How to be Free from Sin — Page 5
5 the fourteenth century of the Hijra. These thousand years are to be reckoned according to the divine or lunar calen- dar, for it is according to this system that the Jews and Muslims have been taught to determine the time of [the fulfilment of] prophecies. Calculations based on the solar calendar are an innovation of man and go against the pur- port of the sacred writings. These, in short, are the final days of Satan’s respite, indeed they have already passed, for nineteen years have already elapsed since the turn of the Hijra century which marked the end of Satan’s period of freedom. He, however, does not wish to be stripped of his power, and a struggle be- tween the two forces is inevitable. This was ordained from the beginning, and God’s word can never be false. Another testimony which shows that these are the days [of the final battle], is that the sixth millennium since the birth of Adam, in which the second Adam was supposed to appear, has also passed. Since the sixth day is the day of the birth of Adam and, according to the scriptures, a day symbolizes a thousand years, we have to accept that the second Adam has already appeared in keeping with God’s promises, even though he has not yet been fully recognized. We also have to believe that the place God has appointed for his advent is in the East and not in the West. Since Adam was given an abode in a garden to- wards the East (Genesis 2:8), the second Adam must also appear in an Eastern country in order to maintain his simi- larity to the first. Muslims and Christians are both equally