The previous chapter sheds light on the objections of Javed Ahmed Ghamidi about the concept of the Second Coming of Jesus. These objections arise from the texts of the Noble Qur’an, the principles of understanding hadith, historical facts, and the established norms of knowledge and rationale. These objections prevent the acceptance of the narratives of Second Coming of Jesus and its associated events as definitive, tangible, and testifiable occurrences. Additionally, it is not permissible to attribute the said concept to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The reason is that attributing any unconvincing and dubious matter to the honored person of the Prophet is contrary to religion and faith. Such an act can lead to serious consequences in this world and the hereafter.
The question that arises now is: If Javed Ahmed Ghamidi does not consider the conventional understanding of the descent of Prophet Jesus as attributed to the Prophet (PBUH) to be correct, does he then reject the numerous narratives on this topic? The answer is in the negative. He accepts all the narratives on this subject in principle. However, he interprets them in light of a narration from Sunan Ibn Majah and some other books that is attributed to Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud. This narration clarifies that the mention of the descent of Prophet Jesus and the slaying of the Dajjal was stated by Prophet Jesus (PBUH) himself during the event of Mi‘raj (the Prophet’s ascension to the heavens). According to this narration, during the journey of Isra and Mi‘raj, when the Prophet (PBUH) met with various prophets, the topic of the Day of Judgment was also discussed. At that time, Prophet Jesus (PBUH) mentioned that he would descend before the Day of Judgment and would kill the Dajjal. The narration is as follows:
عن عبد اللّٰه بن مسعود قال لما كان ليلة أسرى برسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه و سلم لقي إبراهيم وموسى وعيسى. فتذاكروا الساعة. فبدأ بإبراهيم. فسألوه عنها. فلم يكن عنده منها علم. ثم سألوا موسى. فلم يكن عنده منها علمق. فرد الحديث إلى عيسى بن مريم. فقال قد عهد إلي فيما دون وجبتها. فأما وجبتها فلا يعلمها إلا اللّٰه.
فذكر خروج الدجال. قال فأنزل فأقتله.فيرجع الناس إلى بلادهم. فيستقبلهم يأجوج ومأجوج وهم من كل حدب ينسلون. فلا يمرون بماء إلا شربوه. ولا بشيء إلا أفسدوه.
فيجأرون إلي اللّٰه. فأدعو اللّٰه أن يميتهم. فتنتن الأرض من ريهم. فيجأرون إلى اللّٰه. فأدعو اللّٰه. فيرسل السماء بالماء. فيحملهم في البحر.
ثم تنسف الجبال وتمد الأرض مد الأديم.
فعهد إلي متى كان ذلك كانت الساعة من الناس. كالحامل التي لا تدري أهلها متى تفجؤهم بولادتها.
Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud reported that on the night when the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was taken on the Isra (the Night Journey), he also met Prophets Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them). They discussed the Hour (Judgment Day). First, they asked prophet Abraham, but he did not have knowledge thereof. Then they asked Moses who also knew not thereof. Then they turned to Jesus who said, ‘I have been informed about the events leading to the occurrence of the Day of Judgement, but as for the exact time of its occurrence, only Allah knows.’
(He) then mentioned the emergence of the Dajjal and said, ‘I will descend and kill him.’
Then, people will return to their lands, and they will be confronted by Gog and Magog, who will emerge from every high place. They will not pass by water without drinking it, and they will not pass by anything without spoiling it.
The people will then plead to Allah, and I will pray to Allah to destroy them. (Then they will be destroyed.) The earth will be filled with their stench. Again, the people will plead to Allah, and I will pray to Allah. He will then send down rain from the sky, which will carry them and throw them into the sea.
The mountains will turn to dust and the earth will be stretched out like a hide.
I have been promised that when this happens, the Day of Judgment will be as close as a pregnant woman whose family does not know when she will suddenly give birth[69]. (Ibn Majah, No. 4081)
According to Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, this narrative resolves the ambiguities and objections related to the hadith reports associated with the Second Coming of Jesus. If this narrative is considered the basis and other narrations as its branches, then the narratives about the Second Coming of Jesus, the emergence of the Dajjal, the exodus of Gog and Magog, and all the narrations of the signs of Judgment Day align consistently and harmoniously, making it plausible for scholars to accept them.
It requires a detailed book to answer questions such as how this narrative holds the position of the basis, how other narrations are subordinate to it, and especially what could be the possible intent and subject matter of the descent of Prophet Jesus (PBUH). Here, a few points will be presented briefly to answer these questions.