ADNAN OKTAR:Let me cite a verse. Verse 248 of Surat al-Baqara: “The Prophet said to them, ‘The sign of his kingship’...” Let us say that aspect of the proof of Hazrat Mahdi’s (pbuh) leadership that refers to the End Times, “the Ark will come to you,” in other words the Ark of the Covenant of the Prophet Moses (pbuh). “...containing serenity from your Lord.” A feeling of security and peace will come to you with its discovery. This is one of its attributes, the wisdom of Allah, it is instrumental in giving peace and security into people’s hearts. Because they carried it in all their wars, the Ark, and the believers of the time rejoiced whenever they saw it. “...certain relics left by the families of Moses and Aaron,”: from both the family of Moses and from the family of Aaron. “It will be borne by angels.” Allah says it will be under the control of angels. “There is a sign for you in that if you are believers.” There is evidence. What is evidence? Proof that you bring forward. Allah says it is evidence, insha’Allah.

“Following Saul’s war against Goliath, the Ark fell into Goliath’s hands for a short time. But the Prophet David (pbuh) later killed Goliath and the Ark was thus restored to David. The Ark of the Covenant was carried to Jerusalem. The Prophet David (pbuh) bequeathed the Ark to the Prophet Solomon (pbuh), who ruled after him.” It came under the control of the Prophet Solomon (pbuh). “The Ark was placed in the Temple erected by the Prophet Solomon (pbuh) and remained in the Bayt-al Maqdis, the Masjid al-Aqsa, until 587 BC, when the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, captured Jerusalem, devastating it and sending all the Jews in it into exile.” They were the Muslims of the times, the Jews were Muslims, and that was the true faith of the time. “The Ark was then lost.” It was not lost, but hidden away and “no trace of it was ever found again.” Allah preserved it.

“It was regarded as having been preserved in Jerusalem between 587 BC and 70 AD,” but that is not so. It was carried out of Jerusalem. Because Jerusalem was dangerous and under occupation, and it was being sought everywhere. The Ark is not in Jerusalem, I know that, insha’Allah. “The Jews are not looking for the Ark since they believe it will only appear following the coming of the Messiah, the King Messiah, Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh).” They are not looking for it because only Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will find it. He [Hazrat Mahdi] is referred to as the King Messiah in the Torah. I mean they are looking for it, of course, but they cannot find it, but surely they are seeking it. “The Ark is also very important for Christians since they regard it as a sign of the reappearance on Earth of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh).” They are also looking for it, but cannot find it, insha’Allah.

“When the Ark was being carried, it was kept hidden under a white screen, and even those carrying it were thus prevented from seeing it.” The Ark was covered over. It was never shown to the people, only opened rarely and the covering only rarely removed.

Let me read a description from the Torah: “Have them make a chest of acacia wood,” it says. True, the inner structure is of acacia wood. “Two and a half cubits long,” or about 1 meter, approximately 1.20. “a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.,” 60 cm, or even higher 80 cm. “Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out,.” They are giving their own measurements here. That is the equivalent of an ell. It should be 120 cm and  80 cm, to the best of my knowledge. “Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out.” This is true, it is gilded with gold inside and out. “and make a gold molding around it.” That is also right. “Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet,” That is also right. “with two rings on one side and two rings on the other.” That is right, as well. “Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the chest to carry it.” True. There are smooth rods made of flat acacia wood, but they are covered in gold, but seem not to be covered in gold, of course. It appears to be made of pure gold, as if carved with a razor, perfectly flat. One cannot tell by looking that it is made of wood. “The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.  Then put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you.”  “..the Testimony, which I will give you.” The stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments given to the Prophet Moses (pbuh) are inscribed are inside it. “Make an atonement cover of pure gold--two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.” “And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.” A cherub is like a flying human figure. They intend them as angels, but they are not angels, they look like human beings. They cannot depict an angel, angels look totally different. They are figurines meant to represent angels. “Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other;” they face one another, and that is also true. “make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward,” true. “overshadowing the cover with them.” That is also true. “The cherubim are to face each other,” true, “looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you.” “There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the Ark of the Testimony [Ark of the Covenant], I will meet with you and give you all My commands for the Israelites.”

Allah says He will manifest Himself from it, that He will make His voice heard from over the Ark. As you know, He also spoke to the Prophet Moses (pbuh) from a burning bush, insha’Allah. So this is an extraordinary Ark, no ordinary chest. “There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all My commands for the Israelites,” He says He will speak from between those figures, that image, (Exodus 25/22). “The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction.” This is true, they were given to the Prophet Moses (pbuh) in the form of stone tablets.

“The reason why he is called the Mahdi (pbuh),” See, our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) explains, “is that he shows the way to something hidden.” Allah will impart knowledge of something hidden, the knowledge of how to find it. Allah will show it in this way, through knowledge, insha’Allah. “From a place called Antioch,” that is Hatay, which is in Turkish territory. See, Mount Agri is also in Turkish territory, and Noah’s Ark has been found there. All places where Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is, if you notice, insha’Allah. “He will produce the Ark of the Covenant from a place called Antioch.” Suyuti says this, the imam of the hadiths. (Suyuti, al- Hawi  al-Fatawa, II. 82) “Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will produce the Ark of the Covenant from a cave in Antioch.” (Naim ibn Hammad, Kitab-al Fitan). I am saying this because it is in the hadiths, and is not something to be kept hidden. “Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will produce the Ark of the Covenant from a cave in Antioch.”  “He will produce the original Torah from a mountain in Damascus.” He will produce the scroll of the original Torah from a cave in Damascus, the Torah written on parchment in the form of a scroll and “many Jews will become Muslims” he says (Risalat al-Khuruj al-Mahdi, p. 124-125).

Moreover, a search will also be conducted in Lake Tiberias, on the lake floor. This is a fresh water lake, one of the very deepest lakes. It is the second lowest-altitude lake on Earth, but a fresh water lake, masha’Allah. See, a second sign; “Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will bring the Ark of the Covenant forth from Lake Tiberias.” It is good we have these two statements. Because there really is something in Lake Tiberias. Its bed is mud, it is under the bed of the lake, and a wide-ranging search will be conducted, insha’Allah.