Did Muhammad Swear by Jesus and Confess That Jesus Will Judge with Justice?

Did Muhammad Swear by Jesus and Confess That Jesus Will Judge with Justice?

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba | Shimba Theological Institute

Dear reader,
Today, let’s engage in a thought-provoking debate about a surprising claim found within Islamic hadith literature: Muhammad swearing by Jesus and acknowledging His role as the final judge.

What Do the Islamic Hadith Say?

In the authentic hadith collection of Sahih Bukhari (Hadith No. 425, Volume 3), narrated by Abu Huraira, the Prophet of Islam Muhammad is reported to have said:

“I swear by Him in Whose hand my soul is, surely the Son of Mary will soon descend among you and will judge mankind with justice.”

Now, this raises an important theological question: if, as Islam teaches, one should only swear by God (Allah), why would Muhammad swear by Jesus?

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Islamic Teaching on Swearing Oaths

In another hadith narrated by Abdallah bin ‘Umar and recorded in Sahih Bukhari, it is stated:

“Indeed, Allah forbids you from swearing by your fathers. Whoever must swear, let him swear by Allah or remain silent.”

This clearly commands Muslims to swear only by Allah — swearing by anyone or anything else is strictly forbidden.

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The Debate

If Muhammad, the central figure of Islam, swore by Jesus, what does this signify?

Question:
If Muhammad truly believed Allah to be supreme, why did he swear by Jesus and declare that it is Jesus who will descend and judge the world with justice?

Follow-up Question:
If swearing must be done only by God (as the hadith commands), why would Muhammad swear by Jesus — unless he recognized the divinity of Jesus?

Implication:
This suggests a theological contradiction within the Islamic sources. Either:

1. Muhammad committed an error against his own teachings (which would undermine the Islamic claim of his infallibility),
   or

2. Muhammad acknowledged a divine status in Jesus Christ, consistent with Christian belief in Jesus as the Living God and final Judge.

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Conclusion: Is Jesus Lord Even in Islamic Tradition?

This hadith opens an important window for dialogue. Even within Islamic tradition, Jesus is uniquely honored — not merely as a prophet, but as the one who will return and judge the world with justice. This is a role that, biblically and theologically, belongs to God alone.

So why follow Allah — who is not Yahweh — if even Muhammad points to Jesus as the ultimate judge?

I invite you, dear reader, to consider the person of Jesus Christ — the Living God, the Righteous Judge, and the Savior of the world.

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In His service,
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

Max Shimba Ministries Org ©2025. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document for educational and discussion purposes.

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