In a bold and highly controversial move that has sent shockwaves through Christian communities worldwide, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq — the self-declared Mahdi and spiritual leader of the Ahmadiyya Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) — has claimed to be the true and divinely appointed Pope, sparking widespread condemnation, fierce theological debate, and accusations of blasphemy.
Christians across denominations have reacted with alarm and anger, with many labeling Abdullah Hashem as the Antichrist — the prophesied deceiver in Christian eschatology who rises in opposition to Jesus Christ, falsely presenting himself as the Savior.
A Global Religious Storm: Mahdi or Antichrist?
Abdullah Hashem, an Egyptian-American born in Indiana in 1983, has positioned himself at the center of an unfolding religious movement that many are calling unprecedented in modern times. According to followers of AROPL — a rapidly growing sect active in over 40 countries — he is not only the Qa’im al-Muhammad, the awaited Mahdi of Islamic tradition, but also the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, and astonishingly, the lawful Pope and successor of Simon Peter, the apostle of Jesus.
The group’s proclamation that Abdullah Hashem is the rightful Pope, made publicly on Easter Sunday 2025 outside churches across multiple continents, drew particular ire from the Christian world. The very next day, news broke of the death of Pope Francis — an event the AROPL community hails as a divine confirmation of their prophecy. Hashem and his followers claim that the vacancy of the Holy See was not a coincidence, but a heavenly sign marking the moment for a divinely chosen leader to ascend.
Unsurprisingly, this claim has provoked outrage. Many Christian leaders and theologians, both Catholic and Protestant, have condemned the movement as heretical and spiritually dangerous. The labeling of Abdullah Hashem as the Antichrist has quickly gained traction among online Christian communities, eschatologists, and religious commentators.
Abdullah Hashem Responds: “I Am No Antichrist — I Am Sent by Jesus”
In response to the backlash, Abdullah Hashem has publicly denied any connection to the Antichrist archetype. Instead, he asserts that he is a divine messenger sent by Jesus himself to guide Christians back to the true monotheistic path — a claim that reinterprets both Islamic and Christian prophecies.
He maintains that Christianity has strayed from its original teachings, specifically accusing it of violating the monotheism of Jesus — a central theme in Jewish and Islamic theology. Hashem points to Deuteronomy 6:4 (“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one”) and Mark 12:29, in which Jesus reaffirms this commandment, as evidence that Jesus preached strict monotheism. He argues that Christianity was radically altered by political agendas — most notably by Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicaea in the 4th century — which he claims institutionalized the Trinity doctrine, something he views as a corruption of Jesus’ original message.
A Radical Religious Vision: Unity Under Divine Rule
Unlike mainstream Islamic movements, AROPL promotes an eschatological vision that fuses Islamic, Christian, and Judaic themes into what they call the Seventh Covenant — a new divine covenant that transcends religious boundaries and re-establishes a direct connection between humanity and God. This new covenant is said to include not only Muslims and Christians but also marginalized groups such as the LGBT community — a position that further separates Abdullah Hashem from orthodox Islamic thought and intensifies criticism from all sides.
AROPL advocates for the creation of a Divine Just State — a theocracy led by a God-appointed king rather than a democratically elected leader. This vision directly challenges both Western democratic values and traditional religious authority structures.
Prophetic Fulfillments or Delusions of Grandeur?
Abdullah Hashem claims to have fulfilled numerous Islamic prophecies, including:
- The death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia in 2015, long seen as a sign heralding the Mahdi.
- The “sun rising in the West,” interpreted as the rise of a Western-born leader ruling over Christendom.
- The establishment of a “new covenant” prophesied in both Islamic and biblical traditions.
- The timely announcement of his papal claim followed by the death of Pope Francis, which supporters see as a miraculous validation of his divine appointment.
However, to critics, these events amount to nothing more than dangerous coincidences wrapped in apocalyptic narrative. Religious scholars warn that Hashem’s rhetoric exploits the vulnerabilities of people searching for spiritual meaning in an increasingly chaotic world.
Theological Confrontation Looms
As Abdullah Hashem continues to declare himself the rightful heir of both Muhammad and Jesus, and as AROPL spreads globally — especially through social media and street evangelism — the religious establishment finds itself facing a potentially destabilizing challenge.
In Islamic circles, he is largely rejected as a fraud or an imposter, with Sunni and Shia scholars alike refuting his claims. In the Christian world, the portrayal of Hashem as the Antichrist is gaining momentum, echoing Revelation’s warnings of a false messiah who deceives the world with false miracles and claims of divine authority.
Yet, for his followers, Abdullah Hashem represents the long-awaited unifier of faiths and the bearer of divine justice. For others, he is a false prophet — or worse, the very embodiment of end-times deception foretold in scripture.
Conclusion: Messiah, Mahdi, or Antichrist?
As the world watches this religious upheaval unfold, one thing is clear: Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq is not just another fringe preacher. He is attempting to reframe the narrative of salvation, prophecy, and divine authority on a global scale. His rise challenges not just religious orthodoxy but the very structures that have defined faith, power, and leadership for centuries.
Whether history will remember him as a visionary reformer, a false prophet, or a dangerous deceiver remains to be seen. But for now, his claims have ignited a firestorm that shows no signs of burning out.
