Scholars’ Statements Regarding the Mutawatir Nature of the Hadiths of Jesus (peace be upon him)
Regarding the hadiths about the descent of Jesus (peace be upon him), the scholars have clarified that these hadiths are mutawatir, which are as follows:
➊ Imam Katani says:
الحاصل أن الأحاديث الواردة فى المهدي المنتظر متواترة وكذا الواردة فى الدجال وفي نزول سيدنا عيسى عليه السلام
“The conclusion is that the hadiths reported about the awaited Mahdi, as well as about the Dajjal and the descent of our master Jesus (peace be upon him), are mutawatir.”
➋ Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
ثم إنه رفعه إليه وأنه باق حي وأنه سينزل قبل يوم القيامة كما دلت عليه الأحاديث المتواترة التى سنوردها إن شاء الله قريبا
“Allah Almighty raising him (Jesus) to Himself, his survival and being alive, and his descent before the Day of Judgment are indicated by mutawatir hadiths. We will, God willing, mention them soon.”
➌ Imam Ibn Atiyyah al-Andalusi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
وأجمعت الأمة على ما تضمنه الحديث المتواتر من أن عيسى عليه السلام فى السماء حي وأنه ينزل فى آخر الزمان
“The Ummah has consensus on this mutawatir hadith which includes that Jesus (peace be upon him) is alive in the heavens and will descend in the last times.”
➍ Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
تواترت الأخبار بأن المهدي من هذه الأمة وأن عيسى عليه السلام يصلي خلفه
“It is established by mutawatir hadiths that the Mahdi is from this Ummah and Jesus (peace be upon him) will lead the prayer behind him.”
Similarly, Imam Ibn Jarir,
Sanusi,
Anwar Shah Kashmiri
and many other Imams, mufassirun, and muhaddithin have clarified that the hadiths about the descent of Jesus (peace be upon him) are mutawatir. The scholars have stated that denying a mutawatir hadith is disbelief.
The Ruling on Denying a Matter Proven by Mutawatir Ahadith
Imam Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
ولا نكفر أهل القبلة إلا بإنكار المتواتر من الشريعة
“We declare takfir of the people of Qiblah only when they deny a ruling established by mutawatir evidence of the Shariah.”
Anwar Shah Kashmiri, may Allah have mercy on him, has also stated similarly,
And Sheikh Tahir Dimashqi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “When a hadith reaches the level of mutawatir, then the narrators of that hadith are not debated; rather, it becomes obligatory to act upon it without debate.”
