Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ al-Ḥadīth
➊ Will ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) descend again as a Prophet and Messenger, or as an ordinary follower (Ummah member)?
➋ If ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) comes as an Ummah member, does any ordinary follower have the right to say to all People of the Book and non-Muslims: “Believe in me”?
➌ In the Qur’an, where all of mankind and the People of the Book are invited to Islam, is it also mentioned there that they should believe in one of the Ummah (ʿĪsā ʿAlayhi al-Salām)?
➍ Is it written in the Qur’an and Hadith that ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) will descend as an Ummah member? If they are considered an “Ummah member” instead of a “Prophet,” would that not amount to denying his Prophethood? (Since in the Qur’an, Sūrah Maryam, verse 30, it is stated: وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا)
➎ If ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) descends as a Prophet and Messenger, then who will be considered the last Prophet — him or Muḥammad ﷺ? Is there any need for a Prophet or Messenger after the advent of Muḥammad ﷺ?
➏ If ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) is regarded as the one who comes after all Prophets, then what will be the meaning of the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«فَإِنِّیْ آخِرُ الْأَنْبِیَاء لَا نَبِیَّ بَعْدِیْ»
(I am the last of the Prophets, and there will be no Prophet after me)?
➐ Is the ascension of ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) to the heavens, his remaining there for centuries, and then his descent to the earth counted among Allah’s blessings? If it is indeed a blessing, then why is it not mentioned when Allah will remind ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) of His blessings on the Day of Judgment? Did Allah (we seek refuge in Him) forget to mention such a great blessing, or did such an event never occur?
Muḥammad ﷺ is the Khātam al-Nabiyyīn (Seal of the Prophets). After him, neither ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) will come as a Prophet, nor as an Ummah member. All Prophets have passed away, including ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām). The belief in the descent of the Messiah is, in fact, a Christian doctrine that was spread among Muslims as a conspiracy.
The Qur’an clearly states the status of ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām):
◈ ﴿إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّـهِ﴾ (al-Nisāʾ)
◈ ﴿مَّا الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ﴾ (al-Māʾidah)
◈ ﴿قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّـهِ آتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا﴾ (Maryam)
Allah also took a covenant from the Prophets that they would believe in and support the Messenger (Muḥammad ﷺ) who would come after them. (Āl ʿImrān: 81–82)
Hence, upon his descent, ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) will be both a Prophet and a follower of Muḥammad ﷺ.
The objection — “Can an Ummah member call people to believe in him?” — is incorrect, because ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) is not merely an Ummah member, but also a Messenger.
Examples:
◈ Hārūn (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) was both a follower of Mūsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) and a Messenger.
◈ Lūṭ (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) was both a follower of Ibrāhīm (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) and a Messenger.
Similarly, ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) will be both a follower of Muḥammad ﷺ and a Messenger.
As explained in answers (➊) and (➋), ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) will be both Prophet and Ummah member. This does not imply denial of his Prophethood.
ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) received Prophethood before Muḥammad ﷺ. At the time of his descent, he will remain a Prophet, but he will not be granted Prophethood anew. Therefore, Muḥammad ﷺ is indeed the Khātam al-Nabiyyīn.
﴿وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ ۖ﴾ (al-Ṣaff: 6)
The purpose of the descent is not to bring a new Sharīʿah, but rather to confirm the Sharīʿah of Muḥammad ﷺ and to end corruption and tribulation.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«إِنَّه لَا نَبِیَّ بَعْدِیْ» (Bukhārī, Muslim)
And he also said:
«لَیُوشِکَنَّ اَنْ یَنْزِلَ فِیْکُمُ ابْنُ مَرْیَمَ حَکَمًا عَدْلاً» (Bukhārī, Muslim)
There is no contradiction between the two.
This is because ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) will not come with new Prophethood; rather, he will come with his previously given Prophethood while acting upon the Sharīʿah of Muḥammad ﷺ.
The Qur’an does not mention every blessing in one place. For example:
◈ The miraculous birth of ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) without a father is mentioned in some places, but not in the verses where Allah recounts His blessings upon him on the Day of Judgment.
◈ Similarly, the honor of Maryam (ʿAlayhā al-Salām) being chosen over all women is mentioned elsewhere but not in Sūrah al-Māʾidah.
Thus, the fact that the raising and descent of ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) is not mentioned in every context does not justify its denial.
◈ ﴿بَل رَّفَعَهُ اللَّـهُ إِلَيْهِ﴾ (al-Nisāʾ)
◈ ﴿وَرَافِعُك إِلَیَّ﴾ (Āl ʿImrān)
Ahadith also provide conclusive proof:
◈ «وَاللهِ لَیَنْزِلَنَّ ابْنُ مَرْیَمَ حَکَمًا عَادِلًا» (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
◈ «لاَ تَزَالُ طَائِفَة مِنْ أُمَّتِي یُقَاتِلُوْنَ… فَیَنْزِلُ عِیْسَی ابْنُ مَرْیَمَ» (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
◈ Muḥammad ﷺ is the Khātam al-Nabiyyīn. After him, no one has been or will be granted new Prophethood or Messengership.
◈ ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) is a Prophet and Messenger, but upon his descent, he will be a follower of Muḥammad ﷺ, bound by his Sharīʿah.
◈ The belief in the descent of the Messiah is proven from the Qur’an and Hadith.
◈ The claim that this belief is a “Christian conspiracy” is entirely baseless.
For further details, studying “Shahādat al-Qurʾān” by Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Ibrāhīm Mīr Siyālkōtī (Raḥimahu Allāh) is beneficial.
Questions Asked to Those Who Affirm the Descent of ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām)
➊ Will ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) descend again as a Prophet and Messenger, or as an ordinary follower (Ummah member)?
➋ If ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) comes as an Ummah member, does any ordinary follower have the right to say to all People of the Book and non-Muslims: “Believe in me”?
➌ In the Qur’an, where all of mankind and the People of the Book are invited to Islam, is it also mentioned there that they should believe in one of the Ummah (ʿĪsā ʿAlayhi al-Salām)?
➍ Is it written in the Qur’an and Hadith that ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) will descend as an Ummah member? If they are considered an “Ummah member” instead of a “Prophet,” would that not amount to denying his Prophethood? (Since in the Qur’an, Sūrah Maryam, verse 30, it is stated: وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا)
➎ If ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) descends as a Prophet and Messenger, then who will be considered the last Prophet — him or Muḥammad ﷺ? Is there any need for a Prophet or Messenger after the advent of Muḥammad ﷺ?
➏ If ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) is regarded as the one who comes after all Prophets, then what will be the meaning of the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«فَإِنِّیْ آخِرُ الْأَنْبِیَاء لَا نَبِیَّ بَعْدِیْ»
(I am the last of the Prophets, and there will be no Prophet after me)?
➐ Is the ascension of ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) to the heavens, his remaining there for centuries, and then his descent to the earth counted among Allah’s blessings? If it is indeed a blessing, then why is it not mentioned when Allah will remind ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) of His blessings on the Day of Judgment? Did Allah (we seek refuge in Him) forget to mention such a great blessing, or did such an event never occur?
Questioner’s Opinion
Muḥammad ﷺ is the Khātam al-Nabiyyīn (Seal of the Prophets). After him, neither ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) will come as a Prophet, nor as an Ummah member. All Prophets have passed away, including ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām). The belief in the descent of the Messiah is, in fact, a Christian doctrine that was spread among Muslims as a conspiracy.
Answers
➊ The Descent of ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) Will Be as Prophet, Messenger, and Ummah Member
The Qur’an clearly states the status of ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām):
◈ ﴿إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّـهِ﴾ (al-Nisāʾ)
◈ ﴿مَّا الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ﴾ (al-Māʾidah)
◈ ﴿قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّـهِ آتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا﴾ (Maryam)
Allah also took a covenant from the Prophets that they would believe in and support the Messenger (Muḥammad ﷺ) who would come after them. (Āl ʿImrān: 81–82)
Hence, upon his descent, ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) will be both a Prophet and a follower of Muḥammad ﷺ.
➋ The Combination of Ummah Member and Messenger Is Possible
The objection — “Can an Ummah member call people to believe in him?” — is incorrect, because ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) is not merely an Ummah member, but also a Messenger.
Examples:
◈ Hārūn (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) was both a follower of Mūsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) and a Messenger.
◈ Lūṭ (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) was both a follower of Ibrāhīm (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) and a Messenger.
Similarly, ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) will be both a follower of Muḥammad ﷺ and a Messenger.
➌ & ➍ Clarification from Qur’an and Hadith
As explained in answers (➊) and (➋), ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) will be both Prophet and Ummah member. This does not imply denial of his Prophethood.
➎ The Last Prophet Is Muḥammad ﷺ
ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) received Prophethood before Muḥammad ﷺ. At the time of his descent, he will remain a Prophet, but he will not be granted Prophethood anew. Therefore, Muḥammad ﷺ is indeed the Khātam al-Nabiyyīn.
﴿وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ ۖ﴾ (al-Ṣaff: 6)
The purpose of the descent is not to bring a new Sharīʿah, but rather to confirm the Sharīʿah of Muḥammad ﷺ and to end corruption and tribulation.
➏ No Contradiction Between “Lā Nabī Baʿdī” and the Descent of ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«إِنَّه لَا نَبِیَّ بَعْدِیْ» (Bukhārī, Muslim)
And he also said:
«لَیُوشِکَنَّ اَنْ یَنْزِلَ فِیْکُمُ ابْنُ مَرْیَمَ حَکَمًا عَدْلاً» (Bukhārī, Muslim)
There is no contradiction between the two.
This is because ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) will not come with new Prophethood; rather, he will come with his previously given Prophethood while acting upon the Sharīʿah of Muḥammad ﷺ.
➐ The Objection: “Not Mentioning It as a Blessing”
The Qur’an does not mention every blessing in one place. For example:
◈ The miraculous birth of ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) without a father is mentioned in some places, but not in the verses where Allah recounts His blessings upon him on the Day of Judgment.
◈ Similarly, the honor of Maryam (ʿAlayhā al-Salām) being chosen over all women is mentioned elsewhere but not in Sūrah al-Māʾidah.
Thus, the fact that the raising and descent of ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) is not mentioned in every context does not justify its denial.
◈ ﴿بَل رَّفَعَهُ اللَّـهُ إِلَيْهِ﴾ (al-Nisāʾ)
◈ ﴿وَرَافِعُك إِلَیَّ﴾ (Āl ʿImrān)
Ahadith also provide conclusive proof:
◈ «وَاللهِ لَیَنْزِلَنَّ ابْنُ مَرْیَمَ حَکَمًا عَادِلًا» (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
◈ «لاَ تَزَالُ طَائِفَة مِنْ أُمَّتِي یُقَاتِلُوْنَ… فَیَنْزِلُ عِیْسَی ابْنُ مَرْیَمَ» (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Summary
◈ Muḥammad ﷺ is the Khātam al-Nabiyyīn. After him, no one has been or will be granted new Prophethood or Messengership.
◈ ʿĪsā (ʿAlayhi al-Salām) is a Prophet and Messenger, but upon his descent, he will be a follower of Muḥammad ﷺ, bound by his Sharīʿah.
◈ The belief in the descent of the Messiah is proven from the Qur’an and Hadith.
◈ The claim that this belief is a “Christian conspiracy” is entirely baseless.
For further details, studying “Shahādat al-Qurʾān” by Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Ibrāhīm Mīr Siyālkōtī (Raḥimahu Allāh) is beneficial.
