MARTIN DZURIS: We have Mr. Adnan Oktar on the phone with my producer Nathan. So let's put him through.

OKTAR BABUNA: My name is Oktar Babuna. I'll be doing the translation on behalf of Mr. Harun Yahya. Mr. Adnan Oktar is here also.

MARTIN DZURIS: Excellent. So I've been contacted by Mr. Oktar's spokesperson. Because we had a guest on the show Walid Shoebatand Mr. Shoebat actually mentioned Mr. Oktar, that Mr. Oktar supports the building of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount. Can you tell us something about that?

ADNAN OKTAR: Yes, insha'Allah, by Allah's leave, we will build the Masjid of Hazrat Solomon (pbuh) identically to the original. We know from the hadith that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will do this himself. And we, as the followers of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), the vanguard, as his helpers, will of course carry the stones for that Masjid. We will play a part in the gilding, insha'Allah. And that is not all. We will rebuild the Masjid of Hazrat Abraham (pbuh) and the Masjid of Hazrat Jacob (pbuh) also. We will thus literally turn Jerusalem into a paradise, insha'Allah. Christians, Muslims and Jews, members of all three faiths, will be able to worship freely there, insha'Allah.

MARTIN DZURIS: Well, butthis is a very unique view because most Muslims do not support of the building of the Jewish Temple on Temple Mount. Why does Mr. Oktar have a different view on this?

ADNAN OKTAR: Those who do not support it think in that way out of a lack of knowledge. Because the Masjid of Hazrat Solomon (pbuh) is described in great detail in the Qur'an. It is praised. It is described as a lovely and magnificent place. We will restore this Masjid to be the same as the original, or even more perfect and beautiful, insha'Allah, and will bring that beauty out. This is also a portent of the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) in the End Times. It is one of the tasks Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will perform. I, as a follower of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) make that request as one who is preparing his way.

MARTIN DZURIS: The Mahdi that is the Muslim savior that is going to come. Does the Jewish Temple have to be built before the Mahdi comes or is the Mahdi going to build the Temple?

ADNAN OKTAR: It will be done when Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) comes. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will preach the word for around 40 years. His work will be to preach and spread Islam and to eliminate Darwinism and materialism. Said Nursi said this 50-60 years ago. He will then commence the work of building the Islamic world. He will begin his work in the sphere of governance and politics. This rebuilding of the Masjid belongs to that period.

MARTIN DZURIS: In your view is the coming of the Mahdi soon?

ADNAN OKTAR: In my view, Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) has already come.

MARTIN DZURIS: Is Mr. Oktar the Mahdi?

ADNAN OKTAR: I am not Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). I am a follower of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). I am an ordinary soldier and member of his vanguard. I am preparing the way for him. Besides, I can give another piece of glad tidings; the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) has also returned.

MARTIN DZURIS: Jesus has already returned. Did I hear correctly?

ADNAN OKTAR: Yes. It is true. He has come to a Christian community reminiscent of Islam. He was deposited in a sleeping state. He was left with his original clothes, the clothes he wore 2000 years ago and the same shoes he wore then in their original form. When he wakes up, people will first see him as someone unaware of and unable to remember his own past. Then they will realize he is the Prophet Jesus (pbuh).

MARTIN DZURIS: I see. And so he is right now living somewhere in the Middle East and so is the Mahdi?

ADNAN OKTAR: The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is in hiding at the moment. He is at work in America and Europe and Israel. He has a small group of followers and is working with them. The hadiths put the number of his followers at 1400, and the number of Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh) followers at 313.

MARTIN DZURIS: Is this person [Jesus (pbuh)] well-known? Is he a world leader? Or is he not known to the public yet?

ADNAN OKTAR: He is unknown. He is hidden. His followers are hiding him for his own safety.

MARTIN DZURIS: And what about the Mahdi?

ADNAN OKTAR: Unlike the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is working in the open, among people. He is within the society. The hadiths even say he is like the Prophet Joseph (pbuh), and that he sees people, but they do not see him. People do not recognize him. They imagine that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is just a normal member of the public. They will not recognize him until the last moment.

The hadiths say he resembles the Prophet Joseph (pbuh). In the same way his brothers did not recognize him [the Prophet Joseph (pbuh)], so the people around him will not recognize Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). But the Prophet Joseph (pbuh) recognized his brothers, and according to the hadith, things will work out in that way again.

MARTIN DZURIS: Okay. Does the Islamic caliphate have to be established before the Mahdi (pbuh) reveals himself?

ADNAN OKTAR: Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will come as a spiritual leader of Muslims. If people want to refer to this as a caliphate, they can do so. But he will appear as a person whom everyone loves, trusts, seeks advice from and listens to. He appears in the same way in the Torah. It says he reign only over his couch, from his own home. In other words, the structure [of his ruling] is not one we are familiar with. He will rule the world with love, friendship and brotherhood.

MARTIN DZURIS: I understand. I read something that Mr. Oktar is supporting something called the Turkish-Islamic Union. What is that?

ADNAN OKTAR: It is the unification of the Islamic world under Turkish leadership, under the leadership of the Turkic world. The founding of a Turkish-Islamic Union led by Turkey. That is my ideal. Because Turkish society interprets Islam so well. They are a nation who knows warmth, friendship and brotherhood and who are loyal, courageous, well-intentioned and clean. They are the natural leader. It is therefore essential Turkey be the leader. That is why we state this to be the Turkish-Islamic Union.

MARTIN DZURIS: What role does Ahmedinejad play in Mr. Oktar's view? Is he doing the right thing to bring the Mahdi? Or is Ahmedinejad wrong?

ADNAN OKTAR: As you know, the Shiites have been awaiting Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) for hundreds of years. The Sunnis are also awaiting him. The Jews are awaiting Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) in the same way. The Mahdi (pbuh) awaited by the Jews is the same as that awaited by Muslims. Jews call him the King Messiah or he is referred as Shiloh. They are awaiting Shiloh. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is the same person as Shiloh. For that reason, an excellent period in which Jews, Christians and Muslims, the members of all three faiths, will live at ease is approaching. The members of the three faiths will live in feelings of friendship and brotherhood in peace at the time of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), insha'Allah.

Ahmadinejad is under the control of the Mahdi (pbuh), meaning he is devoted to him. As you know, the Iranian Constitution is valid until the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). The Iranian Constitution will be annulled in effect with the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). They will then just do what Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) says. It will be an excellent time in that sense.

MARTIN DZURIS: But Ahmedinejad is trying to destroy Israel and Mr. Oktar is saying that the Mahdi is going to bring peace and the Mahdi will rebuild the Temple. Is that going to be after Israel is destroyed or is it going to be destroyed?

ADNAN OKTAR: There are two elements here; for one thing, our Jewish brothers are saying, "We can and must rebuild the Masjid of Solomon without awaiting the coming of the Messiah, or Shiloh", when it is clear that it is Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) who will do that job. This is very, very wrong. That statement is the opposite of Judaic belief and the hadiths. It goes against the pronouncements in the Torah and the signs in the Qur'an. The Masjid will be built in the time of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), peacefully, with no conflict or protests. This is made clear in the Torah. It will be rebuilt without force or without making a scene. We can see how important this is in terms of it happening in the time of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). I want to stress this point in particular.

In addition, the Iranian administration, army and government are all under the shade of the Mahdi (pbuh). In other words, they are under the spiritual protection of the system of the Mahdi (pbuh). It is therefore impossible for them to take any uncontrolled, unbalanced or surprise actions. What is more, there are Muslims, Christians and devout Jews in Israel. We would bring the sky down on anyone who attempted mass slaughter there [in Israel]. Let me tell you that. It is out of the question.

MARTIN DZURIS: I understand. Walid Shoebatwas saying, which also not a mainstream belief that Christian antichrist is going to be a Muslim and that he is going to deceive the Jewish people, they will believe in him and then the antichrist will turn on the Jews. You are saying that the Mahdi is going to bring peace to Israel and he is going to rebuild the Temple. So how come is the Mahdi not the antichrist as Walid Shoebatsays it is?

ADNAN OKTAR: Yes, some evangelical masons make such an allegation. They are trying to divide Muslims and Jews and Christians and Muslims by spreading such a cruel expectation of the Mahdi (pbuh). If a Muslim leader stands up and wants to oppress or kill Jews, they say that person is very sound. But if he arises with an understanding of peace, brotherhood and love, they say he is the dajjal (antichrist). One would have to be a child not to see that such people who say that are in fact the dajjal (antichrist).

Let me say this in short; when Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) appears, he will work hard and ensure that Islam rules the world. He will ensure the security of Israel and the Christians and Jews living in Israel. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will turn the noise coming from these people who say he is the dajjal (antichrist) into peace and security. He will show that the person who claims the Mahdi (pbuh) to be the dajjal (antichrist) at these people's head is himself the dajjal (antichrist). After him, peace and well-being will rule the world. When the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) comes he will neutralize the leader of those who say that peace and brotherhood are the system of the dajjal (antichrist). The hadiths say this will be the death of the dajjal (antichrist). But the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will slay him spiritually. Because the Prophet (saas) says in the hadiths that when the dajjal (antichrist) sees the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), he will dissolve like salt in water. In other words, he will die a spiritual death. Bediuzzaman says that a germ or a cold will slay his body. That is why people who are the antichrist will accuse others of being the antichrist. This is a feature of the dajjal (antichrist) in the End Times. It is clearly impossible not to see that someone who claims peace and brotherhood to be the dajjal holds the opinions of the dajjal himself. That is very clear.

MARTIN DZURIS: Okay. Where can people find more information if they want to about Mr. Oktar and his books?

OKTAR BABUNA: Yes. His main web site address is www.harunyahya.com. If you go to the web site, you can download the books free of charge and all the documentaries free of charge. He has more than 300 books, which are translated to more than 70 languages.

MARTIN DZURIS: Does he write all his books by himself, or does he have people helping him?

ADNAN OKTAR: I have a team of 30 people, a group of my friends who are made up of professors and assistant professors, who speak Arabic and English very well. They bring me the information on which my books are based, and I just interpret the facts and make the connections between them.

MARTIN DZURIS: What is Mr. Oktar's opinion about when Jesus Christ and the Mahdi, when are they going to reveal themselves to the world?

ADNAN OKTAR: In my view, within the next 10 years, around 2021.

MARTIN DZURIS: Both at the same time?

ADNAN OKTAR: More or less. Because the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will proclaim the existence of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) to the world. He will propel him to prayer by putting his hands on his shoulders, and will announce that he is the Imam and the Mahdi. This statement will attract great esteem because of his being a Prophet possessed of revelation.

MARTIN DZURIS: Okay, I have one more question for Mr. Oktar. Earlier in his life, he was not friendly to Israel. He wrote in 1996 the book, "The Holocaust Lie". What has made Mr. Oktar change his mind and now promote peace between the religions and be supportive of the Temple being built?

ADNAN OKTAR: It was someone else who wrote that book. He produced a book based on the collection of my notes and on his own collected notes. I subsequently issued a formal warning to him. The authorization of the books that belong to me is definitely on my name. They appear in my own name with my own signature. Their authorization belongs to me. But that book's authorization did not bear my name. But at that time, there were my colleagues who wanted to publish a book by putting the preparatory work and the documentation together. It was one of those people. I then said that the book was not intended as I wanted, and it was therefore withdrawn from circulation. My own book on the subject was later published.

Books supposedly bearing my name appear in many parts of the world outside my control. But I do not make a serious reaction. I only take legal action if they contain ideas that conflict with my own. That is what happened with that book.

MARTIN DZURIS: Okay, well thank you very much. Does Mr. Oktar want to say something in the closing?

ADNAN OKTAR: I would like to add that the world is entering an age of peace. Love, brotherhood, friendship, dialogue, goodness, beauty, aesthetic, art, science and freedom will enfold the whole world. My greetings, and respect to everyone. May Allah bestow ease, joy and happiness on them all.

They can find all kinds of information on my web sites. I want them to have a good understanding of Islam and the Qur'an. Good evening.

MARTIN DZURIS: Thank you very much. We appreciate your time and good luck to you.

ADNAN OKTAR: Thank you, too.

MARTIN DZURIS: You are welcome. You have a good night. I know it is very late in Turkey. It is early morning so go get some sleep. Good night.

ADNAN OKTAR: Thank you.

MARTIN DZURIS: Thank you. Bye bye.