In the chaos and darkness that will accompany the reign of the Dajjal, the believers will be pushed to the brink of despair. Their numbers will dwindle. Their enemies will multiply. And then, at the moment of greatest need, a figure will descend from the heavens. Isa ibn Maryam — Jesus, the son of Mary — will return. According to the hadiths, Jesus will descend near the white minaret east of Damascus. He will be wearing two yellow garments, his hands resting on the wings of two angels. When he lowers his head, drops of water will fall from his hair — as if he has just emerged from a bath. He will join the Muslim army led by the Imam Mahdi. At the time of the dawn prayer, the Mahdi will ask Jesus to lead the prayer, but Jesus will refuse: "You are the imam of your people. This is an honor God has given to this Ummah." Jesus will pray behind the Mahdi — an act that demonstrates the continuity of the prophetic message. Then, Jesus will go forth to confront the Dajjal. At the sight of him, the false messiah will begin to dissolve "like salt in water." Jesus will kill him at the Gate of Ludd. He will then break the cross — a symbolic act that abolishes the deification of himself — and abolish the jizya (the tax on non-Muslims under Islamic rule). He will rule as a just judge, upholding the law of the Quran. He will live for 40 years, marry, and die a natural death. He will be buried in Medina, next to the Prophet Muhammad. His return is the central event of Islamic eschatology — the moment when truth finally and totally defeats falsehood.
Summary: The return of Jesus (Isa) is a major sign of the Hour in Islam. He will descend near the white minaret east of Damascus. He will pray behind the Mahdi. He will kill the Dajjal at the Gate of Ludd. He will break the cross (abolishing his deification), abolish the jizya, and rule according to the Quran. During his reign, Gog and Magog will be released, and Jesus will retreat to Mount Sinai with the believers. They will be saved, and Gog and Magog will be destroyed. Jesus will live for 40 years, die, and be buried in Medina alongside the Prophet Muhammad. His return is a core tenet of Islamic belief.
🇸🇾 The White Minaret
The hadith of descent is narrated in Sahih Muslim: "By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, the son of Mary will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break the cross, kill the pig, and abolish the jizya. Wealth will flow so abundantly that no one will accept charity." The exact location — "the white minaret east of Damascus" — has been identified by some with the Umayyad Mosque. The dating is uncertain: some hadiths suggest Jesus will descend during the dawn prayer.
The Descent — Jesus at the White Minaret
"The believers will be preparing for the dawn prayer. The Mahdi will be present. A figure will descend from the sky — Jesus, son of Mary. He will refuse to lead the prayer: 'You are the imam of your people.' He will pray behind the Mahdi. Then he will set out in pursuit of the Dajjal."
💀 The Death of Jesus
Jesus will live for 40 years on Earth after his return, according to hadith. He will marry, have children, and die a natural death. His funeral prayer will be led by the Muslims. He will be buried in the chamber next to the Prophet Muhammad in Medina — the fourth grave in the Rawdah. The Messenger of God said: "I am the nearest of kin to the son of Mary. There is no prophet between me and him. If he were to appear, I would recognize him — a man of medium height, with a ruddy complexion, with long hair. And I would say: this is Jesus, son of Mary."