Title: Did Knowledge of Jesus' (pbuh) Death Disappear in Such a Short Time Span? Question: The Qur'an seems to state that Jesus (p) died. I would assume that the direct addressees who understood the Qur'anic language best would have no problem understanding this. So this causes me to wonder what the people in Imam Bukhari's time believed about Jesus (p). I find it difficult to imagine that in just two centuries or so, the knowledge of this which pretty much all addressees of the Prophet (p) should have understood quite well should then disappear. So, do we have any information on what the majority of people believed at the time? We know that today the majority seem to believe that he did not die and that he will return. I suppose the Ahadith had this influence over time but what influenced a misunderstanding in as short a time as some two centuries (that is of course if the majority at the time believed it)? If they didn't why do you think that he accepted these Ahadith in his compilation? Was it simply because he couldn't find anything wrong with its chain? I thank you in advance in any help that you can give me in this matter. Answer: Interestingly, there is no reliable saying ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh) in which he has been reported to have categorically said that Jesus (pbuh) did not die and was raised up to the heavens alive. There is only one narrative reported in Tabariy's commentary and that too without a complete chain of its narrators, in which the Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said that Jesus has not died. Tabariy reports: قال الحسن قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لليهود: إن عيسى لم يمت وإنه راجع إليكم قبل يوم القيامة (تفسير الطبري ج 3 ص 289 ) Hassan said: The Prophet (pbuh) said to the Jews: Jesus has not died. He will return to you before the Day of Judgment. The idea that Jesus (pbuh) was raised up alive is the result of the belief that he will return to the earth, before the Day of Judgment. After having ascribed to this belief, it was imminent that people ascribed to the belief that Jesus (pbuh) was raised up alive. As for the death of Jesus (pbuh), Ibn Hajar , in his commentary on Bukhariy , writes: وقد اختلف في موت عيسى عليه السلام قبل رفعه والأصل فيه قوله تعالى أني متوفيك ورافعك فقيل على ظاهره وعلى هذا فإذا نزل إلى الأرض ومضت المدة المقدرة له يموت ثانيا وقيل معنى قوله متوفيك من الأرض فعلى هذا لا يموت الا في آخر الزمان. (فتح الباري ج 6 ، ص 493 ) There is a difference of opinion regarding the death of Jesus (pbuh) before his ascension. The basis of this difference is God's saying "أني متوفيك ورافعك" . It is said, according to the apparent meaning of the verse [that Jesus (pbuh) has died]; and on this basis it is held that when he sent to the earth and lives the time destined for him, then he would die a second time. And it is said that the meaning of God's saying is that his term on earth shall be completed. On this basis, it is held that he will only die once at the end of time. It should be clear from the foregoing statement that even during the times of Ibn Hajar, there was a difference of opinion among Muslims regarding whether or not Jesus (pbuh) has died. I hope this helps. Moiz Amjad October 5, 2004