Authenticity Of Narration In Tabaqat Al-Kubra That Says That Jesus Is Dead And He Will Not Return To Earth

Question

I found a narration in Tabaqat Al-Kubra that says that Holy Prophet Jesus is allegedly dead and he will not return. The following is the English translation of the narration, so I am not sure if I am accurately translating it (Please see the original screenshot of the Arabic narration).

Here is the English translation:-

Imam Hasan (Radhi'allahu'anhu) used to say about the death of Ali (Radhi'allahu'anhu): O people! Today such a person has died and no person has ever attained the status of Ali (Radhi'alluhu'anhu) before and no person can ever attain his status. Whenever Rasulullah (Sallallahu'alayhiwassalam) used to send Ali (Radhi'allahu'anhu) to fight in a battle, angel Gabriel used to accompany Ali (Radhi'allahu'anhu) in his right side and angel Mikail used to accompany him at his left side. Hence, he always came back after being victorious over his enemies. He left behind 700 Dirhams and he wished to purchase a slave from that money. Ali (Radhi'allahu'anhu) died on the night of 27th of Ramadan. This was the same night when Jesus' soul was raised up into the heavens ( Tabaqat Al-Kubra, volume 1, page no.28)

The main question is: what is the authenticity of this narration?

Here is the screenshot of the narration in the original Arabic language. However, I am not sure about the authenticity of this narration (I am sorry for poor picture quality):-

https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=2O5ICwAAQBAJ&pg=PT31#v=onepage&q&f=false

Answer 1

The reliability of some of the transmitters is disputed such as that of أجلح بن عبد الله الكندي who is considered weak by a group of imams such as Nisai, Abu Hatim al-Razi, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud and others. While some of the other transmitters have also been criticized.

This narration:

1. does not evidence that Jesus عليه السلام will not return to earth. That claim depends on the assertion that if he died then he can not return, which is false. Various people have been resurrected and returned to the earth after their death as evident in the Quran in 2:259, 2:243, 2:73, 2:56.

2. does not evidence that Jesus died, at least not clearly. If the soul of Jesus ascended ( عُرِجَ ) that does not imply that he had died as the soul may travel without death. It is in the Quran in 6:60 and 39:42 that it happens during sleep without death. Also it is the madhab of a group that Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ soul ascended to heaven during the Mi’raaj, yet that does not mean that he died.

Even the existence of the word روح (spirit) in the original saying is disputable, as there are at least three chains of transmission which omit it:

• في ليلة نزل فيها القرآن، وفيها رفع عيسى ابن مريم، وفيها قتل يوشع بن نون فتى موسى

  In the night in which the Quran was revealed, and in it Jesus son of Mary was raised, and in it Joshua son of Nun was killed who was the servant (and successor) of Moses

  ^{— Musnad Abu Ya'la}

  This has been classed as saheeh or hasan. Its transmitters include the ahl al-bayt such as Jafar al-Sadiq, Muhammad al-Baqir and Zayn al-Abidin.

• قتل ليلة أنزل القرآن، وليلة أسري بعيسى، وليلة قبض موسى

  on which the Quran was revealed, and the night Jesus traveled, and the night when Moses died

  ^{— Mustadrak al-Hakim}

  All the transmitters are thiqa except الحريث بن مخشي who seems to be less known but is thiqa according to Ibn Hibban.

• الليلة التي عرج فيها عيسى بن مريم، ليلة سبع وعشرين من رمضان

  in the night on which Jesus ascended, the 27th night of Ramadan

  ^{— Mu'jam al-Kabir Tabarani}

  This chain has an overlap with that of Tabaqat Al-Kubra and so has at least the same weakness.