Jesus Will Return with Imam Mahdi
Biblical
Eschatology is a study of things to come. The Second Advent of Jesus is one of
the eschatological issues in Christian theology. Mainstream Christians believe
that Jesus, forty days after his resurrection ascended to heaven and he will
return to Earth at the end of time. One of the main Biblical references for the
second advent of Jesus is in the Acts of the Apostles.
“Upon
saying this and while they were looking on, he was taken up and a cloud carried
him up from their view. And as they kept gazing intently toward heaven as he
was going away from them, two men in white clothing were standing by them, who
also said: Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? This very
Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come again in the same way
you have seen him going to heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)
For
the past 2000 years, there has been an ongoing debate regarding the above and
similar Biblical passages. Many Christians believe that Jesus will literally
return. Others believe that the return of Jesus will not be physical, rather
symbolic somehow. Others suggest that the church serves the same purpose. Most
of the debates rotate around the above phrase ‘In the same
manner’ as to whether it should be taken literally or figuratively.
Muslim
scholars irrespective of their denominations are quite unanimous that upon the
reappearance of Imam Mahdi (May God hasten his reappearance) Prophet Jesus will
also descend to Earth from the heavens. During that time, Jesus and Imam Mahdi
will spread peace and justice on earth and the earth will attain unprecedented
peace, justice and welfare. Jesus will be like the minister for Imam Mahdi and
his main mission will be to correct the dogma of Trinity and to clarify his
humane personality and servitude to God.
The
Islamic doctrine of the descent of Jesus to earth is derived from a couple of
Ayaat in the Quran and many hadith which are narrated by both Shi’a and Sunni
narrators. The following are the most important reasons for this doctrine:
As
we learn in chapter 8, the holy Quran in a unique style denotes the false dogma
of crucifixion. The holy Quran clearly states that Allah raised Jesus to
Himself. Thus, Jesus has not tasted physical death yet. On the other hand,
‘Every
creature shall have a taste of death’. (29:57)
In
conclusion, Jesus must return to earth to live a physical life and die a
physical death.
The
Almighty Allah states:
“And
there will be none of the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) but must
believe in him before his death and on the Day of Resurrection, he will be a
witness against them.” (4:159)
Most
interpreters of the Quran agree that the above Ayah is regarding the time of
the return of Jesus to earth. During that time, there will be no Jews or
Christians but those who believe in Jesus as a Messenger of Allah and a human
being. According with this interpretation, the pronoun in ‘Before his
death’ returns to ‘Jesus’ not a Jew or a Christian.
Shahr
bin Houshab narrated: “Hajjaj bin Yusuf said to me: “There is an Ayah
in the Quran that I’m baffled as to its meaning. I said: O Amir! Which Ayah is
that? He said: “And there will be none of the People of the Book …” By Allah! I
have ordered the execution of many Christians and Jews and I have witnessed
their death, but none of them believed in the humanity of Jesus before his
death.”
Shahr
said: “I said to Hajjaj: This is not the meaning of the Ayah. (He meant the
pronoun in that phrase returns to Jesus not the Jews and Christians). The
meaning of the Ayah is that Jesus will descend to earth before the Day of
Resurrection and there will be no Jews or Christians but believers in Jesus and
he will pray behind Imam Mahdi.”
“Hajjaj
asked from whom I had learnt that interpretation from. I replied: Imam Baqir,
son of Imam Sajjad, son of Imam Husain, son of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib narrated
this to me.” Hajjaj said: By Allah, you gained it from a pure spring.”
Almighty
Allah states:
“And
when Allah said: O Jesus! I will take you and raise you to Myself and clear you
of those who disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you superior to those
who disbelieve till the Day of Resurrection. Then you (Believers and
disbelievers) will return to Me and I will judge between you in the matter in
which you used to dispute.” (3:55)
The
above Ayah is one of the controversial Ayaat in the story of Prophet Jesus.
Some Christian preachers use this Ayah to prove the superiority of Christians over
the adherents of all other religions whom they also call ‘Disbelievers’ until
the Day of Judgment.
Christians
assumed the Quranic phrase ‘Those who follow you’ equals
Christians. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Christianity today is very
different from the actual teachings of Prophet Jesus. The followers of Jesus
were those who truly followed his teachings. According with the Quran, the
dogma of Trinity is in full conflict with the teachings of Prophet Jesus. Thus,
how could Trinitarians be regarded as the followers of Jesus?!
The
examples of ‘Those who follow you’ from the time of
Jesus till the advent of Islam are those sincere believers who believed in
Jesus as a Messenger of Allah and followed his teachings. With the rise of
Islam, Muslims who believe in Jesus as a Messenger of Allah are the true
followers of Jesus. The disbelievers in return are those who never believed in
Jesus as a Prophet such as the Jews or even the Christians who believed in the
divinity of Jesus. Thus, Almighty Allah has made the true monotheists who
believe in Jesus as His Messenger superior in their ideology over the
disbelievers who do not believe in Prophet Jesus.
Another
meaning for the Ayah is to say when Imam Mahdi (a.s) reappears and Jesus
returns to earth, the true followers of Jesus who include all Muslims, Jews,
Christians who truly followed Jesus will be superior to the disbelievers.
Numerous
Narrations in both Sunni and Shi’a sources confirm and detail the descending of
Jesus at the same time as Imam Mahdi. Renowned Sunni narrators such as
al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Maajah, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu-Dawood and many others
have narrated the Narrations of the return of Jesus at the time of Imam Mahdi
and that he will pray behind Imam Mahdi.
Ibn
Jouzi in his book ‘Tathkeratul-Khawas’ narrated: “Mahdi
and Jesus will reunite. When it’s the time for Prayers, Mahdi will ask Jesus to
lead the Prayers, but Jesus will say: You are more preferred to lead the
Prayers. Then Jesus will pray behind him.”
According
with the Narrations of his return Jesus will break the cross and abandon the
meat of the pig. He will also abolish the Jazyah for the People of the Book of
his time will have no excuse to adhere to their false principles. They must
either convert to Islam and hence no Jazyah will apply to them or will be
executed by Jesus. Jesus will live on the earth for 40 years before he dies.
Imam Mahdi will pray on his body and will attend his burial in pubic.
One
of the theological problems about the return of Jesus is the paradox between
this concept and the seal of Prophethood. Undoubtedly, Prophet Muhammad was the
last Prophet and Messenger of God. With Prophet Muhammad, prophethood ceased to
continue. Then how could one of the previous prophets return to earth after
Prophet Muhammad?
The
answer to the above paradox is that Prophet Jesus will not return to earth to
bring a new Shari’a Law. Thus, he will pray behind Imam Mahdi. In fact, Imam
Mahdi who is the 12th and the last successor of the Prophet of Islam will lead
the world. The main purpose of the return of Jesus to earth is for him to prove
to the Jews and the Christians the truth about himself.
The
names by which the disciples were known among themselves were ‘Brethren’,
‘The faithful’, ‘Elect’, ‘Saints’ and ‘Believers’.
The
title ‘Christian’ for the followers of the teachings of Jesus
is historically a Greek-given name not a God-given name. In Greek, the
adjectival ending -ianos denoted the adherents of an individual or party. So,
adherents to Christ were called Christianos which is developed in English to
Christians. The name ‘Christian’ was first given by the Greeks
or Romans, probably in reproach, to the followers of Jesus.
There
is no record of any disciple calling another believer a Christian or of Jesus
applying that designation to himself. Luke in Acts (11:19-30) writes that "The
disciples were called Christians," not that "the
disciples called themselves Christians." According with the Acts
(11:26) the title of ‘Christian’ was first used at Antioch for
the disciples.
When
disciples under the persecution of the Jews sought refuge in Antioch which was
a Greek city, they were named in reproach by pagan Greeks as ‘Christians’ meaning
those who believe in the one who claimed to be the Christ. In the early stages
of Christianity to be called ‘Christian’would most probably equal
execution.
Although
this title initially carried some negative sense, over time Christians accepted
it, as to them it would be an honour for them to be related to Christ (The
Messiah; Al-Maseeh in Arabic). Hence, the title was universally accepted. On
the other hand, the Jews who did not believe Jesus was the Messiah scorned the
followers and the disciples of Jesus as "The sect of the
Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5) meaning the followers of the one who was
merely born in Nazareth.
The
only God-given title for the followers of the teachings of Jesus is given by
Allah in the holy Quran. The holy Quran has never referred to the followers of
Jesus as Christians (Al-Maseehiyoun in Arabic) or Nazarenes. The term used in
the Quran for his followers is ‘Nasara’ meaning the helpers,
the singular of which is ‘Nasrani’ meaning ‘The
helper’.
Just
like the term used for those believers in Medina who supported Prophet Muhammad
and hence were called ‘The helpers’. The reason as to why the holy
Quran is calling the adherents of Jesus ‘The Helpers’stems from a
conversation between Jesus and his disciples.
According
with the Quran when Jesus began his mission he asked his disciples who would be
helping him in the cause of God. The holy Quran states:
“O,
you who believe! Be you helpers (in the Cause) of Allah as said Jesus, son of
Mary, to the disciples: Who are my helpers (in the Cause) of Allah? The
disciples said: We are Allah’s helpers.” (61:14)
Therefore,
contrary to the name given to the followers of Jesus by the Romans or the Jews,
the Quranic title for them is a God-given name and designates their devotion to
Allah. Another title used frequently in the Quran for both the Christians and
the Jews, is the appellation of ‘People of the Book’ which
is a very honourable title confirming that they historically belonged to the
community of the faithful people who originally had a divine Scripture.
In
the story of Prophet Moses (a.s) I dealt with the status of the People of the
Book in the Quran. The People of the Book are sometimes condemned in the Quran
not merely because they are Jewish or Christians. They were castigated due to
their wrong actions.
The
Quran, whilst emphasising that Christians did, theologically, go astray by
believing in the erroneous dogma of the Trinity, respects and admires their
good deeds and moral behaviour. Almighty Allah in Surah al-Maédah (Chapter 5),
Ayah 82 states:
“And
you will surely find the nearest in love to the believers (Muslims) those who
say: We are Nasara (Christians). That is because amongst them are priests and
monks, and they are not proud.” (5:82)
This
love and compassion is a Godly gift to them, as Allah in Surah al-Hadid
(Chapter 57) Ayah 7 states:
“And
We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him (Jesus) compassion and
mercy.” (57:7)
On
the other hand, however, Muslims are commanded not to trust and make close
friendships with the Jews and the Christians. Allah in Surah Ma’edah (Chapter
5) Ayah 51 states:
“O,
you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as friends (Or protectors
or helpers), they are but the friends (Or protectors and helpers) of each
other. And if any amongst you take them as friends, then surely, he is one of
them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are the wrong-doers.”
The
message of this Ayah is like the following Ayah in which relying u (on the
wrong-doer) is forbidden.
“And
incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you, and you
have no protectors other than Allah, nor you would then be helped.” (11:113)
Thus,
God condemns only the wrong-doers whoever they may be.
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