6b] Ramadan 2012, The 28th Day

not evident today: A capacity to replicate without the helpof proteins
and an ability to catalyze every step of protein synthesis.(Leslie
E.Orgel, "The Origin of Life on the Earth", Scientific American,
October 1994, Vol. 271, p. 78)
It is of course impossible for such a RNA to exist.
Hazrat Mahdi (as) Will Be Born In A BigCity And Then Come To Istanbul
The Messenger of Allah(saas) said: " … a man [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] of
the people of Medina (a big city) will come forth to Mecca. People
will bring him out against his will and swear allegiance to him
between the Corner and the Maqam. … (Mari' bin Yusuf Karami Hanbali,
Fawaid Fawaid al-Fikr fil Mahdi al-Montazar)
And on 69th page of Risalat al-Khuruj al-Mahdi,it is mentioned that
Hazrat Mahdi (as) "will come from the village ofKara." (Risalat
al-Khuruj al-Mahdi, p. 69)
The word "medina" is used in a metaphorical sense in the hadiths
handed down from the Prophet (saas). In other words, our Prophet
(saas) uses the word medina to mean very different things. There are
many large cities or "medinas" in the Islamic world. For that reason,
one can only tell in what sense the word medina is being used by
looking at other accounts on the subject.
In the hadith cited above, our Prophet (saas) says that Hazrat Mahdi
(as) willcome from medina, whereas in another hadith he says that
HazratMahdi (as) "will come from the village of Kara." Imam
al-Qurtubi's at-Tazkirah refers to Hazrat Mahdi (as) coming from the
western part of the Islamic countries . This statement shows that the
large city in which Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be born is in the western
part of the Islamic nations.
In another hadith, our Prophet (saas) tells his interlocutor that
Hazrat Mahdi (as) will perform the spiritual capture of medina, in
other words, a big city. In the account, because there were many
medinas (or big cities), theperson speaking to the Prophet (saas) was
uncertain which medina, in other words which big city, Hazrat Mahdi
(as) would achieve the spiritual conquest of. He therefore asked the
Prophet (saas) which medina (or big city) he meant.
The Prophet (saas) answered that this medina (city) was Constantinople
(Istanbul).
Narrated by ibn Amr, who said: "… The Messenger of Allah (saas) said,
'Six things will happen to this community: … The sixth isthe conquest
of medina.' Iasked, 'O Messenger of Allah, which medina?' He said,
'Constantinople [Istanbul].'" [This is the spiritual conquest of
Istanbul by Hazrat Mahdi (as).]
(Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ali-ashrat al-sa'ah, p. 204; Ahmad Diya ad-Din
al-Kamushkhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith 1/296)
Therefore, the word medina is used by the Prophet (saas) in this
hadith in the sense of a great city in order to referto Istanbul.
Another hadith reveals that HazratMahdi (as) will emerge from the city
that contains the sacred relics, including the sacred banner of our
Prophet (saas). The banner and other sacred relics of the Prophet
(saas) are currently kept in a special section of Istanbul's Topkapi
Palace.
It is related from Abdullah ibn Shurafa that:Hazrat Mahdi (as) will
have the banner of our Prophet (saas) with him. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi,
Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 65)
He [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] willappear with the camel hair banner of the
Prophet (saas). That banner has four corners, isunstitched and black
in color. There is a halo on it.It has not been unfurled since the
death of the Messenger of Allah (saas), but it will be opened when
Hazrat Mahdi (as) appears. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat
al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 23)
As for signs, he [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] will have with him the shirt, the
sword, and the banner of the Messenger of Allah (saas). That banner
has never been unfurled since the death of the Prophet (saas). And, it
will not be unfurled until the appearance of Hazrat Mahdi (as).
(Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, p. 164)
It appears from the abovehadiths that the sacred relics of our Prophet
(saas) are where Hazrat Mahdi (as) is, and that the banner will be
opened up when he appears. Since the sacred relics are in Istanbul, it
is clear that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be in Istanbul, too.
However, one can also seefrom looking at other accounts that the city
of Hazrat Mahdi's (as) birth and the city in the west ofthe Islamic
world is a different medina or city from the one that he will
spiritually conquer. For example, it can be seen from the description
in this hadith that the city that Hazrat Mahdi (as) willcapture,
Istanbul, is one inwhich a dry path will be opened up in the sea, in
other words, in which a bridge system will be used.
During the conquest of Constantinople he [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] will
plant a standard when he goes to make ablution for the morning
prayer,.../