The Descent of Isa
Glad Tiding for Muslims

Prophet Isa (as) son of Maryam was raised up to heaven when the Jews wanted to crucify him. His ascension to Heaven and his future return to earth are mentioned in the Qur'an:

"That they say (in boast): 'We killed the Messiah Isa, son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah, but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of Isa was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no certain knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely, they killed him not, but Allah raised him up unto Himself. And Allah is ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. And there is none of the people of the scripture but must believe in him before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he (Isa) will be a witness against them." (Qur'an 4:157-159)

Prophet Isa (as) will return at the end of time, as stated in the Qur'an:

"And he (Jesus), shall be a Sign of the Hour"(Qur'an 43:61)

Prophet Isa (as) will descend at the time when Muslims are experiencing the greatest of hardships. He will come to their help and make the religion of Allah prevail on Earth.

The Muslims will recognise him by the features that the Prophet Muhammad (saws) described him:

He said:

"I am the closest of all the people to Isa, son of Maryam, for there is no Prophet between him and myself. He will come again and when you see him, you will recognise him. He is of medium height and his complexion is reddish-white, he will be wearing two garments, and his hair will look wet, although no water had got to it."

Related by Ahmad

The Time Prophet Isa (as) Will Descend

The coming of Isa (as) will be a glad tiding to the Muslims who stood firm and fought for the cause of Allah and did not succumb to the temptations of the Dajjal. At that time, the only two options for humanity will be to embrace Islam or die:

"Allah will send the Messiah, son of Maryam, and he will descend to the white minaret in the East of Damascus, wearing two garments dyed with saffron, placing his hands on the wings of two angels. When he lowers his head, beads of perspiration will fall from it, and when he raises his head, beads like pearls will scatter from it. Every Kaffir (unbeliever) who smells the fragrance (of his breath) will die, and his breath will reach as far as he can see. He will search for the Dajjal until he finds him at the gate of Ludd where he will kill him. Then a group of people whom Allah has protected will come to Isa (as), son of Maryam, and he will wipe the traces of hardship from their faces and tell them of their place in Paradise. At that point, Allah will reveal to Isa (as): 'I have brought forth some of My servants whom no-one will be able to fight. Take my servants safely to Al-Tur.'"

(Muslim)

He will descend when the Muslims gather to fight the Dajjal when they are preparing their ranks for the Fajr prayer, and their Imam had advanced to lead them. The Imam will then step back and ask Isa (as) to advance and lead the prayer, but he will refuse. Prophet Muhammad (saws) informed us:

"....While their Imam is going forward to lead them in Fajr prayer, Isa (as) will descend. The Imam will step back to let Isa (as) lead people in prayer but Isa (as) will place his hands between the mans shoulders and say: 'Go forward and lead the prayer for the iqamah (call to commence prayer) was made for you, and so the Imam will lead the people in prayer.'"

(Ibn Majah)

The symbolic gesture from Isa (as) to let the Imam lead the prayer will be to show that he will be following the true religion, Islam, and will not bring forth any different rules different from the Shari'ah.

References: Al-Jumuah Magazine - article written by Dr. Alia Amer
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