Facsimile · p. 37
"Behold, the date palms of Beisan are no longer fruitful!" Abu Abdullah commented on the events of Abdul Qadir's story and the approaching appearance of the Antichrist. He mentioned that Sheikh Ali Al-Tantawi, may God have mercy on him, stated in his programs on Saudi television in the 1990s that he had passed by Ain Zaghar about fifty years prior on his way to Hajj. He found only ruins there. An elder told him that he too had passed by it fifty years before that, and there were people drawing water from it. That was approximately one hundred years ago. And from the 1990s until now, about thirty years have passed. Therefore, Ain Zaghar has sunk further into ruin and desolation! Indeed, one can barely hear of a village called Ain Zaghar these days; it has completely vanished. As for the Sea of Galilee, two-thirds of its water has receded, leaving only one-third. And the date palms of Beisan are now without fruit or dates. We do not know when they last bore dates. The narration states that the Antichrist asked Tamim Al-Dari and his companions: "Tell me about the date palms of Beisan. We asked: About what aspect do you inquire? He said: I ask you about their date palms, do they bear fruit? We said to him: Yes. He said: Indeed, it is soon that they will not bear fruit." And behold, they do not bear fruit! Al-Tabarani added: "Then he said: What have the Arabs done? What is their clothing? We said: Wool and cotton, which their women spin. He struck his thigh with his hand and said: Far be it!" [Narrated by Muslim].
The Principle of Safety Abu Abdullah realized that staying with Abdul Qadir was of no benefit, especially after all the harm he had caused, extending beyond Abu Abdullah to everyone in his vicinity. Moreover, there was the possibility that he was the Antichrist. Consequently, he chose safety. Abu Abdullah knew with certainty that only his companion, Jesus son of Mary, who would kill him with a spear that would show blood on it, as stated in the authentic hadith, would be empowered against the Antichrist. Here the chapters of Abu Abdullah's story with this man end.
The Sea of Galilee There is a secret in some lakes. When they dry up, it is a sign of the demise of a certain kingdom. In the birth of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, Ibn Jarir mentioned in his history that Lake Sawāh dried up. It was once a vast lake with wide shores, larger than six farsakhs, on which ships sailed. On the night of the Prophet's birth, it became dry. The soothsayers interpreted this as the imminent end of the Persian empire, as if water, the essence of life, when it recedes from a certain place, the state established there perishes. What are the secrets behind this sign? In the story of Tamim Al-Dari, the Antichrist asked about the Sea of Galilee and the proportion of water in it, which continues to decrease. The era of Gog and Magog will not come until the water level reaches its lowest point, and one of them will say, "I remember coming here when there was water." It is as if he had been in the area before.
Imran bin Husayn, may God be pleased with them, said: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his family, said: "Whoever hears of the Antichrist, let him distance himself from him. By Allah! A man will come to him, thinking he is a believer, and follow him because of the doubts he sends, or because of the doubts he sends." [Narrated by Abu Dawud].