The Return of Jesus

The Return of Jesus عليه السلام

The Bible describes in a vivid language the corruption, destruction, and death typifying the end of times. We see the godly forces confronting the evil forces of Satan, the Anti-Christ, and Gog and Magog. We learn that the cataclysmic events will take place in the Middle East. But still the picture needs to be completed.

Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم  has prophesied about several events that will occur just before the advent of the day of judgment. Among these, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم   has foretold the return of Jesus عليه السلام, which will occur AFTER the Anti-Christ (known in Islam as Ad-Dajjal, meaning the Deceiver) who claims to be God and will attempt to deceive people into worshipping him. Jesus (the Messiah) عليه السلام will descend from Heaven in Damascus, pray behind Al-Mahdi (a Muslim Leader), pursue and kill the Anti-Christ, and destroy the savage and unbelieving armies of Gog and Magog, and bring peace and brotherhood to the World.

Christians will recognize the truth and accept Jesus عليه السلام as a Muslim Prophet and Messenger of God; the religion of God (Islam) will justly rule the world. There will be no more oppression  or wars, and peace will prevail. Furthermore, there will be no need to collect Jizyah (tax levied on Christians & Jews in Islamic states) since all the remaining Christians and Jews will become Muslims. Every human being will be financially well-off and no one will accept charity. Jesus عليه السلام will perform Hajj (pilgrimage), marry, remain married for 19 years, beget children, and die after living on Earth for 40 years. His death will signal the beginning of the last days for humanity before the Day of Judgment.

Verses from the Holy Quran relating to the Second Advent of Jesus Son of Mary عليه السلام:

And there is none Of the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) but must believe in him (i.e. Jesus عليه السلام as an messenger of God) before his death. And on the Day of Judgment, he (Jesus عليه السلام) will be a witness against them. (Quran  4: 159)

And (Jesus عليه السلام) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow me (Allah): this is a Straight Path. (Quran 43: 61)

The following Hadiths (sayings) attributed to Prophet Mohammad  are related to the return of Jesus, Son of Mary عليه السلام:

1. "I swear by Him in Whose hand is my soul (refers to swearing by God) that the son of Mary shall descend among you as a just ruler. Then he will break the Cross, and kill the swine and put an end to war (in a variation of this narration, the word Jizyah (tax on Christians & Jews) is mentioned instead of war); A then there will be such abundance of wealth that nobody will like to accept it, and (conditions will be such that) performing of one sajdah (prostration) before Allah will be considered better than the World and what it contains." (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).

2. "Jesus Son of Mary عليه السلام shall descend; then he will kill the swine and destroy the Cross; and a congregation will be held for him for the Prayer; and he will distribute so much wealth that people will be satiated with it; and he will abolish the tribute (Jizya) ; and he will camp at Rawda (a place at a distance 35 miles from Madinah), and from there will go to perform Hajj or 'Umrah, or both." (Sahih Muslim).

3. The Prophet said: "(After mentioning emergence of the Dajjal) While the Muslims will be making preparations to fight him, will be lining up (for the Prayer) and the lqamah will have been pronounced, Jesus Son of Mary عليه السلام shall descend and lead them in the Prayer; and Allah's enemy (Anti-Christ) on seeing him shall start dissolving like salt in water. If Jesus عليه السلام were to leave him (Anti-Christ) alone, he (Anti-Christ) would melt to death anyway, but Allah will have him (Anti-Christ) killed by his (Jesus') hand, and he (Jesus) will show the Muslims his (Anti-Christ's) blood on his (Jesus') spear." (Sahih Muslim).

4. "There is no prophet between me and him (Jesus Christ عليه السلام ), and he shall descend. So, recognize him when you see him. He is a man of medium height, of ruddy and fair complexion; he will be dressed in two yellow garments; the hair of his head will appear as though water was going to trickle down from it, but it will not be wet. He will fight people in the cause of Islam, will break the Cross and kill the swine and will abolish Jizyah; and Allah will put an end to all nations in his time except Islam's Nation; and he will slay the Antichrist (Dajjal); and he will stay in the world for 40 years; then will die and the Muslims will perform the funeral Prayer for him." (Abu Dawud and Ahmad bin Hanbal).

5. "... then Jesus son of Mary عليه السلام will descend. The leader of the Muslims will say to him, 'Come, lead us in the Prayer', but he will say, 'No, you yourselves are leaders over one another ."  This, he will say: this is in view of the honour that Allah has bestowed on this Nation (the Muslim nation)." (Sahih Muslim and Ahmad bin Hanbal)

6. The Prophet (while relating the story of the Dajjal) said: "At that time, suddenly Jesus son of Mary عليه السلام shall appear among the Muslims. Then, the people will stand up for the Prayer, and he (Jesus عليه السلام) will be asked, 'Step forward, Oh Spirit of Allah (and lead us in the Prayer); but he  (Jesus عليه السلام) will say, 'No, your own leader should step forward and lead the Prayer.' Then, after offering the Morning Prayer, the Muslims shall go forth to fight the Dajjal.' He said, 'When the liar (Anti-Christ) will see Jesus عليه السلام, he will start dissolving like salt in water. Then, Jesus عليه السلام   will advance towards him and will slay him; and it will so happen that the trees and the stones will cry out: 'Oh Spirit of Allah, here is a Jew hiding behind me.' None will be left from among the followers of the Dajjal, whom he (Jesus عليه السلام ) will not kill." (Ahmad bin Hanbal).

7. "In the meantime, while the Dajjal will be busy doing this and this, Allah will send down the Messiah son of Mary (Jesus عليه السلام). He (Jesus عليه السلام ) will descend in the eastern part of Damascus, near the white minaret (tower), dressed in the two yellow garments, with his hands resting on the arms of two angels. When he will bend down his head, water drops will appear trickling down, and when he will raise it, it will appear as though pearl--like drops are rolling down. Any disbeliever whom the air of his breath reaches, and it will reach up to the last limit of his sight, will fall dead. Then, the son of Mary will go in pursuit of the Dajjal, and will overtake him at the gate of Lud (a city 13 miles east of Tel Aviv, Israel), and will kill him." (Sahih Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmizi, Ibn Majah).

8. The narrator of this Hadith based on what he heard from Prophet Mohammad صلى الله عليه وسلم , said: "The Daijal (Anti-Christ) will appear in my Ummah (nation), and will live for forty (I do not know whether he said 40 days, or 40 months or 40 years). Then Allah will send Jesus son of Mary عليه السلام. He  (Jesus عليه السلام) will closely resemble 'Urwah Bin Mas'ud (a Companion of Prophet Mohammad صلى الله عليه وسلم ). He  (Jesus عليه السلام) will pursue him (Anti-Christ) and kill him. Then, for seven years, the people will live in such a state that there will be no ill-will or enmity between any two individuals of them." (Sahih Muslim).

9. "Then in the morning, Jesus son of Mary عليه السلام will join the Muslims, and Allah will cause the Dajjal and his followers to be routed, until the walls and the roots of the trees will call out: "Oh believer, here is a disbeliever hidden behind me: come and kill him." (Ahmad bin Hanbal and Al-Hakim).

10. "Then Jesus  عليه السلام will descend, and Allah will cause the Dajjal to be killed near the mountain pass of Afiq (in Palestine, few miles from Lake Tiberias, the source of River Jordan) ."  (Ahmad bin Hanbal).

11. "Exactly at the time when the Imam of the Muslims will have stepped forward to lead them in the Morning Prayer, Jesus son of Mary عليه السلام shall descend upon them. The Imam will step back so that Jesus may step forward (to lead the Prayer), but Jesus عليه السلام, placing his hand between his two shoulders, will say, "No, you should lead, for the congregation has assembled to follow you. So, the Imam will lead the Prayer. After the salutation, Jesus will say, "Open the gate;" so the gate will be opened. Outside, there will be the Dajjal, along with 70,000 of the armed Jews. As soon as the Anti-Christ sees Jesus (upon whom be peace), he will start dissolving like salt in water, and will flee. Jesus will say, "I shall strike you a blow which will not allow you survive." And he (Jesus عليه السلام) will overtake him (Anti-Christ) at the eastern gate of Lud (a city 13 miles east of Tel Aviv, Israel), and Allah will cause the Jews to be defeated.... And the Earth will be so filled with the Muslims as a vessel is filled with water. The entire world shall recite and follow one and the same Kalimah (the testimony of Islam: There is no god, but Allah. Mohammad is a Messenger of Allah) and none shall be worshipped except Allah." (Ibn Majah).

12. "The Dajjal (Anti-Christ) will be followed by seventy thousand Jews of Isfahan (in Iran) wearing Persian shawls." (Muslim)

13. "How will you be when the Son of Mary (Jesus عليه السلام) descends amongst you and he will judge people by the law of the Quran and not by the law of the Enjil (Gospel)." (Bukhari)

14. "By Him in Whose Hand is my life (meaning I swear By Allah that), Son of Mary (Jesus) will make Talbiya (required declaration) for performing Hajj or for Umrah or for both  in the valley of Rawda." (Sahih Muslim)

15. Narrated by Umm Sharik: I heard Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم  say: "The people would run away from the Dajjal (Anti-Christ) seeking shelter in the mountains. She said: Where would be the Arabs then on that day? He said: They would be small in number."

16. Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم  as saying: "The Last Hour will not come until the Muslims fight against the Jews and the Muslims kill them to the extent that the Jews will hide behind a rock or a tree and the rock or the tree will say: O' Muslim, the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him; but the Gharqad tree ( Boxthorn tree) will not say that, for it is the tree of the Jews." (Sahih Muslim)

Picture of Gharqad tree

 

A In other words it means: "All kinds of differences among the communities will disappear and human beings will join one community, the Community of Islam; thus, war will be put to an end to, and Jizyah will cease to be imposed."

B A place at a distance of 35 miles from Madinah.

Return Of Prophet Jesus عليه السلام

Brief History of Prophet Jesus عليه السلام
Due to the fact that the Jews had become deaf and blind to the words of God and deviated from the teachings of Moses and the right path, Allah honoured Jesus عليه السلام with Prophethood and sent him as a messenger to the children of Israel. Bearing all hardships Prophet Jesus عليه السلام spent all day and night conveying the message of Allah. Unfortunately, in spite of his tremendous effort, most of the Children of Israel did not accept his message. Seeing that the poor and weak were becoming inclined towards him and fearing they would lose their leadership, the Jews secretly conspired to kill him. However, Allah saved Prophet Jesus  عليه السلام from their wicked scheme and gave him greater dignity by raising him alive to the heavens.

Allah says in the Quran, "They did not kill him and nor did they crucify him but the resemblance of him (Jesus عليه السلام ) was put over another man and those who differ there in, are in doubt. They have no certain knowledge. They are following nothing but conjecture for surely they did not kill him but Allah raised him up to him." (Surah Nisa)

Allah says in the Quran "When Allah says, Jesus; I will take thee to me and I will purify thee of the unbelievers" (Surah Al-Imran)

These verses clearly prove that the Jews did not kill Prophet Jesus عليه السلام and that he was raised alive to Heaven. It is due to verses like those mentioned above and many authentic Hadiths, we Muslims believe that Prophet Jesus عليه السلام is alive in Heaven at this moment in time. We further believe due to the following verses and authentic Ahadith that Prophet Jesus عليه السلام will return before Qiyamah (Day of Resurrection) and his return is a major sign of Qiyamah:

Allah says in the Quran, "And he (son of Mary) shall be a known sign for (the coming of) the Hour."  (Surah Zukhruf)
Ibn Abbas has said that the meaning of this verse is that Prophet Jesus' عليه السلام descent is a sign of Qiyamah. (Ibn Abbas/ Musnad)

Allah says, "There is not a single sect of the People of the Book that will not certainly believe in Jesus before his death and on the Day of Resurrection, he (Jesus) will be a witness against them." (Surah Nisa) This verse clearly indicates that before the death of Prophet Jesus عليه السلام all People of the Book will believe in him as a human prophet. This means there will no longer be Christian or Jews. All of the People of the Book will become Muslims.

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah said, "A party of my followers will not cease to fight for victory until the Day of Resurrection. He said, then Jesus, son of Mary, will come down. Their Imam will say, "Come and lead our prayer" He will reply, "Some of you are leaders over others on account of divine honour upon these people."    (Muslim)

Abu Huraira  reported that the Messenger of Allah said, "By the one whose hands my life is in, surely the Son of  Mary عليه السلام will descend amongst you as a just ruler. He will destroy the cross (this could mean that Jesus will put an end to Christianity), kill the swine (this could mean that Jesus will outlaw raising pigs/swine and eating pork) and abolish the Jizya (this tax will be abolished because all Christians & Jews will become Muslims)."   (Bukhari)

Huzaifa bin Osaid  reported: The Holy Prophet suddenly came to us while we were talking. He asked, "What are you talking about?" They replied "We were talking about the Last Hour." Prophet (s) said, "It will never come until you see ten signs before it. He then mentioned the Smoke, the Dajjal (Anti-Christ), the Daaba, the Rising of the Sun from the place of its setting, the Descent of Jesus son of Mary (from Heaven), Yajuj and Ma'juj (Gog & MaGog)..."  (Muslim)

 

Prophet Jesus's عليه السلامTasks

Prophet Jesus عليه السلام will have three main tasks, when he descends on the Earth for the second time:
1)  The first and most important will be that he will destroy the Dajjal.
2)  Protect the Muslims from the barbarous tribes of Yajuj and Majuj (Gog & MaGog).by taking them to Mount Tur and then praying to Allah to make Yajuj and Majuj perish.
3)  Reign as a Caliph according to the Quran and Sunnah and elevate Islam.

 

Prophet Jesus's  عليه السلام descent and the killing of Dajjal

The Dajjal having failed to enter the holy city of Madina will proceed to Syria gathering his forces on the way.
Imam Mahdi will have arranged the Muslim army and will be on the verge of leading the Muslims in the dawn (early morning)  prayer (Abu Umamah / Ibn Majah) when Prophet Jesus عليه السلام will descend to the white Minaret (Nawwas bin Samaan/Muslim) in the east of Damascus, wearing two garments died with saffron, placing his hands on the wings of two angels. All those that are present will recognise him, as he will look exactly like the description of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  . Resembling the Sahabi Urwa bin Masood (Abu- Huraira/ Muslim) the color of his skin will be reddish white (Ibn Abbas/ Bukhari), he will be well-built and his hair will be soft and reach his ears. When he lowers his head, beads of perspiration will fall from it and when he raises his head, beads like pearls will scatter from it.   (Nawwas bin Samaan/Muslim).

However, the following a hadith that seem to indicate that Imam Mahdi will be leading the dawn (early morning) prayer in Jerusalem, not in Damascus, when Jesus descends from Heaven:

Abu Umamah al-Bahili said, " The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  delivered a speech to us, most of which dealt with the Dajjal (the Anti-Christ) and warned us against him. Umm Sharik bint Abi'l-'Akr said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, where will the Arabs be at that time?’ He said, ‘At that time they will be few in number; most of them will be in the Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), and their Imam will be a righteous man. While their Imam is going forward to lead the people in the Salat al-Subh (the morning prayer), 'Isa son of Maryam will descend. The Imam will step back, to let Jesus lead the people in prayer, but Jesus will place his hand between the man's shoulders and say, “Go forward and lead the prayer, for the Iqamah was made for you.” So the Imam will lead the people in prayer… Jesus son of Mary will be a just ruler and leader of my Ummah (Nation). He will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizyah (tax on non-Muslims). He will not collect the Sadaqah, so he will not collect sheep and camels. Mutual enmity and hatred will disappear. Every harmful animal will be made harmless, so that a small boy will be able to put his hand into a snake's mouth without being harmed, a small girl will be able to make a lion run away from her, and a wolf will go among sheep as if he were a sheepdog. The earth will be filled with peace as a container is filled with water. People will be in complete agreement, and only Allah will be worshipped. Wars will cease…’” (Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Fitan, Tradition No. 4077, 2: 1363)

" Every Kaafir who smells his sweet breath will die and his breath will reach as far as he can see. On seeing prophet Jesus عليه السلام . Imam Mahdi will take a couple of steps backwards so Prophet Jesus عليه السلام  can lead the prayer however Prophet Jesus عليه السلام will place his hands on the Imam's shoulder and will say, ''Go forward and lead the prayer as the Iqamah was made for you'' thus Imam Mahdi will lead the prayer."   (Abu Umamah/ Ibn-Majah).

After the prayer Prophet Jesus عليه السلام will say, ''Open the gate''. The gate will be opened and the Dajjal will be waiting behind it accompanied by an army of 70,000 Jews, each armed with a sword and shield. The Dajjal on seeing Prophet Jesus عليه السلام among the Muslims will begin to dissolve like salt in water and will begin to flee. Prophet Jesus عليه السلام will say to him, ''You will remain alive until I strike you with my spear, ''He will catch up with him at the Eastern gate of Lud (in Palestine) and then Prophet Jesus عليه السلام will kill him with a small spear.
 

The Muslims will thereafter defeat and wipe out Dajjal's army. The Jews will not be able to hide behind anything on that day. Every time they try to hide behind a stone, a wall, a tree (except a boxthorn tree), or animal. Allah will make these things speak and they will say, ''O servant of Allah there is a Jew hiding behind me. come kill him.''

 

The Wisdom in the Descent of Prophet Jesus عليه السلام

Sunni Muslim scholars have given many different reasons for the return of Prophet Jesus عليه السلام to this World. A few are listed below:
1) The Jews believe that they had killed Prophet Jesus عليه السلام , Allah will send him before the end of time to prove that they had not killed him and that he is alive. It is he who will kill the Jews and their leader Dajjal.  (Fathul - Bari)
2)  Some Ulama have said that Prophet Jesus عليه السلام  found many virtues of the followers of Prophet Muhammad  صلى الله عليه وسلم  in the bible and thus he prayed to Allah to make him amongst the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم . Allah answered his prayer and he will return for the second time as one of the followers of Prophet Muhammad  صلى الله عليه وسلم .     (Ibn Khathir)
3)  It is the Law of Allah that anything that is created from the Earth has to be buried in the Earth and not the Heavens. Thus he will return to the Earth for the second time, kill the Dajjal, live for a period of time and then he will die a natural death and will be buried with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم .   (Ashratus-Sa'ah).

 
 

Prophet Jesus (as) and the Ya'juj Ma'juj (Gog Magog)

A short period after Prophet Jesus عليه السلام has killed the Dajjal, the two mighty tribes of Yajuj and Ma'juj will appear, causing murder, pillage and devastation wherever they go. The emergence of Ya'juj and Ma'juj is also another major sign of Qiyamah. Through the invocation of Prophet Jesus عليه السلام they will be destroyed.  (Nawwas bin Samaan/ Muslim).

 

Prophet Jesus عليه السلام  as a Ruler

Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "By him whose hands my life is in, surely the son of Mary will come down amongst you as a just ruler. He will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the tax. Wealth will be in such abundance that none will care about it and a single prostration in a Prayer will be better than the world and all that is in it."  ( Bukhari, Muslim)

The above hadith clearly indicates that when Prophet Jesus عليه السلام  returns to the world for the second time he will not reign as a Prophet nor will he bring a new Shariah (Law) or scriptures, as Islam is the final version of God's religion, the Quran is the last book to be revealed and our Prophet Muhammad  صلى الله عليه وسلم  is the last Prophet. There is no new prophet to come after him and the Quran has made this fact very clear.

Allah says in the Qur'an, "Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم  is not the father of any of you but is the Messenger of Allah and the last of the Prophets."   (Surah Al-Ahzaab)

When Prophet Jesus  عليه السلام returns for the second time, he will reign as a Caliph and not a Prophet, follow the Qur'an and Sunnah and rule according to it. He will break the cross the Christians worship (indicating that he will bring Christianity to an end), elevate and spread Islam through out the world.
 

He will also kill the pig which the Christians consider Halal to eat (and use) and abolish the Jizya (tax). In Prophet Jesus عليه السلام  reign they will not pay this tax because he will not accept anything but Islam for the non believers and they will all believe in him. The Qur'an says, "There is not a single sect of the people of the book (Jews and Christians) that will not recognize him and on the Day of Resurrection, he (Jesus) will be a witness against them."   (Surah-An-Nisa)

Muslims under the leadership of Jesus will rule the World. Thawban said that The Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم  said, "Allah, the Exalted, unfolded for me the Earth, to the extent that I saw its Eastern and Western sides (i.e. the extremities). The Kingdom of my Ummah (nation) will reach as far as what has been unfolded to me. The two treasures, the red (Persian Kingdom) and the white (Roman Empire), were bestowed on me.... By Him in Whose Hands Muhammad's life is, you will spend the treasures of both of them for the sake of Allah." (Ibn Kathir)

The word of Islam will spread throughout the World, enter every home, and no one will be left who has not heard of it. Al-Miqdad ibn Aswad said I heard the Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم  say: "Not a dwelling (house) whether of brick, or fur will remain on the surface of the Earth that Allah will not ensure that the word of Islam enters it, either honoring an honorable person or disgracing an abject person." (Imam Ahmad, At-Tabarani, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim)
 

Blessings at the time of Prophet Jesus عليه السلام

All types of spiritual and worldly blessings will descend on Earth in his time.

-  There will be an abundance in wealth. Wealth will flow like water. The Islamic government will be wealthy and all people will be financially well-off, having lots of wealth and property, to the extent that nobody will be in the need of Zakat (tax) and Sadaqa (charity). People will no longer have to pay Zakat and Sadaqa.

- All hearts will be free from misery, envy, malice, and jealousy.

- Each harmful animal will be made harmless. Camels will graze with the lions and the cheetahs with cattle. A little girl will chase a lion and make it run away from her like children chasing a puppy and this lion will not harm her. Venom will be taken out from all venomous animals, a little boy will put his hand in a snake's mouth, but it will not harm him. The wolf will live with the sheep and protect them as if it were a sheep dog.

- Peace, harmony and tranquillity will prevail in the world. People will be in complete agreement, wars will cease, the earth will be filled with peace like a silver basin and it will sprout with vegetation like at the time of Prophet Adam عليه السلام .

- The fertility of the land will increase to the extent that if a seed is planted in a rock, it will sprout. 700 mudd of wheat will sprout without ploughing the land. The Earth will produce so much fruit that a large group of people will sit to eat a bunch of grapes or a pomegranate and they will be satisfied and use it's peel as an umbrella.

- There will also be blessing in milk. The milk of a single she camel will be sufficient to satisfy the hunger of a large group of people. A cow will produce what is sufficient for a tribe of people, and a sheep will produce milk, which is sufficient for a family of people.

- Horses will be cheap as they will be never ridden in war and bulls will be expensive, as they will be needed to plough the land.

- Life will be very pleasant and enjoyable after Jesus' descent from Heaven and people will live in comfortably during Jesus' reign as a Muslim Caliph.   (Nawwas bin Sarnaan /Muslim and Abu Umamah/Ibn Majah)

Marriage

Many Hadiths specify that after Jesus returns to Earth, he will get married,  have children, and will live for a period of 19 years after his marriage.  (Al-Fitan Nuaim bin Hammad).

Death

Prophet Jesus عليه السلام  after his return to the Earth for a second time will live for a period of time (possibly 40 years according to a Hadith in Abu Dawud) and thereafter will die due to natural causes. The Muslims will perform his Janaza (funeral prayers). According to the hadith narrated by Abdullah bin Amr in Mishkat, he will be buried next to Prophet Mohammad صلى الله عليه وسلم .