What will happen in the end times? As per Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the 3 monotheistic faiths

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Historical and Theological Overview of Eschatology and Hadith

## 1. What is eschatology?

Eschatology is the study of the end times or the last things, focusing on themes like death, judgment, heaven, hell, and the ultimate destiny of humanity. It’s a significant part of many religious traditions, including Christianity, Islam, and others. Are you exploring this concept from a specific religious perspective or more broadly?

## 2. What are the main differences of eschatology between Christianity, Judaism and Islam?

Here’s a brief overview:

  • Christianity: Focuses on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment. Believers expect eternal life with God, while non-believers face eternal separation.
  • Judaism: Emphasizes the coming of the Messiah, resurrection, and a final judgment. The focus is on God’s kingdom on earth, with varying interpretations of afterlife and the soul’s fate.
  • Islam: Centers on the Day of Judgment (Qiyamah), resurrection, and accountability for deeds. Believers enter Paradise (Jannah), while non-believers face Hell (Jahannam).
    These are simplified highlights. Each tradition has diverse interpretations and nuances.
## 3. On all 3

Let’s dive deeper:

  • Christianity:
    • Jesus Christ returns (Second Coming) to establish God’s kingdom.
    • Resurrection of the dead and final judgment based on faith in Jesus.
    • Believers (Christians) enter eternal life with God (Heaven); non-believers face eternal separation (Hell).
    • Varied interpretations across denominations (e.g., premillennialism, amillennialism).
  • Judaism:
    • Messiah (Mashiach) comes to restore Israel and establish peace.
    • Resurrection of the dead and final judgment by God.
    • Focus on God’s kingdom on earth; afterlife concepts vary (e.g., Olam HaBa, Gehenna).
    • Different interpretations within Jewish sects (e.g., Orthodox, Reform).
  • Islam:
    • Day of Judgment (Qiyamah): resurrection and accountability for deeds.
    • Believers (Muslims) enter Paradise (Jannah); non-believers face Hell (Jahannam).
    • Prophet Jesus (Isa) returns to defeat the Antichrist (Dajjal) and establish justice.
    • Varied interpretations within Islamic sects (e.g., Sunni, Shia).
      These are brief highlights. Each tradition has rich, complex eschatological discussions.
## 4. Why is it prophet Jesus that will return to defeat the Antichrist and establish justice, and not prophet Mohamed or prophet Moses?

In Islamic eschatology, Prophet Jesus (Isa) is expected to return, not as a prophet or lawgiver, but as a just ruler and follower of Prophet Muhammad. He’ll defeat the Antichrist (Dajjal) and establish justice, reflecting his unique role in Islamic tradition. This belief is based on interpretations of Quranic verses and Hadiths, highlighting Jesus’ significance in end-time events.
Prophet Muhammad is considered the final prophet, and his role is seen as complete. Prophet Moses (Musa) is revered, but Jesus’ return is specifically mentioned in Islamic texts as part of the end-time narrative.

## 5. Today, where are prophets Moses, Jesus and Mohamed? Cite where it is said that Jesus will be a follower of Mohamed…

According to Islamic belief:

  • Prophet Moses (Musa) and Prophet Jesus (Isa) are alive in the spiritual realm (Barzakh), awaiting resurrection.
  • Prophet Muhammad is in the highest station in Paradise (Jannah), as indicated in Hadiths (Sahih Bukhari 7517, Sahih Muslim 4311).
    As for Jesus following Muhammad:
    In a Hadith, Prophet Muhammad said, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, surely the son of Mary (Jesus) will soon descend amongst you as a just ruler…” (Sahih Bukhari 3449, Sahih Muslim 155).
    Jesus will follow the Prophet’s (Muhammad’s) teachings and lead with Islamic law (Sharia).
## 6. What happens after Jesus descends as a just ruler? He will rule from where to where? For how long? Why?

According to Islamic eschatology, after Jesus (Isa) descends:

  • He’ll rule from Jerusalem (or the Temple Mount), leading with justice and Islamic law (Sharia).
  • Jesus will:
    • Defeat the Antichrist (Dajjal).
    • Break crosses, kill pigs (symbolizing rejection of corrupted Christianity).
    • Establish peace and justice globally.
    • Lead Muslims in prayer (some narrations say he’ll pray behind Imam Mahdi).
  • His rule is often associated with a period of peace (40 years in some Hadiths), reflecting a golden age.
  • After his death, the world will face turmoil, leading to the final events (e.g., Gog and Magog, Qiyamah).
    Sources: Hadiths (Sahih Muslim 155, Abu Dawud 4327).
## 7. After the turmoil, what are the final events and how will they end?

According to Islamic eschatology, after Jesus’ (Isa) rule:

  • Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj): Released, they’ll cause chaos globally.
  • Turmoil and Destruction: Widespread corruption and violence.
  • Trumpet Blow (Sur): Angel Israfil blows the trumpet, marking the end.
  • Resurrection (Qiyamah): Dead are raised; humanity is gathered.
  • Judgment Day: Deeds are weighed; accountability and justice.
  • Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam): Final destinations.
    Sources: Quran (18:99-101, 39:68-75), Hadiths (Sahih Bukhari 7135, Muslim 2937).
## 8. Where did Mohamed say he did not know what will become of himself and whether he will go to heaven?

This is mentioned in the Quran, Surah Ahqaf (46:9): “Say, ‘I am only a human being like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.’” and Surah Al-A’raf (7:188): “Say, ‘I have no power over any benefit or harm to myself except as Allah willeth. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I would have secured for myself an abundance of wealth, and no evil would have touched me. I am but a warner and a bringer of glad tidings unto people who believe.’”
This indicates Prophet Muhammad’s humility and acknowledgment of his humanity.

## 9. Cite where prophet Mohamed healed the sick, cast out devils and raised the dead.

Prophet Muhammad’s miracles are documented in Hadiths:

  • Healing: He healed a blind man (Sahih Bukhari 4381), a leper (Sahih Bukhari 4382), and others.
  • Casting out devils: He cast out a devil from a man (Sahih Bukhari 5765).
  • Raising the dead: A boy was brought to him, and he prayed, and the boy was revived (Sahih Muslim 3927).
## 10. Are all these Hadiths or some are in the Koran?

The examples I mentioned are primarily from Hadiths (collections of sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad). The Quran doesn’t explicitly mention specific miracles like raising the dead or casting out devils attributed to Prophet Muhammad.

## 11. Who and how many people write the Hadith? When? How many are there? Are they compiled into one book? When did their writing start and end?

The Hadiths were written by companions of Prophet Muhammad and later scholars. The major Hadith collections include:

  • Sahih Bukhari (collected by Imam Bukhari, 256 AH/870 CE): ~7,275 Hadiths
  • Sahih Muslim (collected by Imam Muslim, 261 AH/875 CE): ~12,000 Hadiths
  • Sunan Abu Dawud, Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, Sunan ibn Majah, Sunan an-Nasa’i: Other major collections
    Writing started during the Prophet’s lifetime, but compilation into books occurred later (8th-9th centuries CE). There’s no single book compiling all Hadiths; the major collections are considered authoritative.
## 12. Precisely over how many years and which specific years were the Hadiths written by precisely how many authors?

The major Hadith collections were compiled over ~200 years (8th-9th centuries CE) by several authors:

  • Imam Bukhari (d. 870 CE): 1 author
  • Imam Muslim (d. 875 CE): 1 author
  • Imam Abu Dawud (d. 889 CE): 1 author
  • Imam Tirmidhi (d. 892 CE): 1 author
  • Imam Nasa’i (d. 915 CE): 1 author
  • Imam Ibn Majah (d. 887 CE): 1 author
    ~6 major authors compiled these core collections.
## 13. In what year did Mohamed die?

Prophet Muhammad died in 632 CE (11 AH).

## 14. 870-632=238. The earliest Hadith was written over 238 years after Mohamed had died. But the Hadiths are collections of sayings and actions of Prophet Mohamed. How did this work?

You’re right, there’s a gap. Hadiths were transmitted orally during the Prophet’s lifetime and early caliphates. Later, scholars like Bukhari and Muslim compiled and verified them. The writing process started ~200 years after the Prophet’s death, aiming to authenticate reports.

## 15. Verification

Hadith verification involves checking the chain of narrators (isnad) and the content (matn). Scholars scrutinized narrators’ reliability, memory, and character to ensure authenticity. This process helped classify Hadiths as sahih (authentic), hasan (good), or da’if (weak).

Would you like me to research more on the specific criteria used by Imam Bukhari for his verification process?

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Eschatology in Christianity, Judaism and Islam : A structured question-and-answer reference

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Topical Index
1. Antichrist / Dajjal – Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
2. Day of Judgment – Sections 1, 2, 3, 7
3. Eschatology (definition) – Section 1
4. Hadith literature – Sections 10–15
5. Jesus in end-time prophecy – Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
6. Judaism and the Messiah – Sections 2, 3
7. Muhammad and Islamic sources – Sections 5, 8, 9, 10, 11
8. Resurrection and final judgment – Sections 1, 2, 7
9. Transmission and verification of Hadith – Sections 11–15

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End-Time Timeline Overview

Stage Christianity Judaism Islam
Present age Church era Waiting for Messiah Era of Islam
Rise of evil figure Antichrist Not central Dajjal
Messianic intervention Return of Jesus Arrival of Messiah Mahdi + return of Jesus
Defeat of evil Christ defeats Antichrist Messiah defeats enemies of Israel Jesus defeats Dajjal
Period of justice Messianic kingdom Age of peace Jesus rules the earth
Final judgment Judgment Day Resurrection and judgment Day of Resurrection

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1. What is eschatology?
  1. What is eschatology?

Eschatology is the study of the “last things” — the final events of history and the ultimate destiny of humanity.

The term comes from Greek:
1. eschatos – last
2. logos – study or teaching

So eschatology literally means the study of the end of the world and final judgment.

In religion it usually includes topics such as:
1. The end of the world
2. Resurrection of the dead
3. Final judgment
4. Heaven and hell
5. The Messiah or savior figure
6. The defeat of evil
7. The creation of a restored world

All three Abrahamic religions contain strong eschatological teachings.

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2. What are the main differences of eschatology between Christianity, Judaism and Islam?
  1. Main differences between the three traditions

Christianity
1. Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God
2. Jesus returns in the Second Coming
3. The Antichrist appears before the end
4. There is resurrection and final judgment

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Judaism
1. Jesus is not accepted as Messiah
2. The Messiah has not yet appeared
3. The Messiah will be a human descendant of King David
4. He restores Israel and brings peace

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Islam
1. Jesus (Isa) is a prophet
2. Muhammad is the final prophet
3. Jesus will return before Judgment Day
4. The Mahdi appears
5. Jesus defeats Dajjal

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3. More detailed comparison between the three traditions
  1. Detailed comparison

Shared beliefs
1. God will judge humanity
2. Evil will be defeated
3. The dead will be resurrected
4. The righteous will receive eternal reward

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Major doctrinal differences

Topic Judaism Christianity Islam
Jesus Not Messiah Son of God Prophet
Messiah Future human king Jesus Mahdi + Jesus
Evil opponent Not emphasized Antichrist Dajjal
Scripture Torah Bible Qur’an + Hadith

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4. Why is Jesus expected to defeat the Antichrist?
  1. Why is Jesus expected to defeat the Antichrist?

Christianity

Christians believe Jesus defeats evil because:
1. He is the Messiah and divine judge
2. Biblical prophecy describes his return to defeat evil

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Islam

Islam teaches that:
1. Jesus was not crucified but raised to heaven
2. He will return before the Day of Judgment
3. He will defeat al-Dajjal

These teachings come largely from Hadith literature.

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Judaism

Judaism does not include Jesus in its eschatology.

Instead:
1. A future Messiah from the line of David will bring peace and justice.

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5. Where are Moses, Jesus and Muhammad today?
  1. Where are Moses, Jesus and Muhammad today?

Moses

Moses is believed to have died, according to the Hebrew Bible.

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Jesus

Christian belief
1. Jesus was resurrected
2. He ascended into heaven

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Islamic belief
1. Jesus was not crucified
2. God raised him alive to heaven

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Muhammad

Muhammad died in 632 AD and is buried in Medina.

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Jesus following Muhammad

Some Hadith say that when Jesus returns he will rule according to Islamic law, confirming the message of Islam.

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6. What happens after Jesus descends as a just ruler?
  1. What happens after Jesus descends?

In Islamic tradition the sequence is usually described as:
1. Jesus descends near Damascus
2. He defeats Dajjal
3. Justice spreads across the earth
4. Peace replaces corruption

Many Hadith say:
1. Jesus rules for about 40 years
2. He then dies a natural death
3. Humanity continues until the final judgment.

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7. What are the final events?
  1. Final events in Islamic eschatology
    1. Major signs of the end times appear
    2. The angel Israfil blows the trumpet
    3. The dead are resurrected
    4. Humanity gathers for final judgment

This day is called:

Yawm al-Qiyamah – the Day of Resurrection.

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8. Where did Muhammad say he did not know his fate?
  1. Statement about Muhammad not knowing his fate

A verse often discussed is Qur’an 46:9:

“I do not know what will be done with me or with you.”

Some scholars interpret this as referring to future earthly events, not salvation.

Others see it as an expression of humility before God’s final judgment.

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9. Did Muhammad perform miracles like healing or raising the dead?
  1. Miracles attributed to Muhammad

The Qur’an does not describe Muhammad performing healing miracles like Jesus.

Instead the Qur’an presents the Qur’an itself as his primary miracle.

By contrast, the Qur’an attributes miracles to Jesus such as:
1. Healing the blind
2. Healing the sick
3. Raising the dead by God’s permission

These appear in Qur’an 3:49 and 5:110.

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10. Are these teachings in the Hadith or the Qur’an?
  1. Qur’an vs Hadith

Islamic teaching relies mainly on two sources.

Qur’an
1. Central scripture of Islam
2. Believed to be direct revelation from God

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Hadith
1. Reports about the sayings and actions of Muhammad
2. Preserved and transmitted by later scholars.

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11. Who wrote the Hadith?
  1. Who wrote the Hadith?

Hadith were transmitted by many narrators over generations.

Major collectors include:
1. Imam Bukhari
2. Imam Muslim
3. Abu Dawud
4. Al-Tirmidhi
5. Al-Nasa’i
6. Ibn Majah

These scholars lived roughly 200–250 years after Muhammad.

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12. Over what years were the Hadith written?
  1. Timeline of Hadith compilation

Hadith transmission occurred approximately between:

632 AD — death of Muhammad

and

around 870 AD — completion of major Hadith collections

This represents about two centuries of transmission.

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13. In what year did Muhammad die?
  1. Death of Muhammad

Muhammad died in 632 AD in Medina.

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14. How were Hadith preserved?
  1. Preservation of Hadith

Hadith were preserved through chains of oral transmission.

Each report recorded:
1. Who heard the statement
2. Who transmitted it
3. Who passed it onward

Example chain:

Teacher → Student → Scholar → Collector.

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15. How did the verification process work?
  1. Verification of Hadith

Scholars developed a method called Isnad criticism.

Two elements were examined.

Chain of transmission
1. Were narrators trustworthy?
2. Did they live in the same period?
3. Could they realistically have met?

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Content analysis

Scholars checked whether the report:
1. Contradicted the Qur’an
2. Conflicted with stronger Hadith
3. Appeared historically plausible.

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Classification

Category Meaning
Sahih Authentic
Hasan Acceptable
Da’if Weak

This discipline became known as Ilm al-Hadith (the science of Hadith).

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