Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat Isa (‘alaihis salaam) is a Rasul of Allah Ta‘ala and is counted among the high-ranking Ambiyaa. Allah Ta‘ala revealed the Injeel (the Bible) to him and blessed him with a Shari’ah. He is the Nabi who was sent to the world before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “All the Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam) are like brothers of one father. Their mothers are different, and their deen is one (i.e. they all believe in tauheed – the oneness of Allah, though their Shari’ahs are different). I am the closest of people to Nabi Isa bin Maryam (‘alaihis salaam), as there is no Nabi between us. Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam) will definitely descend.” (Musnad Ahmed #9270)
Allah Ta‘ala sent Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam) to the Bani Israa’eel, but they did not believe in him and rejected him. They even attempted to assassinate him, but Allah Ta‘ala protected him and raised him to the heavens alive. At present, Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam) is alive in the heavens, and prior to Qiyaamah, Allah Ta‘ala will send him back to the world.
In the Mubaarak Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “I take an oath by that Being in whose hand lies my life! The time is most certainly close (before Qiyaamah) when the son of Maryam (i.e. Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam)) will descend from the sky, and he will rule among you as a just ruler. He will break the cross and kill the swine…” (Saheeh Muslim #155)
The Descent of Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam) – a Major Sign of Qiyaamah
The descent of Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam) from the heavens to the earth is counted among the major signs of Qiyaamah.
In the Qur’aan Majeed, Allah Ta‘ala says, “And indeed he (Nabi Isa [alaihis salaam]) is a source of gaining knowledge of the Final Hour (i.e. his descent is a sign of Qiyaamah), so do not entertain any doubt regarding it (the Final Hour of Qiyaamah taking place)… (Surah Zukhruf v. 61)
In one Hadith, Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned, “Indeed, Qiyaamah will never occur until you see before it ten major signs. The smoke (a type of mist or smoke that will descend onto the land from the sky before Qiyaamah through which Muslims will catch a cold and the kuffaar will fall unconscious), the emergence of Dajjaal, the emergence of the beast, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam), the coming of Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj, the three major sinkings of the earth; a sinking in the east, a sinking in the west and a sinking in the Arabian Peninsula. The final sign will be a fire that will break out in Yemen and drive people towards the plains of resurrection (Syria).” (Saheeh Muslim #2901)
The Belief of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah regarding Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam) Killing Dajjaal
One of the main reasons for Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam) being sent back to the world before Qiyaamah will be to kill Dajjaal. Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam) killing Dajjaal is among the fundamental beliefs of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah.
Allaamah Qadhi Iyaadh (rahimahullah) has mentioned that Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam) returning to the world to kill Dajjaal is among the fundamental beliefs of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah. The Muhadditheen, the Fuqahaa and Ulamaa of Aqaa’id all subscribe to this belief.
