“Messiah” is a Christian term. How can a Messiah appear in Islam?

“Messiah” is also a term of the Holy Qur’an, which itself gives this title to Jesus (as). What is awaited is not a prophet of Israel returning, but a servant from the community of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) who comes in the spirit of Jesus (as).

The title “Messiah” does not belong to Christianity alone. The Holy Qur’an itself calls Jesus (as) the Messiah, as the first verse above shows. Muslims know the term from their own scripture.

Still, the question touches on an important point. Jesus (as) was a messenger to the Children of Israel, sent for their time and their needs. If that very Israelite prophet were to return after the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), a prophet from outside would indeed enter the Muslim community. That would be hard to reconcile with the Holy Prophet (saw) being the Seal of the Prophets. And those who followed him would be closer to Christians than to Muslims.

Islam understands the Messiah of the last days differently. The name is an image. It refers to a person born in the community of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), who obeys him perfectly and follows the teaching of the Holy Qur’an without the slightest deviation. He brings no new law and stands wholly under the Holy Prophet (saw). He is called the Messiah because he resembles Jesus (as) in character and in task.

The hadith above confirms this. The coming son of Mary will be an Imam from among the Muslims. So there is no contradiction. A Messiah who rises from within the community is a faithful servant of the Holy Prophet (saw), not a prophet from outside.