The return of jesus in islam

A shared concept between Muslims and Christians

Muslims and Christians believe that Jesus Christ will return toward the end of times before the Day of Judgement. There will be lots of trials and tribulations leading up to this point. Both claiming they will attain victory upon his arrival, Christians believing he will come to bring victory to the believers in the Gospel of the New Testament and in ‘Christ’ as the ‘the saviour’ and the ‘incarnation’ of God, whilst Muslims believe he is a follower of Tawheed and will implement the Shariah of Prophet Muhammad. 

Prior to the arrival of Jesus Christ both faiths believe there will be clear signs indicating the closeness of this time. Both religions propagate that the return of Jesus will be preceded by a great and powerful figure of falsehood and temptation, called the Maseeh ad-Dajjal (The False Messiah)by Muslims and the Anti-Christ by the Christians. Prior to this big event both religions agree that there will be an increase in sin, in acts like immorality and fornication, murder and crime, and general lawlessness, as well these sins there will be increase in natural disasters and wars, all following one another very closely.

The Islamic and Jewish understanding of the Messiah

Many of these events foretold to us in Islam resemble the concept of the Messiah at the end f times within Judaism, although they believe he will follow the law of Moses not Muhammad. Both faiths considering his role as that of a leader who will fight God’s war against the forces of evil, and that this war will be followed by a peaceful hegemony in which God’s Law will be prevail all over the world.

What is very interesting when we carefully read through the detailed descriptions of the Messiah and the Anti Christ in all three faiths, we find ourselves in an alarming situation. What is deemed to one faith a saviour is the others anti-Christ, and what one faith deems the evil satanic force is deemed the Messiah in the others faith. It’s as though they are all preparing for the same occasion, just each batting for different sides.

A closer look at Jesus

Christians believe that Jesus died then came back to life and he is active as we speak and he will never die again, making him out to be God. However Muslims don’t believe at all that Jesus has any Godly qualities, he was a Mighty messenger of God –No doubt – but never a God. Muslims further believe that he never died, and is still alive with Allh. The Bani Isreal, Children of Israel, hom Jesus was from and sent to as a Prophet, rejected him except a handful of them, and ultimately boasted about killing him. However, the Qur’an teaches us otherwise:

“They said, “We have killed the Messiah, Isa, the son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah. ‘They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, though it was made to appear like that to them, those who disagreed about him are (in reality) beset with doubts.”[1]

And

“Allah said: ‘Isa, I will take you back and raise you up to me: I will purify you of the disbelievers. To the Day of Resurrection I will make those who followed you superior to those who disbelieved.”[2]

Deviant understanding of ‘Mutawafiek’

Some deviant groups have tried to deny the return of Jesus as the word mutawafika, according to them means Allah has caused him to die. But this understanding is totally incorrect, let’s go back and revisit the word and understand what it really means. The word, mutawafiy, means death but metaphorically not literally. The literal meaning of this word is istawfa, to grab hold of something completely. So, the ayat means Allah has taken Jesus back up, not caused his death, and if he was dead why would Allah say he has raised him, as a dead person is not raised rather he is buried. When we say this person has been raised from this, what we are saying he has been saved from. See Islamic courses Online for a fuller discussion on these points.

He was not killed nor did he die

“But they killed him not, nor crucified him; it was only a likeness shown to them: Most certainly they killed him not. Rather, God lifted him up to himself”[3]

Evidence of the return of Jesus

The Christians believe that Jesus’s ascension took place while he was 31-33 years of age. We know Jesus did not remain amongst his people for long until Allah raised him. Hassan Al Basri states he was34, while sa’eed ibn Mussayyib said, “He was 33” when he was lifted.

This further supports his return as in surah al Maidah Allah describes two miracles about Jesus:

“You spoke to people in your infancy and adulthood”[4]

In this verse Allah says Jesus spoke from his cradle, which is miracle number one. Miracle number two is that Jesus will also speak to people in his Kahla (adulthood), this word in Arabic refers to an age range, between 40 to 50, yet Jesus was taken up in his early thirties. So, he will return and speak to the people again.

The major signs of the Day of Judgment

So, Jesus will return and complete his mission, when he arrives he will be the same age as he left, and then he will live for another forty years. The Prophet may the mercy and blessings of God be Upon him said:

“There is no Prophet between me and him (Jesus) and he shall descend. He …will stay in the world for forty years, then he will die and the Muslims will offer the funeral prayer for him.”[5]

The return of Jesus will be close to the end of time.  Actually, his decent will be one of the major signs of the Day of Resurrection. Allah tells us:

“He (the son of Mary) shall be a known sign of the hour, so have no doubt concerning it and follow Me.”[6]

The Ten Major signs

His arrival is part of a set of ten events that signify the end of this world and the beginning of the next.

“The hour will not come until you see ten signs, the smoke, the false Messiah, The beast, the sun rising from the West, the descent of Jesus son of Mary, the Gog and Magog, and three tremors- one in the East, one in the West, and one in Arabia, at the end of which fire will burst forth from the direction of Aden and drive people to the place of the final assembly.”[7]

There is much more to talk about when we look at the life of Jesus, so we will continue this discussion in an upcoming blog, but you can also visit Islamic Courses Online and watch ‘the family of Imran’.

[1] An Nisa 4:157

[2] Ali Imran 3:55

[3] An Nisa 4:157-8

[4] Al Ma’idah 5:110

[5] Abu Dawood, Ahmed

[6] Az-Zukhruf 43:61

[7] Ahmed