The Return of Jesus: An Academic Reflection 8th November, 2016

EPIGRAPH: Qur’an (4:157-158): 
(Estimated reading time: 9 minutes)

“…and because of their claim: “We have killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of God.”– even though neither did they kill him nor did they crucify him; in fact, the matter was muddled up for them. Those who are disagreeing in this are afflicted with doubts about it; they have no knowledge about it; they are only following conjectures. They certainly did not slay him; in fact, God had lifted him up to Him. And God is Mighty, very Wise.” 

The Qur'an in Surah Maryam (Chapter 19) first details the miraculous birth of Prophet Yahya (John, peace be upon him) and concludes the passage in verse 15 with the divine proclamation: "And peace be upon him the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he is raised alive."

The same chapter narrates the birth and speech of Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him), culminating in verse 33, where Jesus himself echoes the same divine pattern: "And peace is upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive."

The identical linguistic structure used for both prophets indicates that both are being described in terms of their complete, divinely ordained life spans — from birth to death to resurrection. If one were to assert a return for Jesus (Isa), one would also need to propose a similar return for Yahya (John), who, according to Islamic tradition, has no prophesied second advent. The verse, therefore, suggests a completeness and finality in the life cycle of Jesus, as affirmed by the Qur'an.

Further, in Surah al-Maida (5:116-117), the Qur'an recounts a conversation between God and Jesus in the Hereafter, where God asks: “Did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as gods besides Allah?’”

To which Jesus responds:

“Never did I say to them anything except what You commanded me to — worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them while I dwelt among them; but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are Witness to all things.”

This passage clearly shows that Jesus denies knowledge of events that occurred after he was “taken up” indicating that he did not return to earth following his ascension. If he were to return before the end time, he would logically be aware of the people’s misattribution of divinity to him, which contradicts his statement.

God mentions in the Qur’an (3:55) that He shall protect Jesus from any harm and will lift him to Him after giving him death: “At that time when God said: “Jesus, I have decided to give you death and lift you up to Myself and I shall purify you from these who have disbelieved in you and shall grant your followers supremacy over these disbelievers until the Day of Judgement. Then to Me finally you shall all have to return. So, at that time, I shall give verdict on what you have been differing in.”

Regarding the anticipated figure of al-Dajjal, Islamic tradition describes him as the "False Messiah" or "The Great Deceiver." The word Dajjal means a “Deceiver”, “Impostor”, or “One who covers the truth with falsehood.” The Root Word comes from the Arabic root word: د-ج-ل (D-J-L). The verb dajala means: “To smear,” “to cover,” or “to coat with gold or varnish,” especially to cover something false with an appearance of truth.

In classical Arabic, dajl was used to describe someone who falsifies, tricks, or covers reality with lies. For example, a camel might be called mudajjal if its skin is covered with tar to conceal defects.

So, "al-Masiḥ al-Dajjal" literally means: “The False Messiah who deceives or obscures the truth.” This linguistic root ties perfectly into the Islamic portrayal of Dajjal as someone who pretends to be divine, performs false miracles, and misleads people into believing he is the true messiah.

Narrated Abu Hurayrah:The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said:

"The Last Hour will not come until ten signs appear: a landslide in the East, a landslide in the West, and a landslide in the Arabian Peninsula; the Smoke; the Dajjal; the Beast of the Earth; Gog and Magog; the rising of the sun from the west; and a fire that will emerge from the depths of Aden, driving people to their place of assembly."

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 7286) 

This is an adjective meaning “a great deceiver”. It has also been referred to as ‘al-masih al-dajjal’. The implication is that before the Day of Judgement, a person will falsely claim to be Jesus (sws) and, while making use of the notion of the return of Jesus (sws) found in Muslims, Jews and Christians, will deceive people through some of his magical powers. It is mentioned in some narratives that he would be blind in one eye and his deception would be so evident to the believers that it would be as if they would see disbelief written on his forehead. I am quoting this Hadith both from Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Al Muslim:

Narrated Anas:The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said:

"No prophet was sent but that he warned his followers against the one-eyed liar (Ad-Dajjal). Beware! He is blind in one eye, and your Lord is not so, and there will be written between his (Ad-Dajjal's) eyes (the word) Kafir (i.e., disbeliever)."

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 7131)

Narrated Hudhaifa ibn al-Yaman:

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

"The Dajjal will be blind in one eye, and between his eyes will be written 'Kafir' (disbeliever), which every believer will be able to read, whether literate or illiterate."

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 7375)

The Qur'an, however, does not mention Dajjal directly. These narratives arise from Hadith literature. As students of the Qur'an, it is crucial to approach such texts critically and always in light of the Qur’an, which is described by Allah as the Furqan (the criterion between right and wrong), the Meezan (the scale of justice), and the Muhaimin (the guardian and protector of all other revelations).

The Qur'an talks about the personality of Jesus (peace be upon him) from many angles. It mentions his mission of preaching and gives details about his life in several places. The Qur'an also often speaks about the major events of the Day of Judgment. The return of such an important prophet from the heavens would be a huge event. Yet, despite many chances to mention it, the Qur'an does not refer to this event even once. This silence raises an important question: can human understanding be truly satisfied with such an omission? It’s difficult to accept.

Thus, any external source — Hadith or otherwise — must be subordinate to the Qur'an and measured against its clear directives. The Qur'an remains the supreme authority in all religious matters.

Lastly, there is a pressing need for introspection among the Muslim ummah. Our current decline — morally, socially, and politically — cannot be rectified by speculative eschatological hopes alone. The romanticization of an apocalyptic triumph through the emergence of al-Mahdi, the return of Jesus, or a decisive war is not only theologically ungrounded but also reflects a form of escapism. Islam calls for moral action, conscious faith, and personal accountability, here and now.

The Qur'an repeatedly reminds us that salvation lies in our conscious relationship with God, not in identity, sect, or ancestral legacy.

Aamir Yazdani
MPhil Islamic Studies (Pakistan)
MSc Irrigation Engineering (UK)

 

Sunnah of the Prophet (sws) & Hadith are two separate Entities 20th December, 2106

Reply to an elder respected Lady:

I am sure you do not relate to this statement!!! How can our prophet utter this statement and degrade the good sense of women folk; especially in the capacity of a wife?!! The Qur'an is very clear in its judgment. It says Allah has created men and women equal barring their obvious physical differences. Furthermore, Allah says He has provided a level playing field to men and women in piety, doing good deeds, etc. 

The Prophet has said the best amongst us is the one who is the best with his wife!! How can this statement be correlated with the above-posted statement of our dear prophet? The wife's advice is as valuable as the husband's. Both go hand in hand. With the highest regard to you, Nazo Baji let me please submit humbly, that all hadiths are to be adjudged in the light of the Qur'an and prophets Sunnah and not vice versa. 

Prophet Sunnah is NOT Hadith. Sunnah is the act of a prophet within the confines of religion. Hence, his travelling mode like a mule/donkey/horse is NOT religion. His attire was an Arab cultural attire. Hence, it is not religion. His miswaak (wooden branch used as a toothbrush) is NOT a religion. It was the custom then. Cleanliness is Sunnah and a religious desire. Not the twig miswaak. We have toothbrushes now. 

Sunnah is only the acts that the Prophet (sws) did as religion and further asked his companion to adopt them. Hadith is ONLY the Prophet's (sws) narrations subservient to the Qur'an and does not inherently add anything to religion. 

The religion of Islam is Allah's Qur'an and the Prophet's (sws) Sunnah. In fact, it is in the reverse order. First, the Prophet's (sws) Sunnah is based on Prophet Ibrahim's Sunnah. Prophet Ibrahim was 2000 before prophet Muhammad (saw) and then the Qur'an. 

Allah is very touchy, if I may use this term, in having His religion presented through His Qur'an. And if Hadith is to be quoted then the Hadith has to follow Qur'an's dictates. It can never ever contradict Allah's Qur'an and the prophet's Sunnah. 

Prophet Muhammad, may Allah's blessings be showered on him, was the most loving, caring husband among us all.

Plucking Qur'an Verses sans Reference to the Context 3rd November, 2016

This classic case of plucking Qur'an verses from thin air and quoting WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE CONTEXT:

1). Lahore witnessed unfortunate children's kidnappings recently. People started sharing Qur'an verses. Those verses specifically address the unbelievers around the Prophet at that particular time; who were knowingly rejecting the Prophet's call to God. Through His Divine revelation, God informed of such people, since God only knows the matters of the hearts of people. The Prophets or angel Gabriel even do not have access to the matters of the heart. 

It is in such a situation where the first addressees of the Prophet deny the Truth 'Knowingly', 'Willingly', 'Deliberately' does God declare:

Qur'an (36:9): "And We have put before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and covered them, so they do not see". 

2). Our Lahore city experienced SMOG the whole day yesterday. It was unprecedented. People started sharing Qur'an verses. These verses relate to the events unfolding at the advent of the Hereafter. It has no relevance with SMOG:

Qur'an (44:10-11): "Then watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke. Covering the people; this is a painful torment". 

When we start quoting the Qur'an WITHOUT ITS REFERENCE TO CONTEXT and place them in isolation then we are bound to correlate unrelated things to it.

Aamir Yazdani

Cartoon Contest (on Prophet Muhammad) in the USA 21st October, 2016

Dear Mr. Editor,

Following are my views on the recent cartoon contest in USA, for your kind perusal for the Letters to the Editor section. 

Regards, 

CARTOON CONTEST IN USA

From the time we wake up till the time we go back to sleep, all our activities around the globe have a context. 

It follows then that to understand human actions and reactions we should see them in their proper context and not in isolation. We cannot merely pluck a singular human action out of thin air, then scrutinize and analyze it. We wouldn't be more mistaken and wrong in doing so. 

An American section of society recently held a cartoon contest on our Holy Prophet. If we see this in context, things will fall in the right place. This particular group has hatred towards Islam built on the actions of Muslims spreading terrorism around the globe. They find this version of Islam quite sickening, threatening their way of life. They have found this contest as a way of venting and expressing their stance. 

Similarly, it needs to be understood that the Muslim section of society around the world, spreading terrorism, does not represent Muslim thoughts around the globe. Hence, these factions are mercenaries at best owned by no one and disregarded by civilized people around the world. 

These are the occasions where we should raise the correct perspective of Islam peacefully for the frustrated people to understand. 

AAMIR I. YAZDANI

Reply to a Young Mother 23rd September, 2016

Reply to a young mother:

Meher Bano koi aisi baat nahin hai meray khayal mein. (Mehr Bano I wouldn't agree with your statement).

You are a complete woman in your own person. What does a woman want innately? A family (same as a man), a loving spouse (same as a man, in your case), good education (same as a man), children (same as a man), home with warmth (same as a man). 

These bounties of life are not enslavements. They are the cherished highlights of every couple on earth. Visit any corner of the earth. Man, Woman, Children, Home, Education - these are the cherished fruits of life every soul endears. 

I find the above statement quite naive. It only wants to portray women as a slave. This is not slavery. This is the very essence of life Meher Bano!

And God has bestowed you with all these gifts here. Cherish it. Relish it. Remain grateful to Him.