Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts).
Hadith Text
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts)."
Context and Significance
This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 2476 outlines major eschatological events preceding the Day of Judgment. The descent of Jesus (peace be upon him) marks one of the major signs of the Hour, establishing divine justice and correcting theological deviations that occurred after his earthly mission.
Scholarly Commentary
"Breaking the cross" signifies the elimination of false worship and shirk associated with crucifix veneration, not the destruction of all crosses as physical objects. "Killing pigs" represents the abolition of impurity and unlawful consumption, restoring the purity of Islamic law. "Abolishing Jizya" indicates the universal acceptance of Islam, making the protective tax unnecessary. The abundance of wealth demonstrates complete economic justice and contentment, where charity becomes superfluous due to universal prosperity.
Legal and Theological Implications
Jesus will rule by Islamic law (Shari'ah), confirming Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) finality as the seal of prophets. His descent affirms Islamic Christology - that Jesus was not crucified nor divine, but a righteous prophet who will return to complete his earthly mission. This hadith reinforces Muslim belief in Jesus' second coming while maintaining theological distinctions from Christian doctrines.
Historical Reception
Classical scholars including Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Al-Qurtubi, and Ibn Kathir have extensively commented on this narration, considering it mutawatir (mass-transmitted) and establishing its authenticity beyond doubt. The consensus of Ahl al-Sunnah affirms Jesus' physical descent before the Day of Judgment as an article of faith.