I have been posting about some apocalyptic sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, which are found in the collections known as the Hadith. Such sayings are numerous, and at so many points, they echo the lore found among contemporary Christians. Taken with those Christian documents, in fact, they suggest the depth of the apocalyptic fascination that inspired the Near East at this time, and which spanned faith boundaries. These documents might even have Christian origins.
Many of these texts are found in the collection known as Sahih Muslim, and specifically the section, â??Pertaining To Turmoil And Portents Of The Last Hourâ? (Kitab Al-Fitan Wa Ashrat As-Saâ??Ah). Here is a sample, which is striking for how closely it echoes the kind of ideas found in Christian apocalyptic at this time, and indeed long afterwards (The Dajjal is the Antichrist):
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