According
to the Islamic scholar and historian Sirajuddin Abu Hafs Umar ibnul
Wardi (d. 749 H), there is a section of Muslims who believe that the
descent of the Messiah in the latter days is not literal, but will be
fulfilled by the coming of a man who shall bear the characteristics
of the Messiah and resemble him spiritually:
وقالت
فرقة:
نزول
عيسى خروج رجل يشبه عيسى في الفضل والشرف
كما يقال للرجل الخير ملك وللشرير شيطان,
تشبيهاً
بهما,
ولا
يراد الأعيان.
Translation:
A section (of the Muslims) say: “The descent of Jesus signifies the
fact that a man will appear who will resemble Jesus in virtue and
excellence. This is like how it is said about a good man that he is
an Angel, or about an evil man that he is a Satan, by way of
resemblance, but not intending it literally.”
Reference:
Khareedat-ul-Aja'ib wal Fareedat-ul-Ghara'ib, p.190
It appears Ibn al-Wardi obtained this information from the earlier historian al-Mutahhar b. Tahir al-Maqdisi, who mentioned it in his book كتاب البدء والتاريخ v.2 p.196
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