Don’t you believe in the second coming of Eesaa (A.S) and if “yes”, then why?
Answer
My understanding on the question of return of Eesaa, alaihissalaam, is that it is mentioned in authentic ahadith and not mentioned in Quran. Since the knowledge one gets from ahadith is based on akhbaar-e-ahaad, one person communicating to another, unlike in the case of Quran and sunnah mutawaatirah, the information you get can never be considered completely certain. Therefore, I believe that all Muslim beliefs should originate from Quran. Since sunnah mutawaatirah give us deeds only, they can’t be a source of beliefs.
In my opinion, all future events mentioned in ahadith are likely to happen, depending upon the authenticity of their reports, but since we can’t be sure that the prophet, alaihissalaam, actually mentioned them, we will not call them a part of our faith. After all, if the Almighty wanted us to believe in a few things, He could have mentioned them in the Quran. Don’t forget that in case of authentic ahadith, it is very likely that some of the information that is now available to potentially all Muslims through books of ahadith, was not available to many of the companions of the prophet. This fact can be confirmed from some of the ahadith which tell us, for instance, that Umar, radhiallahu anhu, didn’t know some of the things which he was introduced to by others long after the death of the prophet. How can there be important information of essential faith in such a source of information alone?
The following are the two Quranic passages that describe Eesaa’s, alaihissalaam, last moments on this earth, and what was to follow. They don’t mention anything about his return.
“After reminding him of these favors, Allah will say: ‘O Isa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), Did you ever say to the people, ‘ worship me and my mother as gods beside Allah?’ He will Answer: ‘Glory to You! How could I say what I had no right to say? If I had ever said so, you would have certainly known it. You know what is in my heart, but I know not what is in Yours; for You have full knowledge of all the unseen.I never said anything other than what You commanded me to say, that is to worship Allah, Who is my Rabb and your Rabb. I was a witness over them as long as I remained among them; but when You called me off, You were the Watcher over them and You are a Witness to everything.'” (5: 116-117)
“Allah said: “O Isa (Jesus)! I am going to recall you (from your mission) and raise you up to Myself. I will clean you of those who rejected you and exalt your followers above the unbelievers till the Day of Resurrection; then to Me shall be your return and I shall judge those matters in which you have been disputing.'” (3:55)
One or two other verses which some people present to prove that Quran, mention something that points to the possibility of Eesaa’s return don’t make any direct mention of it at all.
However, many ahadith do so. One hadith, for instance, says this:
“Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, ‘ By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, son of Mary (Jesus) will shortly descend amongst you people (Muslims) as a just ruler and will break the cross and kill the pig and abolish the Jizya (a tax taken from the non-Muslims who are in the protection of the Muslim government). Then there will be abundance of money and nobody will accept charitable gifts.'” (Bukhari)
In view of the above arguments, the return of Eesaa, alaihissalaam, is not a part of my faith, although I fondly look forward to the possibility of its happening. I don’t rule out that possibility, because, after all, it is mentioned in some reliable ahadith.