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Fatwa CenterWill the People of the Book believe in ‘Eesaa (Jesus), may Allaah exalt his mention, when he returns?
Question
Is there any Hadeeth indicating that all Jews and Christians will become Muslims when ‘Eesaa, may Allaah exalt his mention, returns to earth?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Authentic Hadeeths indicate that ‘Eesaa 
will not return to earth until the Malhamah (the great battle) between Muslims and Christians has taken place after they have fought together against a third enemy. It was also narrated that Muslims will make a peace treaty with the Romans and together they will invade a joint enemy and win. Then the Muslims and Romans will camp in a hilly pasture, a Christian will come and raise a cross and say, "Victory to the Cross!"; upon hearing this, one of the Muslims will get angry and kill him. Then the Romans will break the treaty and gather forces to fight the Muslims. [Abu Daawood, Ibn Maajah and Ahmad]
It also was narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that the Hour will not come until the Romans camp at Al-A‘maaq [a place between Halab (Aleppo) and Intakia] or Daabiq [a village near Halab (Aleppo)]. An army, composed of the best people on earth at that time, will come out from Madeenah to meet them. One-third of this army will be defeated, and Allaah The Exalted will never forgive them; one-third will be killed, and they will be the best martyrs in the sight of Allaah The Almighty; and one-third will win, never be defeated, and will go on to conquer Constantinople.
While they are dividing up the proceeds of the war, after hanging their swords on olive-trees, Satan will shout at them that the Antichrist has taken its place among their families. They will set out for Ash-Shaam (greater Syria) and when they reach it, the Antichrist will appear. While they prepare for battle and assemble their armies, the time for prayer will come and ‘Eesaa will descend and lead them in prayer. [Muslim]
With regards to the Jews, when the Antichrist appears 70 thousand Jews from Asfahaan will follow him, as mentioned in another Hadeeth.
As soon as ‘Eesaa returns he will break the cross, kill the pig(s) and abolish the Jizyah (a tax paid by non-Muslims under Muslim rule). This suggests that the People of the Book who are not killed in the Malhamah will embrace Islam. This is also supported by the interpretation of the Quranic verse in which Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And there is none from the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in Jesus before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection he will be against them a witness.} [Quran 4:159]
Ibn Jareer At-Tabari also reported that:
- Abu Maalik said that when ‘Eesaa returns, all the People of the Book will definitely believe in him;
- Ibn ‘Abbaas 
considered that this verse refers only to the Jews; and
- Al-Hasan 
said that when ‘Eesaa returns, both Christians and Jews will believe in him.
Qataadah and Abdul Rahmaan ibn Zayd ibn Aslam, as reported by Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy upon then all, also adopted the same opinion as Al-Hasan .
Consequently, Ibn Jareer adopted this opinion, that is: when 'Eesaa returns, all the People of the Book will surely believe in him. Ibn Katheer also held this opinion and argued that ‘Eesaa will abolish the Jizyah and accept nothing but embracing Islam or war.
Allaah Knows best.
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