While looking for Islamic interpretations of the “Ancient of Days” in the book of Daniel, I encountered the following in a book from Hassan Shabazz (Imam who served as Resident Imam at the Islamic Center of Dothan, Alabama) who, in light of early Islam, interprets the “Son of Man” figure as Muhammad and the “Ancient of Days” as the archangel Michael:
"I
beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I
beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed and given to the
burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion
taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
I saw the night Visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one
like a son of man, and he, came to the Ancient of Days and was presented
before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all the
peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an
everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall
not be destroyed.
(Book
of Daniel 7:9-14)
The man being mentioned in the
above verses of scripture is the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) of Arabia; the Prophet
Daniel is describing the Prophet Muhammad as he is being raised through the
seven (7) heavens by the Angel Gabriel. The Prophet Daniel was being blessed by
Allah to see into the future. The Seven stars symbolize the seven Revealers or
Prophets that God sent to the world to guide the people of the world, and the
candlesticks symbolize the world religions as we mentioned previously.
The one who is like unto the Son
of Man in the above verses of scriptural is none other than the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH), the Ancient of Days is the Angel Michael as previously
mentioned. The one like unto the Son of Man and the Comforter or one and the
same Muhammad is calling all of the congregations back to the root knowledge
Al-Islaam (peace/truth). Pure monotheism is at the root of all the major
religions of the world. The event John the Revelator is describing is happening
as we explained earlier during the Prophet Muhammad's Isra (Night
Journey) and his Mi'raj (Ascension) into the seven heavens in the year
620 AD. (Hassan Shabazz, Al Islaam: The Final Call to Humanity [Lulu:
2019], 26; cf. "[God cannot be the 'Ancient of Days'] because Allah has no
beginning and He has no ending; it is instead the Angel Michael who is known as
the ancient of days" [ibid., 23], emphasis in original)
