In Islam, the concept of the Second Coming of Jesus (peace be upon him), known as “Messiah ibn Maryam” (Jesus, son of Mary), is indeed prophesied in various Hadith literature, which are collections of sayings and actions attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). While the Quran does not explicitly mention the Second Coming of Jesus in the same detail as some Christian texts, Islamic tradition holds that Jesus will return before the Day of Judgment. Now the time is near when the Messiah arrives.
The Hadith literature contains several references to the return of Jesus (peace be upon him). One of the most well-known accounts is found in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, two of the most respected collections of Hadith:
In Sahih Bukhari, Hadith# 3448:
Narrated Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him): Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, surely (Jesus,) the son of Mary will soon descend amongst you and will judge mankind justly (as a Just Ruler); he will break the Cross and kill the pigs and there will be no Jizya (i.e., taxation taken from non-Muslims). Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it, and a single prostration to Allah (in prayer) will be better than the whole world and whatever is in it. Abu Huraira added “If you wish, you can recite (this verse of the Holy Book): — ‘And there is none Of the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) But must believe in him (i.e Jesus as an Apostle of Allah and a human being) Before his death. And on the Day of Judgment, He will be a witness Against them.” (4:159)”
Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The Last Hour would not come until the Romans would land at al-A’maq or in Dabiq. An army consisting of the best (soldiers) of the people of the earth at that time will come from Medina (to counteract them). When they arrange themselves in ranks, the Romans would say: Do not stand between us and those (Muslims) who took prisoners from amongst us. Let us fight with them; and the Muslims would say: Nay, by Allah, we would never get aside from you and our brethren that you may fight them. They will then fight and a third (part) of the army will run away, whom Allah will never forgive. A third (part of the army) which would be constituted of excellent martyrs in Allah’s eye, would be killed and the third who would never be put to trial would win and they would be conquerors of Constantinople. And as they would be busy distributing the spoils of war (amongst themselves) after hanging their swords by the olive trees, Satan would cry: The Dajjal has taken your place among your family. They would then come out, but it would be of no avail. And when they would come to Syria, he would come out while they were still preparing themselves for battle drawing up the ranks. Certainly, the time of prayer shall come, and then Jesus (peace be upon him) son of Mary would descend and lead them. When the enemy of Allah sees him, it would (disappear) just as the salt dissolves itself in water, and if he (Jesus) were not to confront them at all, even then it would dissolve completely, but Allah would kill them by his hand and he would show them their blood on his lance (the lance of Jesus Christ).
This and other Hadiths describe Jesus’ return as a just ruler who will fight against oppression, establish peace, and abolish falsehood, leading humanity to a state of righteousness. However, interpretations of the specifics and timing of Jesus’ return vary among Islamic scholars and traditions.
It is a common belief in Islamic, Jewish, and Christian traditions that a significant figure, often referred to as the Messiah, will appear in the future to bring about significant changes in the world. While there are differences in the specifics and interpretations among these traditions, there is a shared anticipation of the arrival of a figure who will bring about justice, peace, and the fulfillment of divine promises.
- Jewish Tradition:
In Judaism, the concept of the Messiah (Mashiach) is deeply rooted in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh). The Messiah is believed to be a descendant of King David who will bring about the restoration of the Davidic kingdom, the ingathering of the Jewish exiles, and the establishment of universal peace. Jewish tradition primarily focuses on the anticipation of the first arrival of the Messiah, who will fulfill these prophetic promises. While interpretations vary, many Jews believe that the Messiah’s coming is imminent and eagerly await his arrival. - Christian Tradition:
In Christianity, the concept of the Messiah is primarily associated with Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming of a savior. While Christians believe in Jesus’ first coming as the Messiah, they also anticipate his second coming, often referred to as the Second Coming of Christ. According to Christian eschatology, Jesus’ return will mark the end of the age, the final judgment, and the establishment of God’s kingdom on Earth.
Certainly, there are several references in the Bible to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Here are a few key passages:
- Matthew 24:30-31 (NIV):
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” - Acts 1:11 (NIV):
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV):
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” - Revelation 1:7 (NIV):
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,’ and ‘every eye will see him, even those who pierced him’; and all peoples on earth ‘will mourn because of him.’ So shall it be! Amen.” - 1 Corinthians 1:7: Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
These passages, among others, describe the expectation among Christians of the return of Jesus Christ in glory to judge the living and the dead and to establish his kingdom. The specifics and interpretations of these events vary among different Christian denominations and theological traditions.
The term “rapture” refers to a belief held by some Christians, particularly those in certain evangelical and fundamentalist denominations, regarding the sudden and dramatic event in which they believe true believers in Jesus Christ will be taken up to heaven. This concept is not universally accepted among Christians and is subject to various interpretations. However, Islamic scholarship does not support the concept of ‘rapture’.
In the theological context of those who believe in the rapture, it is often associated with the return of Jesus Christ, also known as the Second Coming. According to this belief, believers who are alive at the time of the rapture will be caught up (or “raptured”) into the air to meet Jesus, while those who have died will be resurrected and also join them. This event is commonly linked with passages from the New Testament, particularly 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, which describes believers being caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord.
It’s important to note that the concept of the rapture is not found explicitly in the Bible but is inferred from certain passages that are interpreted in a particular way by proponents of this belief system. Additionally, interpretations of the timing and nature of the rapture vary among different Christian traditions and scholars, leading to a range of views on the subject within Christianity.
Despite these differences in emphasis and interpretation, there is a shared anticipation among these traditions for a significant figure who will usher in a new era of justice, peace, and divine fulfillment. While the specifics of this figure’s identity and the timing of their arrival may vary, the underlying hope for a better future remains a central tenet across Islamic, Jewish, and Christian eschatology.
It’s important to note that while there are parallels between Islamic and Christian teachings regarding the return of Jesus, there are also differences in interpretation and emphasis. In Islam, Jesus is considered a prophet, not the divine Son of God as in Christianity, and his return is seen as part of the fulfillment of prophecy and the final stages of human history leading up to the Day of Judgment.
The False Messiah
One of the beliefs that the Muslim Ummah has been agreeing with since the dawn of Islam is that Jesus, son of Mary (peace be upon him), was saved by God from Jewish conspiracies and elevated alive to the sky and then as a sign of the nearness of the Hour, he would be sent to this planet. But before his descent, an evil person will claim to be the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) but in reality, he will be the False Messiah known as Dajjal. For details about Dajjal click here.
