Are the Hadith about Isa returning Mutawatir (Mass transmitted)?

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

Yes, many leading Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah have said that the Hadith about Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) returning are Mutawatir (mass-transmitted).

Hadith

وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَيُوشِكَنَّ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِيكُمْ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ حَكَمًا عَدْلًا، فَيَكْسِرَ الصَّلِيبَ، وَيَقْتُلَ الخِنْزِيرَ، وَيَضَعَ الجِزْيَةَ، وَيَفِيضَ المَالُ حَتَّى لاَ يَقْبَلَهُ أَحَدٌ، حَتَّى تَكُونَ السَّجْدَةُ الوَاحِدَةُ خَيْرًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, soon the son of Mary (Jesus) will descend amongst you as a just ruler. He will break the cross, kill the pig and abolish the Jizyah. There will be an abundance of wealth, and nobody will accept it (when given it as charity). A single Sajdah will be (considered) greater than the world and everything in it.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3448).

What is a Mutawatir Hadith?

A Mutawatir Hadith is a mass-transmitted narration. Meaning it has numerous different narrators at each level of the Sanad (chain of narration). There is a lot of difference amongst scholars as to how many narrators are required at each level to render the Hadith Mutawatir. When a Hadith is considered Mutawatir then it becomes undeniable. Many leading Hadith authorities have stated that the Hadith about Isa (Jesus) returning are Mutawatir.

It is an incredibly serious matter to deny a Mutawatir Hadith. Since it is Kufr (disbelief) to reject a Mutawatir narration. However, Sunni Muslims do not rush to considering others Kafir (Takfeer).

So, we will not immediately declare a person who rejects the return of Sayidina Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) Kafir. Rather we will warn people that this is Kufr and they must desist. If they persist then they may well be considered Kafir. This assertion of Kufr will be made by leading scholars after due consideration.

Are the narrations Mutawatir?

The Hadith about Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) returning is Mutawatir according to numerous Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah. However, it must be understood that there are two forms of Mutawatir narrations. A Hadith can be Mutawatir in itself, or in meaning. The first is when a particular Matn, or text, is Mutawatir. The second is when the same issue is repeated in numerous different texts.

The assertion that the Hadith about Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) returning is Mutawatir refers to Mutawatir in meaning. The notion that Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) will return has been narrated by numerous Sahabah. Amongst them are the following:

Abu Hurairah (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2222).
Jabir bin Abdillah (Sahih Muslim 156 – 247).
Abdullah bin Amr bin al-Aas (Sahih Muslim 2940 – 116).
Sayidah Ayesha (Ahmad 24467, Hasan).
Abu Sarehah Hudhayfah bin Asid al-Ghifari (Sahih Muslim 2901 – 39).
Imran bin Husayn (Ahmad 19851, Sahih).
Ibn Abbas (Hakim 3003, Sahih).
Al-Nawas bin Sam’an. (Sahih Muslim 2937 -110)

Please note that the above list is certainly not exhaustive, neither in the number of Sahabah nor the references provided. It is due to the abundance of narrators that leading scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah had little reluctance in declaring the Hadith about Isa (Jesus) returning Mutawatir.

Classical scholars

ونزول عيسى ابن مريم وقتله الدجال وغير ذلك من سائر الآيات التي تواترت الروايات بكونها بين يدي الساعة. (الإقناع في مسائل الإجماع)

The descent of Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) son of Mary, his killing of the Dajjal (Antichrist), and other signs have been mass transmitted (Mutawatir) as being from the signs of the Hour. (Imam Ibn al-Qattan, al-Iqna).

وَقَدْ تَوَاتَرَتْ الْأَحَادِيث عَنْ رَسُول اللَّه صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَ بِنُزُولِ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام قَبْل يَوْم الْقِيَامَة. (تفسير ابن كثير)

The Hadith narrations from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding the descent of Sayidina Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) before the Day of Reckoning are Mutawatir (mass transmitted). (Imam Abu al-Fida Ibn Katheer, Tafseer al-Quran al-Adheem).

وَقَدْ تَوَاتَرَتِ الْأَحَادِيثُ بِنُزُولِ عِيسَى حَسْبَمَا أَوْضَحْنَا ذَلِكَ فِي مُؤَلَّفٍ مُسْتَقِلٍّ. (فتح القدير)

The narrations about the descent of Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) are Mutawatir (mass transmitted) as we have explained in a separate book. (Imam Muhammad bin Ali al-Showkani, Fath al-Qadeer).

As seen in the Nusoos (texts) above, the Hadith about Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) returning are Mutawatir. However, those who deny the return of Prophet Isa (peace be upon him) may argue that the narrations are to be interpreted and not taken literally. This contention is unsubstantiated because leading Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah have also confirmed that there is Ijma (scholarly consensus) upon the return of the Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him).

Ijma (scholarly consensus)

الْإِجْمَاعُ فَقَدْ أَجْمَعَتِ الْأُمَّةُ عَلَى نُزُولِهِ وَلَمْ يُخَالِفْ فِيهِ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّرِيعَةِ، وَإِنَّمَا أَنْكَرَ ذَلِكَ الْفَلَاسِفَةُ وَالْمَلَاحِدَةُ مِمَّنْ لَا يُعْتَدُّ بِخِلَافِهِ. (لوامع الأنوار البهية)

The consensus of the Ummah is established regarding his descent. None of the people of Sharia disagreed with it. Rather, philosophers and disbelievers denied it. Those whose differing is given no consideration. (Imam Shams al-Deen al-Safaareeni, Lawaami al-Anwar al-Bahiyah).

قال القاضي أبو محمد: وأجمعت الأمة على ما تضمنه الحديث المتواتر من أن عيسى عليه السلام في السماء حي، وأنه ينزل في آخر الزمان. (المحرر الوجيز في تفسير الكتاب العزيز)

The Qadi Abu Muhammad said: The Ummah (nation) has unanimously agreed (Ijma) that Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) is alive in heaven and he will descend at the end of time. As was established in Mutawatir Hadith narrations. (Imam Ibn Attiyah al-Andalusi, al-Muharar al-Wajeez).

Clear in the Holy Quran?

As seen above, the Hadith about Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) returning are Mutawatir. But is the issue also mentioned in the Holy Quran? It is not addressed explicitly. However, there are verses of the Holy Quran that allude to it. These references in the Holy Quran are strengthened by the fact that Sayidina Ibn Abbas confirmed that they are referring to the return of Sayidina Isa (peace be upon him).

وَإِنْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا

There is not one of the People of the Scripture but will believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them. (Surah an-Nisa, 159).

The great Sahabi Abdullah bin Abbas commented on the above verse saying it refers to Sayidina Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) returning (see Hakim 3207, Sahih). He also said the same about verse 61 in Surah al-Zukhruf (see Hakim 3003, Sahih). Thus, it is important to mention that the Holy Quran also supports the belief in the return of Sayidina Isa (peace be upon him). So why would any Muslim deny it?

Conclusion

There is absolutely no room to deny the return of Sayidina Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him). Such denial will jeopardize a Muslim’s Iman (faith). It will lead the individual to the brink of Kufr. The belief in the return of Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) is not only established in numerous Sahih Hadith narrations, rather the Hadith narrations are actually Mutawatir.

As well as the Mutawatir narrations we have an Ijma (consensus) of the Ummah. It is also contrary to Iman to reject Ijma. Thus, it is not an insignificant matter. Rejecting the return of Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) is a rejection of Hadith and Ijma.

It is also a rejection of sound interpretation (Tafseer) of the Holy Quran. Since the great Sahabi Sayidina Abdullah bin Abbas has explained that several verses of the Quran are alluding to the return of Sayidina Isa.

Despite the abundance of evidence, some people in our time have rejected the return of Sayidina Isa. This is the inherent danger in leaving classical scholarship and following recent or contemporary Shaykhs. You truly are at the whim and inclination of the teacher. Whatever appeals to him becomes your religion. Whenever culture changes, your religion changes.

Whereas following the tradition and methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah protects the Muslim. We follow the Quran and Sunnah, as understood by classical, not recent scholars. Their views and opinions have been scrutinised by other classical scholars and errors have been corrected.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (27.02.24)