'Eesaa (Jesus) the son of Mary descending from the heavens
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Question: I read in a book that 'Eesaa (Jesus) the son of Mary (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) will descend from the heavens before the Day of Resurrection, and shall rule upon the earth for 40 years. So is this correct? And what is the evidence from the Qur.aan for this? And may Allaah reward you with good.

Response: As for the descending of 'Eesaa (Jesus) the son of Mary (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) before the Day of Resurrection, then indeed it is correct and confirmed in His (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) saying:

{And there is none of the people of the Scripture, but must believe in him, before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, he will be a witness against them}, [Soorah an-Nisaa., Aayah 159].

And it has been confirmed on the authority of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) that 'Eesaa (Jesus) the son of Mary (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) will descend upon this ummah and rule justly. So he will rule the ummah and will not accept any other religion except Islaam, and this is from the beliefs of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah. And many from the people of knowledge have mentioned this to be amongst the signs of the Last Hour. As for him remaining (upon the earth) for forty years, then I have no knowledge as to its correctness or weakness. And the complete knowledge is with Allaah.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa Manaar al-Islaam - Question 6, Page 22