The ruling on those who claim that Jesus was not raised up or that he will not descend

 
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. The evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah clearly indicates that Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon him, was raised to the heavens with his noble body and soul. He was neither killed nor crucified. He will descend at the end of times, kill the Antichrist, break the cross, kill the pig, abolish the jizya (tax on non-Muslims), and accept only Islam. This descent is one of the signs of the Hour.

The scholars of Islam, whose opinions are relied upon, unanimously agree on this. However, they differ on the interpretation of the term “tawaffa” in the verse: “When Allah said, ‘O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself’” (Al Imran 55). One interpretation is that it means death, as this is the apparent meaning of the verse for those who do not consider the other evidence. This interpretation is supported by other verses in the Qur’an where “tawaffa” means death, such as: “Say, ‘The angel of death will take you who has been entrusted with you’” (Prostration 11) and “If you could see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieved” (AL Anfal 50).

The second interpretation is that it means taking or seizing. This was reported by Ibn Jarir in his Tafsir from a group of the Salaf (early Muslims) and is preferred by many scholars. According to this interpretation, the verse means: “I will take you from the earthly realm to the heavenly realm while you are alive and raise you to Myself.”

The third interpretation is that it means the sleep of death, as sleep is also referred to as “tawaffa” in the Qur’an. The evidence indicates that Jesus did not die, so the verse should be understood as referring to the sleep of death, as in the verse: “And it is He who takes your souls by night” (cattle 60) and “Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die during their sleep” ( Zomor 42).

The second and third interpretations are stronger than the first. In any case, the truth indicated by clear evidence is that Jesus, peace be upon him, was raised to the heavens alive and did not die. He remains alive in the heavens until he descends at the end of times to fulfill the mission assigned to him, as mentioned in authentic hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. After that, he will die the natural death decreed for him. Therefore, interpreting “tawaffa” as death is weak and unlikely. Even if it were correct, it would refer to his death after his descent at the end of times, mentioned in the verse before his ascension as a form of precedence, not sequence, as the conjunction “and” does not imply order, as noted by scholars. Allah knows best.

As for those who claim that he was killed or crucified, the clear text of the Qur’an refutes and invalidates their claim. Similarly, the claim that he did not ascend to the heavens but migrated to Kashmir, lived there for a long time, and died a natural death, and that he will not descend before the Hour but someone like him will come, is clearly false. It is one of the greatest fabrications against Allah and a lie against His Messenger, peace be upon him.

Indeed, Jesus, peace be upon him, has not yet descended and will do so in the future, as the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, informed us. From this, it is clear that anyone who claims that Jesus was killed or crucified, or that he migrated to Kashmir and died a natural death there without being raised to the heavens, or that someone like him has come or will come, and that there is no Messiah descending from the heavens, has committed a great falsehood against Allah. Such a person is denying Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him, and whoever denies Allah and His Messenger has disbelieved. It is obligatory to seek repentance from anyone who makes such claims and to clarify the evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah to them. If they repent and return to the truth, they are forgiven; otherwise, they are to be treated as disbelievers.

The evidence for this is abundant and well-known, including Allah’s statement about Jesus in Surah An-Nisa: “And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise” (Women 157-158).

 Additionally, numerous hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, confirm that Jesus will descend at the end of times as a just ruler, kill the false Messiah, break the cross, kill the pig, abolish the jizya, and accept only Islam. These hadiths are mutawatir (narrated by numerous chains of transmission) and are unquestionably authentic. The scholars of Islam have unanimously accepted and believed in what these hadiths indicate, and they have mentioned them in their books of creed.

Anyone who denies these hadiths, claiming they are solitary reports that do not provide certainty, or interprets them to mean that people will adhere to the morals of Jesus in the end times, showing mercy and compassion, and following the spirit of the Shariah rather than its apparent meanings, is clearly in error. Such a claim contradicts the established and mutawatir texts, undermines the Shariah, and shows a blatant disregard for Islam and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. It is an act of following conjecture and desires, deviating from the path of truth and guidance. No one with a firm understanding of Shariah and sincere faith in its teachings would make such a claim.

The assertion that the hadiths about Jesus are solitary reports that do not provide certainty is evidently flawed. These hadiths are numerous, found in the authentic collections, and have multiple chains of transmission and sources, meeting the criteria for mutawatir. How can anyone with even a basic understanding of Shariah dismiss them and not rely on them?
Even if we were to accept that they are solitary reports, not all solitary reports lack certainty. The correct view held by scholars is that solitary reports, when their chains of transmission are numerous, their narrators are reliable, and they are free from conflicting evidence, do provide certainty. The hadiths in this matter meet these criteria, being unquestionably authentic with multiple chains and sources, and there is no conflicting evidence. Therefore, they provide certainty, whether we consider them solitary or mutawatir. This clarifies the invalidity of this doubt and the deviation of its proponent from the path of truth and correctness.

Worse still is the claim that these hadiths should be interpreted differently from their apparent meanings. This combines denying and invalidating the texts, disbelieving in what they indicate about Jesus’ descent and his just rule, killing the false Messiah, and other matters mentioned in the hadiths, with attributing deception and ambiguity to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who is the most sincere and knowledgeable about Allah’s Shariah. This is the height of falsehood, slander, and deceit against the Ummah, which the Prophet’s position should be free from. This claim resembles the views of the heretics who accused the prophets of deception and ambiguity for the sake of the public, claiming they did not intend the truth in their statements.

The scholars of knowledge and faith have refuted these claims with clear evidence and strong arguments. We seek refuge in Allah from the deviation of hearts, confusion of matters, trials, and the whispers of Satan. We ask Allah, the Almighty, to protect us and the Muslims from following desires and Satan. Indeed, He is capable of all things. There is no power and no strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.

We hope that what we have mentioned is convincing to the questioner and clarifies the truth. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon His servant and Messenger Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.