269; Member since: 26 Oct 2011)
So who were the contenders?
31. darac (Posts: 2156; Member since: 17 Oct 2011)
They were announced long ago:
iPhone 5, S3, Note 2, Nexus 4, Lumia 920 and Droid DNA
38. abdane (Posts: 494; Member since: 07 Oct 2011)
any idea what's second place ?
25. praveen_1221 (Posts: 4; Member since: 14 Sep 2012)
Looks like Phonearena also biased and Apple fan.
The Heading may be like this if Apple won Smartphone and tablet award.
GSMA anounced 2013 mobile awards winners: Best smartphone is iPhone4S and tablet is new iPad.
In the same page phonearena mentioned name of Apple iphone name in the post like this "Eight of the top ten devices activated for enterprise use in Q4 were Apple devices"
69. nasznjoka (Posts: 402; Member since: 05 Oct 2012)
You see praveen??? this should be the main story but they dont give a sh******** cuz its not what they wanted. first of all every tech site announces their best sphne of the year what about iPHONEARENA?
88. quesoesgrande (Posts: 217; Member since: 03 Aug 2011)
I'm sorry, but your an imbecile. "The Heading MAY be like this..." May means it could be that heading, but isn't definite. Besides, if the site posted ANYTHING like your heading, there would be no reason to read the article because it told you what you need to know in a shorter more efficient timeframe. To your second observation, it's easier to say eight of the top ten than it is to list very apple and non apple device out in that small tile.
89. quesoesgrande (Posts: 217; Member since: 03 Aug 2011)
And just so you know, I'm not an apple fanboy defending an allegedly fanboyish site. I am posting this from my iPad, but this is my school REQUIRED iPad, not my own iPad.
90. praveen_1221 (Posts: 4; Member since: 14 Sep 2012)
Well, No need to mention sorry, you have all the rights to say anything. By the way i'm not imbecile and i'm sure its you definitely.
Anyways - imbecile is mean word.
what about this heading " For 6th straight year, Apple is most admired company; Verizon tops among telcos ", If it is Samsung / HTC / LG heading may be like this " Fortune magazine released voting results of 3,800 directors - See which smartphone maker taken their attention".


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For Sugar Bowl Academy's Nordic ski racers, "home snow" this season means more than 200 kilometers of the most scenic and expansive cross-country skiing terrain known to America.
An agreement announced last month will put Sugar Bowl Resort in charge of operating Royal Gorge - the nation's largest cross-country ski area.
Sugar Bowl is home to Sugar Bowl Academy, an independent, college-preparatory school for competitive alpine, Nordic and freeride skiers and the Sugar Bowl Ski Team, an organization serving more than 400 junior skiers from around the region.
Understandably, the news, along with more than 24 inches of fresh snow in October and more on the way, has energized the Academy's Nordic ski racers on the Sugar Bowl Academy campus and inspired the Sugar Bowl Ski Team to offer a development Nordic program based at Sugar Bowl.
The development program will challenge young adults ages 12 to 16 who have limited experience in Nordic skiing, but have an interest in improving in the sport. The program will be an introduction to competitive Nordic skiing.
Head Sugar Bowl Academy Nordic coach Jeff Schloss, will manage the program and the development coach to be named. Schloss, a former University of Nevada coach, has quickly built the Sugar Bowl Academy team into a quality program.
"This is a big win for the SBA Nordic program," said Schloss. "The SBA Nordic team and SBST Development Team can ski in and out right from campus and have access to 200 kilometers of trails without having to get into a vehicle."
"It's really exciting," said SBA Nordic Team Co-Captain Katrin Larusson. "It's going to be a ton of trails right outside our back door, so we will have a lot more trails to ski on than we have in the past."
The agreement with Royal Gorge will open up terrain for Sugar Bowl Academy to host school races and, more importantly, provide the opportunity to host national and international-caliber races, bringing the best skiers in the country right here.
Two races have been scheduled for Sugar Bowl/Royal Gorge this year, according to Schloss. A high school skate race is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 11, with the course tentatively set to start and finish in front of the Sugar Bowl Ski Team's Village Hall and venturing out onto the Royal Gorge trails in Lake Van Norden.
Sugar Bowl/Royal Gorge will also host a U.S. Super Tour race on April 8 or 9.
"This will be a hill climb race up to the top of Mount Disney, and will be the culmination of the U.S. Distance Nationals Week, which will be having races all over North Tahoe for the week," said Schloss. "These races will attract all of the top skiers in the country, including the U.S. Ski Team. Local junior racers, including the SBA team, will also be invited to these races, and will get to see how they stack up against the best in the nation."
All of that has the SBA Nordic community abuzz this week.
"It's going to be so cool to have our own ski area that we can call home," said Larusson.
For more information about Sugar Bowl Ski Team's Nordic development program, contact the Sugar Bowl Ski Team Foundation at 530-269-7408 or e-mail email@example.com.


text:
It was a family affair Monday in North Charleston.
Hiring information
Weber Automotive will begin hiring for the new plant in 2015. Anyone interested in job opportunities should call Doris Sullivan at 843-875-6366.
Speaking to a crowd gathered in the City Council chamber, Mayor Keith Summey recalled meeting Albert Weber and Weber's son Daniel around the time the German automotive magnate was buying a huge tract of forest along U.S. Interstate 26 in his city. The mayor remembered the father as "one smooth negotiator."
Daniel Weber remembers that visit to the Lowcountry, too. Fresh out of high school, he thought his dad was taking him on vacation, but he was actually there to learn a lesson in business negotiation.
The plan then was for Weber Automotive to build its North American headquarters and a manufacturing facility on the former Ingleside Plantation, and Weber was trying to secure the best possible terms from the local government.
Some 15 years, and a couple false starts later, Daniel Weber is now 35 and chief financial officer of his father's company. Summey's son, Charleston County Councilman Elliott Summey, is now senior vice president of Weber's American real estate arm. And a version of that long-awaited factory plan finally is happening.
"We've been waiting for this day for a long time," the mayor said, adding that it's "going to be the ignition of a lot of new start-ups."
"Today, that vision becomes reality," Weber said.
Weber Automotive will build a new vehicle components manufacturing plant among the other auto factories off the west side of Palmetto Commerce Parkway, the road linked Ladson and Ashley Phosphate roads when it was completed in 2011.
The company's more than $51 million investment is expected to generate 84 mostly manufacturing jobs over the next four years. The new factory will make drive train components like transmission housing, Weber said, and is expected to begin operations in 2015.
Eric Meyer, president of Weber USA Corp. LLC, the American real estate arm of the company, said the first phase of the project is a 185,000-square-foot facility on 14 acres. But a map of the site shows five more 185,000-square-foot sections. Weber would not offer a timeline for building those units.
"We will see," he said, adding any growth will be based on business demand. "We wanted to reserve enough land for expansions."
Weber also wouldn't say who would receive the parts to be made in North Charleston. The company supplies the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Before any expansion, it will take some work just to get a factory up and connected to the existing roads.
Right now, the factory site is in the middle of the woods, but he S.C. Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved a set-aside grant of $200,000 for road improvements. Meyer said Weber will cover the rest.
The project also received a variety of other incentives. Weber secured a fee-in-lieu of taxes deal that allows the company to pay a fixed fee for 30 years instead of property taxes. The company will also receive job credits from the state and state-sponsored workforce training.
The Weber plan was previously known by a code name "Project Quality," a spokeswoman for the Charleston Regional Development Alliance said. That proposal estimated a $56 million investment that would create 98 jobs paying an average of $30,600 each.
Under that deal, which the Charleston County Council approved last summer, the company would qualify for a tax credit totaling no more than $1.6 million over five years to help pay for roads and other infrastructure improvements.
Among Palmetto Commerce's existing auto businesses are a Daimler AG Sprinter van assembly operation, and a division of Cummins Inc. that churns out turbochargers.
Weber has operations in Auburn Hills, Mich., and in Europe and the Middle East. The company has operated a plant in Summerville since about 1996. It invested $10 million in the facility in 2006 to manufacture crankshafts.
In August 1997, Weber bought the 1,550-acre Ingleside Tract, a prime site with a rail line running through it for $17.9 million. The speculation at the time was that a major automotive factory would follow, but that didn't happen.
A more recent plan for the acreage above Ashley Phosphate Road called for a $750 million commercial and office project that would take shape over decades. But that ambitious project, a joint venture between Weber and Weiser Cos., never came to pass, doomed by the economic slowdown.
Reach Brendan Kearney at 937-5906.


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The Signs of Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) Second Coming
Signs of Jesus' (pbuh) Second Coming
No doubt, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will come to Earth. Close to his advent, some signs and fitna will appear." (Al-Uqayli, An-Najmu's-saqib fi Bayan Anna'l Mahdi min Awladi Ali b. Abu Talib Ale't-Tamam ve'l Qamal, p. 151)
As the hadith above reveals, our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) tells us that some signs will appear before Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) second coming. In the light of this information, we will dwell on the signs of this event. As we stated earlier, signs of the Last Day, which herald the Mahdi's appearance and reveal the approach of the Dajjal's fitna, also herald the return of Jesus (pbuh). The Qur'an, the Hadith literature, and the Qur'anic commentaries of Islamic scholars are the main resources on these subjects. These aside, those Biblical explanations that agree with the Islamic sources about Jesus' (pbuh) second coming also provide us with important information.
Despite all of this information, however, some people may raise doubts about whether these signs refer to our day. To deal with this concern, the signs that we will refer in the following pages are so obvious and clear that they leave no room for any doubt. More importantly, in our day all of these signs have appeared – and continue to appear – one after the other. Throughout the history of Islam, some of these signs might have happened to some extent in one particular part of the world or another. Such a situation, however, does not indicate the nearness of the appearance of Jesus (pbuh) and Mahdi. For a certain period to be called the End Times, all of the signs that we will examine in detail must occur in the same period. Some hadiths on the subject are as follows:
Signs following one another like bits of a necklace, falling one after the other when its string is cut. (Tirmidhi)
When the community engages in these, signs follow one another. These signs chase one another, just as fish break out of their net and escape, chasing one another. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 478)
These hadiths clearly state that the signs of the Last Days will appear consecutively within the same period of time. Some of the events discussed in the following pages may well be regarded as ordinary events, and some people may claim that the conditions prevailing in our day naturally entail the occurrence of these signs. Indeed, some of these signs may happen naturally. However, the fact that all these events are described 1400 years ago thoroughly in a way depicting exactly today's social order, and that they take place in the same period, one following the other, is an extremely important matter. This is clear evidence that our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) drew attention to this period while describing the End Time events.
Examining the Biblical statements and Islamic literature in the light of the information provided above reveals an astounding fact: The signs referring to the End Times have begun to appear, one after another, in the present time, exactly as they are described in these resources. News about the Last Day portrays an exact picture of our day. No doubt, this is a miraculous occurrence upon which we must reflect.
The Signs from the Islamic Resources
1. The Splitting of the Moon
Let's look at "Surat al-Qamar." In English, qamar means moon. In several instances, this surah relates that the people of Noah, `Ad, Thamud, Lut, and Pharaoh were destroyed because they ignored the Prophets sent to them. At the same time, its first verse contains a very important message about the Last Day.
The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split. (Surat al-Qamar, 54:1)
The original Arabic word translated into English as "split" is shaqqa, which has various meanings. In some Qur'anic commentaries, the meaning "split" is preferred. However, shaqqa also can mean "plowing" or "digging" the ground.
The first meaning is used in the following verse:
We pour down plentiful water, then split the ground into furrows. Then We make grain grow in it, and grapes and herbs and olives and dates. (Surah `Abasa, 80:25-29)
Clearly, the meaning of shaqqa here is not to "split," but to "plow" the ground in order to grow various plants.
Here we see one of the great wonders of the Qur'an. The experiments carried out on the Moon's surface on July 20, 1969, may be hinting at the fulfillment of this verse. On that date, American astronauts set foot on the Moon and, digging up some lunar soil, they carried out scientific experiments and collected stone and soil samples. It is surely very interesting that these developments are in complete agreement with this verse.
Exploring the Moon is identified with the slogan: "One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind." This historic moment in space research was documented by cameras, and everyone from that time to this has witnessed it. As Surat al-Qamar 54:1 states, this great event may be a sign of the Last Day, which would mean that we are living during the End Times. (God surely knows best.)
Another very important sign is that the numeration (abjad) of a certain part of Surat al-Qamar 54:1 by alphabetical Arabic letters is 1969, the year when American astronauts set foot on the moon. (For detailed information on this numeration technique, refer to the section "The Time of Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) Second Coming.")
... The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split. (Surat ar-Rahman, 54:1)
Hijri (Islamic): 1390, Gregorian (Christian): 1969
We also need to mention that "the splitting of the moon" is one of the miracles that God granted to our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace). One hadith relates this miracle, as follows:
... This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abdullah b. Mas`ud [who said]: We were along with God's Messenger (may peace be upon him) at Mina, when the moon was split in two. One of its parts was behind the mountain, and the other one was on this side of the mountain. (Sahih Muslim)
This is the miracle heralded in the verse. However, as the Qur'an is applicable to all times, we can assume that this verse also draws our attention to the exploration of the Moon. (God knows best.)
2. The Iran-Iraq War
The following hadith reveals an important war that will take place in the End Times:
There will be tumult in Shawwal [the tenth Islamic month], talks of war in Dhu al-Qa'dah [the eleventh Islamic month], and the outbreak of war in Dhu al-Hijja [the twelfh month]. (Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-Ashrat as-Sa'ah, p. 166)
These three months coincide with the months during which the Iran-Iraq war developed.
Tumult in Shawwal …
The first uprising against the Shah took place on 5 Shawwal 1398 (8 September 1976), as indicated by the hadith.
Talks of war in Dhu al-Qa`dah, and the outbreak of war in Dhu al-Hijjah …
A full-blown war broke out between Iran and Iraq in Dhu al-Hijjah 1400 (October 1980).
Another hadith describes the details of this war as follows:
A nation/tribe will come from the Farsi direction, saying: "You Arabs! You have been too zealous! If you don't give them their due rights, nobody will have an alliance with you ... It must be given to them one day and to you the following day, and mutual promises must be kept ..." They will be going up Mutekh; Muslims will be coming down to the plain ... Mushrikun [idolaters] will be standing over there on the bank of a black river [Rakabeh] on the other side. There will be a war between them. God will deprive both armies of a victory ... (Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah li Ashrat as-Sa`ah, p. 179)
Above you see some of the news about Iran-Iraq war.
- Those coming from the Farsi direction: those coming from the Iranian side
- Farsi: Iran, Iranian
- Coming down to the plain: Coming down to the Iranian plain
- Mutekh: Name of a mountain in the region
- Rakabeh: A region where the oil wells are concentrated
"You Arabs! You have been too zealous! If you don't give them their due rights, nobody will have an alliance with you…"
This hadith may draw attention to the outbreak of a racial dispute that will cause both sides to come down to the (Iranian) plain and wage war.
God will deprive both armies of a victory...
Further, as noted by the hadith, the Iran-Iraq war lasted for 8 years and, despite the many thousands of casualties, neither side could claim victory or a decisive superiority.
3. A Great Battle between the Tigris and the Euphrates
There will be a city called Zawra [Baghdad] between the Tigris and the Euphrates. There will be a great battle there. Women will be taken prisoner, and men will have their throats cut like sheep. (Muntakhab Kanz al-`Ummal, vol. 5, p. 38)
Quite likely, this hadith calls attention to the Iran-Iraq war. As mentioned above, there were many great clashes between these two Muslim countries. Heavy bombardments reduced villages, towns, and cities to rubble. Women, elderly people, and children lost their lives. The mass graves uncovered after the war revealed that the casualties were far higher than anticipated.
4.The Occupation of Afghanistan
Pity poor Taliqan [a region in Afghanistan]. At that place are treasures of God, but these are not of gold and silver. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-l-Zaman, p.59)
There is an indication that Afghanistan will be occupied during the Last Days. The Russian invasion of Afghanistan took place in 1979 (1400, according to the Islamic calendar).
… at that place are treasures of God, but these are not of gold and silver …
In addition, this hadith draws attention to Afghanistan's material riches. Today, large oil deposits, iron basins, and coal mines that have not been commercially exploited yet have been detected there.
5. Stopping the Flow of the Euphrates
Stopping and interrupting the flow of the Euphrates is one of the signs of the Mahdi's emergence, and therefore Jesus' second coming.
Soon the river Euphrates will disclose the treasure [the mountain] of gold. So, whoever will be present at that time should not take anything of it. (Sahih Bukhari)
Other hadiths reveal important information on this subject:
God's Messenger (may God bless him and grant him peace) said: "The Hour will not come to pass before the river Euphrates dries up to unveil the mountain of gold, for which people will fight. Ninety-nine out of one hundred will die [in the fighting], and every man among them will say: 'Perhaps I may be the only one to remain alive.' " (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
The Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) said: "Tthe Euphrates reveals the treasures within itself. Whoever sees it should not take anything from it." (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 28)
It [the Euphrates] will uncover a mountain of gold [under it]. (Sunan Abu Dawud)
Interrupting this river's flow and disclosing its treasure of gold, both of which are important portents of Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) second coming, are mentioned in many respected books of hadith.
Let's examine some important statements revealed in the hadiths one by one:
God's Messenger said: "The Hour will not come to pass before the river Euphrates dries up and unveils the mountain of gold." (Sahih Muslim)
… the river Euphrates dries up …
As-Suyuti mentions this hadith as "the stopping of water." The Keban dam, built in 1975, has accomplished this.
… unveils the mountain of gold…
The surrounding land has become as valuable as gold for various reasons, for the Keban dam has enabled electricity production and higher soil fertility through irrigation and transport facilities.
The Keban and other dams lining the Euphrates resemble a concrete mountain, and wealth as valuable as gold comes out of it. Therefore, these dams take on the properties of "the golden mountain." (God knows best.)
6. Lunar and Solar Eclipses in Ramadan
There are two signs for the Mahdi... The first one is the lunar eclipse in the first night of Ramadan, and the second is the solar eclipse in the middle of this month. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 47)
A lunar eclipse will occur in the first night of the Ramadan. In the middle of the Ramadan, a solar eclipse will occur. (Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah li-Ashrat as-Sa`ah, p. 199)
During his [Mahdi's] reign, on the fourteenth of the Ramadan, a solar eclipse will occur. On the first of that month, the Moon will darken... (Imam Rabbani, Letters of Rabbani, p. 380; Letters of Rabbani, vol. 2, p. 1163)
There will be two solar eclipses in Ramadan before the Mahdi's advent. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 440)
... The solar eclipse in the middle of the Ramadan, and the lunar eclipse at the end ... (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 37)
There will be two lunar eclipses in Ramadan... (Ibn Hajar Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 53)
There will be two lunar eclipses in Ramadan before the Mahdi emerges. (Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah li-Ashrat as-Sa`ah, p. 200)
The most striking points here are that the solar eclipse will take place in the middle of the month and two solar and two lunar eclipses will take place within one month (Ramadan).
According to the first three hadiths above, the lunar eclipse will occur on the first night of the Ramadan. The fourth hadith says that it will occur on the last day of this month. Accordingly, the common results of all these hadiths are the following:
1- There will be solar and lunar eclipses during Ramadan.
2- These will be spaced about 14-15 days apart.
3- The eclipses will be repeated twice.
In line with these calculations, there was a lunar eclipse in 1981 (Hijri 1401) on Ramadan 15 and a solar eclipse on Ramadan 29. There was a "second" lunar eclipse in 1982 (Hijri 1402) on Ramadan 14 and a solar eclipse on Ramadan 28.
It is also particularly significant that in that particular instance, there was a full lunar eclipse in the middle of Ramadan, a most striking prophecy.
The occurrence of these incidents during the same period coinciding with the signs of the Mahdi's emergence, and their miraculous recurrence at the onset of the fifteenth Islamic century for two consecutive years (1401-02), indicates that they might be the signs foretold by the hadiths.
Moreover, an astoundingly similar series of eclipses occurred in the years 2002 and 2003.
7. The Rise of a Comet
A star with a luminous tail will rise from the east before the Mahdi emerges. (Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah li Ashrat as-Sa`ah, p. 200)
Before he arrives, a comet will appear in the east, giving out an illumination. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 53)
The rise of that star will occur after the eclipse of the Sun and the Moon. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 32)
... A comet appears when kings go on the pilgrimage to Mecca for travel, the wealthy for commerce, the poor for rest, and the hafiz [reciters] to show off. (Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah li Ashrat as-Sa`ah, p.123)
As referred to by the hadiths;
- In 1986 (Hijri 1406), Halley's Comet passed by Earth.
- The comet is a bright, shining star that travels from east to west.
- This happened after the lunar and solar eclipses of 1981 and 1982 (Hijri 1401-02).
The concurrence of this star's rise with other signs of the Mahdi's emergence indicates that Halley's Comet is the star pointed to in the hadith.
Imam Rabbani provides the following information about this comet:
A tailed star will be born in the east and spread its light. Its daily direction will be from east to west. (Imam Rabbani, Letters of Rabbani, vol. 2, p. 1170)
Throughout history, comets have heralded times of very important developments for Muslims, some of which became milestones in Islamic history. The Companions of the Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) also narrated some of these occurrences, as follows:
When this comet first appeared, the people of Prophet Noah (pbuh) perished, Prophet Abraham (pbuh) was cast into fire, Pharaoh and his people who fought against Prophet Moses (pbuh) perished, and John [Yahya] (pbuh) passed away. When you see that comet, take refuge in God from the evil of fitna. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 32)
Other important occurrences said to have happened with the appearance of this comet are as follows: Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was born, Our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) started to receive the first revelation, the Ottoman Empire emerged, and Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople (Istanbul).
Some interesting figures about Halley's Comet
It is interesting that some figures pertaining to the comet are multiples of 19.
For example, Halley's Comet appears every 76 years
This comet was last seen in 1406
The number 74 is also the surah number of the Surat al-Muddaththir, which refers to the miracle of 19 in the Qur'an. Surat al-Muddaththir 74:30 reveals that 19 is a means of mercy for believers and of fitna for unbelievers.
A last great miracle and sign of Halley's Comet is the appearance of this comet in 1986 (Hijri 1406) is its nineteenth appearance since 607, when Prophet Mohammed (may God bless him and grant him peace) was honored with prophecy.
This striking relation of Halley's Comet with the number 19 may indicate a fitna upon unbelievers and a mercy on believers.
In Surat al-Muddaththir 74:1-2, God commands our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace): "You who are enveloped in your cloak! Arise and warn." The meaning is clear. Yet, they may also have a second hidden meaning that refers to the End Times. The word, "(the one) enveloped in cloak" may well refer to the Mahdi, who is from our Prophet's (may God bless him and grant him peace) lineage and whose appearance will be signaled by the rise of Halley's Comet in 1406 of the Islamic era.
8. Storming the Ka`bah and the Subsequent Bloodshed
The year in which he will emerge, people will perform hajj together and gather without an imam. The Hajjis will be looted, and there will be a battle at Mina in which many will be slain and blood will flow until it runs over the Jamra al-'Aqaba. [Jamra: a stone pillar representing Satan that is stoned during the pilgrimage.] (Narrated by `Amr ibn Shu`ayb, al-Hakim and Nu`aym ibn Hammad)
People make pilgrimage without an imam leading them. Big wars break out when they come down to Mina, and they are entwined just the way dogs entwine, and tribes attack each other. This strife is so widespread that legs are buried in lakes of blood. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 35)
The phrase "the year in which he will emerge" draws attention to a massacre that will occur on the date of the Mahdi's emergence. In 1979, a massacre very like this one occurred during the Ka`bah raid, which took place during the pilgrimage month at the very beginning of the period during which the signs of Mahdi's advent appeared – the first day of the Islamic year 1400 (21 November 1979).
The hadiths also mention bloodshed. The killing of 30 people during the clashes between Saudi soldiers and militants during the raid confirms the rest of this hadith.
Seven years later, an even bloodier incident happened during the pilgrimage. In this incident, 402 demonstrating pilgrims were killed. Both the Saudi soldiers and the Iranian pilgrims committed great sins, for they killed one another. These bloody incidents have great parallels to the environment described in the hadiths.
The Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) said:
"There will be a voice in Ramadan, a noise in Shawwal, and war between the tribes in the month of Dhu al-Qa`dah. Pilgrims will be despoiled. There will be a war in Mina in which many will die, to such an extent that so much blood will flow as to leave the stones there in a lake of blood." (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 31)
There will be a voice in Ramadan, and a voice in Shawwal. In Dhu al-Qa`dah, the tribes will fight one another. In Dhu al-Hijja, pilgrims will be despoiled. In Muharram, there will be a shout from the sky: "Take heed. Such a person is of the auspicious ones of the people of God. Listen to and obey him." (Ramuz al-Ahadith, vol. 2, p. 518, no.5)
There will be rebellion in Shawwal, talk of war in Dhu al-Qa`dah, and an act of war in Dhu al-Hijja. Pilgrims will be despoiled, and their blood will flow [over the Ka`bah]. (Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah li Ashrat as-Sa`ah, p. 166)
In the month of Dhu al-Qa`dah, the tribes will wage war, pilgrims will be kidnapped, and there will be bloody wars. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 34)
There come the cries of war in [the month of] Shawwal with the outbreak of war, massacre, and carnage in [the month of] Dhu al-Hijja. The pilgrims are plundered in this month, the streets cannot be crossed because of the blood shed, and religious prohibitions are violated. Big sins are committed near the Magnificent House [the Ka`bah]. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 37)
Examining the expressions in the hadiths indicates important events regarding the same period:
Big sins are committed near the Magnificent House [the Ka`bah].
This hadith draws attention to the incidents that will occur near the Ka`bah. The incidents during 1407 actually took place near the Ka`bah, and not inside it, unlike the event of 1400. Both incidents happened just as the hadiths indicated that they would.
It is not a mere coincidence that two such major events as bloodshed in the Ka`bah and the killing of pilgrims, as reported in the hadiths, should take place one after the other in the period when all portents regarding the Mahdi are coming true.
... [There will be] outbreak of war, massacre and carnage in [the month of] Dhu al-Hijja.
The fact that this war and conflict is discussed together with the killing of pilgrims shows that these events will take place in the same period of time. During that same period, the Iran-Iraq war broke out and the world saw the worst fighting and chaos in the Middle East.
A big flame will occur in the east for 3 or 7 days in a row, followed by darkness in the sky and a brand new redness unlike the usual color of red spreading over the sky. A proclamation will be heard in a language Earth can understand. (Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah li-Ashrat as-Sa`ah, p. 166)
9. Sighting a Flare in the East
In its section on the signs of the Mahdi's emergence, the book Iqd al-Durar states:
"The emergence of a big flare, which is seen in the east, in the sky for three nights. Sighting of an extraordinary redness, not as red as the usual color of the dawn, and its spread over the horizon." (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 32)
"This is a hadith narrated by Abu Ja`far b. Muhammad b. Ali (ra). When you see a flame rise in the east for three or seven days, then wait for the emergence of Al-i Muhammad; God will proclaim from the sky uttering the name of the Mahdi and everybody, whether in the east or the west, will hear that voice." (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 32)
"I swear that a flame will engulf you. That flame is presently in an extinguished state at the valley called Berehut. That flame swallows up people with terrible pain inside it, burns down and destroys people and property, and spreads all over the world by flying like a cloud with the assistance of winds. Its heat at night is much higher than its daytime temperature. By going as deep as the center of Earth from above the heads of people, that flame becomes a terrible noise, just like the lightning between the ground and the sky," he narrated. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 461)
Here we give a brief explanation of this flame, as follows:
Some people wait for this flame as a sign that comes suddenly and for no particular reason, that never goes out, and that everyone in the world can see. Since the trial continues during the occurrence of these signs, just because people will see them does not mean that they will understand them. Thus, people will make their decisions by using their intellect, mind, conscience, and will. If the End Time signs had been narrated in full detail (e.g., how, when, and where they will occur), everybody would have to accept them. Thus, no differences of degree would be left among the people. For this reason, these hadiths have been communicated in a semi-implicit manner.
The sign concerning the flame must be evaluated in this manner. A flame is the result of an accident and neglect, or of a deliberate action. The hadith does not say that it must occur as a very strange and extraordinary sign. What really counts is its occurence in compliance with the properties of the flame described in the hadiths and the time of its occurrence. To do this, first we must consider its properties.
In July 1991, after Iraq invaded Kuwait, a huge fire spread throughout Kuwait and the Persian Gulf as the Iraqis fired Kuwait's oil wells. This is how this fire was covered in the media:
- The burning oil in Kuwait led to the deaths of people and animals. According to experts, half a million tons of oil went up into the atmosphere as smoke. Every day, more than 10,000 tons of soot, sulfur, carbon-dioxide and large quantities of hydrocarbons with their carcinogenic properties hang suspended over the Gulf. It is not just the Gulf but, on its behalf, the world is burning.21
I swear that a fire will enfold you. That fire is currently lying extinguished in the valley known as Berehut [which is the name of a valley or a well].. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 461).24
The first part of the hadith says that the flame "is presently in an extinguished state." Given that the flame is the result of burning an inflammable substance, what waits in an extinguished state is not the flame itself but rather the material to be burned by the flame. In this context, this may mean underground oil. Berehut is the name of a well. This can be considered as an oil well. When the time comes, oil extracted from these wells will become a fire ready to be burned.
"That flame swallows up people with terrible pain inside it." That flame is not merely a burning flare, but also one that deprives people of their lives and possessions, making them miserable and sorrowful, and contaminating the surrounding environment.
"That flame… burns down and destroys people and property." That flame causes the death of certain people. In addition, it burns down property, causing material damage and, by polluting the surrounding environment, destroys what people need in order to live.
"… spreads all over the world by flying like a cloud with the assistance of winds." This particular element of the flame is the smoke that it produces. Thus, this metaphor indicates that the smoke will reach as high as the clouds and spread in all directions due to the wind.
"Its heat at night is much higher than its daytime temperature." In other words, the flame will burn around the clock.
"By going as deep as the center of Earth from above the heads of people, that flame makes a terrible noise, just like the thunder between the ground and the sky." Attention is drawn to the facts that the flame will climb very high into the air and cause a very strong noise and explosions resembling a thunder.
"… a brand new redness unlike the usual color of red spreading over the sky…" This part of the hadith points out that the incident will occur at night, for the flames of a large explosion occurring at night leads to a very strong illumination. The red illumination caused by such red flames is very different from the red "dawn" redness with which people are familiar. Such an illumination at night, which is very similar to daylight, is an extraordinary phenomenon.
10. A Sign out of the Sun
He [the Mahdi] will not come unless a sign emerges out of the Sun. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 47)
The Mahdi will not emerge unless the Sun rises as a sign. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 33)
Another sign of Doomsday is extraordinary solar explosions. During the twentieth century, a great solar explosion took place and had a great impact upon the world. The sign referred to in the hadith may well be this great explosion.
11. A Solar Eclipse
The Mahdi will not emerge unless the Sun rises as a sign. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 33)
As well as the solar explosion mentioned above, the sign that will appear on the Sun may well be the great solar eclipse that happened on August 11, 1999, the last total solar eclipse of the twentieth century. It was the first time that so many people had been able to watch and study an eclipse for so long.
It is of course no coincidence that so many signs have occurred one after the other in such a short space of time. These signs are each glad tidings from God to His faithful servants.
12. A Change of Systems
A man called the Mahdi will come at a time when time is interrupted… (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 14)
In this hadith, our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) foretold that the Mahdi would come when "time is interrupted." Many scholars interpret this expression as a "differentiation of time" when a "change of systems" takes place. What is meant by this "change of systems" may be the collapse of communism, the governing ideology of many nations, toward the end of the twentieth century.
One of the major reasons for the bloody wars and massacres that characterized the twentieth century was the rule of communist ideology, which was a product of materialist philosophy. This ideology was influential on a global scale, and many countries were either ruled by the communist regimes for decades or were the target of communist rings. Communism was the reason for the cold war, which continued until the 1990s, as well as the most ruthless assassinations.
Apart from attempting to spread their ideology by fighting other countries, communist regimes oppressed their subjects and killed large numbers of people through executions, mass massacres, harsh conditions in prison camps, and food and other scarcities.
According to historians' estimates, communist regimes caused the deaths of 120 million people during the twentieth century. Most of them were civilians, not soldiers. Tens of millions of people died because of the rigid and savage characteristics of communist regimes. Apart from this, millions of people who were subjected to atrocities fled their native lands. As a result, they lost all of their possessions and lands, and lived in constant fear of being arrested for various political or ideological "crimes" or of being subject to further atrocities.
However, these supposedly powerful and invincible regimes began collapsing one after the other in the late 1980s. The pulling down of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was the most distinctive symbol of this collapse. Two years later, the Soviet Union, the largest and most powerful communist state, collapsed, and the Eastern Bloc soon followed suit. Other communist regimes collapsed one after the other. This sudden end of the bi-polar world order that had existed since the end of the Second World War was totally unexpected. Now, a new world order is in the process of coming into being. The "change of system" mentioned in the hadith thus is materializing in our own time.
Today, the last ideological and political remnants of communism are disappearing and the world is being cleansed of this bloody ideology. With the spread of Islamic ethics, the atrocities, pain, ignorance, and poverty finally will be eradicated, and humanity will attain beauty, wealth, prosperity, and peace. As a manifestation of His forgiveness and grace, God will offer humanity an end to darkness, war, massacre, and sorrow.
13. A Tribulation of Dust and Smoke
Before the Hour comes, there will be a dusty and smoky tribulation like patches of dark night... (Sunan Abu Dawud)
This hadith foretells a dusty, smoky, and dark wave of tribulation just before the Mahdi's advent. The word "tribulation" (fitna) implies anything that turns peoples' reason and hearts away from the true path, or war, incitement, chaos, disorder, and conflict.25 The tribulation mentioned in this hadith will leave behind smoke and dust.
Furthermore, as this tribulation is described as resembling "patches of dark night," its origins are unclear and it is unexpected. Thus, this hadith could refer to one of the world's worst terrorist attacks: 9/11, when New York City and Washington, DC, were attacked. As the whole world saw, a big, thick cloud of dust and smoke swallowed up the immediate surroundings.
A large cloud of smoke formed after the airplanes exploded after smashing into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The resulting smoke reached so high and spread so far that it could be seen throughout the city and even from neighboring cities. The ensuing collapse of the Twin Towers caused yet another huge cloud of smoke and dust, which completely enveloped people in the area.
This incident is very important for several reasons: It is one of the most serious acts of terror in world history, and it occurred along with other signs and bears characteristics similar to ones described in the hadith. Therefore, this act may well be the "tribulation like patches of dark night" foretold by the hadith as the sign of the Mahdi's emergence.
21. M. Necati Ozfatura, Kurtlar Sofrasında Ortadogu (The Middle East at the Wolves' Supper), 175.
22. Hurriyet (A Turkish Daily), January 23, 1991
23. Ozfatura, Kurtlar Sofrasında Ortadogu, 171.
24. Qamus Translation, vol. 1, p. 550