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Traditions Relating
to the Descent of Christ, Son of Mary
 | Hadrat Abu Huraira reports that
the Prophet (PBUH) of God said: "I swear by Him Who hath power over my life, the son
of Mary shall descend among ye as a Just ruler. He will break the cross and kill the
swine;[The implication of "breaking the Cross" and
"killing of the swine" is that Christianity will become defunct as a religion.
The whole edifice of the Christian religion is based on the belief that God crucified His
only son (i.e. Hadrat Isa (PBUH) on the Cross and caused him to suffer this 'accursed'
death so that he might thus expiate for the sins of man. Among the followers of God's
Prophets, the Christians are unique in having rejected the entire Shariah of God and
retaining this belief only.
The swine has been declared unlawful by all the Prophets,
but the Christians have gone as far as to make it lawful. Hence when Jesus(PBUH) will
proclaim on his appearance, "I am not the son of God; I did not die on the Cross, nor
did I expiate for the sins of anyone," the whole basis of Christian belief will be
demolished. Similarly, the second distinctive charactertistic of Christianity will vanish
when Jesus(PBUH) will say: "I never declared the swine lawful for my followers nor
did I proclaim them free from the restraints of Divine Law."] and he will put an end to
war." (Bukhari, Kitab Ahadith al-Anbiya; Bab: Nuzul 'Isa Ibn Maryam; Muslim,
Bab:
Bayan Nuzul 'Isa; Tirmidhi, Abwab-al-Fitan; Bab Fi Nuzul 'Isa; Musnad Ahmad, Marwiyat Abu
Huraira) |
In another tradition the word jizya has been substituted
for harb, "war", i.e., he will abolish the jizya on non-believers. [In other words this expression means that differences
between the followers of various religions will vanish and the whole mankind will join the
brotherhood of Islam. Consequently, there shall no longer be any war or cause for imposing
religious tax on anyone. This interpretation is supported by Tradition No. 5 and 15 quoted
hereafter.]
| Another tradition reported by
Hadrat Abu Huraira says, "The Doomsday shall not be established before the descent of
Jesus, son of Mary," and these words are followed by the text as given in the
tradition above. (Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Muzalim: Bab: Kasr-ul- Salib Ibn Majah, Kitab-ul-Fitan
al-Dajjal.) |
| Hadrat Abu Huraira reports that
the Apsotle (PBUH) of Allah observed: "What will you be like when the son of Mary
shall descend among ye and a person among ye will discharge the office of Imam (leader in
Prayers)."[The implication is that
Jesus(PBUH) will not act as the
leader of Prayers. He will offer Prayers behind the already existing Imam of Muslims.]
(Bukhari, Kitab
Ahadith Anbiya, Bab: Nuzul Isa; Muslim, Nuzul Isa; Musnad Ahmad, Marwiyat Abu
Huraira) |
| Hadrat Abu Huraira reports the
Apsotle (PBUH) of Allah having said: "Christ, son of Mary, will then kill the swine
and remove the Cross. A congregation for prayer will be held for him. He will distribute
such an enormous quantity of goods that none will be left in need of anything. He will
abolish taxes. He will encamp at Rauha (a place situated at a distance of 35 miles from
Medina) and from there, set out to perform Hajj or Umrah or both." (The reporter is
in doubt as to which of these two had been mentioned by the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
(Musnad
Ahmad, Silsila Marwiyat Abi Huraira; Muslim, Kitab-ul-Hajj; Bab Jawaz-ul- Tamatttu
fil-Hajj wa-al-Qir'an) |
| Hadrat Abu Huraira relates that
the Prophet (PBUH) of God after mentioning the exile of Dajjal said: "The Muslims
will be preparing for war with Dajjal and they will be falling in line in preparation for
offering Prayers and the Takbir will have been said for Prayers when in the meantime
Christ (PBUH), son of Mary, will descend and lead Muslims in Prayer. The enemy of God,
Dajjal, on seeing him will start melting like salt in water. If Christ
(PBUH) would leave
Dajjal alone, he would melt and die anyway, but God will cause Dajjal to be slain at the
hand of Christ (PBUH) and Christ will display his spear strained with the blood of Dajjal
to the Muslims." (Mishkat, Kitab-ul-Fitan, Bab: al-Malahim, quoted by Muslim) |
| Hadrat Abu Huraira reports that
the Apostle (PBUH) of Allah affirmed: "No Prophet shall come during the period
between me and Jesus (PBUH). And Jesus shall descend. Recognize him when you see him; he
is a man of medium height and of a rudy, fair complexion. He will be dressed in two pieces
of yellow garment. The hair of his head will appear as if water is trickling out of them,
though his hair would not be wet. He will fight for the cause of Islam. He will break the
Cross into pieces. He will slay the swine. He will abolish the Jizya on non-believers. In
his time God will put an end to all other faiths except the religion of Islam. And Christ
will kill Dajjal. He will live on this earth for a period of forty years and at the end of
this period he will pass away. The Muslims will offer the funeral prayers of Christ
(PBUH). (Abu Dawud, Kitab-ul-Malahim, Bab: Khuruj-ul-Dajjal; Musnad Ahmad, Marwiyat Abu
Huraira) |
| Hadrat Jabir bin Abdullah
reports that he heard the Prophet (PBUH) as saying: "Then Christ, son of Mary, will
descend. The leader of the Muslims will say to him, "Come, lead us in Prayer,"
but he will reply, "No be thou your own leaders in prayer." [The implication of this observation of Christ
(PBUH) is
that "Someone from amongst you should act as your leader."] He will say this out of respect for the
dignity that God has bestowed on the people of Islam." (Muslim, Bayan Nuzul Isa ibn
Maryam; Musnad Ahmad, Basilsila Marwiyat Jabir bin Abdullah) |
| In connection with the episode
of Ibn Sayyad, Jabir bin Abdullah relates that Umar bin Khattab (RAA) submitted: "O
Apostle of God, allow me to slay him. In reply the Prophet of God observed, "If
indeed this man is he (referring to Dajjal), then he shall be slain by Christ, son of
Mary. You shall not slay him. But if this man is not he (Dajjal), then you have no right
to kill an individual from amongst those with whom we have guaranteed protection
(Dhimmies)." (Mishkat, Kitab-ul-Fitan, Bab: Qissa Ibn Sayyad, quoted by Shara
al-Sunnah al-Baghawi). |
| Jabir b. Abdullah relates that
while narrating the episode of Dajjal, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) observed: "At that
time Christ, son of Mary, will suddenly descend among the Muslims. A congregation will be
assembled for prayer and he shall be asked: " O Spirit of God, come forward and lead
(us in Prayer)." But he will say, 'No, your own Imam shall step forward and act as
the leader.' Thus when the Muslims will have offered the morning Prayer, they will set out
to do battle against Dajjal. When that liar will look on Christ (PBUH), he will start
melting like salt in water. Christ (PBUH) shall advance towards him and slay him. And it
will come to pass that every stone will cry out: 'Spirit of Allah, this Jew is hiding
behind me.' Not a single follower of Dajjal will escape slaughter." (Musnad Ahmad,
Basissila Riwayat Jabir b. Abdullah) |
| Hadrat
an-Nawas b. Sam'an (while
relating the story of Dajjal) reports: "Meantime when Dajjal will be engaged in
perpetrating such deeds, God shall send Christ, son of Mary. Christ (PBUH) will descend
near the white tower in the eastern quarter of Damascus, wearing two pieces of yellow
garment and resting his hands upon the arms of two angels. When he will bend his head, it
would seem that drops of water would fall down from his head and when he will raise his
head it would seem as if pearls would be trickling in the form of drops. Any infidel who
will be within reach of the air of his breath, and the air of his breath willr each as far
as his eye would see - will not escape death. Later the son of Mary will pursue Dajjal and
will overtake him at the gate of Lydda [Please note that Lod (modern
Lydda) is situated at a
distance of few miles from Tel Aviv, the capital of the State of Israel in Palestine. The
Jews have built a large air-base at this place.]
and put him to death." (Muslim, Dhikr Dajjal; Abu Dawud, Kitab
ul-Malahim, Bab: Khuruj; Dajjal; Tirmidhi, Abwab-ul-Fitan; Bab: Fi Fitna
al-Dajjal; Ibn Majah, Kitab ul-Fitna, Bab: Fitna al-Dajjal) |
| Abdullah b. Amr b. al-As says
that the Apostle of God (PBUH) observed: "Dajjal will arise in my people and will
survive for forty (here the reporter is not certain whether the Prophet mentioned forty
days or forty months or forty years). Then God shall send Christ, son of Mary, unto the
world. He will resemble in appearance with 'Urwa b. Masud (a companion of the Prophet).
Christ will pursue Dajjal and put him to death. Following this for a period of seven years
the state of the world will be such that a quarrel between two individuals will be
unknown." (Muslim, Dhikr-ul-Dajjal) |
| Hudhaifa b. Usaid
al-Ghifari
reports that "once the Holy Prophet(PBUUH) visited us when we were sitting in company
and talking to each other. The holy Prophet(PBUH) enquired: "What are you talking
about?" The people said,"we were talking about the doomsday." The holy
Prophet(PBUH) observed :"Doomsday shall not be established before the appearance of
ten signs. He then enumarated those signs as:
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| Smoke |
| Dajjal |
| Daabba |
| Rising of the sun in the West |
| The descent of Christ son of
Mary (PBUH)
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| Appearance of Yajuj and Majuj |
| Formation of three huge cavities
or landslide on the earth, one in the east, |
| Second in the west, |
| and third in the Arabian Isles, |
| Finally, a huge conflagration
which will arise in Yemen and drive people towards the plain of Doom."
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(Muslim, Kitab ul-Fitan wa Ashtrat-us Sa'h:Abu Dawud, Kitab ul-
Malahim, bab: Amarat ul-Sa'h).
| It is reported by
Thauban, the
freed slave of the Holy Prophet that the holy Prophet (PBUH) observed: "God will
grant protection from Hell-fire to two groups from among the people of my
Ummah. One group
consists of those who will invade India; the other group will consist of those who will
align themselves with Christ, son of Mary(PBUH)." (Nasa'i,Kitab ul-jihad;Musnad
ahmad, Bisilsila Riwayat Thauban) |
| Mujamme b. jaria Ansari reports:
"I heard the Holy Prophet(PBUH) as saying: Christ, son of Mary will slay Dajjal at
the gate of Lod(Lydda)." (Musnad Ahmad , Tirmidhi, Abwab-ul-Fitan). |
| Abu Umama
al-Bahli(mentioning
Dajjal in the course of a long tradition) reports "Exactly when the Imam of the
Muslims will step forward to lead the morning prayers, Christ son of
Mary(PBUH) will
descend among them. The Imam will retreat to make room for Christ to lead the prayers. But
Christ patting the Imam in the middle of his shoulders will say "Nay thou shall act
as leader, for this congregation has assembled to follow you in prayer." Hence the
Imam will lead the prayers. When the prayer is over Christ(PBUH) will command, `Open the
Gate.' The gate shall be thrown open. |
Dajjal will be present outside the gate with a host of
seventy thousand Jewish troops. As soon as Dajjal catches the sight of Christ (PBUH), he
will say to him," I shall strike you with such force that you will not survive the
blow." Christ (PBUH) will pursue and overtake him at the Eastern gate of
Lod(Lydda).
God will cause the jews to be defeated. Earth shall be filled with muslims as a vessel is
filled to the brim with water-the entire world shall recite the same Kalima and worship
shall be offered to none else except God Almighty." (Ibn Majah,Kitab-ul-Fitan ; Bab :
Fitan Dajjal)
| `Uthman b. Abi al-`As reports
that he heard the Prophet of God (PBUH) as saying: "And Christ son of Mary will
descend at the time of morniing prayer. The leader of the muslims will say to him, "O
spirit of God, Be thou our leader in prayer." He will answer "The people of this
Ummah are leaders unto each other." At this, the leader of the muslims shall step
forward and lead the prayers. When the prayer is over, Christ(PBUH) will take hold of his
weapon and advance towards Dajjal. Dajjal, on seeing Christ shall start melting like lead.
Christ (PBUH) will slay him with his weapon. The companions of Dajjal will be defeated.
They will flee away, but will not find a hiding place anywhere. Even the trees will cry
out,"O pious, this infidel is hiding behind me," and the stones will say,
"O pious, this unbeliever has taken cover behind me." (Musnad Ahmad,
Tabarani, Hakim) |
| Samura b. Jundub (in a long
tradition) ascribes this saying to the Holy Prophet (PBUH): "Then at morning time
Christ, son of Mary, shall descend among the Muslims. And Allah shall cause Dajjal and his
hosts to suffer a most crushing defeat. Even the walls and roots of the trees will cry
out, "O pious, this infidel is hiding behind me. Come and strike him to death."
(Musnad Ahmad, Hakim) |
| A tradition related to
'Imarn b.
Husain says that the Prophet of God (PBUH) observed: "There will always be a group of
people among my followers who will keep firm faith in right and they shall overwhelm their
opponents till God issues a decree and Christ son of Mary (PBUH) descends upon
earth." (Musnad Ahmad) |
| With reference to the episode of
Dajjal, Hadrat 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that "Hadrat
'Isa (PBUH) will descend and slay Dajjal. After this Hadrat 'Isa (PBUH) shall rule over the
earth as a just leader and a benevolent sovereign for a period of forty years."
(Musnad Ahmad) |
| Safina, the freed slave of the
Apostle of God (PBUH) reports (in connection with the episode of Dajjal) that "Hadrat
'Isa (PBUH) will descend and God shall put an end to the life of Dajjal near the slope of
Afiq." [Afiq known as Fiq in modern times is a city in Syria,
situated on the borderline between Syria and Israel. There is a lake called Tibriya a few
miles toward the west of the city. This lake is the source of river Jordan. Towards the
southwest of this lake, there is a path between the mountains which descends two thousand
feet to the point in the lake of Tibriya where the river rises. This mountainous path is
called the slope of Afiq.] (Musnad Ahmad) |
| Hadrat Hudaifa b. Yama relates
(with reference to Dajjal), "When the Muslims will fall in lines to offer prayers,
Christ son of Mary (PBUH) shall descend from heaven before their eyes. He will lead the
prayers. When the prayers are over he will say to the people: "Clear the way bewteen
me and this enemy of God." God will give victory to the Muslims over the hosts of
Dajjal. The Muslims will inflict dire punishment upon the enemy. Even the trees and stones
will cry out, "O Abdullah, O Abdul Rahman, O Muslim, come, here is a Jew behind me,
kill him." In this way God will cause the Jews to be annihilated and Muslims shall be
the victors. They will break the Cross, slaughter the swine and abolish Jizya (levied on
non-Muslims)." (Mustadrak Hakim - A brief version of this tradition has been recorded
in Muslim. Hafiz Ibn Hajar in Fath-ul-Bari Vol. VI, p. 450 declares this tradition to be
authentic.) |
The above are twenty-one traditions which have been
transmitted on the authority of fourteen companions of the Holy Prophet and have been
recorded with correct references in the most authoritative books on Hadith. In addition to
these, there are numerous other traditions relating to the same subject, but we have not
reproduced them here for the sake of brevity. We have taken as example only those
traditions which are sound and authentic as regards chain of transmission.
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