and the descent of Jesus (peace be upon him) are mass-transmitted. It is obligatory to believe in them. Do not be deceived by anyone who claims that they are solitary reports, for such people are ignorant of this discipline. Not one of them has examined all their lines of transmission; had any of them done so, he would have found them to be mass-transmitted, as attested by leading authorities in this discipline, such as al-Hāfiz Ibn Hajar.

It is truly regrettable that some people dare to speak about matters outside their field of expertise, especially when the matter concerns religion and creed.” (1)

A number of scholars included the descent of Jesus (peace be upon him) among the tenets of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘ah, stating that he will descend to kill the Dajjal—may Allah disgrace him.

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The foundations of the Sunnah according to us are: holding fast to the way of the Companions of Allah’s Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), following their example, and abandoning religious innovations. Every innovation is misguidance.”

He then set forth a number of the tenets of Ahl al-Sunnah and said: “And believing that the false messiah, the Dajjal, will emerge, with ‘unbeliever’ written between his eyes; believing in the hadiths transmitted concerning him; believing that this will indeed occur; and believing that Jesus will descend and kill him at the gate of Ludd.” (2)

And Abū al-Hasan al-Ash‘arī (3), may Allah have mercy on him, said, when setting out the creed of the adherents of