Islamic eschatology (teachings about the end times) holds that Jesus is alive now and will return to earth before the Day of Judgment as one of its major signs.
"And indeed, he [Jesus] will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path."
Qur'an 43:61While the Qur'an addresses the fact of Jesus's return only briefly and somewhat allusively, the detail of how it will happen comes primarily from authentic Hadith (recorded sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him), which form the second major source of Islamic teaching after the Qur'an.
Hadith describe Jesus descending at a white minaret east of Damascus, placing his hands on the wings of two angels, during a time of great turmoil on earth.
Islamic tradition holds that near the end of time, a deceiving figure called the Dajjal (Antichrist) will appear, causing widespread trial and corruption. Jesus's return is tied to ending this trial — he confronts and kills the Dajjal, according to Hadith.
Hadith describe Jesus establishing justice on earth, and living as a righteous follower of the final revelation — described in the reports as breaking the cross (rejecting the symbol of his own crucifixion) and abolishing the jizyah, signifying the end of theological dispute about his nature.
According to Hadith, Jesus will marry, live an ordinary human life for a period of years, and eventually die a natural death, after which Muslims will offer the funeral prayer for him — underscoring that he is, and remains, a human being and a servant of God, not a deity.
A central point of Islamic teaching is that when Jesus returns, he will not bring a new revelation or establish a new religion. Rather, he will rule and worship according to the teachings brought by the Prophet Muhammad, since Islam holds that Muhammad's message is the final and complete revelation for all humanity, and that no new law follows it.
Jesus's return in Islamic eschatology is described alongside other major signs of the approaching Day of Judgment, including the emergence of Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog), after which Hadith describe a final period of peace before the world's end.
Note: The details of the Hadith concerning Jesus's return are drawn from collections such as Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and other Hadith literature, and their precise wording and chains of narration are a specialized field of study. This page presents a summary of the commonly cited narrative; for primary texts, see the Sources page.