Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, Jan. 1, 2025 By AimanAbir18plus – Own work, CC BY 4.0, Wikipedia
Countering the Teachings of Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq: The Finality of Judgment and Reincarnation
The teachings presented by Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan in the dialogue promote a belief in reincarnation and multiple opportunities for spiritual elevation through cycles of lives. He also validates the Gnostic mystical book Al-Haft Al-Shareef as containing truth, tying it to the concept of reincarnation and the “Raj’a” (return). These teachings, however, are in direct contradiction to Christian doctrine, which affirms the uniqueness and finality of Jesus Christ’s incarnation, the concept of one life followed by judgment, and the sufficiency of salvation through faith in Christ. The biblical stance on these topics starkly refutes the ideas espoused by Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan.
1. The Finality of Judgment and Reincarnation
Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan agrees with the notion that once a person’s incarnations are over, it is their final opportunity for spiritual elevation. After this, the person will face “personal judgment.” The implication of this doctrine is that there is a continual cycle of lives, and each life is merely another chance to be tested, with judgment being postponed until after the final incarnation.
The biblical view stands in sharp contrast to this concept. Hebrews 9:27 clearly affirms the finality of death and judgment: “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” According to this verse, there is no cycle of death and rebirth. Instead, each person lives one life, and at the end of that life, they face the judgment of God. The idea of reincarnation contradicts the Christian understanding that each person’s eternal destiny is sealed at death, based on the choices they make in this single life.
2. The Nature of Death and Reincarnation
Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan refers to “Wafat” (death) as the conclusion of one’s cycle of incarnations, which supposedly ends once the individual has completed their spiritual testing. He argues that death marks a transition, after which there will be no further incarnations for that individual. This teaching echoes the Eastern religious notion of samsara, or the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
However, the Bible teaches that death is the end of the earthly life and the beginning of a new reality, either eternal life with God or eternal separation from Him. Jesus Himself asserts in Matthew 25:46, “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” There is no biblical concept of multiple opportunities for reincarnation. Death is not a cyclical transition but a decisive moment leading to the final judgment. The Bible affirms that after death comes judgment, and after judgment, the eternal fate of an individual is sealed. There is no second chance in the next life.
Additionally, the apostle Paul warns against being deceived by false doctrines, including those that promote cycles of reincarnation. In Galatians 1:8, he writes, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” This caution should be applied to the teachings of reincarnation, which directly contradict the gospel of Jesus Christ.
3. The Deceptive Nature of Gnostic Teachings
Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan expresses his admiration for Al-Haft Al-Shareef, a Gnostic text that explores ideas related to reincarnation. Despite acknowledging the presence of “a small amount of corruption” in the text, he elevates it as one of the greatest books of all time. This perspective, however, aligns with a key principle of Gnostic traditions: the belief that hidden or esoteric knowledge is superior to the plain teachings of Scripture.
The Bible repeatedly warns against such Gnostic ideas, which often present themselves as secret or superior knowledge hidden from the masses. In 1 Timothy 6:20-21, Paul exhorts Timothy, “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge,’ for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.” This warning is crucial for discernment, as Gnostic doctrines like reincarnation are not only unbiblical but also lead people away from the truth of God’s Word.
Furthermore, the apostle John in 1 John 4:1 urges believers to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” The fact that Al-Haft Al-Shareef contains corrupt teachings is a clear signal that it should not be elevated as a trustworthy source of truth. The Bible alone is the final and complete revelation of God, and any teaching that deviates from it is suspect and should be rejected.
4. The Problem with Elevating to Angelic Status
In his teachings, Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan makes the claim that angels can become human, but humans cannot become angels. This concept seems to imply that there is some form of fluidity between the two realms, with angels being able to take human form. However, the Bible is clear that angels and humans are distinct creations, with separate roles and purposes in God’s plan.
Hebrews 1:14 explicitly affirms the role of angels: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” Angels are spiritual beings created by God for specific purposes, and there is no biblical basis for the idea that they can assume human form, nor that humans can elevate to angelic status. This idea is contrary to the Christian understanding of both the nature of angels and the unique role of human beings in God’s creation.
In fact, the Bible describes the ultimate purpose of human beings as being in fellowship with God through Christ, not as aspiring to become angels. Jesus affirms this in Matthew 22:30, where He teaches, “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” This suggests that in the afterlife, humans will be transformed to a state similar to angels, but this does not imply humans can become angels during their earthly lives.
The idea of humans becoming angels diminishes the uniqueness of God’s creation and undermines the special relationship between humanity and God, as described in Genesis 1:26-27, where God created humans in His image, distinct from all other creatures.
5. The Deceptive Claim of Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan’s Incarnation
One of the most troubling aspects of Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan’s teachings is his claim that he is the incarnation of Al-Hussein, the son of Ali. He asserts that he has knowledge of people’s past incarnations and that he, too, has reincarnated from past lives. This claim undermines the sufficiency of Jesus Christ’s work and is incompatible with Christian doctrine, which affirms that Jesus Christ’s incarnation is unique and sufficient for the salvation of humanity.
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the only incarnate Son of God. In John 14:6, Jesus Himself states, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is no biblical support for the idea that anyone else could incarnate as a past figure, such as Al-Hussein. The uniqueness of Christ’s incarnation is a cornerstone of Christian belief, and the idea of other incarnations serves only to detract from His work.
Moreover, in Colossians 1:15-19, Paul describes Christ as “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation,” and “in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” This affirms the supremacy and uniqueness of Christ’s incarnation, which is far above any human incarnation or reincarnation. To suggest that someone like Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan could be the incarnation of a past figure is a direct contradiction to this biblical truth.
Conclusion: The Need for Discernment
The teachings of Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan promote concepts that are fundamentally incompatible with Christian theology. Reincarnation, the elevation of humans to angelic status, and the claim of incarnating as a past religious figure are all doctrines that contradict the clear teachings of Scripture. The Bible is unambiguous in its assertion that humans live one life, face one judgment, and that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone.
The Bible warns Christians to avoid teachings that deviate from the gospel. In Galatians 1:8, Paul writes, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” This warning should be applied to any teaching that introduces new doctrines like reincarnation, which distort the gospel and lead people away from the truth.
Believers are called to test everything against the truth of Scripture, rejecting any teachings that do not align with the gospel of Christ. As Paul exhorts in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” In this age of deception, it is crucial for Christians to stay rooted in the Word of God and reject any falsehoods that threaten the gospel’s purity and sufficiency.