الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله تعالى من شرور أنفسنا، وسيئات أعمالنا، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين

(Since this talk may be listened to by non-Muslims, I will mostly be using English terms for the names such as Jesus for Isa and Anti-Christ for the Dajjal.  When I say the Prophet without name I mean Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and I’ll use Allah which is the proper name for the Creator and the Lord of the universe). 

In a talk that I gave on July 5^th on the 4^th element of Islam, I discussed the well-known hadeath that was narrated by Omar ibn Al-Khtaab (عمر رضي الله) and reported by Imam Muslim.  The hadeath describes the coming a man who asked the Prophet (PBUH) four question regarding Islam, Eman, Ihsan and the signs of the hour and each time the Prophet (PBUH) answered him, the man would say: You have spoken the truth.  After the man departed, the Prophet (PBUH) told the companions that this man was the holy angel Jibril who came to teach you your religion.

Based on the last statement of the Prophet (PBUH): “He came to teach you your religion”, we can conclude that that the religion of Islam involves four elements and these are:  Islam, Eman, Ihsan and the signs of the Day of Judgement.  These 4 elements address all aspect of our current and future lives.  

The definition of Islam provides the physical rituals that are involved in our personal relationship with Allah. 

The definition of Eman provides the articles of belief that are settled in our heart.  

The definition of Ehsan provides the control of our relationship with all creations thru our full awareness that we are under Allah’s continuous watch. 

The signs of the hour (day of judgment) provide account of future events that we need to know to be prepared for them and establish plans to face them when they arrive, particularly since most of these signs represent tribulation and challenges.

No one knows the time of the Hour (the day of Judgement) except Allah and this is clear in the Quran

يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرۡسَٮٰهَا‌ۖ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا عِلۡمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّى‌ۖ لَا يُجَلِّيہَا لِوَقۡتِہَآ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۚ ثَقُلَتۡ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ لَا تَأۡتِيكُمۡ إِلَّا بَغۡتَةً۬‌ۗ يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِىٌّ عَنۡہَا‌ۖ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا عِلۡمُهَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ (١٨٧)

“They ask you about the Hour, “When is it due to happen?” Say, “Its knowledge is only with my Lord. No one can unfold it except He at its time.   It weighs heavy in the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you but suddenly.” They ask you as if you were aware of it. Say, “Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most of the people do not know.” (Al-Arfaf 7:187)

يَسۡــٴَـلُكَ ٱلنَّاسُ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِۖ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا عِلۡمُهَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِۚ وَمَا يُدۡرِيكَ لَعَلَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ تَكُونُ قَرِيبًا (٦٣)

“People ask you about the Hour (i.e. the Day of Judgment). Say,” Its knowledge is only with Allah.” And what can I let you know? May be, the Hour is near.” (Al-Ahzab 33:63)

Because these verses affirm that no one knows the time of the Hour except Allah, the companions refrained from asking the Prophet (PBUH) questions about it. 

However, because of the importance of the events that precede the Hour, Allah revealed several of them in the Quran and the Prophet (PBUH) also provided many details on his own even without being asked.

Based on the Quran and the authentic hadeath, scholars have identified more than eighty (80) signs of the Hour but they have consensus that there are 10 major signs and the rest are minor signs.  Many of the minor signs may have already been materialized and some are expected to happen with the major signs. The ten major signs are given in several ahadeath, one of them was narrated by Hudhayfah bin Usayd (حذيفة بن أسيد الغِفاري) who said:

عن حذيفة بن أسيد الغِفاري، قال: «طّلع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم علينا ونحن نتذاكر، فقال: «ما تذاكرون؟» قالوا: نذكر الساعة. قال: «إنها لن تقوم حتى ترون قبلها عشر آيات؛ فذكر:

الدخان، والدجال، والدابة، وطلوع الشمس من مغربها، ونزول عيسى ابن مريم عليه السلام، ويأجوج ومأجوج، وثلاثة خسوف: خسف بالمشرق، وخسف بالمغرب، وخسف بجزيرة العرب، وآخر ذلك نار تخرج من اليمن تطرد الناس إلى محشرهم» (رواه مسلم).    في الرواية الأخرى: « «إن الساعة لا تكون حتى تكون عشر آيات: خسف بالمشرق، وخسف بالمغرب، وخسف بجزيرة العرب، والدخان والدجال، ودابة الأرض، ويأجوج ومأجوج، وطلوع الشمس من مغربها، ونار تخرج من قعرة عدن ترحل الناس والعاشرة: نزول عيسى بن مريم» (رواه مسلم).

While we were gathered in the Masjid and active in a discussion, the Prophet (PBUH) came to us and asked: ‘What are you discussing?’ We replied: ‘We are discussing the Last Hour. The Prophet (PBUH) said: ‘It will not come until you see ten signs before and he (PBUH) mentioned: the smoke (الدخان), the Anti-Christ (الدجال), the beast (الدابة), the rising of the sun from the west (وطلوع الشمس من مغربها), the descent of Jesus the son of Mary (نزول عيسى ابن مريم عليه السلام) , the Gog and Magog (يأجوج ومأجوج) , and landslides in three places, one in the east, one in the west and one in Arabia (وثلاثة خسوف: خسف بالمشرق، وخسف بالمغرب، وخسف بجزيرة العرب) and then a fire expanding Yemen would drive the people to the place of their final assembly (نار تخرج من اليمن تطرد الناس إلى محشرهم)’. (Muslim)

Three of these major signs will come in sequence and will overlap. These are the rise of the antichrist (the dajjal), the return of Jesus Christ, and the uprise of Gog and Magog (يأجوج ومأجوج). 

The return of Jesus Christ (Prophet Isa, PBUH) is referred to in several verses in the Quran. As example, in Surat Az-Zukhruf, the second coming of Jesus is given as a sign of the Day of Judgment. Allah says:

وَلَمَّا ضُرِبَ ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ مَثَلاً إِذَا قَوۡمُكَ مِنۡهُ يَصِدُّونَ (٥٧) وَقَالُوٓاْ ءَأَٲلِهَتُنَا خَيۡرٌ أَمۡ هُوَ‌ۚ مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلاَۢ‌ۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ قَوۡمٌ خَصِمُونَ (٥٨) إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا عَبۡدٌ أَنۡعَمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُ مَثَلاً۬ لِّبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ (٥٩) وَلَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنَا مِنكُم مَّلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةً۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَخۡلُفُونَ (٦٠) وَإِنَّهُ ۥ لَعِلۡمٌ۬ لِّلسَّاعَةِ فَلَا تَمۡتَرُنَّ بِہَا وَٱتَّبِعُونِ‌ۚ هَـٰذَا صِرَٲطٌ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٌ۬ (٦١)

“And when the son of Mary is quoted as an example, your people laugh out, (57) And say: Are our gods better, or is he? They did not raise the objection but for argument. Rather, they are a quarrelsome people. (58) He (Isa) is nothing but a slave on whom We favored, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel. (59) And had We willed We could have set among you angels to succeed you on the earth. (60)  And Indeed he (‘Isa) is a sign for the Hour (the Day of Judgment); so, have no doubt about it, but follow me’ this is the straight path.” (Al-Zukhruf 43:57-61)

Allah also affirms that all people who have received scripture will believe in Jesus before his death. 

وَإِن مِّنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ إِلَّا لَيُؤۡمِنَنَّ بِهِۦ قَبۡلَ مَوۡتِهِۦ‌ۖ وَيَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيۡہِمۡ شَہِيدً۬ا (١٥٩)

“There is not one of the People of the Scripture but will believe in him (Jesus) before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.” (Al-Nisa 4:159)

Based on these verses of the Quran and many sayings of the Prophet (PBUH), Muslims believe in and anticipate the second coming of Jesus Christ the son of Mary (PBUH) to earth after his ascension to the second heaven about two thousand years ago.    Also, Christians anticipate the return of the Jesus Christ the son of Mary to earth.   The Jews on the other hand are also anticipating the coming of Christ but not Jesus the son of Mary since they rejected him and considered him as false prophet.  

The reason that the Jews considered Jesus as false Prophet because he failed to fulfill their prophecies in the Old testaments and these include building the third temple, gathering all Jews back to the Land of Israel, usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred, oppression, and suffering, and unite humanity on one religion by spreading the universal knowledge of the true God.

To address the objections of the Jews, Christians suggested that these prophecies will be fulfilled during Jesus second coming.  But the Jews rejected this claim on two grounds, 1) there is no mention of a second coming in the Old Testament, and 2) they argue why; couldn’t God have allowed him to accomplish his mission on the first-time?”

It is interesting that the many sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) provide greater details and far clearer picture about the second coming of Jesus Christ than the biblical verses that Christians use as basis for such an assertion.

While both Christians and Jews believe that Jesus was killed on the Cross, Muslims rejects this suggestion and believe that Jesus was raised to the 2^nd Heaven without even being crucified as Allah says:

وَقَوۡلِهِمۡ إِنَّا قَتَلۡنَا ٱلۡمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَـٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمۡ‌ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ لَفِى شَكٍّ۬ مِّنۡهُ‌ۚ مَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ إِلَّا ٱتِّبَاعَ ٱلظَّنِّ‌ۚ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينَۢا (١٥٧) بَل رَّفَعَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡهِ‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمً۬ا (١٥٨)

“And because of their saying: We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah’s messenger – they neither killed him nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and  those who disagree concerning this matter are certainly in doubt about it; they have no knowledge of it , but they follow a conjecture; It is absolutely certain that they did not kill him. (157) But Allah lifted him up unto Himself. Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (Al-Nisa 4:157-158)

One would expect that Christians should take comfort in this verse because it clearly confirms that Jesus is a true Messenger of Allah because it refutes the Jewish claim that he is false Prophet because only a false Prophet will be put to death per Deuteronomy 18:20 that says:

Deuteronomy 18:20 “But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death.”  

It is perplexing that Christians insist that Jesus was put to death and thus affirming the Jews claim that he is false Prophet.  Only Muslims who can affirm Jesus’s true Prophethood by refuting any claim suggested by Deuteronomy 18:20. But, we know that Christians make his killing necessary to cleanse them from the original sins. We Muslims reject the concept of original sin because Allah affirmed that He has already forgiven Adam and Eve for their disobedience, as He said:

وَقُلۡنَا يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ ٱسۡكُنۡ أَنتَ وَزَوۡجُكَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنۡهَا رَغَدًا حَيۡثُ شِئۡتُمَا وَلَا تَقۡرَبَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (٣٥) فَأَزَلَّهُمَا ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ عَنۡہَا فَأَخۡرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ‌ۖ وَقُلۡنَا ٱهۡبِطُواْ بَعۡضُكُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ۬‌ۖ وَلَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُسۡتَقَرٌّ۬ وَمَتَـٰعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ۬ (٣٦) فَتَلَقَّىٰٓ ءَادَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ كَلِمَـٰتٍ۬ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (٣٧) قُلۡنَا ٱهۡبِطُواْ مِنۡہَا جَمِيعً۬ا‌ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأۡتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدً۬ى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡہِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ (٣٨) وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ‌ۖ هُمۡ فِيہَا خَـٰلِدُونَ (٣٩)

“And We said, “O ’Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise; and eat at pleasure wherever you like, but do not come near this tree, otherwise you become unjust.” (35) But Satan caused them to slip from it causing them to leave where they had been. And We said, “Go down, you will be enemies of each other; and on the earth there will be for you a dwelling place and enjoyment for a time.” (36) Then Adam received from his Lord words (revelation to pray with); so, Allah accepted his repentance. No doubt, He is the Most-Relenting, the Most-Merciful. (37)  We said, “Go down from here, all of you; guidance will come to you from Me, those who follow My guidance shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. (38) As for those who disbelieve, and deny Our signs, they are the people of the Fire. They shall dwell in it forever.” (Al-Baqara 2: 35-39)

Just to avoid anyone when reading the verse to say that Allah says he forgave Adam but did not say He forgave Eve; the reason is that Allah never placed any blame on Eve, he only placed it on Adam.

فَوَسۡوَسَ إِلَيۡهِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ ٱلۡخُلۡدِ وَمُلۡكٍ۬ لَّا يَبۡلَىٰ (١٢٠) فَأَڪَلَا مِنۡہَا فَبَدَتۡ لَهُمَا سَوۡءَٲتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخۡصِفَانِ عَلَيۡہِمَا مِن وَرَقِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ‌ۚ وَعَصَىٰٓ ءَادَمُ رَبَّهُ ۥ فَغَوَىٰ (١٢١) ثُمَّ ٱجۡتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُ ۥ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡهِ وَهَدَىٰ (١٢٢)

“Then the Satan whispered to him (Adam) saying, “’Adam, shall I guide you to the tree of immortality and power that does not diminish?” (120) So, both of them [Adam and Eve] ate from it, and their shame became apparent to them, and they started stitching on themselves some of the leaves of Paradise. And ’Adam disobeyed his Lord, and went astray. (121) Then his Lord chose him and He accepted his repentance and gave (him) guidance.” (Taha 20:122)

When Prophet Jesus returns, one the first things that he will do is to break the cross conforming the falsehood of the claim that he was crucified. The Prophet (PBUH) said in two hadeath both narrated by Abu Hurryrah (أبو هريرة رضي), one reported by Bukhari and Muslim and the other reported in Sunnan Abu Daoud:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ – أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «والذي نفسي بيده، ليوشكن أن ينزل فيكم ابن مريم حَكَمًا عدلاً، فيكسر الصليب، ويقتل الخنزير، ويضع الجزية،» (رواه البخاري ومسلم).

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ – أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: إِنَّ رُوحَ اللَّهِ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ نَازِلٌ فِيكُمْ, فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَاعْرِفُوهُ, رَجُلٌ مَرْبُوعٌ إِلَى الْحُمْرَةِ وَالْبَيَاضِ، عَلَيْهِ ثَوْبَانِ مُمَصَّرَانِ, كَأَنَّ رَأْسَهُ يَقْطُرُ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يُصِبْهُ بَلَلٌ، فَيَدُقُّ الصَّلِيبَ، وَيَقْتُلُ الْخِنْزِيرَ، وَيَضَعُ الْجِزْيَةَ، وَيَدْعُو النَّاسَ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ, “. (سنن أبي داود وَ الحاكم في المستدرك).  

“By the One on whose Hand is my soul, the Son of Mary is on the verge of coming down to you as a just rule, and he will break the cross, kill the pig, eliminate the Jizya tax and Call people to Islam”.

It is interesting that the verses on the new testament that Christians quote to imply the return of Jesus, all of them refer to him as the son of man such as:

Matthew 24:30 “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 

Luke 12:40 “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Prior to the return of Jesus to earth, someone will rise and claim to be the Christ that the Jews are awaiting.  He will demonstrate super powers that will convince the Jews and others that he is the messiah whom they have been waiting for. This person is the Anti-Christ, the Dajjal.

The Anti-Christ will create the most challenging fitnah by performing major miracles such as ordering the sky to rain and it will rain and ordering the arid land to grow vegetation and it will grow vegetations.  He will walk through the desert and say to it: bring forth your treasures and the treasures will come out and gather before him like a swarm of bees. He will claim that he is God and many people will believe in him.    

He would come to a man and say worship me I am your Lord and when the man refuses he will tell him, do you want me to bring your deceased parents alive to tell you and the man agrees and he will go to their graves and ask them to come out and they will come out and speak to the man to tell him that he is god worship him. 

Wherever he goes will have with him a large lofty garden and a huge fire and ask the people to worship him, those who agree will be allowed to enter the garden and those who refuse will be pushed in the fire.   The Prophet (PBUH) instructed us that we should willingly enter the fire with our head down and when we enter, no harm will come on us. 

Because the Anti-Christ (the Dajjal) represents the most challenging trial for mankind, the Prophet (PBUH) provided several ahadeath warning us about him.  In these Ahadeath, the Prophet (PBUH) provided his physical attributes, where he will come from and all the miracles that he will perform.  The Prophet (PBUH) also said that every Prophet has warned his followers about the Dajjal.  Therefore, you will find his mention in almost all past scriptures.

The Prophet (PBUH) said that the Dajjal will stay on earth for forty days, one day like a year, one day like a month, one day like a week, and the rest of the days will be like your days. The companions asked the Prophet (PBUH): ‘O Messenger of Allah, on that day which is like a year, will the prayers of one day suffice us?’ He said: ‘Make an estimate of time (and then observe the prayers).’ (This hadeath is the one used for estimating prayer time and fasting period for places where you find the 24 hr day or the 24 hr night)

The Prophet (PBUH) emphasized the importance of Surat al-Kahf (18), particularly the beginning of it and the end of it.  He said:

روى مسلم عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ رضي الله عنه، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، قَالَ: «مَنْ حَفِظَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ سُورَةِ الْكَهْفِ عُصِمَ مِنَ الدَّجَّالِ»، وفي روايات أخرى عند مسلم قال: «مِنْ آخِرِ الْكَهْفِ».

رواية الترمذي – عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ رضي الله عنه، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: «مَنْ قَرَأَ ثَلاَثَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ الكَهْفِ عُصِمَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدَّجَّالِ».

“Whoever recites the first ten verses or the last ten verses of Surat Al-Kahf will be protected from Al-Dajjal.  There is another hadeath that mentions reciting the first three verses,  

ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمۡ يَجۡعَل لَّهُ ۥ عِوَجَاۜ (١) قَيِّمً۬ا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأۡسً۬ا شَدِيدً۬ا مِّن لَّدُنۡهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرًا حَسَنً۬ا (٢) مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدً۬ا (٣) وَيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدً۬ا (٤) مَّا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ۬ وَلَا لِأَبَآٮِٕهِمۡ‌ۚ كَبُرَتۡ ڪَلِمَةً۬ تَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ أَفۡوَٲهِهِمۡ‌ۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبً۬ا (٥) فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌ۬ نَّفۡسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِمۡ إِن لَّمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا (٦) إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ زِينَةً۬ لَّهَا لِنَبۡلُوَهُمۡ أَيُّہُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬ (٧) وَإِنَّا لَجَـٰعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيۡہَا صَعِيدً۬ا جُرُزًا (٨) أَمۡ حَسِبۡتَ أَنَّ أَصۡحَـٰبَ ٱلۡكَهۡفِ وَٱلرَّقِيمِ كَانُواْ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَا عَجَبًا (٩) إِذۡ أَوَى ٱلۡفِتۡيَةُ إِلَى ٱلۡكَهۡفِ فَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحۡمَةً۬ وَهَيِّئۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَمۡرِنَا رَشَدً۬ا (١٠)

وَعَرَضۡنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ لِّلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ عَرۡضًا (١٠٠) ٱلَّذِينَ كَانَتۡ أَعۡيُنُہُمۡ فِى غِطَآءٍ عَن ذِكۡرِى وَكَانُواْ لَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ سَمۡعًا (١٠١) أَفَحَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَن يَتَّخِذُواْ عِبَادِى مِن دُونِىٓ أَوۡلِيَآءَ‌ۚ إِنَّآ أَعۡتَدۡنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ نُزُلاً۬ (١٠٢) قُلۡ هَلۡ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلۡأَخۡسَرِينَ أَعۡمَـٰلاً (١٠٣) ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعۡيُہُمۡ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَهُمۡ يَحۡسَبُونَ أَنَّہُمۡ يُحۡسِنُونَ صُنۡعًا (١٠٤) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمۡ وَلِقَآٮِٕهِۦ فَحَبِطَتۡ أَعۡمَـٰلُهُمۡ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ وَزۡنً۬ا (١٠٥) ذَٲلِكَ جَزَآؤُهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا كَفَرُواْ وَٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ ءَايَـٰتِى وَرُسُلِى هُزُوًا (١٠٦) إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ كَانَتۡ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلۡفِرۡدَوۡسِ نُزُلاً (١٠٧) خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَا لَا يَبۡغُونَ عَنۡہَا حِوَلاً۬ (١٠٨) قُل لَّوۡ كَانَ ٱلۡبَحۡرُ مِدَادً۬ا لِّكَلِمَـٰتِ رَبِّى لَنَفِدَ ٱلۡبَحۡرُ قَبۡلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَـٰتُ رَبِّى وَلَوۡ جِئۡنَا بِمِثۡلِهِۦ مَدَدً۬ا (١٠٩) قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ بَشَرٌ۬ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمۡ إِلَـٰهٌ۬ وَٲحِدٌ۬‌ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلۡيَعۡمَلۡ عَمَلاً۬ صَـٰلِحً۬ا وَلَا يُشۡرِكۡ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦۤ أَحَدَۢا (١١٠)

After one year from the rise of the Anti-Christ, Allah will send Jesus Christ, son of Mary to earth.

The Prophet (PBUH) mentioned in one of his hadeath that Jesus will descend at the white minaret on the eastern side of Damascus, wearing two garments lightly dyed with saffron and placing his hands on the wings of two Angels. When he lowers his head, there will fall beads of perspiration from his head, and when he raises it up, beads of pearls will scatter from it.

إذ بعث الله المسيح ابن مريم، فينزل عند المنارة البيضاء شرقي دمشق بين مهرودتين واضعًا كفيه على أجنحة ملكين، إذا طأطأ رأسه قطر، وإذا رفعه تحدّر منه جمان كاللؤلؤ

The believers will gather around Jesus and he will lead them to confronting the Dajjal and his followers. Many of the Dajjal army will die from the smell of the odor of Jesus body and his breath will reach as far as one able to see, but few of them will avoid the breath by hiding behind a tree called (لغرقد) “gharqad” (a kind of thorny tree).  Prophet Jesus will ask his followers to flush them out from behind the trees. They will go and the trees will speak and tell the believers if someone is hiding behind it.  They all will come out form the behind the trees and be killed.

When the Dajjal sees Jesus, He runs away and tries to disappear by melting away but Jesus catches him before disappearing at the gate of Ludd and kills him.  This suggests that the Dajjal has Satanic component in him to allow him to melt away.

After the Dajjal and all who followed him were killed, Allah revealed to Jesus these words:

يَا عِيسَى إِنِّي قَدْ أَخْرَجْتُ عِبَادًا لِي لاَ يَدَانِ لأَحَدٍ بِقِتَالِهِمْ وَأَحْرِزْ عِبَادِي إِلَى الطُّورِ

Jesus, I have brought forth from among My servants such people against whom none will be able to fight; you take My believing servants to safety at the mountain of Tur.

When Jesus and his companions was on the mountain of Tur, Allah released Gog and Magog and they will swarm down from every slope, as Allah says:

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُتِحَتۡ يَأۡجُوجُ وَمَأۡجُوجُ وَهُم مِّن ڪُلِّ حَدَبٍ۬ يَنسِلُونَ (٩٦)

“Until, when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they run down from every height.” (Al-Anbiya 21:96)

Prophet Jesus and his companions will be besieged at Tur when seeing Gog and Magog approaching them.  They will supplicate Allah, Who will send on Gog and Magog insects (which will attack their necks) and by the morning they would be all dead.

When Jesus, and his companions came down, they could not find a place to stand on without having a dead body on it and the air was filled with stench. So, they supplicated to Allah to cleanse the earth.   The Prophet (PBUH) said:

يَرْغَبُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ فَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا كَأَعْنَاقِ الْبُخْتِ فَتَحْمِلُهُمْ فَتَطْرَحُهُمْ حَيْثُ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ يُرْسِلُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مَطَرًا لاَ يُكِنُّ مِنْهُ بَيْتُ مَدَرٍ وَلاَ وَبَرٍ فَيَغْسِلُهُ

Allah will send birds with necks like the necks of camels that will pick the dead up and throw them wherever Allah wills. Then, Allah will send rain that will wash the earth. Then it will be said to the earth: (أَنْبِتِي ثَمَرَتَكِ وَرُدِّي بَرَكَتَكِ) “Bring forth your fruits and bring back your blessing.”

After these events, Prophet Jesus becomes the absolute ruler over the earth and establish Islam as the one world religion.  He will rule the world for 40 years as just ruler and during his reign an overwhelming peace will cover earth that lions will be graze with the camels and the tigers with the cattle and the wolf with the cheap and the children will play with the snakes and no harm will touch anyone.     The Prophet (PBUH) Said:

ويفيض المال حتى لا يقبله أحد حتى تكون السجدة الواحدة خيرًا من الدنيا وما فيها» (رواه البخاري ومسلم).

At that time, Prosperity will be wide spread that the money will overflow so that no one wanted it, and at that time the one prostration (to Allah) will be better than the world and what is in it”

The Prophet (PBUH) said:

فَيَمْكُثُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً، ثُمَّ يُتَوَفَّى, وَيُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِ الْمُسْلِمُونَ. “. (سنن أبي داود وَ الحاكم في المستدرك)

Prophet Jesus will rule for 40 years and dies natural death.  Muslims will perform the funeral prayer on him and buy him normal burial in earth. 

There are significant issues that can be drawn from the return of Prophet Jesus to earth:

First: At the time of the rein of Prophet Isa (PBUH), the world will see the fulfillment of Allah’s promise that Islam will be the only religion in the world.  Three times in the Quran Allah says:

هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرۡسَلَ رَسُولَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلۡحَقِّ لِيُظۡهِرَهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ ڪُلِّهِۦ وَلَوۡ ڪَرِهَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكُونَ (٣٣)

هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرۡسَلَ رَسُولَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلۡحَقِّ لِيُظۡهِرَهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ وَلَوۡ كَرِهَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكُونَ (٩)

“He is the One who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, so that He makes it prevail over all religions, even though the idolaters dislike (it)” (Al-Tuba 9:33 and Al-Saff 61:9)

هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرۡسَلَ رَسُولَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلۡحَقِّ لِيُظۡهِرَهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ‌ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدً۬ا (٢٨)

“He is the One who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, so that He makes it prevail over all religions, And Allah suffices as a Witness.” (Al-Fath 48:28)

Many interpreters of this verse (e.g. Al-Tabari) say that the prevailing of the religion of Islam that was revealed to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) will be fulfilled when Prophet Jesus returns and there will be only one religion on the earth and it is Islam.

Second: The return of Prophet Jesus on earth will merge the two Prophethood lines of Prophet Ibrahim.  Prophet Jesus (PBUH) is the last prophet from the line of Prophet’s Ibrahim son Prophet Ishaq (Isaac) and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is the only Prophet from the line of Prophet Ismael.  This separation ends by Prophet Jesus (Isa) representing all the Prophet’s from Ishaq side and following Prophet Mohammad (PBU them).  It also means the fulfillment of the covenant that all the Prophets took that they shall follow Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) as Allah says:

وَإِذۡ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ لَمَآ ءَاتَيۡتُڪُم مِّن ڪِتَـٰبٍ۬ وَحِكۡمَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ جَآءَڪُمۡ رَسُولٌ۬ مُّصَدِّقٌ۬ لِّمَا مَعَكُمۡ لَتُؤۡمِنُنَّ بِهِۦ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ ۥ‌ۚ قَالَ ءَأَقۡرَرۡتُمۡ وَأَخَذۡتُمۡ عَلَىٰ ذَٲلِكُمۡ إِصۡرِى‌ۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَقۡرَرۡنَا‌ۚ قَالَ فَٱشۡہَدُواْ وَأَنَا۟ مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ

“And (remember) when Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying: “If I give you a book and wisdom then comes to you a Messenger (Muhammad SAW) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and support him.” Allah said: “Do you affirm and accept My Covenant in this respect?” They said: We affirm.” He said: “Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses.” (Al-Emran 3:81)

Third: Since prophet Jesus is one of the five (أولو العزم من الرسل) resolute, strong will messengers of Allah and they are: Noah, Ibrahim, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad (PBU them all) (نوحٌ، وإبراهيم، وموسى، وعيسى، ومحمَّدٌ صلى الله عليهم.), his return and victory over his enemies is confirming his stand as one of them who should always be victorious   Allah refers to those messengers by saying:

فَٱصۡبِرۡ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعَزۡمِ مِنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِل لَّهُمۡ‌ۚ كَأَنَّہُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا سَاعَةً۬ مِّن نَّہَارِۭ‌ۚ بَلَـٰغٌ۬‌ۚ فَهَلۡ يُهۡلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡفَـٰسِقُونَ (٣٥)

“So, have patience (O Muhammad), as the resolute messengers (of strong will) observed patience, and be not in haste about them. On the Day they will see what they are promised, (it will be) as if they did not stay (in the world) more than an hour in a single day. This is a message. So, none will be destroyed except the rebellious (the evil ones.” (Al-Ahqaf 46:35)

We pray to Allah to increase our Taqwa and protect us from the Dajjal and to give us the wisdom and commitment to always be ready of the temptations that proceed the final hour.

DUA