Muslims, just like their colleagues in faith, Jews and Christians believe in Jesus (AS)’s return to earth. While to the Jews, Jesus (AS) will come to them as the promised Messiah whom they have been waiting for (although they didn’t recognize him as such when he was on earth), and to the Christians Jesus (AS) will come to them as the Judge of the Judges (to take only those who believed in his son-hood or divinity), to the Muslims, Jesus will come as an ordinary person (not as prophet as in his first stay on earth).
Due to these differences, there are also differing roles that Jesus (AS) will play after his descent. For the purposes of this presentation, we shall look at the Muslims’ point of view. This is, his descent is one of the major signs preceding the Day of Judgment.
JESUS’S DESCENT
The Ahadeeth are quite precise when they talk about the particulars regarding Jesus (AS)’s descent on earth. They talk about his physical features, exact time and place of descent and his first assignment with the Muslims.
In a nutshell, Jesus (AS) will return to the world at the time when the Muslim army led by Imam Mahdi shall be preparing for war against Dajjal (the Anti-Christ). He will be of average height. His hair will spread to the shoulders. It will be straight, neat and shining as immediately after a bath. On bending his head, the hair will seem as if pearls are falling. He will have an armour on his body and will be wearing two pieces of cloth light yellow in colour.
Jesus (AS) will descend on the eastern side near the minaret in Damascus with his hands on the shoulders of two angels to a group of about 800 men and 400 women with Imam Mahdi as their Amir (Leader). It will be at the time of Fajr (dawn prayer). At that time Imam Mahdi will have proceeded forward to lead the Fajr prayer and iqaamat (a call start the prayers) would have been said.
In seeing Jesus (AS) amongst them, Imam Mahdi will call upon Jesus (AS) to lead the dawn prayer but will decline and tell Imam Mahdi to lead the prayer since the iqaamat has already been said for him. Imam Mahdi will then lead the prayer and Jesus (AS) will follow him.
JESUS RETURNS AS A FIGHTER/CONQUERER
Immediately after the prayer is completed, Jesus (AS) will open the rear door where he will come face to face with Dajjal (Anti-Christ) with his army of 70,000 Jews. By the power of Allah, every non-believer who will be reached by the breath of Jesus (AS) will die.
At this time, the Muslims will come down from the mountains where they were hiding and pounce on the army of Dajjal marking a heavy war. Dajjal will then retreat but Jesus (AS) will pursue him with two flexible swords and one shield in his hands. He will meet Dajjal at the Gate of Hudd where Jesus (AS) will slay him and he will raise and show the Muslims the blood of Dajjal on his shield. The Jews will then be selected and some will be executed. The swine will be killed and the cross broken. Non-believers will revert to Islam, wars will end and people will now revert to their respective countries. However, some Muslims will remain in his service and companionship. People will live comfortable lives for some time and the wall barring the Ya’juj wa Ma’juj (Gog and Magog) will break free.
JESUS’S RULE ON EARTH
Jesus (AS) will stay on earth for a period of forty years. During this era, people will enjoy absolute peace, harmony and tranquility like no other period on earth. Wild animals will freely mix and graze with domestic animals. People will play with poisonous and venomous animals without any harm as the poisons will be taken away from them. No person will quarrel with another. The land will be more fertile and wealth will be so abundant such that Zakaat(annual compulsory 2.5% levy) and taxes will be abolished.
There shall be no other religions or religious divisions apart from one Islamic nation. The people will love prostrating before the Almighty Allah more than anything on the world. All hearts will be free from miserliness, envy, malice or jealously.
Jesus (AS) will marry and be in marriage for nineteen years. He will have children and then will pass away.
Muslims will perform Janaaza (funeral) prayer and will bury him next to Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
CONCLUSION
Jesus (AS) will descend to earth as a Muslim and will adhere to Quran and Sunnah (Prophet’s tradition). After the death of Imam Mahdi, he will take over as the leader of Muslim who will be leading them in prayers. In will be the period of abundance until the encounter with the Gog and Magog army.
After the Gog and Magog all die, Jesus will lead the Muslims with absolute peace and justice. It will be the period of wealth and abundance.
His death will mark the final days on earth and then the Day of Judgment.
