Islam teaches that Isa ibn Maryam - Jesus, the son of Mary - was not killed on the cross, but was raised by Allah and will descend near the end of time. This is not a marginal legend in Sunni Islam. It is a well-established belief rooted in the Qur'an and in rigorously authenticated hadith.

Because this article belongs to a section on prophecies, an important clarification is needed from the start: the descent of Isa (peace be upon him) has not yet been fulfilled. It is a future sign. The "miracle" here is not that we can point to a completed historical event, but that Islam made a clear, testable claim about the end of history, preserved in its earliest sources, in a way that fits its wider theology of prophethood, justice and the finality of Muhammad (PBUH).

The Qur'anic foundation

The Qur'an denies that Isa ibn Maryam was killed by his enemies. It states that the claim of his execution was not the final truth of the matter:

"And for their saying, 'Indeed, we killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.' But they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it was made to appear so to them... Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise. And there is none from the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in him before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection he will be against them a witness." - Qur'an 4:157-159

Muslim scholars agree that the Qur'an rejects the claim that Isa was successfully killed by his enemies. The precise meaning of some phrases, such as "Allah raised him" and "before his death," has been discussed by exegetes. A major classical Sunni interpretation is that Isa was raised alive and that the People of the Scripture will truly recognize him before his death after his descent near the end of time. Another interpretation reads "before his death" as referring to the death of each individual from the People of the Scripture. The first interpretation became central in mainstream Sunni eschatology because it is supported by explicit authentic hadith.

Another verse is often cited:

"And indeed, he is a sign for the Hour, so have no doubt about it, and follow Me. This is a straight path." - Qur'an 43:61

Many classical commentators understood "he" here to refer to Isa, making his return a sign of the Last Hour. Some readings and interpretations relate the verse to "knowledge" of the Hour or to the Qur'an as a sign. Therefore, honesty requires saying: this verse is consistent with, and according to many scholars points to, the descent of Isa, but the most explicit proof comes from the authentic Sunnah.

The Prophet (PBUH) explicitly foretold his descent

The clearest reports come from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself and are found in the most rigorously authenticated hadith collections. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

"By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, the son of Mary will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break the cross, kill the swine, abolish the jizyah, and wealth will become so abundant that no one will accept it." - Sahih al-Bukhari 3448; Sahih Muslim 155. Grading: sahih.

Another authentic narration makes clear that Isa will not return as the founder of a new religion or a rival to the final Prophet (PBUH):

"How will you be when the son of Mary descends among you and your leader is from among you?" - Sahih al-Bukhari 3449. Grading: sahih.

In Sahih Muslim, the descent is also connected with the defeat of the Dajjal, the great false messiah of the end times:

"Allah will send the Messiah, son of Mary, and he will descend at the white minaret in the eastern side of Damascus..." - Sahih Muslim 2937. Grading: sahih.

These narrations are not isolated curiosities. The descent of Isa is reported through multiple Companions in the hadith literature, and Sunni hadith scholars commonly treated the total body of reports as mutawatir in meaning - mass-transmitted in their overall message, even if individual wordings vary. That does not mean every popular story about the end times is authentic. It means the core doctrine - that Isa ibn Maryam will descend before the Last Hour - is established by strong evidence.

What his descent means

The hadith describe Isa's return with several themes:

  • Justice: he descends as "a just judge." His return is not chaos, spectacle or revenge, but the restoration of truth and justice.
  • Correction of false beliefs: "breaking the cross" means the public end of the belief that he was crucified as a divine saviour. In Islam, Isa is a noble messenger, born miraculously, but not God and not the son of God.
  • Ending religious ambiguity: "abolishing the jizyah" has been understood by scholars to mean that, at that time, the truth will become so manifest that the previous political arrangement for protected non-Muslim communities will no longer apply in the same way. It is not a licence for vigilante violence, nor a general instruction for Muslims today.
  • Defeating deception: he will kill the Dajjal, the supreme deceiver, by Allah's permission. The false messiah will be defeated by the true Messiah.
  • Following the final law: the narration that "your leader is from among you" shows that Isa does not return with a new scripture or a new dispensation. He returns as a follower of the final revelation given to Muhammad (PBUH).

This last point is crucial. Islam honours Isa more than any merely secular account can: he is the Messiah, born of the Virgin Mary, a word from Allah, a spirit from Him, and a mighty messenger. But Islam does not deify him. His return, in Islamic belief, vindicates both his true mission and the final message of Muhammad (PBUH).

Does this contradict the finality of Muhammad (PBUH)?

The strongest theological objection is this: if Muhammad (PBUH) is the final Prophet, how can a prophet return after him?

The Qur'an states:

"Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets." - Qur'an 33:40

Sunni Islam understands this to mean that no new prophet will be commissioned after Muhammad (PBUH), and no new revelation or law will supersede the Qur'an. Isa's descent does not violate that. Isa was made a prophet before Muhammad (PBUH). His return is not a new prophethood beginning after Islam, but the return of an existing prophet as a follower and judge by the law of the final Messenger (PBUH).

This is why the hadith says the Muslim leader will be "from among you." Some narrations indicate that Isa will pray behind the Muslim leader when he descends. The meaning is clear: the final religious authority remains the message of Muhammad (PBUH). Isa's return confirms it rather than competing with it.

Was Isa raised alive or did he die?

Another serious objection is linguistic. The Qur'an uses the word mutawaffika in Allah's address to Isa:

"O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve..." - Qur'an 3:55

Some argue that this must mean Isa died. Muslim scholars have answered that the Arabic root tawaffa can mean taking in full, and is also used for taking the soul during sleep, not only final death. Others said the verse mentions events whose completion includes his eventual death after his return. What matters is that the Qur'an clearly denies that his enemies killed him, and the authentic hadith explicitly state that he will descend.

It is fair to acknowledge that modern readers may find the idea extraordinary. Islam does not ask us to pretend otherwise. A prophet raised by Allah and returned near the end of time is a supernatural claim. But it is not arbitrary within the Islamic worldview. The Qur'an already affirms miracles: Adam's creation without parents, the virgin birth of Isa, Musa's signs before Pharaoh, and the resurrection itself. If Allah creates life, gives revelation and raises the dead, then preserving and returning Isa is not logically difficult.

Why the evidence is weighty

A sceptic may say: "These are religious texts. Why should I accept them?" The answer depends on the wider case for Islam. If the Qur'an is from Allah and Muhammad (PBUH) is His Messenger, then an authentic prophecy from him carries decisive weight. But even before that conclusion, the doctrine has notable features:

  • It is early and deeply embedded: the belief is not a late fringe myth. It appears in the major hadith collections and became part of mainstream Sunni creed.
  • It is theologically balanced: Islam neither insults Isa nor deifies him. His return resolves the central dispute about his identity.
  • It is falsifiable in principle: Islam is making a real claim about the future, not a vague spiritual metaphor that can mean anything.
  • It is not based on weak reports: the core belief rests on sahih narrations, especially in al-Bukhari and Muslim.

At the same time, Muslims should avoid exaggeration. We should not attach every dramatic end-times rumour to this doctrine. Details found in weak or disputed narrations should not be preached as certainty. The certain point is the descent of Isa ibn Maryam; many secondary details require careful grading and scholarly caution.

Conclusion

The descent of Isa ibn Maryam is a major sign of the Last Hour in Sunni Islam. The Qur'an lays the foundation by denying his killing and speaking of his being raised by Allah, while authentic hadith state plainly that he will descend as a just judge, defeat falsehood and confirm the final message.

This prophecy is not yet fulfilled, so it should not be presented as a past historical proof. Rather, it is a powerful future claim preserved in Islam's strongest sources: the true Messiah will return, not to found a new religion, but to vindicate pure monotheism and the prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH).