The Descent of Prophet ʿĪsā (Jesus) عليه السلام – A Detailed Review of Mutawatir Ahadith

Based on the Work of Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (حفظه الله)
Organized with Headings and Structured for Easy Understanding

❖ The Belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah​

The belief that Prophet ʿĪsā ibn Maryam عليه السلام is alive in the heavens and will descend bodily near the Day of Judgment is a consensus-based, agreed-upon doctrine of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah. There are numerous explicit narrations and scholarly affirmations on this matter.

❖ Scholarly Consensus​

• Imam Abu ʿAwn Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Saffarini (d. 1188H) stated:
  "There is ijmāʿ (consensus) of the Muslim Ummah on the descent of Prophet ʿĪsā عليه السلام, and none from among the followers of the Sharīʿah has denied it. Only a few philosophers and irreligious individuals reject it—and their opinions are of no consequence. ʿĪsā عليه السلام will descend to earth and judge by the Sharīʿah of Muhammad ﷺ."
  (Lawāmiʿ al-Anwār al-Bahiyyah: 1/94-95)
• Imam Abu Ḥayyān al-Andalusī (d. 745H) wrote in al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ:
  "There is unanimity among Muslims that ʿĪsā عليه السلام is alive in the heavens and will descend near the end of times. He will kill swine, break the cross, destroy the Dajjāl, and justice will prevail. The religion of Muhammad ﷺ will dominate."
  (al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ: 3/173)
• Imam al-Nawawī (d. 676H), quoting Qāḍī ʿIyāḍ, affirmed:
  "According to Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah, the descent of ʿĪsā عليه السلام and the killing of Dajjāl is true and correct. There is no rational or scriptural evidence against it. The denial by some Muʿtazilites and Jahmiyyah is based on flawed reasoning."
  (Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 18/75)

❖ The Place and Attributes of His Descent​

• Hafiz Ibn Kathīr (d. 774H):
  "Prophet ʿĪsā عليه السلام will descend near the eastern minaret of Damascus during Fajr time. He will kill swine, break the cross, and abolish jizyah. Islam will prevail."
  (Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 2/413)
  

❖ Mutawatir Hadith on the Descent of Prophet ʿĪsā عليه السلام​

• Shaykh Nāsir al-Dīn al-Albānī (d. 1419H):
  "The ahadith on Dajjāl and the descent of ʿĪsā عليه السلام are mutawatir. Believing in them is obligatory. Those who call them isolated reports are unfamiliar with the chains. Had they examined them, they would have found them mutawatir."
  (Ḥāshiyat al-ʿAqīdah al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah, p. 565)

❖ Examples of Mutawatir Ahadith​

① Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (2476) & Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (155) – From Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه
"The Hour will not be established until the son of Maryam descends as a just ruler, breaks the cross, kills swine, and abolishes jizyah..."

② Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (155) – "By Allah, the son of Maryam will descend..."

③ Musnad Aḥmad (2/394) – "He will descend and bring Islam to dominance..."

④ Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ (1309) – "He will be seen as a ruler, killing swine and breaking the cross..."

⑤ Musnad Aḥmad (6/75) – "He will descend at Bab al-Ludd and kill the Dajjāl..."

⑥ Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ (5465) – "He will descend at the trench near Madinah..."

⑦ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (2937) – From Nawwās ibn Samʿān
"He will descend near the white minaret in the east of Damascus..."

⑧ Muʿjam al-Kabīr (590) – "He will descend near the white minaret of Damascus..."

⑨ Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ (5466) – "He will remain on earth for forty years..."

⑩ Musnad Aḥmad (2/298) – "If I live long enough, I hope to meet him..."

❖ Scholarly Affirmations​

① Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī (d. 795H):
"He will descend in Syria near the end of times and lead Muslims under the Sharīʿah of Muhammad ﷺ."
(Laṭāʾif al-Maʿārif, p. 90)

② Abū al-Ḥasan al-Ashʿarī (d. 324H):
"Ahl al-Sunnah confirm the emergence of Dajjāl and the descent of ʿĪsā عليه السلام to kill him."
(Maqālāt al-Islāmiyyīn: 1/324)

③ al-Samʿānī (d. 489H):
"The Prophet ﷺ saw ʿĪsā عليه السلام making ṭawāf of the Kaʿbah – a clear proof of his being alive."
(Tafsīr al-Samʿānī: 1/325)

④ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī (d. 852H):
"He was raised alive to the heavens, and this is the correct view."
(Fatḥ al-Bārī: 6/375)

⑤ al-ʿAynī (d. 855H):
"There is no doubt that ʿĪsā عليه السلام is alive in the heavens..."
(ʿUmdat al-Qārī: 24/160)

⑥ Ibn Kathīr:
"He was not crucified but raised by Allah. He will descend as proven by mutawatir ahadith."
(al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah: 19/218)

❖ Conclusion​

The descent of Prophet ʿĪsā عليه السلام is among the major signs of the Hour, unanimously affirmed by scholars and mutawatir hadith. He will kill Dajjāl, revive the message of Islam, and rule with justice under the Sharīʿah of Muhammad ﷺ.