Return of Prophet Isaa is one of the signs of The Hour and it’s so sad to see many of so-called “scholars” of Islaam who lead people astray by their beliefs and lectures.

Background

Out of many rejecters of aḥādīth (Munkir-e ḥadīth), one of them is Javed Ahmed Ghaamdi from Pakistan, (please note: mentioning a name like this does not fall under backbiting as we are doing it solely to warn people against him, please see point #4 here) who rejects the return of Isaa based on his own “understandings” ^{1 2}

In his writings and his statements in the video, we can clearly tell this person is a rejecter of aḥādīth. He quotes Qurʾān and Muwatta Imam Maalik. What about the rest of the collections of aḥādīth? It should be understood clearly that listening to him is a mistake that many do. He is astray and leads other astray. We say, do not listen to him and the likes of him unless you have clear knowledge on a matter (in order to give him naseehaa).

Because of the importance of the matter, we will prove the return of Isaa from Qurʾān and aḥādīth, in shaa’ Allāh.

Qurʾānic Proof

There are clear indications of return of Isaa in Qurʾān. In order to get these understandings we must establish that we do not understand Qurʾān from our own intellect. We understand Qurʾān from understandings of salaf us-saleh (pious predecessors).

Allāh said

وَإِنَّهُۥ لَعِلْمٌ لِّلسَّاعَةِ فَلَا تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا وَٱتَّبِعُونِ

And indeed, Jesus will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. … – Surah az-Zukhruf ³

We will look at several tafaaseer of this ayah from well-known mufassireen.

Imam Ibn Katheer said,

The correct view concerning this phrase is that it refers to his descent before the Day of Ressurrection.
…
Mujaahid said “One of the signs of the Hour will be the apperance of Isaa son of Maryam before the Day of Resurrection”. Something similar was also narratted from Abu Hurayrah, Ibn ‘Abbas, ‘Abu Al-‘Aliyah, Abu Maalik, ‘Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and others. Many Mutawaatir Ḥadīths report that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said that Isaa will descend before the Day of Resurrection as a just ruler and fair judge.

فَلَا تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا

{Therefore have no doubt concerning it.} means, do not doubt that it will surely come to pass. – Tafseer Ibn Katheer ⁴

Sheikh As-Sa’di said,

(means) descending of Isaa bin Maryam in the end of times, and his descending is from the signs of The Hour. {Therefore have no doubt concerning it.} i.e, do not doubt in coming of The Hour because doubting in it is disbelief. – Tafseer As-Sa’di ⁵

Imam Al-Qurtubi said,

That Allāh descend him (Isaa ) from heavens before establishing The Hour, (this is sign) just as emergence of ad-Dajaal is a sign of The Hour – Tafseer Al-Qurtubi ⁶

Imam Al-Baghawi said,

His descending is one of the signs that The Hour is nearer. – Tafseer Al-Baghawi ⁷

Ḥadīthic Proof

There are numerous traditions that clearly state the descending of Isaa before the Day of Resurrection; we will quote few here

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allāh’s Apostle ﷺ said, “The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts). – al-Bukhari ⁸

In another narration,

Hudhaifa b. Usaid Ghifari reported:

Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ came to us all of a sudden as we were (busy in a discussion). He said: What do you discuss about? They (the Companions) said. We are discussing about the Last Hour. Thereupon he said: It will not cone until you see ten signs before and (in this connection) he made a mention of the smoke, Dajjal, the beast, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Jesus son of Mary , the Gog and Magog, and land-slidings in three places, one in the east, one in the west and one in Arabia at the end of which fire would burn forth from the Yemen, and would drive people to the place of their assembly. – Muslim ⁹ Abu Dawood ¹⁰

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allāh’s Apostle ﷺ 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 Allāh (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 Allāh and a human being) Before his death. And on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness Against them.” (4.159) – al-Bukhari ¹¹

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allāh’s Apostle ﷺ said, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, son of Mary (Jesus) will shortly descend amongst you people (Muslims) as a just ruler and will break the Cross and kill the pig and abolish the Jizya (a tax taken from the non-Muslims, who are in the protection, of the Muslim government). Then there will be abundance of money and no-body will accept charitable gifts. – al-Bukhari ¹²

Conclusion

The matter is clear. There are clear mentions of descending of Isaa in authentic traditions. Whether people like Ghamdi like it or not, Allāh has revealed this sign for us. Indeed, saying of Prophet ﷺ are also from the revelations, as Allāh said:

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ. إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْىٌ يُوحَىٰ

Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed – Surah an-Najm ¹³

May Allāh guide us to the truth. We seek refuge in Allāh from every evil that He created.