When the sky is rent asunder
We have now entered into the section of the Qur’an in which the suras are Meccan, brief, poetic, striking in their vivid imagery, and generally focused on urgent warnings of the impending Day of Judgment. “Ah woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth!” This is the focus and refrain of sura 77, “The Emissaries” (vv. 15, 19, 24, 28, 34, 37, 40, 45, 47, 49). Woe to them, for they will be punished severely on the Day of Sorting (vv. 13, 14, 38), when Allah will separate those who rejected Islam from those who accepted it. He taunts the unbelievers, saying that on that Day, “If now you have any wit, outwit Me” (v. 39).
Sura 78, “The Announcement,” is similar, warning of that terrible Day of Sorting (v. 17), and warning that those damned to hell will be made to drink a “boiling fluid and a fluid, dark, murky, intensely cold” (v. 25), while the righteous in the garden will enjoy “voluptuous women of equal age” (v. 33). According to Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and others, “This means round breasts. They meant by this that the breasts of these girls will be fully rounded and not sagging, because they will be virgins, equal in age. This means that they will only have one age.”
More of the same comes in sura 79, “Soul Snatchers,” which begins with Allah swearing by heavenly bodies and angels in language that could refer to both or either. Allah makes many such oaths in these short, chronologically early chapters of the Qur’an – a curious practice, to be sure, and one that calls into question the Islamic dogma that Allah is the sole speaker of every word of the Qur’an, since it would make much more sense for Muhammad to be the one making these oaths. Pharaoh’s disobedience of Moses’ warning, and his subsequent punishment, is once again invoked (vv. 15-25), as a clear analogy to the hazards of rejecting Muhammad’s message, since he, like Moses, is a “warner” for those who fear the Day of Judgment (v. 45).
The Qur’an frequently tells Muslims to obey Muhammad (3:32; 3:132; 4:13; 4:59; 4:69; 4:80; 5:92; 8:1; 8:20; 8:46; 9:71; 24:47; 24:51; 24:52; 24:54; 24:56; 33:33; 47:33; 49:14; 58:13; 64:12) and offers him as an “excellent example” for the conduct of individual Muslims (33:21) – yet it also takes for granted that he is capable of sin. One of the clearest indications of Muhammad’s susceptibility to sin comes in sura 80, “He Frowned,” in which Allah rebukes Muhammad for turning away a poor blind man while lavishing attention on a rich man (vv. 1-12). In yet another oddity involving the speaker and audience of the Qur’an, the sura begins by speaking of Muhammad in the third person, although elsewhere in the Qur’an Allah invariably addresses his prophet directly.
Then follows praise of the Qur’an (vv. 13-16) and a meditation on the perversity of humanity in rejecting Allah, whose signs are everywhere in the natural world (vv. 17-42).
Sura 81, “The Overthrowing,” paints a vivid and arresting picture of the Day of Judgment, when the natural world will be rolled up (vv. 1-6), the souls will be sorted out (v. 7), and the female infant who was buried alive will be asked for what crime she was executed (vv. 8-9). Muslims have pointed to this with pride throughout Islamic history, asserting that Islam put an end to the pagan Arab practice of burying female babies alive.
Allah identifies Muhammad as “a most honourable Messenger, endued with Power, with rank before the Lord of the Throne” (vv. 19-20), who is not possessed or mad (v. 22) and is not conveying the words of an evil spirit (v. 25). His message will profit “whoever among you wills to go straight (v. 28), but no one can so will “except as Allah wills” (v. 29) – another denial of human free will.
Sura 82, “The Cleaving,” paints a picture of the Day of Judgment very similar to that in sura 81, warning of the end of the world and excoriating those who “reject Right and Judgment” (v. 9). And on that dreadful Day, “no soul shall have power to do anything for another” (v. 19).
Sura 83, “Defrauding,” explains that on that Day, the written record of the deeds of wicked (Sijjin, vv. 7-9) and the written record of the deeds of the righteous (Illiyin, vv. 18-21) will be opened, and everyone will be sent to Paradise or hell. The sinners used to laugh at the righteous and make fun of them, but on that Day the righteous will laugh at the unbelievers (vv. 29-34).
Very similar to these is sura 84, “The Sundering,” which begins with another recounting of the natural catastrophes that will attend the Day of Judgment (vv. 1-5), moves on to speak of the written records of the deeds of each individual (vv. 6-12) and of the hollowness of the earthly happiness enjoyed by those who reject Allah (vv. 13-15). Then the wonders of the natural world are again invoked as proof of the reality of Allah (vv. 16-18) and the sura concludes with more warning of the penalty that awaits the perverse unbelievers (vv. 19-25).
Sura 85, “Constellations,” pronounces woe upon “the makers of the pit” (vv. 4-10), who were enemies of the believers. Ibn Kathir explains: “This is information about a group of people who were among the disbelievers. They went after those among them who believed in Allah and they attempted to force them to give up their religion. However, the believers refused to recant, so they dug a ditch for them in the ground. Then they lit a fire in it and prepared some fuel for it in order to keep it ablaze. Then they tried to convince them (the believers) to [apostatize] from their religion (again), but they still refused them. So they threw them into the fire.” Then follows praise of Allah and more lamentation over the perverse rejection of him by the unbelievers (vv. 11-20), followed by praise of the Qur’an as glorious and “inscribed on a Preserved Tablet” (vv. 21-22) – a foundation of the Islamic doctrine that the Qur’an is eternal.
Sura 86, “The Morning Star,” invites men to ponder their creation “from a drop emitted” (v. 6) as proof that Allah can raise the dead on the Day of Judgment (v. 8). The Qur’an is a “conclusive word” (v. 13) – the last word on all disputed questions – and is “no joke” (v. 14). The unbelievers are plotting against the Muslims (v. 15), but Allah is likewise plotting against them (v. 16), so Muhammad should give them a break for awhile (v. 17). “This means,” says Ibn Kathir, “that you will see what befalls them of torment, punishment and destruction.” That torment will not fail to materialize, and no man can hold it back.
(Here you can find links to all the earlier “Blogging the Qur’an” segments. Here is a good Arabic Qur’an, with English translations available; here are two popular Muslim translations, those of Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, along with a third by M. H. Shakir. Here is another popular translation, that of Muhammad Asad. And here is an omnibus of ten Qur’an translations.)
“voluptuous women of equal age” (v. 33). According to Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and others, “This means round breasts. They meant by this that the breasts of these girls will be fully rounded and not sagging, because they will be virgins, equal in age. This means that they will only have one age.”
The similarities between the Qur'anic paradise and the Playboy mansion have yet to be examined. (Although the virgin requirement might have to be waived.)
To his credit, Hefner has never launched a violent jihad against the Comstocks and Grundys of this world.
"He taunts the unbelievers, saying that on that Day, “If now you have any wit, outwit Me” (v. 39).
I am thinking to the Muslim plan to mass immigrate to western countries and then dare the Non Muslims to do anything about it..
Muslims have pointed to this with pride throughout Islamic history, asserting that Islam put an end to the pagan Arab practice of burying female babies alive.-
How could pagan Arabs have had so many wives if they were murdering the baby girls? Where did all the women come from?
another denial of human free will-
THE BIGGEST FLAW in the koran. If allah wants everyone to believe why not MAKE people believers? He controls all things, including that. Instead he has his followers commit murder.
He taunts the unbelievers-
Even though he MAKES them be unbelievers.
If allah creates the unbelievers as a test for the believers, why does he need to continue torture in the after? He made them unbelievers but then punishes them for it. Perverse.
anyone would a sane logical mind could find so many holes within islam that l have concluded it attracks only those with insane traits and those sadists loving evil people. to those born into it, to bad you have a very long way to go before you realize you have been following a murderous pervert, and kudos to those who realize such.
The Qur’an frequently tells Muslims to obey Muhammad (3:32; 3:132; 4:13; 4:59; 4:69; 4:80; 5:92; 8:1; 8:20; 8:46; 9:71; 24:47; 24:51; 24:52; 24:54; 24:56; 33:33; 47:33; 49:14; 58:13; 64:12) and offers him as an “excellent example” for the conduct of individual Muslims (33:21).
I always have to laugh at the obvious "convenience" of this. Good God - Mohamet must have been one physically and verbally compelling figure to convince people of this obvious scam. Not to mention he carried a big sword.
From above: THE BIGGEST FLAW in the koran. If allah wants everyone to believe why not MAKE people believers?
Allah is not all powerful because Allah is not Allah...
Allah spends a lot of effort pumping up Mohammad, because apparently Mohammad couldn't pump himself up without help.
Having Allah put a in a good word for you with the people, goes a long way.
Lots of good words are even better.
From above: The Qur’an frequently tells Muslims to obey Muhammad (3:32; 3:132; 4:13; 4:59; 4:69; 4:80; 5:92; 8:1; 8:20; 8:46; 9:71; 24:47; 24:51; 24:52; 24:54; 24:56; 33:33; 47:33; 49:14; 58:13; 64:12) and offers him as an “excellent example” for the conduct of individual Muslims (33:21)
Allah say's, 'If I have told you once, I have told you a million times, Mohammadad is in charge. He's da man...Do what he says!!!...Got it'???
How could pagan Arabs have had so many wives if they were murdering the baby girls? Where did all the women come from?
posted by: Borg
Only a few men had many wives. They were like stags with their herds of does. Most men had to settle for sheep or goats. It's still that way, altho probably not to the same degree. But every man that has four wives means three men that do not have any. This goes a long way toward explaining the popularity of bestiality in Moslem lands.
Nice photo.
Random comments:
1) Thank you for this blog, Mr. Spencer. These days, whenever I am discussing issues Islamic with people, and they think I'm wrong and argue with me, I always ask them: 'have you even READ the Qu'ran?' Usually they haven't, which adds quite a bit of weight to my words when I tell them I have. You can see the confidence in their positions fading. It makes them a little more thoughtful, more receptive. And it's due to this project -- I tried reading it on my own, and it was so senseless and random that I gave up. It really cannot be read without a guide.
2) Interesting how the Meccan suras, when he was without power, are all focused on scare tactics and trying to convince people...
3) I'm reading a book right now, The Secret War with Iran, and the author states that in Islamic tradition, Mohammed never smiles, and that he thought people who smiled were 'morally dubious.' (Khomeini had all the posters of himself smiling removed from the public domain before his triumphant return to Tehran in 1979...)
Is that true, and if so, can't we use it somehow to discredit Islam?
4) A couple of weeks ago, we did 5 suras at a time, and now it's 10. Soon we'll be done, as they get shorter and shorter. My question: what's next? Will you be blogging the Hadith, or at least the Big Three?
Again, I cannot thank you enough, for this wonderful and very important project.
Three cheers for Robert Spencer!!!
This is not the first time I have noticed that this deity Allah describes himself as a "schemer." Is this the same word used in the "Family of Imran" where Allah boasts to be the greatest or best of schemers? It often comes up in discussions I have with people that Allah is the same deity that Jews and Christians believe in. I don't think so. An atheist may not accept the existence of a god but what he must recognize is that human beings hold a concept of what is God. Using the same name does not make it the same concept. The "Jack" you know might be a 55 year old male truck driver while the "Jack" I know is a 34 year old blonde woman who runs triathalons. Your "Jack" and my "Jack" are not the same "Jack." An Eqyptian interpreter I worked with, discussed this Family of Imran Sura with me and said this word plotter or schemer was closer to the English conniver or deceiver. A deity that describes himself in this way is very different from the character and attributes of the God that Jews and Christians write and speak of. Why would a "God" resort to scheming?
This is not the first time I have noticed that this deity Allah describes himself as a "schemer." Is this the same word used in the "Family of Imran" where Allah boasts to be the greatest or best of schemers? It often comes up in discussions I have with people that Allah is the same deity that Jews and Christians believe in. I don't think so. An atheist may not accept the existence of a god but what he must recognize is that human beings hold a concept of what is God. Using the same name does not make it the same concept. The "Jack" you know might be a 55 year old male truck driver while the "Jack" I know is a 34 year old blonde woman who runs triathalons. Your "Jack" and my "Jack" are not the same "Jack." An Eqyptian interpreter I worked with, discussed this Family of Imran Sura with me and said this word plotter or schemer was closer to the English conniver or deceiver. A deity that describes himself in this way is very different from the character and attributes held by the God that Jews and Christians write and speak of. Why would a "God" resort to scheming? And if the word is really deceiver, what kind of world outlook would those have who worship and honor this deceiver?
This is not the first time I have noticed that this deity Allah describes himself as a "schemer." Is this the same word used in the "Family of Imran" where Allah boasts to be the greatest or best of schemers? It often comes up in discussions I have with people that Allah is the same deity that Jews and Christians believe in. I don't think so. An atheist may not accept the existence of a god but what he must recognize is that human beings hold a concept of what is God. Using the same name does not make it the same concept. The "Jack" you know might be a 55 year old male truck driver while the "Jack" I know is a 34 year old blonde woman who runs triathalons. Your "Jack" and my "Jack" are not the same "Jack." An Eqyptian interpreter I worked with, discussed this Family of Imran Sura with me and said this word plotter or schemer was closer to the English conniver or deceiver. A deity that describes himself in this way is very different from the character and attributes held by the God that Jews and Christians write and speak of. Why would a "God" resort to scheming? And if the word is really deceiver, what kind of world outlook would those have who worship and honor this deceiver?
Sorry about that triple post there.
Thank you again for this service Mr. Spencer.
Now we are in "lyrical suras" territory, that is those most favored by Michael Sells in his highly-bowdlerized version of the Qur'an ("Approaching the Qur'an: The Lyrical Suras"), the one that Carl Ernst helped have assigned to innocent incoming freshmen at Chapel Hill, a year or three before a student at that same university , in his emotional disarray, having "returned" to full-bodied Islam, gunned his car and tried to run over fellow (and, he presumed, non-Muslim) students chatting away -- perhaps some of them had even been among those who had been asked to read "The Lyrical Suras" -- on a slightly sunken greensward known as "The Pit."
Allah is simply Mohammed's enabler (and also of Mohammed's making) - enabling hate, racism, supremacism, misogeny, pedophilia, rape, looting, murder and genocide.
Other religions work to enable humans to be more humane, to elevate them spiritually, physically and emotionally.
Islam is a box, a small dirty box, that Muslims cannot escape, change or remain sane within.
Verses 85:4-8, as in many passages in the Quran, contain some oblique references that are unclear without the aid of Hadith and Sira. The presumption seems to be that those hearing the verses recited originally from Muhammad would have understood the references.
Mark Gabriel, in one of his books, mentions that jihadists have used this passage, or rather the story indirectly referenced in this passage, to justify suicidal attacks.
Ibn Kathir discusses the story of the ditch and of the boy who, after a series of trials and miracles performed for him by Allah, orders a disbelieving king to kill him. The king does, and this supposedly demonstrates the boy's faith through willing to die for Allah or by Allah's command.
Ibn Kathir tells it better than I do (I'm in a bit of a hurry).
http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=85&tid=57777
http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=85&tid=57789
A variation of this story is also presented in Ishaq's Sira, pp. 16-18, see the people of the ditch.
Posted by: Cunamara November 30, 2008 11:22 AM
"...this word plotter or schemer was closer to the English conniver or deceiver. A deity that describes himself in this way is very different from the character and attributes held by the God that Jews and Christians write and speak of.
"Why would a "God" resort to scheming?"
--------------------------------------------
A schemer does so because he wants something he doesn't have, so "schemes" to get it. Allâh, claiming to be the Creator and also claiming to be omnipotent, is already in possession of everything, everybody, and controls all destinies. (no need of "scheming")
A schemer does do because it is not within his power simply to take what he wants, therefore he must work around that lack of power by "conniving and deceiving" those who have what he wants. Allâh, claiming omnipotence and omniscience, has no need to "scheme."
It can be seen that Allâh has made statements that are self-contradictory, but if these statements of omnipotence are true then why would Allâh "scheme?"
The best answer to this last question is simply that Allâh enjoys "scheming." Allâh enjoys dividing humanity against itself, and causing enmity, strife, death, and chaos among his "creations." Proof of this allegation is in Allâh's statements of his favorite activity, Ruler of Hell. Allâh spends all his time in Hell torturing humans whom he has condemned there, sometimes for trivial offenses such as performing defective salah (prayer), and for others, the sin of being created by Allâh as a woman.
A god who likes to torment his creations is to be denied, not worshipped.
A god who schemes against his creations is to be denied, not worshipped.
A god who feels that he must "scheme" against his creations, is envious of them, or fearful of their power, therefore obviously not superior, and not deserving of worship.
A god who cannot "write" a Qur’ân without including inconsistancies which even simple humans can discern, is not smart enough to deserve human worship.
Let those who see these contradictions, and see Allâh's immature impotence, release themselves from his bondage and live forever as free humans.
...the female infant who was buried alive will be asked for what crime she was executed. Muslims have pointed to this with pride throughout Islamic history, asserting that Islam put an end to the pagan Arab practice of burying female babies alive.
.................
This is pretty much the only unreservedly positive passage in the entire Qur'an, for me.
Even the passages about doing justice to orphans seem rather suspect, since Islam (at best) discourages adoption, and does not allow Muslims to consider adopted children in the same light as their own biological children, which is actually a step backwards from even pagan Arab practice--just look at the shameful incident of Mohammed's adopted son and his wife, whom Mohammed coveted. And Mohammed set up in Medina on land that seems suspiciously extorted from orphans.
But the passage condemning the burying of female infants by the pagan Arab tribes is a genuinely positive thing. Of course, such crimes had been condemned by Jews and Christians *for centuries* before Mohammed came along--a fact nowhere menioned in the Qur'an.
So how does this one passage stand against the horrors of the rest of the Qur'an? Since no religion in the world today countenances female infanticide, I'd say not very well. But, hey--credit where it is due.
Mr. Spencer,
Thank you for your heroic efforts.
My question is not frivolous; words in the Qur'an are very important.
Here it is: corn is mentioned.
078.015
YUSUFALI: That We may produce therewith corn and vegetables,
PICKTHAL: Thereby to produce grain and plant,
SHAKIR: That We may bring forth thereby corn and herbs,
Is that a translation issue?
Didn't corn came from the New World?
Was Mohammad aware of corn?
Goob:
Yes, it's true. Khomeini famously said that there was no fun or humor in Islam. These quotes are well known.
I'm figuring two or three weeks and we're done. I have no plans to blog the Hadith. The Hadith, even the "Big Three," as you call them, are immense. It would take years. I have no plans to blog any other text, but of course the Q-Blog will remain archived online here as long as Jihad Watch is online.
Meanwhile once it is done I will have a bit more time to devote to FOUR book projects that I currently have in the works -- two of my own and two that I'm cowriting with others. More details as things develop, but I do already have a contract for one of them, The Infidel's Guide to the Koran, which will be loosely based on the Q-Blog and will be published by Regnery probably late in 2009.
Cordially
Robert Spencer
Cunamara:
In Qur'an 3:54 (as well as 8:30), Allah is "the best of schemers." This is almakireena, الماكرين.
In 86:15-16 Allah says, "They are plotting a scheme, and I am plotting a scheme." That is, Innahum yakeedoona kaydan, waakeedu kaydan:
انهم يكيدون كيد
واكيد كيد
Cordially
Robert Spencer
Hugh
The Pit ain't no "greensward." It is sunken, yes, four or five red-brick steps down into a red-brick area between the student union, the university bookstore, and what was then the university cafeteria. In my salad days it was populated by lounging students, street preachers, homeless eccentrics, colorful wastrels, and all and sundry. I was sorry to see on my recent return to Chapel Hill that a set of cement stairs leading up to the cafeteria and overlooking The Pit have been removed; they were once a marvelous place to lounge with friends on a sunny afternoon and watch the goings-on in The Pit.
I myself once stood barefoot within The Pit and spouted arrant political nonsense to the assembled crowd -- hawking positions quite different from the ones I reached in maturity.
In any case, it fills me with a particular personal indignation that The Pit, around which so much of my college years unfolded, would ever have been the site of a jihad attack by a man who was, by his own account, maddened by the sections of the Qur'an that Michael Sells ignored.
Yrs as ever
Robert
Cogito Ergo Sum:
No corn. Grain, not corn.
Cordially
Robert Spencer
You caught me out. Curses.
Wow, you're now smoking the Qur'an. Nine surahs in one go?
Surah 78:33 and beyond
How are they equal in age? Does time come to a standstill in the islamic paradise? Or are they just talking the physical attributes of that one age?Three cheers for Robert Spencer!!!
Posted by: Goob at November 30, 2008 10:57 AM
Hip-Hip Horay!!!
Hip-Hip Horay!!!
Hip-Hip Horay!!!
Thanks again, Mr. Spencer
Cogito Ergo Sum at November 30, 2008 2:37 PM
My Latin is not as good as Robert's Arabic but I have seen "corn" used iterchangeably for "grain." Corn is a New World food that is a grain. I do not know why this is done, but it is.
Cogito Ergo Sum wrote:
Didn't corn came from the New World?
Was Mohammad aware of corn?
...............
Cogito, the term "corn" was used used in the middle ages and later as a generic word for "grain". It did not, at this time, refer to new world "corn". My understanding is that Europeans refered to the new world plant generically as "corn" at first, because they recognized it as a grain, although they were unfamiliar with the variety.
At this time, the generic term "grain" was becoming more commonly used, so the generic "corn" used for the new world plants became specific.
If you read enough old texts, you will run across frequent use of the term corn, even when it clearly refers to plants that could not have been new world maize--this confused me, too, when I first started studying history in my teens. This is the meaning of the Yusufali and Shakir translations. Mohammed knew nothing about the existence of the Americas.
Regard to Allah as "schemer", there is the New Testament passage--
Thess 2:11-12 “And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”
"“This means round breasts. They meant by this that the breasts of these girls will be fully rounded and not sagging, because they will be virgins, equal in age."
I don't think I have ever encountered a more sexually obsessed religion.
"The unbelievers are plotting against the Muslims (v. 15), but Allah is likewise plotting against them (v. 16)"
So scheming and plotting is a divine virtue. No wonder Arab Islamic society is fixated on conspiracies.
I dont actually believe Muhammed was the murdereous psychopath some of you here make him out to be. He was more of a deal-maker and salesman than sword-waving maniac. Witness what he said on his triumphant conquest of Mecca.
"He who stays in his house is safe; he who goes to [pagan] templeis safe and he who seeks sanctuary at Abu sufyan's house is safe.
Abu sufyan was his Mayor of Mecca and mortal enemy ogf Muhammed and Muhammed's clan and family.
He followed that up with another `verse' whicjh says "Hey Infidels, you worship whatever Gods you like and I'll worship my own God"
Not only quite remarkable for his time but I think it's safe to say that made him, with all due respect, far more liberal and tolerant than some you here.
Gorgi at December 1, 2008 10:30 AM
Why don't you read the rest of the Qur'an? Don't miss the parts about "smite the infidel in the neck" along with all the other "liberal and tolerant" stuff there.
I'm sure Mr. Spencer can give you the exact Sura and verses.
Gorgi wrote:
He followed that up with another `verse' whicjh says "Hey Infidels, you worship whatever Gods you like and I'll worship my own God"
Not only quite remarkable for his time but I think it's safe to say that made him, with all due respect, far more liberal and tolerant than some you here.
.............
Yes, because so many of us here at JW spend our mornings out smiting those who worship other Gods. I know I do!
Think about how silly this sounds. All of here are worried about violent Jihad and the spread of Shari'ah. No one here has ever put forward the idea of forcibly converting anyone to their own religious views--or lack of religious views.
Whereas, Muslims killing, threatening and oppressing non-Muslims happens all the time, as it has throughout the history of that faith.
Gorgi,
Can you please tell me where those verses are so I can check them out.
Muslims and "a name above all woman"--a Jewish Mother.
In his 1952 work; Our First Love, Fulton J Sheen mentioned that "we believe" that Muslims will be converted to Christianity--not through the efforts of Christians but through the action of Our Lady, Mary. It is not at all coincidental, that the well photographed, documented and witnessed (by 20,000 skeptics) "Mirical of the sun" in 1917 happened in a place named: Fatima. The Blessed Mother appeared to three peasant children and gave both 'secrets' and instructions for the world for world peace. Fatima is the name of Muhammed's daughter and he declared that name as "above all others except Mary". Interestingly, even though Muhammad was given poor and heretical instruction of the Christian faith, he proclaims that Jesus and Mary are the only two persons to have ever been born without sin. The bridge from Muhammedism to Catholicism is not that far. Based on extensive deciphering of Messages from Fatima and other collected inductions, that the reconciliation of Orthodoxy and Catholicism will coincide with massive Muslem conversion to authentic Christianity rapidly ushering in illumination in a short period of Divine Mercy where everyone will be given a last and final chance to have salvation. She appears daily in Bosnia to 3 (of the original 6) visionaries and her message is one of prayer, fasting, forgiveness and Love. It is interesting that Mary has pointed out that the holiest person among the throngs of pilgrims on one occasion was a woman who turned out to be a Muslem. Inasmuch as the do not have the same sort of devotion to her as do practicing Catholics, they have enormous reverence and respect for her. This sort of adulation has always produced an action by Our Lady to bring those closer to her son. Pay close attention and be a light to aid in this amazing process which has already begun.