How will Ibn-e-Maryam descend?

Introduction

Many Muslims mistakenly believe that Isa (A.S) is alive unlike other prophets because there exists ahadith of his supposed 2nd coming. This belief goes against very clear verses of the Holy Quran and mutawatir Ahadith. In this article, we will be explaining the true meaning of the ahadith that relate to the coming of Isa (A.S) in the latter days and how they have been fulfilled already.

Pre-requisite Knowledge

Before we proceed to explain the true meaning of such ahadith, it required that we establish a few points.

1. Isa (A.S) has died a natural death.
2. He cannot be resurrected before the Day of Judgement.
3. Latter-day Messiah will be from among the Muslims.

1. Isa (A.S) has died

One of the main points is to establish that Isa (A.S) has died a natural death which is extremely clear from 30 verses of the Holy Quran and multiple Mutawatir Ahadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). He was not raised to heaven alive with his body rather he died as any other prophet and human has died. This is a fact and we have already proven it in great detail in the other articles but we will still quote some here for the context.

Quran

اِذۡ قَالَ اللّٰہُ یٰعِیۡسٰۤی اِنِّیۡ مُتَوَفِّیۡکَ وَ رَافِعُکَ اِلَیَّ وَ مُطَہِّرُکَ مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا وَ جَاعِلُ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّبَعُوۡکَ فَوۡقَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡۤا اِلٰی یَوۡمِ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ ۚ ثُمَّ اِلَیَّ مَرۡجِعُکُمۡ فَاَحۡکُمُ بَیۡنَکُمۡ فِیۡمَا کُنۡتُمۡ فِیۡہِ تَخۡتَلِفُوۡنَ

اِذۡ قَالَ اللّٰہُ یٰعِیۡسٰۤی اِنِّیۡ مُتَوَفِّیۡکَ وَ رَافِعُکَ اِلَیَّ وَ مُطَہِّرُکَ مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا وَ جَاعِلُ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّبَعُوۡکَ فَوۡقَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡۤا اِلٰی یَوۡمِ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ ۚ ثُمَّ اِلَیَّ مَرۡجِعُکُمۡ فَاَحۡکُمُ بَیۡنَکُمۡ فِیۡمَا کُنۡتُمۡ فِیۡہِ تَخۡتَلِفُوۡنَ

When Allah said, ‘O Jesus, I will cause thee to die a natural death and will exalt thee to Myself, and will clear thee from the charges of those who disbelieve, and will place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve, until the Day of Resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, and I will judge between you concerning that wherein you differ.

[Quran 3:55

وَ اِذۡ قَالَ اللّٰہُ یٰعِیۡسَی ابۡنَ مَرۡیَمَ ءَاَنۡتَ قُلۡتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُوۡنِیۡ وَ اُمِّیَ اِلٰہَیۡنِ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ ؕ قَالَ سُبۡحٰنَکَ مَا یَکُوۡنُ لِیۡۤ اَنۡ اَقُوۡلَ مَا لَیۡسَ لِیۡ ٭ بِحَقٍّ ؕ؃ اِنۡ کُنۡتُ قُلۡتُہٗ فَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتَہٗ ؕ تَعۡلَمُ مَا فِیۡ نَفۡسِیۡ وَ لَاۤ اَعۡلَمُ مَا فِیۡ نَفۡسِکَ ؕ اِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ عَلَّامُ الۡغُیُوۡبِ

مَا قُلۡتُ لَہُمۡ اِلَّا مَاۤ اَمَرۡتَنِیۡ بِہٖۤ اَنِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ رَبِّیۡ وَ رَبَّکُمۡ ۚ وَ کُنۡتُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ شَہِیۡدًا مَّا دُمۡتُ فِیۡہِمۡ ۚ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّیۡتَنِیۡ کُنۡتَ اَنۡتَ الرَّقِیۡبَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ وَ اَنۡتَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ شَہِیۡدٌ

And when Allah says, “O Jesus, son of Mary, didst thou say to men, ‘Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah?’”, he will answer, “Holy art Thou. I could never say that to which I had no right. If I had said it, Thou wouldst have surely known it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy mind. It is only Thou Who art the Knower of hidden things.

“I said nothing to them except that which Thou didst command me—‘Worship Allah, my Lord, and your Lord.’ And I was a witness over them as long as I remained among them, but since Thou didst cause me to die, Thou hast been the Watcher over them; and Thou art Witness over all things.

[Quran 5:116-117]

وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ اِلَّا رَسُوۡلٌ ۚ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِ الرُّسُلُ ؕ اَفَا۠ئِنۡ مَّاتَ اَوۡ قُتِلَ انۡقَلَبۡتُمۡ عَلٰۤی اَعۡقَابِکُمۡ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یَّنۡقَلِبۡ عَلٰی عَقِبَیۡہِ فَلَنۡ یَّضُرَّ اللّٰہَ شَیۡئًا ؕ وَ سَیَجۡزِی اللّٰہُ الشّٰکِرِیۡنَ

And Muhammad is only a Messenger. Verily, all Messengers have passed away before him. If then he die or be slain, will you turn back on your heels? And he who turns back on his heels shall not harm Allah at all. And Allah will certainly reward the grateful.

[Quran 3:144]

Hadith

Similar to the above verses, we have authentic sayings of Muhammad (S.A.W), with different chains (Isnad) that prove that he has died around the age of 120. It is explained in detail here.

2. Isa (A.S) cannot be resurrected before the Day of Judgement

Once it is proven Isa (A.S) has died, the next interpretation that Muslims often do is either that Ahadith regarding the Latter-day Messiah are weak or that Isa (A.S) will be resurrected and sent as described in the ahadith. This is completely wrong and against the Quranic verses and Mutawatir ahadith that the dead cannot be resurrected before the Day of Judgement (Qiyamah).

Moreover, Quran specifically and clearly states that Isa (A.S) cannot be resurrected before Qiyamah.

وَ السَّلٰمُ عَلَیَّ یَوۡمَ وُلِدۡتُّ وَ یَوۡمَ اَمُوۡتُ وَ یَوۡمَ اُبۡعَثُ حَیًّا

And peace was on me the day I was born, and peace there will be on me the day I shall die, and the day I shall be raised up to life again.

[Quran 19:33]

Allah is explaining the full lifecycle of Isa (A.S) in this verse i.e he will be born, he will die, and then he will be raised to life on the day of judgment. It clearly shows that Isa (A.S) will die once and will be raised to life once. How clear the Quran can be?

The same exact wording is used for Yahya (A.S) also in Quran 19:15 and he was not resurrected twice, nor did he die twice.

وَ سَلٰمٌ عَلَیۡہِ یَوۡمَ وُلِدَ وَ یَوۡمَ یَمُوۡتُ وَ یَوۡمَ یُبۡعَثُ حَیًّا

And peace was on him the day he was born, and the day he died, and peace there will be on him the day he will be raised up to life again.

[Quran 19:15]

This verse is already explained in detail here.

This rule that the dead cannot be resurrected before Qiymah is not only for Isa (A.S) but a general rule that applies to everyone.

Quran

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱرۡجِعُونِ

لَعَلِّيٓ أَعۡمَلُ صَٰلِحٗا فِيمَا تَرَكۡتُۚ كَلَّآۚ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَآئِلُهَاۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِم بَرۡزَخٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ يُبۡعَثُونَ

Until, when death comes to one of them, he says entreating, ‘My Lord, send me back, ‘That I may do righteous deeds in the life that I have left behind.’ Never, it is but a word that he utters. And behind them is a barrier until the day when they shall be raised again.

[Quran 23:99-100]

وَحَرَٰمٌ عَلَىٰ قَرۡيَةٍ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهَآ أَنَّهُمۡ لَا يَرۡجِعُونَ

And it is an inviolable law for a township which We have destroyed that they shall not return.

[Quran 21:95]

These two verses clearly prove that it is not a rule of Allah to raise the dead before the Day of Judgement. For more verses and detailed explanations, check here.

Ahadith

Muhammad (S.A.W) explains the Quran 21:95 verse that we quoted just above to show that the dead cannot be resurrected back.

يَقُولُ لَمَّا قُتِلَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَرَامٍ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ يَا جَابِرُ أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكَ مَا قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لأَبِيكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ بَلَى ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ مَا كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ أَحَدًا إِلاَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ وَكَلَّمَ أَبَاكَ كِفَاحًا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدِي تَمَنَّ عَلَىَّ أُعْطِكَ ‏.‏ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ تُحْيِينِي فَأُقْتَلُ فِيكَ ثَانِيَةً ‏.‏ قَالَ إِنَّهُ سَبَقَ مِنِّي أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهَا لاَ يُرْجَعُونَ ‏.‏ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ فَأَبْلِغْ مَنْ وَرَائِي ‏.‏ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ ‏{وَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا‏}‏ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ الآيَةَ كُلَّهَا ‏.‏

It was narrated from Jabir bin ‘Abdullah:

“When ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Haram was killed, on the Day of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘O Jabir, shall I not tell you what Allah said to your father?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Allah does not speak to anyone except from behind a screen, but He spoke to your father face to face and said: “O My slave, ask Me and I shall give you.” He said: “O my Lord, bring me back to life so that I may be killed for Your sake a second time.” He said: “I have already decreed that they will not return (to the world after death).” He said: “O Lord, convey (the good news about my state) to those whom I have left behind.” So Allah revealed this Verse: ‘Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allah.’”[3:169]

[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3010]

The below hadith proves that if the resurrection was indeed possible before Qiyamah, then the best man to ever born on this face of the earth i.e Muhammad (S.A.W), would have been granted his wish to be resurrected, not anyone else.

قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْلاَ أَنَّ رِجَالاً مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لاَ تَطِيبُ أَنْفُسُهُمْ أَنْ يَتَخَلَّفُوا عَنِّي وَلاَ أَجِدُ مَا أَحْمِلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ مَا تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْ سَرِيَّةٍ تَغْزُو فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي أُقْتَلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ أُحْيَا ثُمَّ أُقْتَلُ ثُمَّ أُحْيَا ثُمَّ أُقْتَلُ ثُمَّ أُحْيَا ثُمَّ أُقْتَلُ ‏”

Abu Hurairah said:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘By the One in Whose hand is my soul, were it not for the fact that there are some believing men who would not feel happy to stay behind (when I go out on a campaign) and I do not have the means to provide them with mounts (so that they cn join me), I would not have stayed behind from any campaign or battle in the cause of Allah. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, I wish that I could be killed in the cause of Allah, then brought back to life, then be killed, then be brought back to life, then be killed then be brought back to life, then be killed.‘”

[Quran 21:95]

For more verses and detailed explanations, check here.

3. Isa (A.S) cannot be sent back even if he is resurrected

Let’s assume that Isa (A.S) is resurrected, even though we proved that it is impossible from the lens of the Quran and Ahadith. Even then it is impossible for him to come back. Even more verses of the Holy Quran refute this. The clearest one is the following one:

And when Allah says, “O Jesus, son of Mary, didst thou say to men, ‘Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah?’”, he will answer, “Holy art Thou. I could never say that to which I had no right. If I had said it, Thou wouldst have surely known it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy mind. It is only Thou Who art the Knower of hidden things.

“I said nothing to them except that which Thou didst command me—‘Worship Allah, my Lord, and your Lord.’ And I was a witness over them as long as I remained among them, but since Thou didst cause me to die, Thou hast been the Watcher over them; and Thou art Witness over all things.

[Quran 5:117]

These verses show that Isa (A.S) has died the conversation between Isa (A.S) and Allah. Isa (A.S) denies knowing the condition of his people (i.e. Christians) on the Day of Judgement as seen from these words, “And I was a witness over them as long as I remained among them, but since Thou didst cause me to die, Thou hast been the Watcher over them; and Thou art Witness over all things”.

If he returns for his “2nd coming” as non-Ahmadis believe, then he will see the conditions of Christians worshiping him. Moreover, he will be killing those non-Muslims if they fail to convert to Islam as the Sunnis believe. Then how can Isa (A.S) deny on the Day of Judgement that he did not know whether his followers worshiped him?

Thus, the only reason Isa (A.S) will be unaware of the condition of his followers (i.e Christians) on the Day of Judgement is that he will not be coming back to earth for a second time. This verse clearly proves that the Latter-Day Messiah will not be Isa (A.S) of the Bani Israel but someone from among the Muslims as explained by the Hadith in Sahih Bukhari that the Messiah will be from among the Muslims.

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said “How will you be when the son of Mary descends amongst you and is your imam among you.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 3449]

4. Prophets before Muhammad (SAW) were sent to specific nations

It is a distinction and a high status of our master, Muhammad (S.A.W) that he was the only prophet to be sent for all mankind. Every other prophet before him was sent to their nation only. Thus, Isa (A.S) cannot be sent because to be a prophet who judges from Quran and Sunnah, he would be a prophet for more than just the Israelites (the nation to whom he was sent).

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I have been given five things which were not given to any one else before me.
-1. Allah made me victorious by awe, (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month’s journey.
-2. The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform Tayammum, therefore anyone of my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due.
-3. The booty has been made Halal (lawful) for me yet it was not lawful for anyone else before me.
-4. I have been given the right of intercession (on the Day of Resurrection).
-5. Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only but I have been sent to all mankind.

[Sahih al-Bukhari 335]

5. Messiah is from among the Muslims

Furthermore, we have ahadith explaining that the Messiah will not be the Isa (A.S) of Bani Israel but someone from among the Muslims.

كَيْفَ أَنْتُمْ إِذَا نَزَلَ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ فِيكُمْ وَإِمَامُكُمْ مِنْكُمْ

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said “How will you be when the son of Mary descends amongst you and is your imam among you.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 3449]

This is further explained in another hadith from Sahih Muslim where the Messiah is referred to as someone from among the Muslims and he will lead Muslims as one.

كَيْفَ أَنْتُمْ إِذَا نَزَلَ فِيكُمُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ فَأَمَّكُمْ مِنْكُمْ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ لاِبْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ إِنَّ الأَوْزَاعِيَّ حَدَّثَنَا عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ نَافِعٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏”‏ وَإِمَامُكُمْ مِنْكُمْ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ تَدْرِي مَا أَمَّكُمْ مِنْكُمْ قُلْتُ تُخْبِرُنِي ‏.‏ قَالَ فَأَمَّكُمْ بِكِتَابِ رَبِّكُمْ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَسُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed:

What would you do when the son of Mary would descend amongst you and would lead you as one amongst you? Ibn Abi Dhi’b on the authority of Abu Huraira narrated: Your leader amongst you. Ibn Abi Dhi’b said: Do you know what the words:” He would lead as one amongst you” mean? I said: Explain these to me. He said: He would lead you according to the Book of your: Lord (hallowed be He and most exalted) and the Sunnah of your Apostle (ﷺ).

[Sahih Muslim 155f]

Additionally, both the Messiahs are described with different physical descriptions in the ahadith. Isa (A.S) is described as someone with curly hair and a reddish complexion, while the latter-day Messiah is described as brown with straight hair. Interestingly, both these descriptions are mentioned in Sahih Bukhari’s narrations that are one after the other. They are even on the same page in the physical book of Sahih Bukhari! (Sahih Bukhari Scan)

Isa (A.S) is described as:

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I saw Moses, Jesus and Abraham (on the night of my Ascension to the heavens). Jesus was of red complexion, curly hair and a broad chest. Moses was of brown complexion, straight hair and tall stature as if he was from the people of Az-Zutt.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 3438]

While the latter-day Messiah is described as:

Narrated `Abdullah:

The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the Masih Ad-Dajjal in front of the people saying, Allah is not one-eyed while Masih Ad-Dajjal is blind in the right eye and his eye looks like a bulging out grape. While sleeping near the Ka`ba last night, I saw in my dream a man of brown color the best one can see amongst brown color and his hair was long that it fell between his shoulders. His hair was lank and water was dribbling from his head and he was placing his hands on the shoulders of two men while circumambulating the Ka`ba. I asked, ‘Who is this?’ They replied, ‘This is Jesus, son of Mary.’ Behind him I saw a man who had very curly hair and was blind in the right eye, resembling Ibn Qatan (i.e. an infidel) in appearance. He was placing his hands on the shoulders of a person while performing Tawaf around the Ka`ba. I asked, ‘Who is this? ‘They replied, ‘The Masih, Ad-Dajjal.’ “

[Sahih al-Bukhari 3439]

This Messiah is the latter-day Messiah because he is seen with the Dajjal (Anti-Christ). Secondly, Muhammad (S.A.W) failed to recognize him even though he saw Isa (A.S) on Mairaj earlier, which shows that he was a different person than Isa (A.S) himself. For more verses and detailed explanations, check here.

6. Prophets are raised from among themselves

It is the Sunnah of Allah that he sends prophets to nations from among themselves and the Sunnah of Allah can never be changed. (Quran 35:43).

Thus, Isa (A.S) cannot be sent to the Muslims as he is not from the Ummah of Muhammad (S.A.W). He is from the Ummah of Musa (A.S) and judges through Torah and Injeel as per the Quran.

Verily, Allah has conferred a favour on the believers by raising among them a Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His Signs, and purifies them and teaches them the Book and Wisdom; and, before that, they were surely in manifest error.

[Quran 3:164]

O children of Adam, if Messengers come to you from among yourselves, rehearsing My Signs unto you, then whoso shall fear God and do good deeds, on them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve.

[Quran 3:164]

Explanation of Misconceptions

Now that we have established a common ground that Isa (A.S) has died a natural death, he cannot be resurrected and that the Messiah is different than Isa (A.S), this leads to a dilemma for many people that how can we understand clear, authentic, and mutawatir ahadith regarding the coming of the Messiah in the latter days. This is a very good question and a very important one but luckily, the answer to this is very easy and simple to understand once we look at Quran and Ahadith. We will now explain the ahadith regarding the descent of Isa (A.S) and why do they specifically use the name of Isa (A.S).

1. Does descent (نزول) mean coming from the sky?

Non-Ahmadi Muslims claim that since the word “descent” is used for the latter-day Messiah, it has to mean that he is coming from sky/heaven. Let’s look at one such hadith.

Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said,

“The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary, descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jiziya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it.”

[Sahih Bukhari 2476]

Firstly, the word “heaven” is not even used in this hadith to indicate that the descent will be happening from heaven. It is just the tawil (interpretation) of people.

Secondly, we have already proven that Isa (A.S) has died and cannot be resurrected before the Qiymah (Day of Judgement).

Thirdly, the word Nuzul has been used in Quran multiple times, including once for Muhammad (S.A.W), once for cows and sheep (cattle), and once for clothes.

… قَدۡ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ اِلَیۡکُمۡ ذِکۡرًا رَّسُوۡلًا یَّتۡلُوۡا عَلَیۡکُمۡ اٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ …

“… Allah has indeed sent down to you a Reminder—A Messenger, who recites unto you the clear Signs of Allah …”

[Quran 65:10-11]

The above verse refers to Muhammad (S.A.W) and the word used for him and the Holy Quran is Anzala (اَنۡزَلَ) which is a form of Nuzul and holds the same meaning. We know for sure that Muhammad (S.A.W) was not sent from the heavens/sky like non-Ahmadi Muslims believe Isa (A.S) will come. Thus, this verse serves as extremely strong proof that when Nuzul is used for prophets, it doesn’t mean a prophet will be flying down from the heavens/sky.

اَنۡزَلَ لَکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡاَنۡعَامِ ثَمٰنِیَۃَ اَزۡوَاجٍ

“…. He has sent down for you of the cattle eight pairs.”

[Quran 39:6]

یٰبَنِیۡۤ اٰدَمَ قَدۡ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡکُمۡ لِبَاسًا یُّوَارِیۡ سَوۡاٰتِکُمۡ وَ رِیۡشًا

“O children of Adam, We have indeed sent down to you raiment to cover your shame, and to be an elegant dress …”

[Quran 7:26]

The above two verses describe how Allah has sent down cattle (sheep, goats, and cows) and clothes. The word used here is again Nuzul and no one believes that both of these actually came from the sky/heaven.

Although it is true that the word Nuzul can indeed use to describe the coming of something from a higher physical location to somewhere below but it is only when a direction is provided for it. For example, Allah mentions the sending down of rain from the sky in Quran 16:65 but in this scenario, a direction is given from where the Nuzul is happening, which is the sky (السَّمَآءِ). Heaven has no direction as it does not exist in the same realm in which we live. It cannot be referred to as something above us as the direction “up” is relative for different people living around the earth. What is up for me, will not be for someone living on the other side of the earth.

Moreover, even if a direction was given to describe the Nuzul of Isa (A.S), it would still not change a thing. This is because when Allah sends prophets, they are always from among the people they are sent to. They are not sent from heaven.

Thus, these 3 verses prove that the meaning of Nuzul does not mean the coming of someone from the heavens/sky.

2. Why is “Ibn Maryam” or “Isa” mentioned?

The next question arises as to why is the latter-day Messiah referred to as “Ibn Maryam” or “Isa” in such ahadith? Why didn’t Muhammad (S.A.W) clearly name the Messiah? There are multiple reasons for it

1. Prophecies are usually metaphorical in nature.
2. A common Arabic custom is to name someone with the names of people of the past.
3. Similarities between the Jews and Muslims.
4. The similarity in the mission of Isa (A.S) and Latter-Day Messiah.

1. Prophecies are usually metaphorical in nature

Prophecies are usually metaphorical in nature and we can observe this in any language and in different religions and myths around us. One example that most of us already know is the saying of Muhammad (S.A.W) where he prophecizes that his wife with the longest arms will join him after his death. This is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari:

Narrated `Aisha:

Some of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) asked him, “Who amongst us will be the first to follow you (i.e. die after you)?” He said, “Whoever has the longest hand.” So they started measuring their hands with a stick and Sauda’s hand turned out to be the longest.

(When Zainab bint Jahsh died first of all in the caliphate of `Umar), we came to know that the long hand was a symbol of practicing charity, so she was the first to follow the Prophet (ﷺ) and she used to love to practice charity.

[Sahih al-Bukhari 1420]

This narration is one of the many such examples where Muhammad (S.A.W) used parables and metaphors in his sayings. Similarly, we will explain how “Ibn Maryam” is a symbol for the latter-day Messiah.

2. A common Arabic custom

We have multiple examples of such in the Holy Quran, ahadith, and other Arabic literature where different persons were named with the names of the pious people of the past or with those one had similarities. For example, Mary (A.S) is called the “Sister of Haroon (A.S)” even though she came around 1300 years after him.

یٰۤاُخۡتَ ہٰرُوۡنَ مَا کَانَ اَبُوۡکِ امۡرَ اَ سَوۡءٍ وَّ مَا کَانَتۡ اُمُّکِ بَغِیًّا

“O sister of Aaron, thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother an unchaste woman!”

[Quran 19:28]

Muhammad (S.A.W) himself explains this custom in one of his narrations. Let’s look:

“قَالَ لَمَّا قَدِمْتُ نَجْرَانَ سَأَلُونِي فَقَالُوا إِنَّكُمْ تَقْرَءُونَ يَا أُخْتَ هَارُونَ وَمُوسَى قَبْلَ عِيسَى بِكَذَا وَكَذَا ‏.‏ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَمُّونَ بِأَنْبِيَائِهِمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ قَبْلَهُمْ

Mughira b. Shu’ba reported:

When I came to Najran, they (the Christians of Najran) asked me: You read” O sister of Harun” (i. e. Hadrat Maryam) in the Qur’an, whereas Moses was born much before Jesus. When I came back to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) I asked him about that, whereupon he said: The (people of the old age) used to give names (to their persons) after the names of Apostles and pious persons who had gone before them.

[Sahih Muslim 2135]

Similarly, in another hadith, Muhammad (S.A.W) calls Ayesha (R.A) as a companion of Yusuf (A.S) when they are separated by hundreds of years.

أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ لَمَّا اشْتَدَّ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَجَعُهُ قِيلَ لَهُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ رَقِيقٌ، إِذَا قَرَأَ غَلَبَهُ الْبُكَاءُ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ مُرُوهُ فَيُصَلِّي ‏”‏ فَعَاوَدَتْهُ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ مُرُوهُ فَيُصَلِّي، إِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ

Narrated Hamza bin `Abdullah:

My father said, “When Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) became seriously ill, he was told about the prayer. He said, ‘Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer.’ `Aisha said, ‘Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and he would be overpowered by his weeping if he recited the Qur’an.’ He said to them, ‘Tell him (Abu Bakr) to lead the prayer. The same reply was given to him. He said again, ‘Tell him to lead the prayer. You (women) are the companions of Joseph.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 682]

Moreover, Muhammad (S.A.W) was called Abi Kabshah by Meccans in a derogatory way. This is because he opposed them by calling to the worship of Allah alone without partners instead of worshipping their idols, just as Abu Kabsha had opposed the Quraysh by worshipping Sirius (a star) instead of their idols.

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

Abu Sufyan said, “Heraclius sent for me when I was in ‘llya’ (i.e. Jerusalem). Then he asked for the letter of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and when he had finished its reading there was a great hue and cry around him and the voices grew louder and we were asked to quit the place. When we were turned out, I said to my companions, ‘The cause of Ibn Abi Kabsha has become conspicuous as the King of Bani Al- Asfar is afraid of him.‘ “

[Sahih al-Bukhari 2978]

Thus, the verse and the ahadith prove that it is not surprising for Muhammad (S.A.W) to call the latter-day Messiah “Ibn Maryam” or “Isa”. It is a common way to name different persons with the name of the pious people of the past or with those one had similarities.

3. Similarities between the Jews and Muslims

The latter-day Messiah for the Muslims was called “Ibn Maryam” or “Isa” due to the similarity between the Jewish nation and the Muslims. This is described by Muhammad (S.A.W) himself on many occasions.

You would tread the same path as was trodden by those before you inch by inch and step by step so much so that if they had entered into the hole of the lizard, you would follow them in this also. We said: Allah’s Messenger, do you mean Jews and Christians (by your words)” those before you”? He said: Who else (than those two religious groups)?

[Sahih Muslim 2669a]

In other narrations, he describes the similarity in reference to how Muslims will also divide into sects, just like the Jews and Christians.

“The Jews split into seventy-one sects, one of them is in Paradise and seventy are in the Hellfire. The Christians split into seventy-two sects, seventy-one are in the Hellfire and one of them is in Paradise. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, my nation will split into seventy-three sects, one of them is in Paradise and seventy-two are in the Hellfire.” It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, who are the ones in Paradise?” The Prophet said, “The united community.”

[Sunan Ibn Mājah 3992]

Thus, since Jews needed a Messiah that would come and revive the teachings of Torah, similarly the Muslims too needed due to their similarities with the Jews. Moreover, Isa (A.S) was sent as a Messiah to the Jews, a Maseel-e-Isa (Isa in likeness) will be sent as a Messiah to the Muslims.

This prophecy of dividing into sects was fulfilled with grandeur and exactly as he described it. Muslims did divide into many sects. Not only this but they also started acting in a similar manner and have beliefs that are very similar to how Jews had at the time of Isa (A.S).

Awaiting descent of a prophet from heaven

Jews were awaiting the coming of the prophet Illyas (A.S), also known as Elijah in the Bible. They believed that he had flown to heaven in a chariot of fire as mentioned in 2 Kings 2:11. Moreover, in Malachi 4:5-6, he is prophecized to be sent back. Thus, it was the belief of the Jews that he will descend from the heavens similar to how he went there.

This is extremely similar to what Muslims are doing. They too are waiting for the coming of literal descent of Isa (A.S) from the heavens. Indeed! what a magnificent prophecy of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) as it has been fulfilled word for word.

Furthermore, Isa (A.S) also claimed that Elijah won’t fly from the heavens but someone from among the Jews will be that Elias (Elias is the title of Elijah). Jews believed that when Elijah (A.S) will pave way for their Messiah, who is prophecized to come after him in the same verses of Malachi 4:5-6. Thus, Isa (A.S) came before Elijah had descended. He told people that the Elijah that the Jews were awaiting is, in fact, Yahya (A.S) in the spirit which caused him to face extreme opposition from the Jewish clergy.

Again, it is very similar to how we see prophecy for the descent of Isa (A.S). These parallels exist in Bible just like Muhammad (S.A.W) prophecized them.

4. Similarity in the mission of Isa (A.S) and Latter-Day Messiah

This section is very similar to the previous section. We will look through the many similarities between the Isa (A.S), who was the Messiah to the Jews, with latter-day Messiah, who will be the Messiah to the Muslims. Both the Messiahs have a similar mission i.e to bring back the followers to the core teachings which were revealed to them.

Isa (A.S) was sent to clear up the differences among the sects of Jews as the Quran says:

And when Jesus came with clear proofs, he said, ‘Truly I am come to you with wisdom, and to make clear to you some of that about which you differ. So fear Allah and obey me.

[Quran 43:63]

Similarly, the latter-day Messiah will also come as the Hakam [judge] and Adl [just arbiter] i.e he will clear up the differences among the Muslims.

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“The Hour will not begin until ‘Eisa bin Maryam comes down as a just judge and a just ruler. He will break the cross, kill the pigs and abolish the Jizyah, and wealth will become so abundant that no one will accept it.”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 4078]

Thus, these prove how similar was the mission of both Messiahs which is why Muhammad (S.A.W) named the latter-day Messiah as Isa (A.S).

View of the Muslim Scholars

We have quoted plenty of verses and ahadith to prove our point. But unfortunately, there still exist people who are always looking for proof from outside these two sources that Allah has given us. They want the scholars to quote what we are showing from Quran. Thus, for the sake of such people, here are a few scholars. Read more here.

4th Century

As early as 4th cent. AH, Muslims were split three ways on the nature of the Second Coming of Jesus (as), as historian al-Muṭahhar b. Ṭāhir al-Maqdisī (fl. 355 AH) noted in al-Bad’ wa-t-ta’rīkh. A part of the umma held that someone else would come in the likeness of Jesus (as).

وقالت فرقة نزول عيسى خروج رجل شبيه بعيسى في الفضل والشرف كما يقال للرجل الخير هو ملك ولشرير هو شيطان يراد به التشبيه ” لا ” الأعيان

A section (of the Muslims) says: “The descent of Jesus signifies the fact that a man will appear who will resemble Jesus in virtue and excellence. This is like how it is said about a good man that he is an Angel, or about an evil man that he is a Satan, by way of resemblance, but not intending it literally.”

[Kitāb al-bad’ wa-l-ta’rīkh, pg 196]

8th Century

In the 8th cent. AH, the historian Sirāj ad-Dīn ibn al-Wardī (d. 749 AH) reiterated precisely this tripartite division of Muslims in Kharīdat al-ʻajāʼib wa-farīdat al-gharāʼib, which suggests that this has remained the belief of a part of the ummah throughout the centuries.

وقالت فرقة: نزول عيسى خروج رجل يشبه عيسى في الفضل والشرف كما يقال للرجل الخير ملك وللشرير شيطان, تشبيهاً بهما, ولا يراد الأعيان.

A section (of the Muslims) says: “The descent of Jesus signifies the fact that a man will appear who will resemble Jesus in virtue and excellence. This is like how it is said about a good man that he is an Angel, or about an evil man that he is a Satan, by way of resemblance, but not intending it literally.”

[Kharīdat al-‘ajā’ib wa-farīdat al-gharā’ib. by Ibn al-Wardī, ‘Umar ibn al-Muẓaffar, pg 190]

Hazrat Mu’in al-Din Chishti (RH)

Hazrat Mu’in al-Din Chishti (RH) calls himself “Second Isa”

دم بدم روح القدس اندر معینے سے دمد

من نمے دانم مگر من عیسیء ثانی شدم

[Irshadaat e Noor Vol 3, page 175]

Conclusion

In summary, we proved how the word descent or Nuzul does not necessarily imply that the Messiah will come from the heavens or sky.

Secondly, we proved how and why the latter-day Messiah is called “Ibn Maryam” or “Isa”. This is due to multiple reasons. One is how people named others using the names of the people of the past. Another is due to the similarities between Jews and Muslims, while another was due to the similarities of both the Messiahs and their mission.

Thirdly, we showed that this view is not something the Ahmadi Muslims invented out of nothing but it is a valid interpretation as we have had many Muslims to do the similar interpretation from the very early days of Islam.