Isa (AS) – The Bloody Messiah | Islam or the Sword

Introduction

The so-called “Sunni” Muslims believe that when Isa (AS) returns to this earth, he will give non-Muslims only 2 options i.e. accept Islam or death. This means that Isa (AS) will fight and kill all non-Muslims who refuse to accept Islam. This is commonly referred to as الإسلام أو السيف (Islam or the sword).

This belief contradicts numerous verses of the Holy Quran, including the verse “There is no compulsion in religion”¹Quran 2:256, yet it is one of their fundamental beliefs, and the majority of “Sunnis” accept it. We will list the view of the Ulema.

Ibn Kathir (d. )

ولا يقبل منهم جزية، ولكن من أسلم قبل من إسلامه وإلاّ قتل، وكذلك حكم سائر كفار الأرض يومئذ، وَهَذَا مِنْ بَابِ الإِخبار عَنِ الْمَسِيحِ بِذَلِكَ، والتشريع له بذلك فَإِنَّهُ إِنَّمَا يَحْكُمُ بِمُقْتَضَى هَذِهِ الشَّرِيعَةِ الْمُطَهَّرَةِ، وَقَدْ وَرَدَ فِي بَعْضِ الْأَحَادِيثِ كَمَا تَقَدَّمَ أنه ينزل ببيت المقدس، وفي رواية بالأردن، وفي رواية بعسكر الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَهَذَا فِي بَعْضِ رِوَايَاتِ مُسْلِمٍ كَمَا تَقَدَّمَ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ.

‘Eesa ibn Maryam will descend there and then kill the pig, break the cross, and refuse to accept their Jizyah. But whosoever accepts Islam from them, it will be accepted from him; otherwise, he will be killed. The same ruling applies to all the disbelievers of that time.“

[Boof of the end. Great Trial and Tribulations, pg 151]
[Arabic Scan]

Nawawi (d. )

The correct view concerning this is that he will not accept it, and he will not accept anything from the kaafirs disbelievers but Islam. If any of them offer the jizyah that will not make him stop fighting them. Rather he will not accept anything but Islam or death. This is the view of Imam Abu Sulaymaan al-Khattaabi and other scholars (may Allah have mercy on them). 

[Islamqa]
[Sharh Sahih Muslim, v2, p190]

Naeem-ud-Deen Muradabadi (d. )

اُس وقت یہود و نصاری کو یا تو اسلام قبول کرنا ہوگا یا قتل کرڈالے جائیں گے جزیہ قبول کرنے کا حکم حضرت عیسی علیہ السلام کے نزول کرنے کے وقت تک ہے

At that time, the Jews and Christians will either have to accept Islam or be killed. The order to accept jizya (tax) is valid only until the descent of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him).

[Tafsir-e-Quran Kanzul Iman, pg. 150]

Ahmad Ibn Naqib Al Misri (d. 769/1367)

Umdat as-Salik wa ‘Uddat an-Nasik is a classical manual of fiqh for the Shafi’i school of Islamic jurisprudence. The author of the main text is 14th-century scholar Shihabuddin Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn an-Naqib al-Misri.

ومحل هذا قبل نزول عيسى عليه السلام أما بعد فلا يقبل منهم إلا الإسلام لأن أخذ الجزية منهم مغيا إلى نزول عيسى عليه وعلى نبينا أفضل الصلاة والسلام

After his final coming, nothing but Islam will be accepted from them. for taking the poll tax is only effective until Jesus’ descent (upon him and our Prophet be peace)

[Reliance of the Traveller, pg. 602-603]

Shaykh Muhammad Khaleel Harras (1395H)

One of the most prominent Salafi teachers. His students include Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih Al-‘Uthaymeen, Shaykh Ahmad bin Atiyyah Al-Ghaamidee, and many more.

That is because Jesus will discontinue the Jizyah, and he will only accept Islam—otherwise, the sword. So, whoever refuses Islam, Jesus will hasten towards them with the sword.

[THE DECISIVE WORD REGARDING the Ascension of Jesus, pg. 38]
[Arabic scan, Fasl al-Maqal, pg. 21]

Abdul-Aziz Ibn Baz, Muhammad ibn al-Uthaymin, and Abdullah ibn Jibreen

During his era, wealth would become in abundance. He will waive the Jizyah, and accept from people only Islam or the sword.

[FATAWA ISLAMIYAH, vol. 1, pg. 56]