ADNAN OKTAR:Mahdism will a system that is full democracy. In other words, the system of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is one that will completely eradicate any fanatical, bigoted system. That is why some scholars of Islamic law oppose Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). They will be unable to adapt to his conception of liberty, democracy, love, compassion, cleanliness and humanity and they will be taken aback. Since their heads are full of killing, butchery and repression, Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh) conception of freedom will be very foreign to them. And that is why they will regard him as a heretic or abnormal. Imam Rabbani discusses this to be one of the most important subjects, those scholars of Islamic law. Some fanatical bigots in other words, will want the fanatical, bigoted status quo to continue. When they see no sign of that in Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), they will oppose him.

The polytheists in the time of our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) were also very fanatical and narrow minded. People imagine these people were very relaxed or else who had particular qualities and wanted freedom, albeit a distorted kind. No, there is no such thing. The polytheists are fiercely opposed to freedom and have very strict rules. When our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) arrived, they were hugely taken aback by his conception of freedom. Almighty Allah describes our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) as follows in one verse; "relieving them of their heavy loads and the chains which were around them." (Surah Al-Araf, 157) He relieved them of their chains, removed those heavy loads and gave them freedom. A great liberty arose with the coming of our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace). In other words, the great pressure on society that weighed so heavily on people was totally lifted. And with the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), the intense pressure weighing people down will again be lifted.

PRESENTER II: Those chains have appeared once again in the End Times.

ADNAN OKTAR: Of course. The current global system is not built on trust in human beings. It is built on distrust of them. But the system established at that time will be built on trust and love of people. The system will be arranged to suit human beings. The current system is arranged to suit states, the interests of the states. But this one will be entirely human-centered, and based on human interests.

PRESENTER I: Our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) basically struggled against ignorance in those days, didn't he?

ADNAN OKTAR: The Qur'an describes at length how the polytheists of those times had the wildest beliefs and most abnormal traditions. Essentially, they too prayed and had their own ways of fasting. And in worshiping their idols, they were saying, "We believe in Allah, idols are our instruments." They rejected the contrary. Of course, they were ascribing equals to Allah. But they had traditions, for instance they have lists of what cannot be eaten, the list goes on forever. They have a list of what can be eaten, but with conditions. They developed a bigoted system regarding how they could eat what: "These things are to be eaten in this way, one can speak to such and such people but not to others, this is what you have to do if you meet so-and-so etc." Unbelievable rules, but they had thousands, or tens of thousands of rules and traditions. Our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) did away with them all. That is why Hazrat Ali (pbuh), Hazrat Hassan (pbuh) and Hazrat Husayn (pbuh) were so joyful and extroverted and full of life. The polytheists of the time really envied them. The characteristic of the traitors who martyred them is that they were polytheists. They were Muslims, but polytheists, hypocrites in other words.

In essence, the people who martyred them prayed five times a day, used the misvak [a fibrous stick used as a toothbrush], wore turbans, jubbas and everything. They set up the dirar [mischief] masjid saying, "We can worship better in this masjid, come to this one." They did not approve the masjid our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) used. "Look, it is much better for us to pray here. Let us all pray here," they said. In other words, while they acted as if in the name of Allah, they maintained they were full of fear of Allah. And they did not approve of Hazrat Hasan (pbuh) or Hazrat Husayn (pbuh). They claimed Hazrat Ali (pbuh) to be deviant also. They regarded Hazrat Osman (pbuh) and Hazrat Umar (pbuh) as heretics, too. "What kind of religion is this?" they were saying. "Religion should be fanatical, and bigoted, and traditional. This is unacceptable," they said. It was the polytheists and hypocrites of the time, traitors who called themselves Muslims, who murdered my beloved grandfather Hazrat Husayn (pbuh). These ones prayed five times a day. They martyred him as if in the name of Allah, I am not sure if you are aware of this. They cried out "Allah, Allah" as they martyred him. Such vulgar they were. And that is how they martyred Hazrat Ali (pbuh). They martyred him as if in the name of Allah, and acted out of blind tradition and polytheistic bigotry. They could not accept our Prophet's (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) conception of liberty. They built a separate masjid, the masjid of dirar [mischief], because they hated our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace), may Allah forbid. They regarded our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) as far too libertarian, they did not approve of this.

PRESENTER I: Why were they so upset? Surely people desire freedoms, isn't that right?

ADNAN OKTAR: They wanted tradition and bigotry. They aspired to enter their homes and have little to eat, wear few clothes, and sit there in the dark all filthy, looking at nobody, never smiling or happy. In other words, they wanted to kill themselves. They desired this, which is the polytheist mindset. That includes not eating many things that are permitted. They cut animals' ears off, for instance. They applied special rules to women, the polytheists of the time. But when they became Muslims, they still could not relinquish their polytheism. The Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) tried to get rid of that, but was unable. They saw how Hazrat Ali (pbuh) was joyful and so happy and extroverted and full of life, and they martyred him right away. The same with Hazrat Husayn (pbuh), they martyred him straightaway. Hazrat Umar (pbuh) and Hazrat Osman (pbuh), the same applied. They saw that these people were really the heirs of our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace). Eventually, very gradually, over the long term, they conveyed some Muslims to their own line. And that badly damaged Islam.

PRESENTER II: Did they try, in their own eyes, to give rise to a new religion?

ADNAN OKTAR: In their own eyes, of course. They entirely abandoned Sunni belief which is the Sunnah of the Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace). Theirs was something totally different. They established unbelievably heretical sects and beliefs. Sunni scholars held out against them, but only to a point. The final duty now lies with Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh).

PRESENTER II: In that case, events of that time are being repeated in the End Times.

ADNAN OKTAR: Of course. For example, Hazrat Imam Rabbani strove very hard to put right that damage and devastation at that time.