Christianity & Islam
The Return of Jesus in Islam and Christianity
Here is a remarkable shared hope: both Muslims and Christians believe Jesus will return. In Islamic tradition, Isa will come back before the Day of Judgment. In Christianity, Christ will return in glory to judge the living and the dead and make all things new. The two traditions describe his role differently, but both look for the same person to come again.
What Islam says
The belief that Jesus (Isa) will return before the end of the age is widely held in Islam, drawn mainly from the Hadith (the recorded sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad) and from some interpretations of the Qur’an. In this expectation, Isa returns as a righteous figure who defeats falsehood before the Day of Judgment. We note fairly that this belief rests largely on Hadith and interpretation rather than an explicit Qur’anic narrative.
What Christians believe
Christians confess that the same Jesus who was crucified and rose will return in glory.
Where they agree
Both faiths await the return of Jesus before the final judgment, and both associate his coming with the triumph of truth and righteousness.
Where they differ
In Islam, the returning Isa is a great prophet who confirms God’s oneness. In Christianity, the returning Christ is the divine Son and Judge of all, who completes the salvation he began at the cross. Both look for him; they expect him in different roles.
Qur’an quotations: Pickthall (1930, public domain); translations vary, compare others at quran.com. Bible: King James Version. Every reference on this page was checked against its primary source.
Frequently asked questions
- Do Muslims believe Jesus will return?
- Yes. Islamic tradition, drawn mainly from the Hadith, holds that Jesus (Isa) will return before the Day of Judgment as a righteous figure who overcomes falsehood.
- What does the Bible say about the return of Jesus?
- The Bible teaches that the same Jesus who ascended will return in glory to judge the living and the dead and to make all things new (Acts 1:11; Matthew 16:27; Revelation 21).
- Is the return of Jesus in the Qur'an or the Hadith?
- The belief rests mainly on the Hadith and on interpretations of certain Qur'anic verses, rather than an explicit Qur'anic account. It is nonetheless a widely held Islamic expectation.
Come and see
The Qur’an itself honours the Injil (the Gospel) as “guidance and a light” (5:46). The most direct way to know who Jesus is, is to read his words for yourself. There is no pressure here, and no one has to know. You are welcome exactly as you are.
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