Surah An Nisa Tafseer

And there is none of the People of the Scripture, but must believe in him, before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he will be a witness against them.

Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn Abbas commented,

وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلاَّ لَيُوْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ

(And there is none of the People of the Scripture, but must believe in him, before his death),

before the death of `Isa, son of Maryam, peace be upon him.

Al-Awfi reported similar from Ibn Abbas.

Abu Malik commented;

إِلاإَّ لَيُوْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ

(but must believe in him, before his death),

"This occurs after `Isa returns and before he dies, as then, all of the People of the Scriptures will believe in him."

The Hadiths Regarding the Descent of `Isa Just Before the Day of Judgment, and his Mission

In the chapter about the Prophets in his Sahih, under, "The Descent of `Isa, Son of Maryam," Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَيُوشِكَنَّ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِيكُمُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ حَكَمًا عَدْلاًا فَيَكْسِرَ الصَّلِيبَ وَيَقْتُلَ الْخِنْزِيرَ وَيَضَعَ الْجِزْيَةَ وَيَفِيضَ المَالُ حَتَّى لَاا يَقْبَلَهُ أَحَدٌ حَتَّى تَكُونَ السَّجْدَةُ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا

By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the son of Maryam (`Isa) will shortly descend among you as a just ruler, and will break the cross, kill the pig and abolish the Jizyah. Then there will be an abundance of wealth and nobody will accept charitable gifts any more. At that time, one prostration will be better for them than this life and all that is in it.

Abu Hurayrah then said, "Read if you will,

وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلاَّ لَيُوْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ

وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا

And there is none of the People of the Scripture, but must believe in him, before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he will be a witness against them."

Muslim recorded this Hadith.

So, Allah's statement,

قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ

(before his death),

refers to the death of `Isa, son of Maryam.

Another Hadith by Abu Hurayrah

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

لَيُهِلَّنَّ عِيسَى بِفَجِّ الرَّوْحَاءِ بِالْحَجِّ أَوِ الْعُمْرَةِ أَوْ لَيَثْنِيَنَّهُمَا جَمِيعًا

`Isa will say Ihlal from the mountain highway of Ar-Rawha' for Hajj, Umrah or both.

Muslim also recorded it.

Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet said,

يَنْزِلُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ فَيَقْتُلُ الْخِنْزِيرَ وَيَمْحُو الصَّلِيبَ وَتُجْمَعُ لَهُ الصَّلَةُ وَيُعْطَى الْمَالُ حَتَّى لَا يُقْبَلَ وَيَضَعُ الْخَرَاجَ وَيَنْزِلُ الرَّوْحَاءَ فَيَحُجُّ مِنْهَا أَوْ يَعْتَمِرُ أَوْ يَجْمَعُهُمَا

`Isa, son of Maryam, will descend and will kill the pig, break the cross, lead the prayer in congregation and give away wealth until it is no longer accepted by anyone. He will also abolish the Jizyah and go to Ar-Rawha' from where he will go to perform Hajj, Umrah or both.

Abu Hurayrah then recited,

وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلاَّ لَيُوْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ

(And there is none of the People of the Scripture, but must believe in him, before his death).

Hanzalah said,

"Abu Hurayrah added, `Will believe in `Isa before `Isa dies,' but I do not know if this was a part of the Prophet's Hadith or if it was something that Abu Hurayrah said on his own."

Ibn Abi Hatim also recorded this Hadith.

Another Hadith

Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

كَيْفَ بِكُمْ إِذَا نَزَلَ فِيكُمُ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَإِمَامُكُمْ مِنْكُم

How will you be when Al-Masih, son of Maryam (`Isa) descends among you while your Imam is from among yourselves!

Imam Ahmad and Muslim also recorded this Hadith.

Another Hadith

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet said,

الاَْنْبِيَاءُ إِخْوَةٌ لِعَلَّأتٍ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ شَتَّى وَدِينُهُمْ وَاحِدٌ وَإِنِّي أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ لاَِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ نَبِيٌّ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ

The Prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one. I, more than any of mankind, have more right to `Isa, son of Maryam, for there was no Prophet between him and I.

وَإِنَّهُ نَازِلٌ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَاعْرِفُوهُ رَجُلٌ مَرْبُوعٌ إِلَى الْحُمْرَةِ وَالْبَيَاضِ عَلَيْهِ ثَوْبَانِ مُمَصَّرَانِ كَأَنَّ رَأْسَهُ يَقْطُرُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يُصِبْهُ بَلَلٌ فَيَدُقُّ الصَّلِيبَ وَيَقْتُلُ الْخِنْزِيرَ وَيَضَعُ الْجِزْيَةَ وَيَدْعُو النَّاسَ إِلَى الاْإِسْلَإمِ

He will descend, and if you see him, know him. He is a well-built man, (the color of his skin) between red and white. He will descend while wearing two long, light yellow garments. His head appears to be dripping water, even though no moisture touched it. He will break the cross, kill the pig, and banish the Jizyah and will call the people to Islam.

وَيُهْلِكُ اللهُ فِي زَمَانِهِ الْمِلَلَ كُلَّهَا إِلاَّ الاِْسْلَمَ وَيُهْلِكُ اللهُ فِي زَمَانِهِ الْمَسِيحَ الدَّجَّالَ

During his time, Allah will destroy all religions except Islam and Allah will destroy Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal (the False Messiah).

ثُمَّ تَقَعُ الاَْمَنَةُ عَلَى الاَْرْضِ حَتَّى تَرْتَعَ الاُْسُودُ مَعَ الاِْبِلِ وَالنِّمَارُ مَعَ الْبَقَرِ وَالذِّيَابُ مَعَ الْغَنَمِ وَيَلْعَبُ الصِّبْيَانُ بِالحَيَّاتِ لَا تَضُرُّهُمْ

Safety will then fill the earth, so much so that the lions will mingle with camels, tigers with cattle and wolves with sheep. Children will play with snakes, and they will not harm them.

فَيَمْكُثُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً ثُمَّ يُتَوَفَّى وَيُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِ الْمُسْلِمُون

`Isa will remain for forty years and then will die, and Muslims will offer the funeral prayer for him.

Abu Dawud also recorded it.

Another Hadith

In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah related to the Messenger of Allah that he said,

لَاا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَنْزِلَ الرُّومُ بِالاْاَعْمَاقِ أَوَ بِدَابِقَ

The (Last) Hour will not start until the Romans occupy Al-A`maq or Dabiq.

فَيَخْرُجُ إِلَيْهِمُ جَيْشٌ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ مِنْ خِيَارِ أَهْلِ الاَْرْضِ يَوْمَيِذٍ

An army, comprised of the best of the people of the earth then, will come from Al-Madinah and challenge them.

فَإِذَا تَصَافُّوا قَالَتِ الرُّومُ خَلُّوا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الَّذِينَ سَبَوْا مِنَّا نُقَاتِلْهُمْ

When they camp face to face, the Romans will say, `Let us fight those who captured some of us.'

فَيَقُولُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ لَا وَاللهِ لَا نُخَلِّي بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَانِنَا

The Muslims will say, `Nay! By Allah, we will never let you get to our brothers.'

فَيُقَاتِلُونَهُمْ فَيَنْهَزِمُ ثُلُثٌ لَا يَتُوبُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَبَدًا وَيُقْتَلُ ثُلُثُهُ أَفْضَلُ الشُّهَدَاءِ عِنْدَ اللهِ وَيَفْتَتحُ الثَّلُثُ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ أَبَدًا فَيَفْتَتِحُونَ قُسْطُنْطِينِيَّةَ

They will fight them. A third of the (Muslim) army will flee in defeat, and those are the ones whom Allah will never forgive. Another third will be killed, and those are the best martyrs before Allah. The last third will be victorious, and this third will never be stricken with Fitnah, and they will capture Constantinople (Istanbul).

فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ الْغَنَايِمَ قَدْ عَلَّقُوا سُيُوفَهُمْ بِالزَّيْتُونِ إِذْ صَاحَ فِيهِمُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِنَّ الْمَسِيحَ قَدْ خَلَفَكُمْ فِي أَهْلِيكُمْ

While they are dividing war booty, after hanging their swords on olive trees, Shaytan will shout among them, saying, `Al-Masih(Ad-Dajjal) has cornered your people'.

فَيَخْرُجُونَ وَذَلِكَ بَاطِلٌ

They will leave to meet Ad-Dajjal in Ash-Sham.

فَإِذَا جَاءُوا الشَّامَ خَرَجَ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ يُعِدُّونَ لِلْقِتَالِ يُسَوُّونَ الصُّفُوفَ إِذْ أُقِيَمتِ الصَّلَإةُ فَيَنْزِلُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ فَأَمَّهُمْ

This will be a false warning, and when they reach Ash-Sham, Ad-Dajjal will then appear. When the Muslims are arranging their lines for battle and the prayer is called for, `Isa, son of Maryam, will descend and lead them in prayer.

فَإِذَا رَاهُ عَدُوُّ اللهِ ذَابَ كَمَا يَذُوبُ الْمِلْحُ فِي الْمَاءِ فَلَوْ تَرَكَهُ لَاإنْذَابَ حَتَّى يَهْلِكَ وَلكِنْ يَقْتُلُهُ اللهُ بِيَدِهِ فَيُرِيهِمْ دَمَهُ فِي حَرْبَتِه

When the enemy of Allah (the False Messiah) sees him, he will dissolve just as salt dissolves in water, and if any of him were left, he would continue dissolving until he died. Allah will kill him with the hand of `Isa and will show the Muslims his blood on his spear.

Muslim recorded that;

Abdullah bin `Amr said that the Messenger of Allah said,

لَتُقَاتِلُنَّ الْيَهُودَ فَلَتَقْتُلُنَّهُمْ حَتَى يَقُولَ الْحَجَرُ يَامُسْلِمُ هَذَا يَهُودِيٌّ فَتَعَال فَاقْتُلْه

You will fight the Jews and will kill them, until the stone will say, `O Muslim! There is a Jew here, so come and kill him.'

Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

لَاا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يُقَاتِلَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ الْيَهُودَ فَيَقْتُلُهُمُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ حَتَّى يَخْتَبِىءَ الْيَهُودِيُّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْحَجَرِ وَالشَّجَرِ فَيَقُولُ الْحَجَرُ وَالشَّجَرُ يَامُسْلِمُ يَاعَبْدَاللهِ هَذَا يَهُودِيٌّ خَلْفِي فَتَعَالَ فَاقْتُلْهُ إِلاَّ الْغَرْقَدَ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْ شَجَرِ الْيَهُود

The Hour will not start, until after the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims kill them. The Jew will hide behind a stone or tree, and the tree will say, `O Muslim! O servant of Allah! This is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.' Except Al-Gharqad, for it is a tree of the Jews.

Muslim bin Al-Hajjaj recorded in his Sahih that An-Nawwas bin Sam`an said,

"The Messenger of Allah, mentioned Ad-Dajjal one day and kept belittling him (because being blind, yet claiming to be Allah) and speaking in grave terms about him until we thought that he was hiding in gardens of date-trees (in Al-Madinah). When we went by the Messenger, he sensed this anxiety in us and said,

مَا شَأْنُكُمْ

What is the matter with you?

We said, `O Messenger of Allah! Earlier, you mentioned Ad-Dajjal and while belittling him you spoke gravely about him until we thought that he was hiding in gardens of date-trees (of Al-Madinah).'

He said,

غَيْرُ الدَّجَّالِ أَخْوَفُنِي عَلَيكُمْ إِنْ يخْرُجْ وَأَنَا فِيكُمْ فَأَنَا حَجِيجُهُ دُونَكُمْ وَإِنْ يَخْرُجْ وَلَسْتُ فِيكُمْ فَامْرُوٌ حَجِيجُ نَفْسِهِ واللهُ خَلِيفَتِي عَلى كُلِّ مُسْلمٍ

I fear other than Ad-Dajjal for you! If he appears while I am still among you, I will be his adversary on your behalf. If he appears while I am not among you, each one will depend on himself and Allah will be the Helper of every Muslim after me.

إِنَّهُ شَابٌّ قَطَطٌ عَينُهُ طافِيةٌ كَأَنِّي أُشَبِّهُهُ بِعَبْدِالعُزَّى بْنِ قَطَنٍ

He is young, with very curly hair and his eye is smashed. I thought that he looked like Abdul-Uzza bin Qatan.

مَنْ أَدْرَكَهُ مِنْكُمْ فَلْيَقْرَأ عَلَيْهِ فَوَاتِحَ سُورَةِ الْكَهْفِ إِنَّه خَارِجٌ مِنْ خَلَّةٍ بَيْنَ الشَّامِ والعِرَاقِ فَعَاثَ يَمِينًا وَعَاثَ شِمَالاً يَاعِبَادَ اللهِ فَاثْبُتوا

Whoever lives long and meets Ad-Dajjal, then let him recite the beginnings of Surah Al-Kahf. He will appear on a pass between Ash-Sham (Syria) and Al-Iraq. He will wreak havoc to the right and left. O Servants of Allah! Hold fast.

We said, `O Messenger of Allah! How long will he stay on earth?'

He said,

أَرْبَعُونَ يَوْمًا يَومٌ كَسَنَةٍ وَيَوْمٌ كَشَهْرٍ وَيَوْمٌ كَجُمُعَةٍ وَسَايِرُ أَيَّامِهِ كَأَيَّامِكُم

Forty days:One day as long as a year, one day as long as a month and one day as long as a week. The rest of his days will be as long as one of your ordinary days.

We said, `O Messenger of Allah! As for the day that is like a year, will the prayers of one day suffice for it!'

He said,

لَاا اقْدُرُوا لَهُ قَدْرَه

No. Count for its due measure.

We said, `O Messenger of Allah, how will his speed be on earth?'

He said,

كَالْغَيْثِ اسْتَدْبَرَتْهُ الرِّيحُ فَيَأْتِي عَلى قَوْمٍ فَيَدْعُوهُمْ فَيُوْمِنُون بِهِ وَيَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُ

(Like the storm when driven by the wind. He will come to a people and will call them (to his worship), and they will believe in him and accept his call.

فَيَأْمُرُ السَّمَاءَ فَتُمْطِرُ وَالَارْضَ فَتُنْبِتُ فَتَرُوحُ عَلَيْهِمْ سَارِحَتُهُمْ أَطْوَلَ مَا كَانَتْ ذُرًى وَأَسْبَغَهُ ضُرُوعًا وَأَمَدَّهُ خَوَاصِرَ

He will order the sky and it will rain, the land and it will grow (vegetation). Their cattle will return to them with their hair the longest, their udders the fullest (with milk) and their stomachs the fattest.

ثُمَّ يَأْتِي الْقَوْمَ فَيَدْعُوهُمْ فَيَرُدُّونَ عَلَيْهِ قَوْلَهُ فَيَنْصَرِفُ عَنْهُمْ فَيُصْبِحُونَ مُمْحِلِينَ لَيْسَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ شَيْءٌ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَيَمُرُّ بِالْخَرِبَةِ فَيَقُولُ لَهَا أَخْرِجِي كُنُوزَكِ فَتَتْبَعُهُ كُنُوزُهَا كَيعَاسِيبِ النَّحْلِ

He will come to a different people and will call them (to his worship), and they will reject his call. He will then leave them. They will wake up in the morning destitute, missing all of their possessions. He will pass by a deserted land and will say to it, `Bring out your treasures', and its treasures will follow him just like swarms of bees.

ثُمَّ يَدْعُو رَجُلً مُمْتَلِيًا شَبَابًا فَيَضْرِبُهُ بِالسَّيْفِ فَيَقْطَعُهُ جِزْلَتَيْنِ رَمْيَةَ الْغَرَضِ ثُمَّ يَدْعُوهُ فَيُقْبِلُ وَيَتَهَلَّلُ وَجْهُهُ وَيَضْحَكُ

He will summon a man full of youth and will strike him with the sword once and will cut him into two pieces (and will separate between them like) the distance (between the hunter and) the game. He will call the dead man and he will come, and his face will radiant with pleasure and laughter.

فَبَيْنَما هُوَ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ بَعَثَ اللهُ الْمَسِيَح ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَمُ فَيَنْزِلُ عِنْدَ المَنَارَةِ البَيْضَاءِ شَرْقِيَّ دِمَشْقَ بَيْنَ مَهْرُودَتَيْنِ وَاضِعًا كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى أَجْنِحَةِ مَلَكَيْنِ إِذَا طَأْطَأَ رَأْسَهُ قَطَرَ وَإذَا رَفَعَهُ تَحَدَّرَ مِنْهُ جُمَانٌ كَاللُّوْلُوِ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لِكَافِرٍ يَجِدُ رِيحَ نَفَسِهِ إِلاَّ مَاتَ وَنَفَسُهُ يَنْتَهِي حَيْثُ يَنْتَهِي طَرَفُهُ

Afterwards (while all this is happening with Ad-Dajjal), Allah will send Al-Masih (`Isa), son of Maryam down. He will descend close to the white minaret to the east of Damascus. He will be wearing garments lightly colored with saffron and his hands will be placed on the wings of two angels. Whenever he lowers his head droplets fall. Whenever he raises his head, precious stones that look like pearls fall. No disbeliever can survive `Isa's breath, which reaches the distance of his sight.

فَيَطْلُبُهُ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَهُ بِبَابِ لُدَ فَيَقْتُلُهُ

He will pursue Ad-Dajjal and will follow him to the doors of (the Palestinian city of) Ludd where he will kill him.

ثُمَّ يَأْتِي عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَمُ قَوْمًا قَدْ عَصَمَهُمُ اللهُ مِنْهُ فَيَمْسَحُ عَنْ وُجُوهِهِمْ وَيُحَدِّثُهُمْ بدَرَجَاتِهِمْ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ أَوْحَى اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَى عِيسَى إِنِّي قَدْ أَخْرَجْتُ عِبَادًا لِي لَا يَدَانِ لاَِحَدٍ بِقِتَالِهِمْ فَحَرِّزْ عِبَادِي إِلَى الطُّورِ

A group of people who, by Allah's help, resisted and survived Ad-Dajjal, will pass by `Isa and he will anoint their faces and inform them about their grades in Paradise. Shortly afterwards, while this is happening with `Isa, Allah will reveal to him, `I raised a people of My creation that no one can fight. Therefore, gather My servants to At-Tur (the mountain of Musa in Sinai).'

ويَبْعَثُ اللهُ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ وَهُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنْسِلُونَ فَيَمُرُّ أَوَّلُهُمْ عَلَى بُحَيْرَةِ طَبَرِيَّةَ فَيَشْرَبُونَ مَا فِيهَا وَيَمُرُّ اخِرُهُمْ فَيقُولُونَ لَقَدْ كَانَ بِهذِهِ مَرَّةً مَاءٌ

Then, Allah will raise Gog and Magog and they will swiftly swarm from every mound. Their front forces will reach Lake Tabariah (Sea of Galilee) and will drink all its water. The last of their forces will say as they pass by the lake, `This lake once had water!'

ويُحْصَرُ نَبِيُّ اللهِ عِيسَى وَأَصْحَابُهُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ رَأْسُ الثَّورِ لاَِحَدِهِمْ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مِايَةِ دِينَارٍ لاَِحَدِكُمُ الْيَوْمَ فَيَرْغَبُ نَبِيُّ اللهِ عِيسَى وَأَصْحَابُهُ فَيُرسِلُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمُ النَّغَفَ فِي رِقَابِهِمْ فَيُصْبِحُونَ فَرْسَى كَمَوْتِ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ

Meanwhile, `Isa, Allah's Prophet, will be cornered along with his companions until the head of a bull will be more precious to them than a hundred Dinars to you today. `Isa, Allah's Prophet, and his companions will invoke Allah for help and Allah will send An-Naghaf (a worm) into the necks of Gog and Magog! The morning will come, and they will all be dead as if it was the death of one soul.

ثُمَّ يَهْبِطُ نَبِيُّ اللهِ عِيسَى وَأَصْحَابُهُ إِلَى الاَْرْضِ فَلَ يَجِدُونَ فِي الاَْرْضِ مَوْضِعَ شِبْرٍ إِلاَّ مَلََهُ زَهَمُهُمْ ونَتْنُهُمْ

Afterwards, `Isa, the Prophet of Allah, will come down with his companions to the low grounds (from Mount At-Tur). They will find that no space of a hand-span on the earth was free of their fat and rot (rotten corpses).

فَيَرْغَبُ نَبِيُّ اللهِ عِيسَى وَأَصْحَابُهُ إِلَى اللهِ فَيُرْسِلُ اللهُ طَيْرًا كَأَعْنَاقِ الْبُخْتِ فَتَحْمِلُهُمْ فَتَطْرَحُهُمْ حَيْثَ شَاءَ اللهُ

`Isa, the Prophet of Allah, and his companions will seek Allah in supplication. Allah will send birds as large as the necks of camels. They will carry them (the corpses of Gog and Magog) and will throw them wherever Allah wills.

ثُمَّ يُرْسِلُ اللهُ مَطَرًا لَا يَكُنُّ مِنْهُ بَيْتُ مَدَرٍ وَلَا وَبَرٍ فَيَغْسِلُ الاَْرْضَ حَتَّى يَتْرُكَهَا كَالزَّلَفَةِ

Afterwards, Allah will send rain that no house made of mud or animal hair will be saved from, and it will cleanse the earth until it is as clean as a mirror.

ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لِلَْرْضِ أَخْرِجِي ثَمَرَكِ وَرُدِّي بَرَكَتَكِ

The earth will be commanded (by Allah), `Produce your fruits and regain your blessing.'

فَيَوْمَيِذٍ تَأْكُلُ الْعِصَابَةُ مِنَ الرُّمَّانَةِ وَيَسْتَظِلُّونَ بِقِحْفِهَا وَيُبَارِكُ اللهُ فِي الرِّسْلِ حَتَّى إِنَّ اللِّقْحَةَ مِنَ الاِْبِلِ لَتَكْفِي الفِيَامَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَاللُّقْمَةَ مِنَ الْفَمِ لَتَكْفِي الْفَخِذَ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَبَيْنَما هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ بَعَثَ اللهُ رِيحًا طَيِّبَةً فَتَأْخُذُهُمْ تَحْتَ ابَاطِهِمْ فَتَقْبِضُ رُوحَ كُلِّ مُوْمِنٍ وَكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ

Then, the group will eat from a pomegranate and will take shelter under the shade of its skin. Milk will be blessed, so much so that the milk-producing camel will yield large amounts that suffice for a large group of people. Meanwhile, Allah will send a pure wind that will overcome Muslims from under their arms and will take the soul of every believer and Muslim.

وَيَبْقَى شِرَارُ النَّاسِ يَتَهَارَجُونَ فِيهَا تَهَارُجَ الْحُمُرِ فَعَلَيْهِمْ تَقُومُ السَّاعَة

Only the evildoers among people will remain. They will indulge in shameless public sex like that of donkeys. On them, the Hour will begin.

Imam Ahmad and the collectors of the Sunan also recorded this Hadith.

We will mention this Hadith again using the chain of narration collected by Ahmad explaining Allah's statement in Surah Al-Anbiya

حَتَّى إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ

(Until, when Ya`juj and Ma`juj (Gog and Magog people) are let loose (from their barrier)). (21;96)

In our time, in the year seven hundred and forty-one, a white minaret was built in the Umayyad Masjid (in Damascus) made of stone, in place of the minaret that was destroyed by a fire which the Christians were suspected to have started. May Allah's continued curses descend on the Christians until the Day of Resurrection. There is a strong feeling that this minaret is the one that `Isa will descend on, according to this Hadith.

Another Hadith

Muslim recorded in his Sahih that Yaqub bin Asim bin Urwah bin Mas`ud Ath-Thaqafi said,

"I heard Abdullah bin `Amr saying to a man who asked him, `What is this Hadith that you are narrating You claim that the Hour will start on such and such date.'

He said, `Subhan Allah (glory be to Allah),' or he said, `There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.' I almost decided to never narrate anything to anyone. I only said, "Soon, you will witness tremendous incidents, the House (the Ka`bah) will be destroyed by fire, and such and such things will occur."

He then said, `The Messenger of Allah said,

يَخْرُجُ الدَّجَّالُ فِي أُمَّتِي فَيَمْكُثُ أَرْبَعِينَ لَا أَدْرِي أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ شَهْرًا أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ عَامًا

Ad-Dajjal will appear in my nation and will remain for forty. (The narrator doubts whether it is forty days, months, or years).

فَيَبْعَثُ اللهُ تَعَالى عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ كَأَنَّهُ عُرْوَةُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ فَيَطْلُبُهُ فَيُهْلِكُهُ ثُمَّ يَمْكُثُ النَّاسُ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ لَيْسَ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ عَدَاوَةٌ

Then, Allah will send down `Isa, son of Maryam, looking just like Urwah bin Mas`ud and he will seek Ad-Dajjal and will kill him. People will remain for seven years with no enmity between any two.

ثُمَّ يُرْسِلُ اللهُ ريحًا بَارِدَةً مِنْ قِبَلِ الشَّامِ فَلَ يَبْقَى عَلَى وَجْهِ الاَْرْضِ أَحَدٌ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ خَيْرٍ أَوْ إِيمَانٍ إِلاَّ قَبَضَتْهُ حَتَّى لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ دَخَلَ فِي كَبِدِ جَبَلٍ لَدَخَلَتْه عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى تَقْبِضَه

Allah will send a cool wind from As-Sham that will leave no man on the face of the earth who has even the weight of an atom of good or faith, but will capture (his soul). Even if one of you takes refuge in the middle of a mountain, it will find him and capture (his soul).

فَيَبْقَى شِرَارُ النَّاسِ فِي خِفَّةِ الطَّيْرِ وَأَحْلَمِ السِّبَاعِ لَا يَعْرِفُونَ مَعْرُوفًا وَلَا يُنْكِرُون مُنْكرًا فَيَتمَثَّلُ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَيَقُولُ أَلَا تَسْتَجِيبُونَ

Afterwards, only the most evil people will remain. They will be as light as birds, with the comprehension of beasts. They will not know or enjoin righteousness or forbid or know evil. Shaytan will appear to them and will say to them, `Would you follow me.'

فَيَقُولُونَ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا

They will say, `What do you command us?'

فَيَأْمُرُهُمْ بِعِبَادَةِ الاَْوْثَانِ وَهُمْ فِي ذلِكَ دَارٌّ رِزْقُهُمْ حَسَنٌ عَيْشُهُمْ ثُمَّ يُنْفَخُ فِي الصُّورِ فَلَ يَسْمَعُهُ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ أَصْغَى لِيتًا وَرَفَعَ لِيتًا

He will command them to worship the idols. Meanwhile, their provision will come to them in abundance and their life will be good. Then the Trumpet will be blown and every person who hears it, will lower one side of his head and raise the other side (trying to hear that distant sound).

قَالَ وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ يَسْمَعُهُ رَجُلٌ يَلُوطُ حَوْضَ إِبِلِهِ قَالَ فَيَصْعَقُ وَيَصْعَقُ النَّاسُ ثُمَّ يُرْسِلُ اللهُ أَوْ قَالَ يُنْزِلُ اللهُ مَطَرًا كَأَنَّهُ الطَّلُّ أَوْ قَالَ الظِّلُّ نُعْمَانُ الشَّاكُّ فَتَنْبُتُ مِنْهُ أَجْسَادُ النَّاسِ

The first man who will hear the Trumpet is someone who is preparing the water pool for his camels, and he and the people will swoon away. Allah will send down heavy rain and the bodies of people will grow with it.

ثُمَّ يُنَفَخُ فِيهِ أُخْرَى فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنْظُرُونَ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ هَلُمُّوا إِلى رَبِّكُم

The Trumpet will be blown in again and the people will be resurrected and looking all about, staring. It will be said to them, `O people! Come to your Lord,'

وَقِفُوهُمْ إِنَّهُم مَّسْيُولُونَ

But stop them, verily, they are to be questioned. (37:24)

ثم يقال أخرجوا بعث النار فيقال من كم

It will then be said, `Bring forth the share of the Fire.' It will be asked, `How many?'

فيقال من كل ألف تسعماية وتسعة وتسعين

It will be said, `From every one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine.'

قال فذلك يوم

That Day is when,

يَوْمًا يَجْعَلُ الْوِلْدَانَ شِيبًا

the children will turn grey-headed, (73:17)

and,

يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ

The Day when the Shin shall be laid bare). (68:42)"

The Description of `Isa, upon him be Peace

As mentioned earlier, Abdur-Rahman bin Adam narrated that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet said,

فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَاعْرِفُوهُ رَجُلٌ مَرْبُوعٌ إِلَى الْحُمْرَةٍ وَالْبَيَاضِ عَلَيْهِ ثَوْبَانِ مُمَصَّرَانِ كَأَنَّ رَأْسَهُ يَقْطُرُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يُصِبْهُ بَلَل

If you see `Isa, know him. He is a well-built man, (the color of his skin) between red and white. He will descend while wearing light yellow garments. His head looks like it is dripping water, even though no moisture touched it.

In the Hadith that An-Nawwas bin Sam`an narrated,

فَيَنْزِلُ عِنْدَ الْمَنَارَةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ شَرْقِيَّ دِمَشْقَ بَيْنَ مَهْرُودَتَيْنِ وَاضِعًا كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى أَجْنِحَةِ مَلَكَيْنِ إِذَا طَأْطَأَ رَأْسَهُ قَطَرَ وَإِذَا رَفَعهُ تَحَدَّرَ مِنْهُ مِثْلُ جُمَانِ اللُّوْلُو لَا يَحِلُّ لِكَافِرٍ يَجِدُ رِيحَ نَفَسِهِ إِلاَّ مَاتَ وَنَفَسُهُ يَنْتَهِي حَيْثُ يَنْتَهِي طَرَفُه

He will descend close to the white minaret to the east of Damascus. He will be wearing two garments lightly colored with saffron, having his hands on the wings of two angels. Whenever he lowers his head, drops will fall off of it. Whenever he raises his head, precious jewels like pearls will fall off of it. No disbeliever can survive `Isa's breath, and his breath reaches the distance of his sight.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي لَقِيتُ مُوسَى

I met Musa on the night of my Ascension to heaven.

The Prophet then described him saying, as I think,

مُضْطَرِبٌ رَجِلُ الرَّأْسِ كَأَنَّهُ مِنْ رِجَالِ شَنُوءَة

He was a tall person with hair as if he was one of the men from the tribe of Shanu'ah.

The Prophet further said,

وَلقِيتُ عِيسَى

`I met `Isa.'

The Prophet described him saying,

رَبْعَةٌ أَحْمَرُ كَأَنَّهُ خَرَجَ مِنْ دِيمَاس

`He was of moderate height and was red-faced as if he had just come out of a bathroom.

وَرَأَيْتُ إبْرَاهِيمَ وَأَنا أَشْبَهُ وَلَدِهِ بِه

I saw Ibrahim whom I resembled more than any of his children did.'

Al-Bukhari recorded that Mujahid said that Ibn Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,

رَأَيْتُ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ

I saw Musa, `Isa and Ibrahim.

فَأَمَّا عِيسَى فَأَحْمَرُ جَعْدٌ عَرِيضُ الصَّدْرِ وَأَمَّا مُوسَى فَأدَمُ جَسِيمٌ سَبْطٌ كَأَنَّهُ مِنْ رِجَالِ الزُّط

`Isa was of red complexion and had curly hair and a broad chest. Musa was of brown complexion and had straight hair and a tall stature, as if he was from the people of Az-Zutt.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded that Ibrahim said that Abdullah bin Umar said,

"The Prophet once mentioned the False Messiah (Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal) to people, saying,

إنَّ اللهَ لَيْسَ بِأَعْوَرَ أَلَا إِنَّ الْمَسِيحَ الدَّجَّالَ أَعْوَرُ الْعَيْنِ الْيُمْنَى كَأَنَّ عَيْنَهُ عِنَبَةٌ طَافِيَة

Allah is not blind in His Eye. Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal is blind in his right eye. His eye is like a protruding grape."

Muslim recorded that the Messenger of Allah said,

وَأرَانِي اللهُ عِنْدَ الْكَعْبَةِ فِي الْمَنَامِ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ ادَمُ كَأَحْسَنِ مَا تَرَى مِنْ أُدْمِ الرِّجَالِ تَضْرِبُ لِمَّتُهُ بَيْن مَنْكِبَيْهِ رَجِلُ الشَّعْرِ يَقْطُرُ رَأْسُهُ مَاءً وَاضِعًا يَدَيْهِ عَلى مَنْكِبَيْ رَجُلَيْنِ وَهُوَ يَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ

In a dream, I was at the Ka`bah and Allah made me see a light - colored man, a color that is as beautiful as a light - colored man could be, with combed hair that reached his shoulders. His hair was dripping water, and he was leaning on the shoulders of two men while circling the Ka`bah.

فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا

I asked, `Who is this man?'

فَقَالُوا هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ

I was told, `This is the Al-Masih, son of Maryam.'

ثُمَّ رَأَيْتُ وَرَاءَهُ رَجُلً جَعْدًا قَطِطًا أَعْوَرَ الْعَيْنِ الْيُمْنَى كَأَشْبَهِ مَنْ رَأَيْتُ بِابْنِ قَطَنٍ وَاضِعًا يَدَيْهِ عَلى مَنْكِبَي رَجُلٍ يَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ

Behind him, I saw a man with very curly hair who was blind in his right eye. He looked exactly as Ibn Qatan, and he was leaning on the shoulder of a man while circling the House.

فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا

I asked, `Who is this man?'

قَالُوا الْمَسِيحُ الدَّجَّال

I was told, `He is Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal.'

Al-Bukhari recorded that Salim said that his father said,

"No, By Allah! The Prophet did not say that `Isa was of red complexion but said,

بَيْنَمَا أَنَا نَايِمٌ أَطُوفُ بِالْكَعْبَةِ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ ادَمُ سَبْطُ الشَّعْرِ يَتَهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ يَنْطُفُ رَأْسُهُ مَاءً أَوْ يُهَرَاقُ رَأْسُهُ مَاءً

While I was asleep circumambulating the Ka`bah (in my dream), I suddenly saw a man of brown complexion and ample hair walking between two men with water dripping from his head.

فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا

I asked, `Who is this?'

فَقَالُوا ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ

The people said, `He is the son of Maryam.'

فَذَهَبْتُ أَلْتَفِتُ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ أَحْمَرُ جَسِيمٌ جَعْدُ الرَّاْسِ أَعْوَرُ عَيْنِهِ الْيُمْنَى كَأَنَّ عَيْنَهُ عِنَبَةٌ طَافِيَةٌ

Then I looked behind and I saw a red-complexioned, fat, curly-haired man, blind in the right eye, which looked like a bulging out grape.

قُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا

I asked, `Who is this?'

قَالُو الدَّجَّالُ

They replied, `He is Ad-Dajjal.'

وَأَقْرَبُ النَّاسِ بِهِ شَبَهًا ابْنُ قَطَن

The person he most resembled is Ibn Qatan."

Az-Zuhri commented that Ibn Qatan was a man from the tribe of Khuza`ah who died during the time of Jahiliyyah.

This is the wording of Al-Bukhari.

Allah's statement,

وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا

And on the Day of Resurrection, he (`Isa) will be a witness against them.

Qatadah said,

"He will bear witness before them that he has delivered the Message from Allah and that he is but a servant of His."

In a similar statement in the end of Surah Al-Ma'idah,

وَإِذْ قَالَ اللّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنتَ قُلتَ لِلنَّاسِ

And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection):"O `Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men..." (5:116) until,

أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

(Almighty, the All-Wise). (5;118)