The Naim Prophecy

"When you look there, you shall see Na'im and a great kingdom."[1]

Although the literal meaning of the word Na'im is bliss or comfort, it is a word which has manifold significance. The same word points to spiritual comfort which is provided by the revelation of God and material comfort which human beings enjoy through material means. The word Na'im is also linked with the prophecy for the establishment of the universal caliphate of God in the world, which is the source of everlasting comfort for mankind.

This article will first explore the linguistic meaning of the word Na'im. Then it will give an overview of the verses in the Qur'an in which Na'im has been mentioned. Later, it will highlight the different dimensions of Na'im which can be gleaned from Islamic traditions. It will then discuss the relationship between the word Na'im and the universal caliphate of God. The discussion of the latter theme will be based on the words Na'im Muqeem, meaning Abiding comfort, mentioned in the Qur'an[2]. Lastly, the article will show how the word Na'im contains a prophecy for the name of the caliph of God who is alive in the world today. This caliph is the president of the Universal House of Justice, which is the universal government of God on earth. The article will conclude by demonstrating how the Qur'an contains prophecies for this caliph by his name, date, address and mission.

Meaning of the word Na'im Na'ím is an Arabic word consisting of three root letters; Nún, 'Ayn and Mím. Words from this root have the meaning of comfort, luxury and ease. They also have the meanings of favour and blessing which is conferred upon somebody. Some words derived from this root also mean to be soft and delicate. According to Al-Misbah al-Munir, the word Na'im is derived from the verb Tana'-'ama which means to live in comfort and luxury or to enjoy something.[3] According to Mukhtar Al-Sihah, Na'im, like Ni'mah, which comes from the same root, means a bounty or favour which is conferred upon somebody or done to somebody[4]. However, most modern dictionaries only give the meaning of Na'im as comfort, luxury and ease.[5] Some also add the meanings of happiness, bliss and felicity.[6]

By looking at the meanings of the words that come from the same root as Na'im, it seems that the original meaning of this root is to be soft and delicate. From this comes the meaning of comfort, as it is associated with softness and delicacy. Comfort also leads to happiness and bliss. Likewise granting somebody a favour also causes happiness. Taking all this into account, it seems that the word Na'im may mean comfort, favour or happiness.

Na'im in the Qur'an The word Naím occurs in many places in the Qur'an. It describes the wonderful condition of the believers in Paradise and is often used in association with the gardens of paradise. In Surah Al-Ma'idah, the Qur'an says:

'If the people of the Book believed and feared God, we would have removed from them their sins and admitted them into the gardens of Na'im.'[7]

In Surah Tawbah, the great virtue of those who believe in God and in the last day and strive in His path is highlighted. This is concluded by the declaration:

'Their Lord gives them good news of mercy from him and pleasure, and gardens wherein there lies for them abiding Na'im. They shall remain there forever. Surely with God there is a great reward.'[8]

In Surah Yunus it says:

Those who believe and do good deeds, God guides them by their faith. Rivers flow beneath them in the gardens of Na'im.[9]

In Sura Hajj, while talking about the Day of Judgement, God says:

'The Kingdom on that day belongs to God. He will judge between them. Those who have faith and do good works will be in the gardens of Na'im'.[10]

The Qur'an also quotes the prayer of Abraham in Sura Al-Shu'araa. It says:

'And make me of the inheritors of the garden of Na'im'.[11]

In Surah Al-Waqi'ah, people are divided into three groups. The best of them is the group consisting of the foremost ones who are the near-most ones to God. These people are said to be in the gardens of Na'im.[12]

In surah Al-Mutaffifin, after saying that the righteous will abide in Na'im,[13] the Qur'an says:

'You shall recognize the freshness of Na'im on their faces.[14]

These are just some examples of the use of the word Na'im in the Qur'an. There are many more.

Na'im in Islamic traditions An interesting occurrence of the word Na'ím in the Qur'an is in the following verse in Surah Al-Takathur:

Then on that day you will surely be asked about Na'im.'[15]

The above verse says that on the Day of Judgement mankind will surely be asked about Na'im. Many traditions have been narrated from the prophet, his companions and the people of his family regarding the meaning of Na'im in the above verse. These traditions highlight different dimensions of Na'im. While some interpret it as worldly blessings, others interpret it as the guidance of God through his prophets and their successors.

The reason the traditions point out these two aspects of the word Na'im is because human beings are made up of the body which is material and the soul which is spiritual. While the body enjoys material blessings the soul enjoys spiritual happiness and comfort. So, the traditions highlight both aspects of the comfort provided by God for man.

Ibn Mas'ud, an illustrious companion of the Holy Prophet, says that Na'im in the above verse means security and health. Ibn Abbas, another companion of the prophet and his cousin, says that it means the power of hearing and sight and bodily health. He quotes the following verse in support of his view:

'Surely, the power of hearing, seeing and the heart will all be asked about.' [16]

Some scholars say that Na'im in the above verse refers to food and drink. There are many traditions from the Holy prophet which support this view, such as the following:

Jabir Ibn Abdillah says: "The prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr and Umar once came to us. We fed them fresh dates and gave them water to drink. The prophet then said, "this is of the Na'ím regarding which you will be questioned"."[17]

There are also many traditions from the household of the prophet which highlight a different meaning of Na'im. These traditions point out that Na'im means the guidance provided by God through the prophet Muhammad and his household. Below are two examples of these traditions:

Once, Jamil asked Abu Abdillah (imam ja'far Al-Sadiq), "what is the meaning of the word of God, 'Then on that day you shall be asked about Na'im'". The imam replied, "This nation will be asked about the blessings God has conferred upon them through his prophet and his household.[18]

Ayyashi narrates: Abu Hanifah asked Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq regarding the verse 'then on that day you will be asked about Na'im'. Imam Ja'far asked, "What does Na'im mean in your opinion, O Nu'man[19]?" Abu Hanifah replied, "It means sufficient food and cold water." Imam Ja'far said if God stops you before him on the Day of Judgement and asks you about every food you ate and every drink you drank you will indeed be standing before him for a long time. "Then what is Na'im, may I be your ransom", asked Abu Hanifah. Imam Ja'far replied, "We, the Ahlul Bayt (the household of the prophet Muhammad) are the Na'im through which God has bestowed his favour upon his servants. Through us they were united after they had been divided. Through us God unified their hearts and made them brothers after they had been enemies. By us God guided them to Islam. This is the blessing which never ceases. God will ask the people about the right of this Na'im by which he blessed them, which is the prophet and his household.[20]

The first set of traditions show that Na'im refers to the material blessings of this world. The second set of traditions highlight the reality of Na'im, which is the guidance God provides through his prophets and their successors.

The prophecy of the Abiding Na'im In Surah Al-Tawbah, God highlights the great virtue of those who strive in His path and declares that they are indeed the successful ones. Then He gives glad-tidings to these people of happiness and comfort. He says:

"Their lord promises them mercy and pleasure and gardens wherein there is abiding Na'im".[21]

As mentioned earlier, the traditions of the Prophet and his household highlight two different dimensions of Na'im. Both these dimensions are applicable to the word Na'im mentioned in this verse. The words abiding Na'im refer both to the eternal blessings of God which he bestows upon the people of Paradise and the everlasting guidance of God for mankind which he provides for them through His prophets and their successors.

The original words for abiding Na'im in the above verse are Na'im Muqeem. The word Muqeem comes from the verb Aqama which means to live or abide in a certain place. Many people translate it as eternal. The abiding Na'im, as well as describing the eternal blessings of God in Paradise, also contains a prophecy for the establishment of the universal caliphate of God upon the earth.

In the Qur'an, God promises the righteous believers that He will make them his caliphs upon the earth. The Qur'an says:

"God promises those who have faith among you and do good works that he will make them his vicegerents (caliphs) upon the earth as he made those before them. He will establish for them the religion he has chosen for them and change their fear into security. They will worship me without associating any partners with me. He who is ungrateful after this is of the wicked."[22]

In the above verse God promises the righteous believers that he will make them his caliphs upon the earth. The above verse also points out the purpose of this caliphate which is to provide comfort and security to humanity. The same promise is also contained in the Zabur. The Qur'an says:

We have written in the Zabur after the remembrance (The Torah) that the earth shall be inherited by my righteous servants.[23]

The inheritance of the earth by the righteous servants of God is the establishment of the caliphate of God upon the earth. The Qur'an also points out that God has chosen the line of Dawud for His caliphate. The Qur'an says:

"O Dawud, we have made you a caliph upon the earth, so judge between people with justice."[24]

The Qur'an further says:

"Sulayman inherited from Dawud.."[25]

This shows that the line of Dawud is the line of the caliphate of God upon the earth.

The Zabur also says that the line of Dawud is the line of the eternal caliphate of God upon the earth. In the Zabur, while addressing God, the prophet Dawud says:

Thou hast said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: 'I will establish your descendants for ever, and build your throne for all generations.'" [Selah][26]

Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David. His line shall continue forever, and his throne endure before me like the sun. It shall be established forever like the moon, an enduring witness in the skies." Selah[27]

The Qur'an says that God gave Dawud the kingdom and wisdom.

"Dawud killed Jalut and God gave him the kingdom and wisdom and taught him from whatsoever he wished."[28]

This shows that God gave Dawud both the caliphate and the kingdom.

As seen earlier, the traditions of the Ahlul Bayt point out that Na'im refers to the guidance God gives mankind through his prophets and their successors. In the past the prophets used to come and give guidance to mankind. After them their successor used to guide mankind for a while. After this, mankind was surrounded by darkness. However, in the universal caliphate of God, the government of God which is his caliphate is always present among mankind. This is the meaning of the abiding Na'im, meaning the eternal comfort.

Na'im as prophecy for the current caliph of God As well as containing the prophecy for the universal caliphate of God upon the earth, the word Na'im also contains prophecy for the identity of the present caliph of God who is alive in the world today. His name is Neal Chase and he is the president of the Universal House of Justice in the Rocky Mountains of the USA.

The present caliph is foretold in the Qur'an by the name 'Na'im'. The Qur'an says:

'When you look there you shall see Na'im and a great kingdom'.[29]

The above verse says to Muhammad that he shall see "Na'im and a great kingdom". This verse is a prophecy for a person called Na'im who is the head of God's great universal kingdom.

The present caliph was born in America to a Jewish family. His father named him Nahum Khazinov which is a Hebrew name. He later became known by Neal Chase which is his Anglicized name. The meaning of the word Nahum is comfort. It is equivalent to the word Na'im in Arabic which also means comfort. Khazinov means vision or prophecy. In the above verse, the prophet Muhammad is told that he will have the vision of Na'im. The word vision is also the meaning of Khazinov which is the second name of the present caliph.

The verse mentioned earlier from Surah Al-Tawbah says:

"Their lord promises them His mercy and pleasure and gardens wherein there is abiding Na'im".[30]

The above verse contains a prophecy for the address of the present caliph. As mentioned earlier, the word muqeem, in Na'im muqeem, which means abiding comfort, comes from the word Aqama which means to live somewhere or abide in a certain place. The above verse can be translated as follows:

'Their lord promises them His mercy and pleasure and gardens wherein Na'im lives'.

So, the above verse points to the place where the present caliph, who is called Na'im, lives. In another verse, the Qur'an points out that the gardens in which Na'im lives are the gardens under which rivers flow. The Qur'an says:

'Those who believe and do good works, God will guide them by their faith. Rivers will flow beneath them in the gardens of Na'im'.[31]

The above verse points to the place where the Universal government of the kingdom of God is located where the present caliph called Na'im lives. This is the city of Missoula in Montana in the USA. This city is graced with one of the richest aquifers (underground water supplies) in the world.[32] The Qur'an accurately points out that this is the place where the present caliph resides.

The present caliph ascended the throne on 21 September 2001 after the bombings of the trade towers in the USA. This date is contained in Surat Al-Takathur in the verse:

"Then on that day you will surely be asked about Al-Na'im."

Na'im is the name of the present caliph of God. There are two important dates when mankind found out about Na'im. The first was in the year 2001 after the bombing of the twin towers. This was when Na'im ascended the throne. The second was in the year 2010 when the prophecies of Na'im were discovered from the Holy Qur'an.

The following verses point accurately to the first date of 2001 when the present caliph ascended the throne.

'You will surely see the great burning fire (Jaheem). Then you will surely see it (the great burning fire) with the eye of certainty (Al-Yaqeen). Then on that day you will surely be asked about Al-Na'im'.[33]

Jaheem in Arabic means a great burning fire.[1] According to Mukhtar Al-Sihah every big fire in a big hole is called Jaheem. The first verse tells us that we will see a great burning fire. Then the second verse says that we shall see it with the eye of certainty. In the year 2001, mankind witnessed the burning of the twin towers of the world trade centre with the eye of certainty. The above verses tell us that after seeing this great fire, we will be asked about Na'im. This shows that mankind will find out about Na'im after the great fire of the 9/11. The present caliph of God ascended the throne on 21 September 2001 only 10 days after the bombing of New York on 11 September 2001.

The word Al-Na'im (comfort) and Al-Yaqeen (certainty) in the above verses are both equivalent to 201. They reflect the date of 2001. When raised by the power of 10 they also reveal the date when mankind discovered the prophecy of Na'im from the Qur'an. This word contains both the name and the dates for the present caliph of God. The mission of the present caliph is to bring unity among the different races and religions of the world. His mission is to invite all of mankind to give up war and conflict over oil and religion and to unite as one single body. This message brings comfort to humanity, which points to the mission of the current caliph.

[1] Al-Dahr 76:20 [2] Qur'an: Al-Tawbah 9:21

[3] Al-Misbah Al-Munir: Al-Fayyumi, A. ( ) Beirut. Darul Fikr & Baalabaki, R. (1995) Beirut: Dar El-Ilm Lilmalayin.

[4] Mukhtar Al-Sihah: Al-Razi, M. (1981). Beirut: Darul Fikr

[5] Al-Mu'jam Al-Wasit

[6] Baalabaki, opsit & J, M, Cowan. (1976) New York :Spoken Language Services, Inc.

[7] Qur'an Al-Ma'idah 5:65

[8] Qur'an: Al-Tawbah 9:22

[9] Qur'an: Yunus 10:9

[10] Qur'an: Al-Hajj 22:56

[11] Qur'an : Al-Shu'araa' 26:85

[12] Qur'an: Al-Waqi'ah 56:12

[13] Qur'an: Al-Tatfeef 82:13

[14] Qur'an: Al-Tatfeef 83:22 & 24

[15] Ibid 102:8

[16] Qur'an: Bani Isra'eel 17:36

[17] Jami'ul Bayan fí Tafsír Al-Qur'an, Al-Tabari, (d.310AH)

[18] Tafisr of the Qur'an: Ali Ibn Ibrahim Qummi

[19] Imam Abu Hanifah was also known as Abu Hanifah Al-Nu'man

[20] Tafsir Majma' Al-Bayan: Tabrasi

[21] Q9:21

[22] Al-Nur 24:55

[23] Qur'an: Al-Anbiya 21:105

[24] Qur'an: Saad 38:26

[25] Qur'an: Al-Naml 27:16

[26] Psalms 89: 3-4

[27] Psalms 89:35-37

[28] Qur'an: Al-Baqarah 2:251

[29] Al-Dahr 76:20

[30] Qur'an: Al-Tawbah 9:21

[31] Qur'an: Yunus 10:9

[32] River of Life Missoulian 27 October 2002 http://missoulian.com/article_1d0b3843-4c06-506d-a7a8-a5def1636ed7.html [Accessed 14-12-12]

[33] Qur'an: Al-Takathur 102:6-8

[34] Lughatul Qur'an: Abdul-Rasheed Nu'mani, Nadwatul Musannifeen, Delhi.