The Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) Appearance in the Hadith

The Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has revealed many important matters about the Prophet Jesus'(pbuh) return, as well as some of the things that will happen before and after this event, in his hadiths. All of this information is from the "Unseen," and was given to him by Allah, as related in the following verse:

He [Allah] is the Knower of the Unseen, and does not divulge His Unseen to anyone—except a Messenger with whom He is well pleased, and then He posts sentinels before him and behind him. (Surat al-Jinn, 26-27)

Our Lord also reveals that He sent knowledge to the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in his dreams:

Allah has confirmed His Messenger's vision with truth: "You will enter the Sacred Mosque [Masjid al-Haram] in safety, Allah willing, shaving your heads and cutting your hair without any fear." He knew what you did not know and ordained, in place of this, an imminent victory. (Surat al-Fath, 27)

Allah gives such knowledge to our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in order to help and support both him as well as all of the faithful believers who were with him.

Some of this revealed information deals with the signs of the End Times. The most significant of these revelations concerns the Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) second coming. The hadiths about the End Times can be found in sahih (accredited) hadith collections such as Imam Nawawi's Riyadh as-Salihin, Imam Malik's Al-Muwatta', Ibn Khuzayma's Sahih, Ibn Hibban's Sahih, Ahmad ibn Hanbal's Musnad, and Abu Dawud al-Tayalisi's Musnad. From these sources, we learn that our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) made many important revelations about the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), all of which are considered tawatur (reliable).

As is related in the hadith the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will come again to Earth within the century in which we live, he will abide by the religion of Islam, purify Christianity of all its superstitions and hearsay, be instrumental in the conversion of the People of the Book into Islam, eradicate the system of dajjal and make the moral values of Islam rule the world together with Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh).

The Hadiths on the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) Are "Tawatur"

The hadiths relating the Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) second coming are reliable (tawatur). Research shows that scholars share this view. Tawatur is defined as "a tradition which has been handed down by a number of different channels of transmitters or authorities, hence supposedly ruling out the possibility of its having been forged."8

In his Al-Tasrih fi ma Tawatara fi Nuzul al-Masih, the great hadith scholar Muhammad Anwar Shah Kashmiri writes that the hadiths about the Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) second coming are all reliable, and quotes 75 hadiths and 25 works by companions of our Prophet and their disciples (tabi'un).

In the Sunni school of Islam, Imam Abu Hanifah is the greatest collector of hadiths on the Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) second coming. In the final part of his Al-Fiqh al-Akbar, he states that:

The emergence of the dajjal and of Gog and Magog is a reality; the rising of the sun in the West is a reality; the descent of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), upon whom be peace, from the heavens is a reality; and all the other signs of the Day of Resurrection, as contained in authentic traditions, are also established realities9

The Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) second coming is one of the ten great signs of the Last Day, and many Islamic scholars have dealt with the subject in great detail. When all of these views are considered together, it becomes apparent that there is a consensus on this event. That the hadiths are reliable is explained, as follows:

Muhammad al-Shawkani said that he had collected 29 hadiths and, when he had recorded them all, he said: "Our hadiths have reached the level of tawatur (reliable), as you can see. With this, we reach the conclusion that the hadiths on the anticipated Mahdi, the dajjal, and the Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) second coming are mutawatir (genuine)10

At-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, al-Bazzaz, Ibn Majah, al-Hakim, al-Tabarani, and al-Musuli recorded many hadiths narrated by the Companions, such as 'Ali, Ibn 'Abbas, Ibn 'Umar, Talha, Abu Hurayra, Anas, Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, Umm Habiba, Umm Salama, 'Ali al-Hilali, and 'Abd Allah ibn al-Harith ibn Jaz, upon whose narrations they based their collection on.11 For instance, Ibn Hajr Al-Haythami in the book al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqa, al-Shablanji in his book Nur al-Absar, Ibn Sabbagh in his book Al-Fusul al-Muhimma, Muhammad ibn 'Ali al-Sabban in his book Is'af ar-Raghibin fi Sirat al-Mustafa wa Fada'il Ahl Baytihi at-Tahirin, and Muhammad Amin Suwaidi in his book Saba'ik az-Zahab, wrote that the hadiths about the Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) second coming are reliable.12

These hadiths are recorded by the Ahl as-Sunnah scholars and hadith experts in their own works. For instance, Abu Dawud, Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, al-Hakim, an-Nasa'i, al-Tabarani, al-Rawajini, Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani, ad-Daylami, al-Baihaqi, as-Salabi, Hamawaini, Manawi, Ibn al-Jawzi, Muhammad ibn 'Ali al-Sabban, al-Mawardi, al-Khanji al-Shafi, as-Samani, al-Khwarizmi, ash-Sharani, ad-Daraqutni, Ibn Sabbagh al-Maliki, Muhibbuddin Tabari, Ibn Hajr al-Haythami, Shaikh Mansur 'Ali Nasif, Muhammad ibn Talha, Jalaluddin as-Suyuti, al-Qurtubi, al-Baghawi and many more deal with the subject in their books.

Ibn Kathir, while explaining that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is a sign of the End Times as pointed out in Surat az-Zukhruf 61, says that the hadiths about Jesus' (pbuh) second coming prior to the Day of Judgment have reached the status of mutawatir. 'Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghudda reveals that the hadiths about Jesus returning to earth and killing (making the dajjal ineffective) have reached the degree of being mutawatir.13 Al-Kattani shares these views in his Nazm al-Mutanathir min al-Hadith al-Mutawatir. 14

Such books show the great number of hadiths that exist on this subject. Furthermore, the hadiths that reveal the Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) second coming in the End Times as a sign of the Last Day are found in the main hadith source books, such as those by al-Bukhari and Muslim. Some of these are as follows:

By Him in Whose Hand is my life, the son of Mary (Jesus) will certainly invoke the name of Allah for Hajj or for Umrah, or for both, in the valley of Rawha. (Sahih Muslim)

"It (the Day of Judgment) will not come until you see ten signs," and (in this connection) he mentioned the smoke, the dajjal, the Beast, the rising of the Sun from the west, the descent of Jesus son of Mary… (Sahih Muslim)

By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, son of Mary (Jesus) will shortly descend amongst you people as a just ruler. (Sahih al-Bukhari)

Jesus son of Mary would then descend and their (Muslims') commander will invite him to come and lead them in prayer, but he would say: No, some amongst you are commanders over some (amongst you). This is the honor from Allah for this Ummah (nation). (Sahih Muslim)

How will you be when the some of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you and he will judge people by the Law of the Qur'an? (Sahih al-Bukhari)

(For further information about the signs of the Last Day, please see Harun Yahya, Signs of the Last Day, Istanbul: Global Publishing, 2003)

Our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) Announced the Good News of the Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) Return

By the One in Whose hand is my self, definitely the son of Mary will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break the cross [annul the worship of the cross], kill the pig [he will eliminate the superstitious beliefs included in the Christianity during latter periods], and abolish the jizya (a head tax on free non-Muslims living under Muslim rule). (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

No Prophet shall come during the period between me and the Prophet Jesus (pbuh). And the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) shall descend. Recognize him when you see him. He is a man of medium height and of a ruddy, fair complexion. He will be dressed in two pieces of a yellow garment. The hair on his head will appear as if water is trickling out of it, although his hair would not be wet. He will struggle for the cause of Islam… And the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will make the dajjal ineffective. He will live on this Earth for a period of forty years, and at the end of this period he will pass away. The Muslims will offer the funeral prayers of Jesus. (Abu Dawud)

Certainly, the time of prayer will come and then Jesus (pbuh), son of Mary, descend and will lead them in prayer. When the enemy of Allah see him, he will (disappear) just as salt dissolves in water. (Sahih Muslim)

The world will be placed beneath his feet … His eyes will see the distance too … He will see the unbelievers' castles and villages… (Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, p. 244)

When their [believers'] Imam would come forward to lead them in congregation in the morning, the Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, (pbuh) would descend upon them in the morning. Upon this, that Imam would retreat walking backward, so that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)should come forward to lead people in prayer in congregation. But he would place his hand in between his shoulders and say: "Come forward and lead the prayer, for it has been established for you." (Sunan Ibn Majah)

When the dajjal faces him [Jesus], he [the dajjal] will begin to dissolve like salt in water. He [Jesus] will say to him: "I have to step in; you cannot escape." So Jesus (pbuh) will kill him [make him ineffectivewith his spear at the gate of Ludd. (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Then the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will come to a people whom Allah would protect from dajjal (antichrist). He would then wipe [the traces of hardship from] their faces and tell them their ranks in Paradise. (Sunan Ibn Majah)

The World Will Be at Peace

The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will be a just judge and a just ruler in my ummah (people) . . . He will abandon the collection of zakat;grudge and mutual hatred will be lifted (removed), the sting of every stinging insect will be removed until a baby will insert his finger in snake's mouth and it will not harm him, and the wolf will be like the dog among the sheep (safeguarding them). Earth will be filled with peace, just as a vessel is filled with water; the word (kalima) will become one (i.e., only Islam will prevail) and only Allah will be worshipped; the battle will put down its weapons (i.e., come to an end) and the dominion of the Qurayshis will be broken. (Sunan Ibn Majah)

[In his time], there will be no rancour between any two persons. (Sahih Muslim)

[In his time], peace will prevail and people will use their swords as sickles. Every harmful beast will be made harmless . . . A child will play with a fox and not come to any harm; a wolf will graze with sheep and a lion with cattle, without harming them. (Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad)

There Will Be Great Prosperity

[When he comes] wealth will be so abundant that no one will accept it [alms]. (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih al-Muslim)

The son of Mary (Jesus) will return and make the dajjal ineffective. Then you will live for 40 years in prosperity. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi 'Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, 90)

Everywhere food will cook in pots, unseen prosperity will dominate, and material wealth will be disregarded. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi 'Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, 66)

"Earth will turn like the silver tray, growing vegetation as it did in the time of Adam (peace be upon him) so much so that a group of people will eat a bunch of grapes and it will satiate them;a group of people will eat a single pomegranate and it will satiate them;the bull will be sold for a lot of money and a horse will cost only a few dirhams." The audience asked: "Allah's Messenger, why will a horse be so cheap? He replied:"It will not be used as a mount for fighting." He was asked:"Why will a bull be so expensive?" He replied:"The whole land would be tilled." (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Productivity of earth will multiply to such an extent that if a seed is sown in a solid rock, it will grow. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Kanzal Ummal)

Even without the plough, the produce of wheat would multiply seven hundred times, one mudd (a measure of wheat) becoming 700 mudd. (Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, Mawrid al-Sadi fi Mawlid al-Hadi)

Then Earth will be told to bring forth its fruit and restore its blessing. As a result thereof, there would grow (such a big) pomegranate that a group of people will be able to eat it and seek shelter under its skin. A milk cow will give so much milk that a whole party will able to drink. A milk camel will give such (a large quantity of) milk that the whole tribe will be able to drink out of it, and a milk sheep will give so much milk that the whole family will able to drink out of that… (Sahih Muslim)

The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) Will Not Bring A New Religion

He will lead you according to the Book of your Lord and the Sunnah of your Apostle. (Sahih Muslim)

Jesus (pbuh) will not come to the people of Muhammad as a Prophet; rather, he will come to practice the religion of Muhammad. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, 68)

Jesus (pbuh) will descend and will practice our Prophet's law. (Imam Rabbani, Letters of Rabbani, 2:1309)

He will judge by the law of Muhammad. He will follow the Prophet, even though he is one himself, and will belong to the people of Muhammad … He will be one of the people and companions of the Prophet, and he will be the most devout of them … (Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, 243)

He will himself follow the Qur'an and Hadith and get the people to follow them. (Tabarani)

The Physical Appearance (Hilya) of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)

He is a man of medium height; of a rudy, fair complexion; will be dressed in two pieces of died garment; and the hair of his head will appear as if water is trickling out of it, although it will not be wet. (Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad)

He has curly red hair and wide shoulders. He will break the cross [he will eliminate the superstitious beliefs included in the Christianity during latter periods] and abolish the jizya, and accept no other religion but Islam … [In his time] Nothing and nobody but Allah will be worshipped. He will practice Muhammad's law and belong to Muhammad's people. He will follow the Prophet even though he himself is a Prophet, because he saw him [Hazrat Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)] on the night of Mi'raj. Therefore, he [Jesus] will be the most distinguished Companion. (Jalaluddin as-Suyuti, Nuzul 'Isa ibn Maryam Akhir al-Zaman, 182)

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "On the night of Isra' [his miraculous journey from Mecca to Jerusalem] I met Moses—he was a slim man with wavy hair, and looked like a man from the Shanu'ah tribe. I also met Jesus (pbuh)—he was of medium height and of a red complexion, as if he had just come out of the bath. (Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhari)

While sleeping near the Ka'bah last night, I saw in my dream a man of brown color the best one can see among those who are brown colored, and his long hair fell between his shoulders. His hair was lank, water dribbled from his head, and he was placing his hands on the shoulders of two men while circumambulating the Ka'bah. I asked: "Who is this?" They replied, "This is Jesus (pbuh), son of Mary." (Sahih al-Bukhari)

The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) Will Be Burried Next to Our Prophet's (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) Tomb

Jesus (pbuh), son of Mary, will come down to the world… He will marry, . . . live for 45 years and then die. He will be buried with me [Hazrat Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)] in my grave. Then I and Jesus, son of Mary, will stand up in one grave between Abu Bakr and 'Umar. (Wali-ud-din bin Abdullah al-Khatib al-Umari al-Tabrizi, Mishkat al-Masabih, Damascus, 40:4)

Jesus (pbuh) will marry and have a child after he returns. After he dies, the Muslims will perform his funeral prayer and bury him at the Rauza-i-Aqdas. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, 65)

Jesus (pbuh) will die after living for 40 years. After he dies, the Muslims will perform his funeral prayer and bury him. (Ash-Sharani, Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, 498-499)