by Mufti A.H. Elias
I. Jesus (A.S.) In IslamMuslims
do believe that Isa (A.S.) was sent down as a Prophet of Allah (God),
but he (Jesus) is not God or Lord, nor the son of God. Muslims do not
believe that Isa (A.S.), also known as Jesus by Christians and others,
is dead or was ever crucified. We believe that he was raised to heaven
and is there, and will descend at the appointed time, end all wars, and
bring peace to the world. Like Jesus (A.S.), Muhammad (Peace be upon
him) is also a Prophet and Messenger. Muhammed (P.B.U.H.) is the last
Prophet, though, and there is none after him. Hence, Islam is the last
religion, complete, with the Holy Qur'an as the unchanged and perfect
word of God for over 1400 years, as God promised to preserve it till the
last day for all of humankind, unlike sacred texts of other religions
which have mulitple versions and are "revised" periodically. God, or
Allah in Arabic, is Divine and Supreme Being and Creator.
What the Holy Qur'an says about Jesus:They slew him not, nor did they crucify him but it was made dubious to them.
(Holy Qur'an, Surah Nisaa, Verse 157)
Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) himself told of the coming of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). In the Bible, Jesus (A.S.) says,
If
you love me, Keep my commandments. And I will pray to the Father and He
shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you forever.
(Bible, John 14-15/16)
But
when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father,
even the spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall
testify of me, and he also shall bear witness, because ye have been with
me from the beginning.
(Bible, John 15-26/27)
I have yet many
things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. How be it when
he, the spirit of Truth will come, he will guide you into all truth, for
he shall speak not of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that he
shall speak, and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me,
for he shall receive of mine, and he shall show it unto you.
(Bible, John 16-12/14)
Ulema
(learned scholars in Islam) have said that the person who is described
by Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) to come after him - in the above verse - does not
comply with any other person but Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
In
this case, the "comforter" he mentions is none other than Prophet
Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his laws and way of life (Shariah) and
Book (Holy Qur'an) are those that Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) asks his followers
to abide by.
The "person" whom Jesus (A.S.) prophecised will come
after him, is called Pargaleeta in the Bible . This word was deleted by
interpreters and translators and changed at times to "Spirit of Truth"
and at other times, to "comforter" and sometimes "Holy Spirit." The
original Greek and its meaning is "one whom people praise exceedingly."
The sense of the word, then, is applicable to the word Muhammad in
Arabic, since Muhammad means "the praised one."
Jesus (A.S.) also says in the Bible,
... and a little while and you shall not see me; and again a little while, you shall see me because I go to the Father.
(Bible, John 16:16)
... and the Holy Qur'an says,
And surely they slew him not. But Allah (God) raised him unto Himself.
(Holy Qur'an, Surah Nisaa, Verse 157-158)
As
such, Muslims believe that Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) was raised to heaven.
According to Hadith, he is on the second heaven. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam=Peace be upon him) mentioned, "During the Meraj
(Ascension), I met Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) on the second heaven. I found him
of medium stature, reddish white. His body was so clean and clear, that
it appeared as though he had just performed ghusal (ablution, cleansing
of the entire body) and come." In another Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallahu
Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned to the Jews that, " Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) is
not dead, he will most surely return to you before Qiyamat (the Day of
Judgement)."
May Allah Guide all people to the Truth. Aameen.
II. Hadhrat Isa's (A.S.) Descension - The Physical Features of Hadhrat Isa (A.S.)He
will resemble the famous Sahabi (A.S.) Hadhrat Urwa bin Masoodi (R.A.).
He will be of average height and red and white in colour. His hair
spread to the shoulders, straight, neat and shining as after a bath. On
bending his head, it will seem as if pearls are falling. He will have an
armour on his body. He will be wearing two pieces of cloth light yellow
in color.
His DescensionHe will descend
on a Jamaat (group) that will be righteous at the time and comprising
of 800 men and 400 women. The people will be preparing for war at the
time against Dajjal (the anti-Christ). It will be time for Fajr prayers,
and Imam Mahdi will be the Amir (leader). From the darkness of the
dawn, a sound will suddenly be heard that "one who listens to your pleas
has come" -- the righteous people will look everywhere and their eyes
will fall on Isa (A.S.). Briefly, at the time of Fajr, Isa (A.S.) will
descend. When descending, Isa (A.S.)'s hands will be on the shoulders of
two angels (according to another source (Kab Abrar), a cloud will carry
him). On their insistence Hadhrat Isa will introduce himself. He will
inquire about their enthusiasm and thoughts on Jihad against Dajjal.
Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) will descend on the eastern side near the Minaret in
Damascus (or in Baitul-Muqaddus by Imam Mahdi). At the time Imam Mahdi
will have proceeded forward to lead the Fajr Salaat. The Iqamat of the
Salaat would have been said (already recited) and Imam Mahdi will call
Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) for Imamat (to lead the prayer), but he (Hadhrat Isa
(A.S.)) will instead tell Imam Mahdi to lead the prayer since the Iqamat
of that Salaat has already been said for him. Thus Imam Mahdi will lead
the prayer, and Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) will follow him. After the ruku, he
will make this statement: "Allah has killed Dajjal and the Muslims have
appeared."
The Killing of Dajjal (anti-Christ) and the Victory of the MuslimsAfter
the completion of Fajr Salaat (congregational dawn prayers), Hadhrat
Isa (A.S.) will open the door behind him where Dajjal accompanied by
70,000 Yahudis (Jews) will be. He will indicate with his hand to move
away between him (Hadhrat Isa (A.S.)) and Dajjal. Dajjal will then see
Hadhrat Isa (A.S.). At that time every Kafir on whom the breath of
Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) will reach, will die. His breath will reach up to the
distance of his eyesight. The Muslims will then come down from the
mountains and break loose on the army of Dajjal. There will be war,
Dajjal will retreat, and Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) will pursue Dajjal. Hadhrat
Isa (A.S.) will have two flexible swords and one shield with him and
with these he will kill Dajjal at the Gate of Hudd. He willl show the
Muslims the blood of Dajjal which will get on his shield. Eventually the
Yahudis will be selected and killed. The swine will be killed and the
cross broken. People will revert to Islam. Wars will end, and people
will return to their respective countries. One Jamaat (group) of Muslims
will remain in his service and companionship.
Hadhrat Isa (A.S.)
will go to Fajr Rawha and perform Haj or Umrah (or both) from there. He
will also go to the grave of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)
and present his greetings and Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)
will reply. People will live comfortable lives. The wall of Yajooj and
Majooj (Gog and Magog) will then break.
III. The Blessings of Hadhrat Isa (Jesus) (A.S.)1 Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) will descend and stay on earth.
2 His descension will be in the last era of the Ummat.
3 He will be a just ruler and a fair judge.
4 His ummat will be the Khalifa (deputies) of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).
5 He will act himself and instruct others on the Qur'an and Hadith (Shariat/Tradition of Islam).
6 He will lead people in Salaat (Prayer).
7
He will stay on earth for a period of 40 years after descending. The
will be the best era of the Ummat after the first era of Islam.
8 Allah will protect his companions from Jahannam.
9
Those who will save the Deen of Islam by associating themselves with
Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) will be amongst the most loved by Allah Ta'ala.
10
During this period all other religions and mazhabs besides Islam will
perish, hence there will be no kuffaars (non-believers) in the world.
11 Jihad will be stopped.
12 No Khiraaj will be taken.
13 Nor Jizya (protection tax) money from the kafirs (non-believers)
14
Wealth and property will be in surplus to such an extent that there
will be no one to accept the wealth of the other (everyone will be
independent).
15 Receiving Zakaat (Alms-giving, Charity to poor) and Saadaqa will be discarded (as there will be no poor to receive them!).
16 The people will love the sajda (prostration to God) more than the world and what it consists of.
17 All types of Deeni (religious) and worldly blessings will descend on earth (many halaal (lawful) things will be created).
18 There will be peace, harmony and tranquility during the time of Hadhrat Isa (A.S.)'s stay in the world.
19 There will be no animosity for a period of seven years, even between two persons.
20 All hearts will be free from miserliness, envy, hatred, malice and jealousy.
21 For a period of forty years no one will fall ill or die.
22 Venom will be taken out of all venomous animals.
23 Snakes and scorpions will not harm anyone to the extent that if a child put his hand in its mouth, he will not be harmed.
24 Will animals will not harm anyone.
25
If a man will pass a lion, he will not be troubled or harmed, or even
if any girl will open its mouth to test if it will do anything.
26 The camels will graze among lions, cheetahs with cattle and the jackals with goats.
27 The fertility of the land will increase to such an extent that even if a seed is planted in a hard rock, it will sprout.
28 A pomegranate will be so huge that a jamaat will be able to eat it and the people will use its peel as shade.
29
There will be so much barakaat (blessing) in milk that a camel will
suffice for a huge jamaat, a cow for a tribe and a goat for a family.
30 In short, life will be most pleasant after the descension of Jesus (A.S.).
His Marriage, Death and DeputiesAfter
his descension on earth, Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) will marry. He will have
children, and he will remain on earth 19 years after marriage. He will
pass away and Muslims will perform his Janaza Salaat and bury him next
to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). (Tirmidhi)
from: Hadhrat Esa (Alaihis Salaam): The Truth Revealed
and Major Signs of Qiyamat
by Mufti Afzal Hoosein Elias (May Allah reward him for his work in producing these kitaabs, aameen.)
from the original (with references): "Aalalaat-e-Qiyyamat aur Nuzul-e-Eesa."