Islamic Visions of Jesus: Revelation, Prophecy, and Eschatology

In the Qur’ānic text references to Jesus are present in fifteen sūras. When he was announced to his mother, he was depicted as a Word (kalima) from God. He is also presented as God’s servant (‘abd Allāh), a prophet and a messenger sent specifically to the Children of Israel. As regards his death, the Qur’ān states unequivocally that the Jews did not kill the son of Mary, while another person assumed his appearance and was crucified. Thus, they only thought they killed him, since God raised him up to Him. Jesus was assumed into heaven alive and God will send him back to earth in the End Times, announcing the Hour (al-sā‘a), whose knowledge is only with God. The particular place to which Jesus is predicted to descend for this messianic function is generally understood to be at the Great Mosque of Damascus or at Jerusalem. Probably, this is the most widely-known view on this issue in the Muslim world today. Hence, the essay gives an overall picture and an analysis of the Qur’ānic relevant passages about the issues of Jesus’ crucifixion, death and second coming, in addition to an overview of the most influential mainstream commentaries of the Sunnī tradition about those references.