The Dajjal and the First Signs of the Hour: What Do You Know About Him?

The term “Dajjal” comes from “dajal,” meaning lying or deception. It is a title given to a person who will appear at the end of times, claiming divinity. Allah will enable him to perform wonders and extraordinary feats, which will cause great tribulation among people. His emergence will shake and sow doubt in beliefs, dividing people into those who believe and are convinced, those who follow him out of desire or fear, and those who deny him—either fleeing from his trials or resisting him.

The prophets warned their nations about him, and Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) elaborated extensively on the danger the Dajjal poses to people’s beliefs and religion. He described his physical attributes and miraculous feats, explained his deceptions, identified his followers and supporters, informed the Ummah about the duration of his stay on Earth, and detailed how he will die and who will kill him. These detailed explanations encompass the entirety of the Dajjal’s life, serving as advice to the Ummah and a safeguard for their religion against any doubts or uncertainties. Let us delve into these details:

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The Prophet’s Warning to His Ummah About the Dajjal

Although the Dajjal will appear at the end of times, close to the Hour, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)—as well as the prophets before him—warned their nations about him. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the severity of the Dajjal’s trial to such an extent that he equated it with the trial of the grave in his supplications, underscoring the immense harm he will bring. His trial will involve casting doubt on people’s fundamental beliefs about their religion and their Lord, Allah.

Abu Huraira (may Allah raise his rank) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say:

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the torment of the grave, the torment of the Fire, the trials of life and death, and the trial of the False Messiah (Dajjal).“ (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)

Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah raise his rank) said:

“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood among the people, praised Allah as He deserves, then mentioned the Dajjal, saying: ‘Indeed, I warn you about him. There is no prophet except that he warned his people about him.‘” (Agreed upon)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) further explained that the Dajjal will be the greatest trial humanity will face since the creation of Adam (peace be upon him). Imran ibn Husayn (may Allah raise his rank) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“From the creation of Adam until the establishment of the Hour, there is no trial greater than the Dajjal.“ (Narrated by Muslim)

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The Location and Time of the Dajjal’s Appearance

The hadith of Tamim Ad-Dari (may Allah raise his rank) in Sahih Muslim indicates that the Dajjal has existed since the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and possibly even earlier. He is confined on an island in a sea, awaiting Allah’s permission to emerge during his appointed time. His emergence will occur at the end of times, during an era marked by widespread trials and wars, and a lack of strong faith and knowledge among people.

Abu Huraira (may Allah raise his rank) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“The Muslims will conquer a city, part of which lies on land and part in the sea. Allah will grant them victory, and they will divide the spoils of war. While they are distributing the spoils, a cry will come: ‘The Dajjal has emerged.’ They will abandon everything and return.” (Narrated by Muslim)

Hudhayfah ibn Asid (may Allah raise his rank) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“The Hour will not be established until you see ten signs before it: the smoke, the Dajjal, the beast, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus), Gog and Magog, three landslides—one in the east, one in the west, and one in the Arabian Peninsula—and the last will be a fire that drives people to their place of gathering.” (Narrated by Muslim)

There is some disagreement among scholars about the chronological order of these signs, but many scholars, including Al-Qurtubi in Al-Tadhkirah, believe that the Dajjal will be the first of these major signs.

As for the location of the Dajjal’s emergence, hadiths indicate that he will appear from the east, specifically from Khurasan and a Jewish area in Isfahan. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah raise his rank) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“The Dajjal will emerge from a land in the east called Khurasan.“ (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi)

Anas ibn Malik (may Allah raise his rank) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“The Dajjal will emerge from a Jewish area in Isfahan, accompanied by seventy thousand Jews.” (Narrated by Ahmad)

The Jewish area in Isfahan was a village inhabited by Jews, and even after Muslims settled in Isfahan, the Jews maintained their presence in that particular area.

The Physical Description of the Dajjal

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) provided a detailed description of the Dajjal’s physical features, highlighting his distinctive characteristics. He compared him to individuals familiar to the companions so that people could easily recognize him and avoid being deceived. Among the descriptions are the following:

 

• • The Dajjal is blind in his right eye, which is protruding and resembles a floating grape. Ibn Umar (may Allah raise his rank) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
    “The Dajjal is blind in his right eye, and his eye looks like a bulging grape.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)

• • His left eye is defective as well, with a piece of flesh covering it. Anas (may Allah raise his rank) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
    “The Dajjal has a defective left eye covered with a thick piece of flesh, and between his eyes is written ‘Kafir’ (disbeliever).” (Narrated by Muslim)

• • Between his eyes is written “Kafir,” and every Muslim will be able to read it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
    “Between his eyes is written ‘Kafir,’ and every Muslim, whether literate or illiterate, will be able to read it.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)
    Imam Al-Nawawi commented: “The correct view held by scholars is that this writing is literal, and it is a sign from Allah to confirm the Dajjal’s disbelief and deception. Allah will make it visible to every believer, whether they are literate or not, while it will remain hidden from those destined to be misled.”

• • The Dajjal is described as being a large man, with reddish or fair skin (in Arab culture, the term “reddish” often refers to fair-skinned individuals). He has curly hair and is strongly built. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
    “He is a large man, reddish in complexion, with curly hair. He most resembles Abdul-Uzza ibn Qatan from Khuzā‘ah.” (Agreed upon)

• • His head is large and resembles that of a snake due to its roundness and size. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
    “His head is like the head of a snake.” (Narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Hibban)

• • He is described as being short and bow-legged, with widely spaced thighs or legs. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
    “The Dajjal is short and bow-legged.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood)

In summary, the Dajjal is a short man with a large body and head, both of his eyes are defective—the right is blind and protruding like a floating grape, while the left has a piece of flesh covering it. His complexion is reddish or fair, his hair is curly and thick, and he has widely spaced legs. Between his eyes is the word “Kafir.”

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The Dajjal Cannot Enter Mecca and Medina

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The Miraculous Feats of the Dajjal

The trial of the Dajjal does not lie in his appearance or speech but rather in the miraculous feats and deceptions he will be allowed to perform, which will lead many people astray. Among his feats:

 

1. 1. He will carry water and fire, deceiving people into believing his water quenches thirst and his fire burns, while the reality will be the opposite. His fire will be cool water, and his water will be scorching fire. Hudhayfah (may Allah raise his rank) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
      “The Dajjal will bring with him water and fire. His fire will be cool water, and his water will be scorching fire.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)

1. 1. He will command the sky to rain, and it will rain. He will command the earth to produce vegetation, and it will grow. He will summon treasures from the ground, and they will emerge for him.

1. 1. He will call upon a young man, kill him, and then bring him back to life.

The Duration of the Dajjal’s Stay

Out of Allah’s mercy towards His servants, the duration of the Dajjal’s stay on Earth will be short. He will remain for only a limited period. In the hadith, it is mentioned:

However, these forty days are not all of the same length. The companions asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about the duration of the Dajjal’s stay, and he said:

This hadith indicates the rapid pace of the Dajjal’s movements and the swift passing of his trial. For the believer, this serves as reassurance that the Dajjal’s time will be short, and his tribulation will quickly fade. This is a manifestation of Allah’s mercy towards His servants, as a longer duration would have brought greater hardship and temptation, even for those steadfast in their faith. A prolonged period would have also strengthened the falsehood he propagates.

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Protection From the Dajjal

Although the Dajjal will bring great tribulation and hardship, Allah’s guidance provides the means to safeguard oneself from his trials. Among the means of protection are:

 

1. 1. Knowledge of His Characteristics and Traits:
      The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was diligent in describing the physical features and attributes of the Dajjal, so that believers could recognize him when he appears. Scholars have emphasized the importance of spreading hadiths about the Dajjal, preserving them, and ensuring the Ummah does not forget these warnings.

1. 1. Seeking Refuge in Allah From His Fitnah (Trial):
      The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regularly sought refuge in Allah from the trials of the Dajjal during his prayers. He taught his Ummah to do the same. Abu Huraira (may Allah raise his rank) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
      “When one of you finishes the Tashahhud (in prayer), let him seek refuge in Allah from four things: ‘O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the torment of Hell, the torment of the grave, the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of the False Messiah (Dajjal).'” (Narrated by Muslim)

1. 1. Memorizing the First Ten Verses of Surah Al-Kahf:
      Abu Al-Darda’ (may Allah raise his rank) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
      “Whoever memorizes the first ten verses of Surah Al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal.” (Narrated by Muslim)
      Imam Al-Nawawi explained: “The reason for this protection lies in the miraculous nature of these verses. Reflecting upon them prevents one from being deceived by the Dajjal’s tricks.”

1. 1. Staying Away From Him:
      The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed believers to avoid approaching the Dajjal. He said:
      “Whoever hears of the Dajjal’s appearance, let him stay far away. By Allah, a man may think he is a believer, but he will follow the Dajjal due to the doubts he casts.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood)

1. 1. Engaging in Righteous Deeds and Worship:
      Abu Huraira (may Allah raise his rank) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
      “Hasten to perform good deeds before six events: the rising of the sun from the west, the smoke, the Dajjal, the beast, the death of one of you, or the general turmoil of the people.” (Narrated by Muslim)

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The End of the Dajjal

The Dajjal’s end will come at the hands of Isa (peace be upon him), whose return coincides with the Dajjal’s emergence. This reflects Allah’s immense mercy and wisdom, as Isa (peace be upon him) will serve as a leader and role model for believers, reinforcing their faith and refuting the Dajjal’s deceptions.