Ruling on the One Who Claims to Be the “Promised Messiah” and the Status of His Followers
Source: Quran o Hadees Ki Roshni Mein Ahkam o Masail – Volume 01
Question:
Respected scholars and jurists are asked:
A person claims: “I am the Promised Messiah,” and also says that ‘Isa عليه السلام has passed away. Should such a claimant be considered a believer or a disbeliever? Furthermore, what is the ruling regarding those who accept his beliefs?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
A person who claims to be the “Promised Messiah” and believes that ‘Isa عليه السلام has passed away is:
◈ A great Dajjal
◈ A liar
◈ A denier of the Qur’an and the mutawatir ahadith
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ﴾
(And there is none of the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in him before his death.)
Meaning: before the death of ‘Isa عليه السلام — as explained by Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنهما, Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, and other pious predecessors.
This is clearly stated in Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Fath al-Qadeer by al-Shawkani, and Fath al-Bayan.
This verse explicitly proves:
◈ ‘Isa عليه السلام is alive
◈ He has not yet passed away
Authentic and explicit ahadith establish that:
◈ ‘Isa عليه السلام will appear in the final era in Syria
◈ He will kill the Dajjal
◈ He will rescue people from the trial and evil of the Dajjal
◈ Through his supplication, Ya’juj and Ma’juj will perish
◈ Corruption and evil will be eliminated
◈ Various nations, including Jews and Christians, will accept Islam
◈ The world will be filled with justice and fairness
◈ This state will remain for seven years
◈ Thereafter, ‘Isa عليه السلام will pass away
This entire account is mentioned in all hadith compilations and books of Islamic creed, and it is the unanimous belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama‘ah.
Some misguided sects have claimed that the ahadith about the descent of ‘Isa عليه السلام are abrogated by the hadith «أنا خاتم النبيين».
They considered there to be a contradiction between the two and thus rejected all the authentic ahadith.
This was a severe misunderstanding that led them into the pit of misguidance.
◈ There is no contradiction whatsoever
◈ Without doubt, Muhammad ﷺ is the Seal of the Prophets
◈ No prophet will come after him
◈ The descent of ‘Isa عليه السلام will not be with a new Shari‘ah; rather, he will act upon the previous Shari‘ah
The unanimous belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama‘ah is:
◈ ‘Isa عليه السلام is alive
◈ Whoever denies his life, or claims like the Jews that he was killed, or asserts that he died naturally, and then claims to be the “Promised Messiah” —
➊ Such a person is a disbeliever, with no doubt in his disbelief
➋ Whoever follows such a person is also outside the fold of Islam
Wallāhu A‘lam
Source: Quran o Hadees Ki Roshni Mein Ahkam o Masail – Volume 01
Issue: Islamic Ruling on the One Claiming to Be ‘Isa al-Ma‘ood and the Status of His Followers
Question:
Respected scholars and jurists are asked:
A person claims: “I am the Promised Messiah,” and also says that ‘Isa عليه السلام has passed away. Should such a claimant be considered a believer or a disbeliever? Furthermore, what is the ruling regarding those who accept his beliefs?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
A person who claims to be the “Promised Messiah” and believes that ‘Isa عليه السلام has passed away is:
◈ A great Dajjal
◈ A liar
◈ A denier of the Qur’an and the mutawatir ahadith
Qur’anic Evidence:
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ﴾
(And there is none of the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in him before his death.)
Meaning: before the death of ‘Isa عليه السلام — as explained by Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنهما, Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, and other pious predecessors.
This is clearly stated in Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Fath al-Qadeer by al-Shawkani, and Fath al-Bayan.
This verse explicitly proves:
◈ ‘Isa عليه السلام is alive
◈ He has not yet passed away
Proof from Hadith:
Authentic and explicit ahadith establish that:
◈ ‘Isa عليه السلام will appear in the final era in Syria
◈ He will kill the Dajjal
◈ He will rescue people from the trial and evil of the Dajjal
◈ Through his supplication, Ya’juj and Ma’juj will perish
◈ Corruption and evil will be eliminated
◈ Various nations, including Jews and Christians, will accept Islam
◈ The world will be filled with justice and fairness
◈ This state will remain for seven years
◈ Thereafter, ‘Isa عليه السلام will pass away
This entire account is mentioned in all hadith compilations and books of Islamic creed, and it is the unanimous belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama‘ah.
The Misunderstanding of a Deviant Sect:
Some misguided sects have claimed that the ahadith about the descent of ‘Isa عليه السلام are abrogated by the hadith «أنا خاتم النبيين».
They considered there to be a contradiction between the two and thus rejected all the authentic ahadith.
This was a severe misunderstanding that led them into the pit of misguidance.
The Reality:
◈ There is no contradiction whatsoever
◈ Without doubt, Muhammad ﷺ is the Seal of the Prophets
◈ No prophet will come after him
◈ The descent of ‘Isa عليه السلام will not be with a new Shari‘ah; rather, he will act upon the previous Shari‘ah
Conclusion:
The unanimous belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama‘ah is:
◈ ‘Isa عليه السلام is alive
◈ Whoever denies his life, or claims like the Jews that he was killed, or asserts that he died naturally, and then claims to be the “Promised Messiah” —
➊ Such a person is a disbeliever, with no doubt in his disbelief
➋ Whoever follows such a person is also outside the fold of Islam
Wallāhu A‘lam
