The White Minaret of Damascus And The Return Of Isa Bin Maryam
And he (Isa) shall be a known sign for the hour (Qur’aan 43:61)
Nawwaas bin Sam’an narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Allah will send Isa Bin Maryam. He will descend close to the Manaarah Al Baydaa’ (White Minaret) to the East of Dimashq. He will be wearing garments lightly coloured with saffron and his hands will be placed on the wings of two angels.’ (saheeh of muslim)
In the texts of the Ahadeeth our Prophet mentioned specific regions such as Hijaz, Shaam, Yaman, Najd, Iraaq, Misr, Hind and Khurasaan among others. However other times he mentioned specific cities such as Dimashq, which is the city known as Damascus in Syria today. Isa bin Maryam will descend in Damascus as a major sign, before the establishment of the Hour. This is the truth and will most surely come to pass as a promise form our Lord.
This decent will occur only after Dajjaal has appeared and made his way to Shaam during the last days of his life. Dajjaal will be headed for the Muslims in Jerusalem. During this time Allah will send Isa bin Maryam to confront Dajjaal,a nd Isa will will descend in Syria, near the white minaret in the East of Damascus. He will descend as a well built man of moderate height. His skin colour will be seen as a kind of reddish white and his hair will be curly, appearing wet yet no moisture will have touched it. He will descend near the white minaret on the wings of angels, wearing two garments lightly coloured with saffron.
As for the exact location within Damascus, then our Prophet informed us that he will descend close to the Manaarah Al Baydaa’, which is the white minaret. This is a specific landmark we have been informed of.
As for the exact location of the white minaret then only Allah Knows. Our Prophet only mentioned one additional clue, namely its location to the East of Damascus. From the writings of the earlier scholars of Islam we know that the location of the white minaret was not known amongst them. However during the 700’s AH a white minaret was built in Eastern Damascus in a house of worship known as the Umayyad Masjid.
Ibn Katheer writes, ‘In our time, in the year 741AH, a white minaret was built in the Umayyad Majid made of stone, in the a place of the minaret that was destroyed by a fire which the Christians were suspected to have started. May Allah’s continued curses descend on the Christians until the Day of Resurrection. There is a strong feeling that this minaret is the one that Isa will descend on, according to the hadeeth.’ (tafseer Ibn Katheer volume 3 page 38)
Syrian Scholars such as Ibn Katheer believed the white minaret in the Hadeeth was the white minaret of the Umayyad Masjid which was built during his time. Ibn Katheer was born in Busra Syria in 701AH and migrated to Damascus at the age of five where he took up residence until he died in 774AH. Being a Syrian scholar who resided in Damascus and was alive when the white minaret of the umayyad masjid was constructed brings credibility to his opinion. However we cannot say for certain whether this is the actual white minaret mentioned by our Prophet.
Assuming Ibn Katheer was correct then Isa bin Maryam will descend at the white minaret of the Umayyad Masjid in Damascus. The original foundation of the Umayyad Masjid was in fact a church. When Syria was conquered under Umar Ibnal Khattaab a small Masjid was attached to the southern wall of the church. This is how it remained until the time of Waleed Bin Abdul Maalik (705-715 AH), when the church was demolished and the Masjid expanded and renovated, giving rise to the Umayyad Masjid. This is why it is called the Umayyad Masjid after the Umayyad dynasty, which came into rule as a monarchy after the period of the four rightly guided Khulafaa. The dynasty was called the Umayyad dynasty after the name of their tribe Bani Umayyah, which was a tribe within Quraish. The first Umayyad ruler was Muaweyyah and he was the one who shifted the Islamic capital to Damascus, with Damascus remaining the Muslim capital during the life of the Umayyad dynasty. As for Waleed Bin Abdul Maalik (705-715AH), under whose supervision the Umayyad Masjid was expanded and renovated, he was the sixth Umayyad ruler after (1) Muaweyyah bin Abi Sufyaan (661-680), (2) Yazeed bin Muaweyyah (680-683), (3) Muaweyyah bin Yazeed (683-684), (4) Marwan bin Hakam (684-685), and (5) Abdul Malik bin Marwan (685-705).
Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah's Messenger said, ‘Do not undertake a journey but to three Masaajid; this Masjid of mine, the Masjid Al Haraam and the Masjid Al Aqsa.’ (saheeh of muslim)
As for the Masjid as a place of worship, then it is a Masjid from amongst the Massajid and no special significance is attributed to it except the fact that it is a potential site where Isa bin Maryam will descend. However, those who say the Umayyad Masjid is one of Islam’s Holy sites have no basis for their claims. Similarly those who specially travel to visit this Masjid do not have permission to do so, for the Masaajid worthy of being journeyed to have been restricted by our Prophet to three, namely Masjid Al Haraam in Makkah; Masjid An Nabaweyyah in Madeenah; and Masjid Al Aqsa in Jerusalem. There is a difference between specifically venturing out to visit the Umayyad Masjid as opposed to the locals praying in it or someone visiting it while travelling to Damascus for some other purpose. And this is the case with studying Ahadeeth for through their implementation the balance is restored, giving each item its due consideration and importance without exaggeration or neglect.
After descending at the White Minaret, Isa bin Maryam will pursue Dajjaal through Syria until he catches up with him in ludd where he will kill him. Next Isa will lead the Muslims in a final war with the Jews and the Jews will be defeated. Thereafter the Fitnah of Gog and Magog will be unleashed until the Muslims gather at Mount Tur and Isa prays to Allah for their destruction. They will all be found dead, and Allah will send birds to pick them up and throw them wherever He wills and desires. Then Allah will send a rain which will wash the Earth clean, bringing back its shine, richness and lustre seen at the time when Adam was on Earth. This account is clear from the descriptions found within the various books of Ahadeeth.
And there is none from the people of the Book but must believe in him, before his death. (Qur’aan 4:159)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said, ‘He will break the cross, kill the pig, and banish the Jizyah and will call people to Islam.’ (musnad of ahmad’ sunan of abu dawood)
As for the Christians then they will embrace Islam and recognise Isa as the Messiah. He will call them to Islam and worship will be for The Creator alone. Allah will eliminate Christianity through Isa who will break the cross, kill the pig and banish the Jizyah. He will judge according to the Qur’aan and Sunna, perform Hajj and Umrah, and unite the people under the true banner of Islam.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said, ‘Safety will then fill the earth, so much so that the lions will mingle with camels, tigers with cattle and wolves with sheep. Children will play with snakes, and they will not harm them. Isa will remain for forty years and then will die, and the Muslims will offer the funeral prayer for him.’ (musnad of ahmad’ sunan of abu dawood)
During his time there will be justice, prosperity, peace and safety and he will be buried by the Muslims after remaining on Earth for forty years. This is our beloved Prophet Isa bin Maryam, the true awaited Messiah who will most surely return near the white minaret of Damascus, descending on the wings of Angels white as snow.
Written By Kamillah Khan
