Apologetics · FaithLogic
The Hadith on Jesus + Daniel 7 — Islam's Own Sources Confirm the Son of Man
The hadith literature contains extensive material about Jesus's future return as a judge — material that aligns with the NT's teaching on the return of the Son of Man. By examining these texts carefully, we can show that Islam's own eschatological tradition confirms key elements of what the NT teaches about Jesus's divine authority.
The Hadith on Jesus's Return — What Islamic Sources Say
Sahih Bukhari on Jesus Descending as Judge
Sahih Bukhari 3:43:656:
"Allah's Apostle said, 'By Him in Whose hands my soul is, son of Mary (Jesus) will shortly descend amongst you people (Muslims) as a just ruler and will break the Cross and kill the pig and abolish the Jizya (a tax taken from the non-Muslims, who are in the protection of the Muslim government). Then there will be abundance of money and no-body will accept charitable gifts.'"
Sahih Muslim 292:
"The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary descends amongst you as a just judge."
Sunan Abu Dawud 37:4310:
"The Prophet said: There is no prophet between me and him, that is, Jesus. He will descend (to the earth). When you see him, recognise him: a man of medium height, reddish fair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet."
What these hadiths establish from Islamic sources:
(1) Jesus is currently alive — he will "descend" from somewhere. Muhammad is dead and buried.
(2) Jesus will be a "just judge" at the end of time — Muhammad will not be the final judge.
(3) Jesus's return is the signal for major eschatological events — his authority surpasses any living Islamic leader.
(4) Jesus will be recognizable as the same physical person who ascended — the same body.
"Allah's Apostle said, 'By Him in Whose hands my soul is, son of Mary (Jesus) will shortly descend amongst you people (Muslims) as a just ruler and will break the Cross and kill the pig and abolish the Jizya (a tax taken from the non-Muslims, who are in the protection of the Muslim government). Then there will be abundance of money and no-body will accept charitable gifts.'"
Sahih Muslim 292:
"The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary descends amongst you as a just judge."
Sunan Abu Dawud 37:4310:
"The Prophet said: There is no prophet between me and him, that is, Jesus. He will descend (to the earth). When you see him, recognise him: a man of medium height, reddish fair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet."
What these hadiths establish from Islamic sources:
(1) Jesus is currently alive — he will "descend" from somewhere. Muhammad is dead and buried.
(2) Jesus will be a "just judge" at the end of time — Muhammad will not be the final judge.
(3) Jesus's return is the signal for major eschatological events — his authority surpasses any living Islamic leader.
(4) Jesus will be recognizable as the same physical person who ascended — the same body.
Surah 43:61 — "He Is a Sign for the Hour"
The text (Surah 43:61):
"And indeed, Jesus will be a sign for the Hour of Judgment, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path."
Classical Islamic interpretation:
Ibn Kathir and other classical commentators interpret "Jesus will be a sign for the Hour" as referring to his descent before the Day of Judgment. His return is the eschatological sign that the end is near.
What this means for the NT connection:
The NT says the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13) will come on the divine clouds to judge the world (Matthew 24:30, 25:31, Revelation 19:11-16). Islam's own sources say Jesus will descend as the eschatological judge and sign of the Hour. These are converging testimonies to the same event — from two traditions that otherwise disagree on almost everything about Jesus. The convergence on Jesus as the eschatological judge is remarkable and demands explanation.
"And indeed, Jesus will be a sign for the Hour of Judgment, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path."
Classical Islamic interpretation:
Ibn Kathir and other classical commentators interpret "Jesus will be a sign for the Hour" as referring to his descent before the Day of Judgment. His return is the eschatological sign that the end is near.
What this means for the NT connection:
The NT says the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13) will come on the divine clouds to judge the world (Matthew 24:30, 25:31, Revelation 19:11-16). Islam's own sources say Jesus will descend as the eschatological judge and sign of the Hour. These are converging testimonies to the same event — from two traditions that otherwise disagree on almost everything about Jesus. The convergence on Jesus as the eschatological judge is remarkable and demands explanation.
Daniel 7:13-14 — The Son of Man's Eternal Kingdom and Islamic Eschatology
Daniel 7:13-14 (written ~550 BC):
"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed."
The Islamic eschatological parallel:
Islamic tradition says Jesus will return, establish justice, rule for 40 years (some hadiths), and then die and be buried. After this, the Day of Judgment comes. This 40-year reign of Jesus as the global just ruler matches remarkably with Daniel's vision of the Son of Man receiving an everlasting dominion from the Ancient of Days.
The theological question Islam cannot answer:
Why does Jesus — specifically — return to judge rather than Muhammad or any other prophet? The Quran gives Jesus unique eschatological authority without explaining why. The NT answers: because Jesus is the Son of Man of Daniel 7:13 who received eternal dominion from the Ancient of Days. His return as judge is not arbitrary — it flows from his divine identity and the eternal dominion he received before creation began.
"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed."
The Islamic eschatological parallel:
Islamic tradition says Jesus will return, establish justice, rule for 40 years (some hadiths), and then die and be buried. After this, the Day of Judgment comes. This 40-year reign of Jesus as the global just ruler matches remarkably with Daniel's vision of the Son of Man receiving an everlasting dominion from the Ancient of Days.
The theological question Islam cannot answer:
Why does Jesus — specifically — return to judge rather than Muhammad or any other prophet? The Quran gives Jesus unique eschatological authority without explaining why. The NT answers: because Jesus is the Son of Man of Daniel 7:13 who received eternal dominion from the Ancient of Days. His return as judge is not arbitrary — it flows from his divine identity and the eternal dominion he received before creation began.
💡 Hadith + Daniel 7 — The Convergence Response"Islamic tradition agrees with the NT on the key eschatological point: Jesus — not Muhammad — returns to judge the world. Sahih Bukhari 3:43:656: 'Son of Mary will shortly descend as a just ruler.' Sahih Muslim: 'The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary descends as a just judge.' Surah 43:61: 'Jesus will be a sign for the Hour of Judgment.' Muhammad is dead and buried in Medina — he will not return. Jesus is alive in heaven (Surah 4:158) and will descend as the eschatological judge. Daniel 7:13-14, written 550 BC, says the Son of Man receives eternal dominion, glory, and universal worship from the Ancient of Days — and all nations serve him forever. Islam's own eschatological tradition records the same Son of Man returning to judge — it just does not explain why Jesus specifically has this authority. The NT explains: he received eternal dominion before creation (Daniel 7:14, John 17:5) because he IS the Son of Man — the pre-existent divine figure who shares the identity of YHWH. Islam records the eschatological fact without the theological explanation. Christianity provides both."
This is part of the FaithLogic study library — the biblical, historical and manuscript case that Jesus is God, with every claim linked to its source. Open the interactive version for search, cross-references, read-aloud, and the full library.