In Islamic eschatology, Al-Masih ad-Dajjal is an evil figure who will appear towards the end of time to deceive humanity and lead people astray. The word “Dajjal” in Arabic means “deceiver” or “impostor”. He is sometimes referred to as the “False Messiah” or “Antichrist”.
There are many hadiths (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) that describe the appearance and deeds of ad-Dajjal during the end times. Here are some of the key points about ad-Dajjal in Islamic belief:
- He will emerge from the East, likely from the region of Khurasan in modern day Iran/Afghanistan.
- He will have one eye, while his other eye will be damaged or missing.
- He will claim to be God or a prophet of God.
- He will perform miracles and deceptive acts to misguide people.
- He will travel far and wide, except for Mecca and Medina.
- He will remain on earth for 40 days – one day equivalent to a year, another to a month, another to a week, and the rest will be regular days.
- He will have powers over the weather and agriculture, causing famine.
- He will command the sky to rain, and it will rain, and order the earth to bring forth its produce, and it will obey him.
- He will have mountains of bread with him, but people who follow him will still be hungry.
- He will kill someone and then resurrect them to make people believe he has power over life and death.
- He will be accompanied by demons, other evildoers, and what appear to be human beings but are in fact evil spirits in human forms.
Prophet Muhammad encouraged Muslims to recite the first and last ten verses of Surah Al-Kahf (chapter 18 of the Quran) as protection from the tribulations of ad-Dajjal. According to hadiths, the Prophet said that whoever memorizes these verses will be safe from ad-Dajjal’s deception.
When ad-Dajjal emerges, two powerful figures will oppose him:
- Prophet Isa (Jesus): Isa will descend from heaven and kill ad-Dajjal. According to hadiths, Isa will descend at the white minaret to the east of Damascus, placing his hands on the wings of two angels.
- Imam Mahdi: The Mahdi (“rightly guided one”) will be a descendant of Prophet Muhammad and will rule over an era of justice and peace alongside Isa. Together they will confront and defeat ad-Dajjal’s army.
Ad-Dajjal’s death at the hands of Prophet Isa will signify the approach of the Last Hour or Day of Judgement in Islamic eschatology. After he is killed, there will be a period of peace before the emergence of Gog and Magog (Ya’juj and Ma’juj). Their onslaught will usher in the final end times events.
The story of ad-Dajjal serves as a warning in Islamic tradition to be vigilant against figures who make false claims about divine status and have the ability to deceive people through their persuasiveness and miracles. Belief in ad-Dajjal reminds Muslims to hold fast to their faith and not be led astray by those with evil designs, no matter how convincing they may appear.
While ad-Dajjal is usually referred to in the singular, some scholars say there will be more than one Dajjal who will emerge over time. Others say ad-Dajjal is not one person but a system of deception that will pave the way for the antichrist. So the idea of ad-Dajjal has symbolic as well as literal meanings in Islamic eschatology.
Ad-Dajjal in the Hadiths
There are many hadiths (sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad) that describe the emergence and deeds of ad-Dajjal in detail. Studying these hadiths gives us further insight into this evil figure in Islamic end times prophecy.
Here are some of the key hadiths about ad-Dajjal:
Physical Attributes
- “No prophet was sent but he warned his followers against the one-eyed liar (ad-Dajjal). Beware! He is blind in one eye, and your Lord is not so, and there will be written between his (ad-Dajjal’s) eyes (the word) Kafir (disbeliever).” (Sahih Bukhari)
- “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: ‘He is one-eyed and your Lord is not one-eyed.'” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
- “The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, ‘…Allah is not hidden from you; He is not one-eyed.'” (Sahih Bukhari)
Place of Emergence
- “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: ‘The Dajjal will emerge from a land in the East called Khurasan.'” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
Followers of Ad-Dajjal
- “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: ‘…70,000 Jews of Isfahan wearing Persian shawls will follow al-Dajjāl.'” (Sahih Muslim)
- “The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: ‘…The Dajjal will camp at Khuz and Kirman (places in Iran) with 70,000 Jews.'” (Sahih Muslim)
Miracles and Deceptions
- “The Dajjal will say to a Bedouin Arab, ‘What will you think if I bring your father and mother back to life?’ He will say, ‘I will think that you are the Dajjal.’ The Dajjal will say, ‘I will kill you, then bring you back to life.’ So he will kill him and bring him back to life. Then he will say, ‘What do you think now?’ The man will say, ‘I believe you are him.'” (Musnad Ahmad)
- “He (the Dajjal) will have with him water and fire, but that which the people see as water will be burning fire, and that which the people see as fire will be cool and sweet water.” (Sahih Muslim)
Protection from Ad-Dajjal
- “Whoever memorizes the first ten verses of Surat al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal’s fitnah (trial/deception).” (Sahih Muslim)
- “The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, ‘Whoever is afflicted by the Dajjal’s stench, let him keep away from him and stay far from him, for it is a foul smell issuing from the Hellfire.'” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
These and many other hadiths provide vivid details about the end times figure of ad-Dajjal, emphasizing his miraculous powers, evil designs, and the need for Muslims to avoid him through remembrance of Allah and staying firm in faith.
Ad-Dajjal in Islamic Literature
Besides prophetic traditions, stories about ad-Dajjal have been elaborated on in classical and modern Islamic literature. Some key texts that discuss ad-Dajjal include:
Classical Sources
- Kitab Al-Fitan – Classical book of hadiths about end times tribulations by Nu’aym ibn Hammad (died 844 CE). Contains an extensive chapter on ad-Dajjal.
- Al-Malahim wa al-Fitan – Book about signs of the Last Day by Ibn Wahb (died 875 CE). Mentions ad-Dajjal’s emergence from Isfahan.
- Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah – Influential history text by Ibn Kathir (died 1373 CE). Discusses ad-Dajjal’s story in detail.
Modern Depictions
- Al Masih ad Dajjal – Novel by Egyptian author Abdul Rahman Ouf. Portrays ad-Dajjal as blind in his left eye using it as a metaphor for lack of spiritual insight.
- Dajjal: The Slayer and His Followers – Novel by popular Indian-American author Ahmad Thomson. Imagines ad-Dajjal as a mysterious global power threatening world peace.
- Dajjal – Horror film from India. Depicts ad-Dajjal as an evil spirit who haunts people by taking human form.
These and other fictional works build on prophetic descriptions to creatively imagine ad-Dajjal’s story and highlight his danger, keeping the idea alive in popular culture.
Views on the Emergence of Ad-Dajjal
Muslim scholars have differing views on when and how ad-Dajjal will emerge as prophesied in Islamic eschatology:
Passed Events
Some early scholars viewed ad-Dajjal as a symbolic figure whose prophecies were fulfilled in events that already occurred before Islam, such as:
- Pharaoh – His claim to be God is seen by some as the essence of ad-Dajjal.
- Nebuchadnezzar – Babylon king who persecuted monotheists.
- Tribes of Gog and Magog – Viewed by some Quran commentators as Ya’juj and Ma’juj.
Proponents of this view say ad-Dajjal already emerged but will also manifest again in the future.
Yet to Emerge
The dominant view is that ad-Dajjal is an evil figure who will appear towards end times. Muslim scholars have proposed various ideas about who ad-Dajjal could be:
- – Apostate Muslim ruler
- – Leader of a destructive world power
- – Evil human inspired by Satan
- – Jinn taking human form
- – Antichrist foretold in Christianity
- – Symbolic figure or deceiving system
This reflects the cryptic nature of ad-Dajjal in prophecy, allowing for multiple interpretations.
Already Born
Some contemporary Muslim scholars believe ad-Dajjal is already born and will appear towards end times after reaching maturity. They cite hadiths that ad-Dajjal will not enter Medina and Mecca as evidence he is already living but concealing his identity.
Divine Mystery
Other scholars say it is pointless to speculate about ad-Dajjal’s exact nature or identity, which remains a divine mystery. God has knowledge of the unseen and will reveal ad-Dajjal’s true colors in due time.
Overall, the idea of ad-Dajjal symbolizes the dangers of spiritual deception and falsehood Muslims must combat through faith in the end times. His exact form is less important than heeding the warnings against following false prophets.
Ad-Dajjal in Comparative Religion
The concept of ad-Dajjal in Islamic eschatology has parallels in other religions:
Judaism
- Deceiving messianic figure named Armilus expected before the Jewish Messiah’s arrival.
- Believed to perform miracles with the help of demons to misguide people.
Zoroastrianism
- Dajjal said to derive from Zoroastrian concept of Daeva – an evil spirit who spreads destruction.
- Also parallels idea of deceptive leader Astvat-ereta who corrupts humanity.
Christianity
- Share concepts like Antichrist, False Prophet, evil end times ruler.
- Power to perform miracles, gather huge following, face defeat by Jesus.
So while ad-Dajjal has distinctly Islamic flavors, the general idea of an evil end times deceiver resonates across faiths. The urge to heed warnings against spiritual deception is universal.
Significance of Ad-Dajjal in Islamic Eschatology
The concept of ad-Dajjal serves important functions in Islamic eschatology:
- Tests faith – Belief in ad-Dajjal despite his miracles tests Muslim’s unshakeable faith in God.
- Warns against deception – Story cautions Muslims to beware charlatans claiming divine status.
- Reassures Prophet’s return – Isa killing ad-Dajjal gives hope that truth will prevail.
- Portends end times – Emergence signifies end is near, time for repentance.
- Highlights need for vigilance – Constantly prepare to oppose evil and falsehood.
Ad-Dajjal’s shadow looming over history ensures Muslims uphold moral awareness, stick firmly to guidance, and actively confront evil – ideals crucial for Islamic spiritual practice.
In summary, ad-Dajjal is an ominous end times figure in Islamic theology who will test humanity through his miracles and deceit. Descriptions of ad-Dajjal in prophetic traditions, literature and scholarship paint a vivid picture of a complex, multi-faceted eschatological prophecy that serves central spiritual purposes for Muslims worldwide.
