Book Eighteen: The Book of Miscellaneous Ahadith of Significant values:- Chapter 370 - Ahadith about Dajjal and Portents of the Hour

An-Nawwas bin Sam`an reported: One morning the Messenger of Allah made a mention of Dajjal, and he described him to be insignificant and at the same time described him so significant that we thought he was on the date-palm trees (i.e., nearby). When we went to him (the Prophet ) in the evening, he perceived the sign of fear on our faces. He said,

"What is the matter with you?''  

We said: "O Messenger of Allah, you talked about Dajjal this morning raising your voice and lowering it until we thought he was hiding in the palm-trees grove” He said:

"Something other than Dajjal make worry about you. If he appears while I am with you, I will defend you against him. But if he appears after I die, then everyone of you is his own defender. Allah is the One Who remains after me to guide every Muslim. Dajjal will be a young man with very curly hair with one eye protruding (with which he cannot see). I compare (his appearance) to that of Al-`Uzza bin Qatan. He who amongst you survives to see him, should recite over him the opening Ayat of Surah Al-Kahf (i.e., Surah 18: Verses 1-8). He will appear on the way between Syria and Iraq and will spread mischief right and left. O slaves of Allah! Remain adhered to the truth.''  

We asked: "O Messenger of Allah! How long will he stay on the earth?'' He  said,

"For forty days. One day will be like a year, one day like a month, one day like a week and the rest of the days will be like your days.''  

We said: "O Messenger of Allah! Will one day's Salat (prayer) suffice for the Salat of that day which will be equal to one year?'' Thereupon he  said,

"No, but you must make an estimate of time and then offer Salat.''  

We said: "O Messenger of Allah! How quickly will he walk upon the earth?'' Thereupon he  said,

"Like cloud driven by the wind (i.e., very quickly). He will come to the people and call them to his obedience and they will affirm their faith in him and respond to him. He will then give command to the sky and it will send its rain upon the earth and he will then send his command to the earth and it will grow vegetation. Then in the evening their pasturing animals will come to them with their humps very high and their udders full of milk and their flanks stretched. He will then come to another people and invite them, but they will reject him and he will leave them, in barren lands and without any goods and chattels! He would then walk through the waste land and say to it: `Bring forth your treasures', and the treasures will come out and follow him like swarms of bees.

He will then call a person brimming with youth and strike him with the sword and cut him into two pieces and make these pieces lie at a distance, which is generally between the archer and his target. He will then call that young man and he will come forward, laughing, with his face gleaming out of joy; and it will be at this very time that Allah will send `Isa (Jesus),   son of Maryam (Mary) who will descend at the white minaret in the eastern side of Damascus, wearing two garments lightly dyed and placing his hands on the wings of two angels. When he will lower his head, there would fall drops of water from his head, and when he will raise it up, drops like pearls would scatter from it. Every disbeliever who will find his (i.e., `Isa's) smell will die and his smell will reach as far as he will be able to see. He will then search for Dajjal until he will catch hold of him at the gate of Ludd (village near Jerusalem), and will kill him. Then the people, whom Allah will have protected, will come to `Isa son of Maryam, and he will wipe their faces and will inform them of their ranks in Jannah, and it will be under such conditions that Allah will reveal to `Isa these words: `I have brought forth from amongst my slaves such people against whom none will be able to fight, so take these people safely to the mountain.'

And then Allah will send Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog people) and they will sworn down from every slope. The first of them will pass the Lake Tabariyah (near the Dead Sea in Palestine) and drink all its water. And when the last of them will pass, he will say: `There was once water there.' Prophet `Isa (Alayhi Salam) and his companions will then be so much hard-pressed that the head of an ox will be dearer to them than one hundred dinar, and `Isa along with his companions, will make supplication to Allah, Who will send insects which will attack their (Ya'juj and Ma'juj people) neck until they all will perish like a single person. Prophet, 'Isa   and his companions will then come down and they will not find in the earth as much space as a single span which would not be filled with their corpses and their stench. Prophet `Isa and his companions will then again beseech Allah, Who will send birds whose necks will be like those of Bactrian camels, and they will carry them and throw them where Allah will desire.

Then Allah will send down rain which will spare no house in the city or in the countryside. It would wash away the earth until it appears like a mirror. Then the earth will be told to bring forth its fruit and restore its blessings; and as a result of this, there will grow such a big pomegranate that a group of people will eat from it and seek shelter under its skin. Milk will be so blessed that the milk of one she-camel will suffice for a large company and the cow will give so much milk, that it will suffice for a whole tribe. The sheep will give so much milk that the whole family will be able to drink out of that, and at that time Allah will send a pleasant wind which will soothe people even under their armpits, and will take the life of every Muslim and true believer, and only the wicked will survive. They will commit adultery in public like asses and the Resurrection Day will be held.'' [Muslim].


Commentary: In the above statement we find details about the signs of the Day of Resurrection, the appearance of Dajjal (Antichrist), the coming of Prophet `Isa    - son of Maryam, and the appearance of Gog and Magog people. We also find all the important events which will happen during these times. Here, we also note the havoc of Dajjal and the destruction of Gog and Magog people. Then finally the killing of them by the efforts of Prophet `Isa   and his prayers.

Rib'i bin Hirash said: I accompanied Abu Mas`ud Al-Ansari to Hudaifah bin Al-Yaman (Radhi Allahu Huma). Abu Mas`ud said to him: "Tell us what you heard from the Messenger of Allah about Dajjal (the Antichrist).'' Hudaifah said: He said,

"Dajjal will appear, and with him will be water and fire. That which people consider to be water will in fact be a burning fire, and that which people will consider to be fire will in fact be cool and sweet water. He who from amongst you happens to face him, should jump into that which he sees as fire for that will be nice and sweet water.''

Abu Mas`ud    said: "I have also heard this from the Messenger of Allah .'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As (Radhi Allahu Huma) said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"Dajjal (the Antichrist) will appear in my Ummah and he will stay in the world for forty. I do not know whether this will be forty days or forty months or forty years. Allah will then send (Prophet) `Isa (Jesus),  son of Maryam (Mary).`Isa will pursue him and slaughter him. Then people will survive for seven years (i.e., after the demise of `Isa) in the state that there will be no rancour between two persons. Then Allah will send a cool breeze from the side of Ash-Sham. None will remain upon the face of the earth having the smallest particle of good or Faith in him but he will die, so much so that even if someone amongst you will enter the innermost part of a mountain, this breeze will reach that place also and will cause him to die. Only the wicked people will survive and they will be as fast as birds (i.e., to commit evil) and as ferocious towards one another as wild beasts. They will never appreciate the good, nor condemn evil. Then Shaitan (Satan) will come to them in the garb of a man and will say: `Will you not obey me?' They will say: `What do you order us to do?' He will command them to worship idols. They will have abundance of sustenance and will lead comfortable lives. Then the Trumpet will be blown. Every one hearing it, will turn his neck towards it and will raise it. The first one to hear that Trumpet will be a man who will be busy repairing the basin for his camels. He will become unconscious. Allah will send, or will cause to send, rain which will be like dew and there will grow out of it (like wild growth) the bodies of the people.

Then the second Trumpet will be blown and they will stand up and begin to look around. Then it will be said: `O people! Go to your Rabb.' Then there will be a command: `Make them stand there.' After it they will be called to account. Then it will be said: `Separate from them the share of the Fire.' It will be asked: `How much?' It will be said: `Nine hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousand.' That will be the Day which will make children hoary-headed men because of its terror and that will be the Day when the Shin will be uncovered.'' [Muslim].


Commentary: The question arises as to what is the meaning of the phrase - the Shin will be uncovered - at this place? Some people say that it refers to the calamities and troubles of the Day of Judgement. But according to a reliable narration, it refers to an act of Allah of uncovering His Shin in a way which befits His Majesty. As believers, we must confirm Allah's all Qualities which He has stated in the Qur'an or mentioned through His Messenger without changing them or ignoring them completely or twisting their meanings or giving resemblance to any of the created things. What is meant by the uncovering of the Shin of Allah is something we can neither understand nor describe. We can only believe in it without understanding the real explanation of it, in the same way we believe in the Eye or Ear of Allah. We should believe in all these things as mentioned in the Qur'an and Hadith without trying to go into the explanation. This is the view of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah to which we should stick. (See Tafsir Ahsan-ul-Bayan)

Then all the Muslims will prostrate before Him. However, those people who used to pray and prostrate before Him in their worldly lives only for showing off or for gaining good reputation, will not be able to prostrate before Him on this occasion. Their spines will become stiff like a wooden board and it would become impossible for them to bend. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Tafsir Surah An-Nur and Al-Qalam).

Anas bin Malik said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"There will be no land which will not be trampled by Dajjal (the Antichrist) but Makkah and Al-Madinah; and there will be no passage leading to them which will not be guarded by the angels, arranged in rows. Dajjal will appear in a barren place adjacent to Al-Madinah and the city will be shaken three times. Allah will expel from it every disbeliever and hypocrite.'' [Muslim].

Anas said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"Dajjal (the Antichrist) will be followed by seventy thousand Jews of Isfahan and will be dressed in robes of green coloured satin.'' [Muslim].


Commentary: Isfahan is a city in Persia (Iran). Tailasan green sheet (is the dress of the Sheikhs of the non-Arab nations).

Umm Sharik reported: I heard the Prophet saying,

"People will run away from Dajjal (the Antichrist) seeking shelter in the mountains.'' [Muslim].

Imran bin Hussain (Radhi Allahu Huma) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah saying,

"Between time of the creation of Adam and the Resurrection Day, there is nothing greater than the mischief of Dajjal (the Antichrist).''   [Muslim].

Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri reported: I heard the Prophet saying,

"Dajjal (the Antichrist) will come forth and a person from amongst the believers will go towards him and the armed watchmen of Dajjal will meet him and they will say to him: `Where do you intend to go?' He will say: `I intend to go to this one who has appeared.' They will say to him: `Don't you believe in our lord (meaning Dajjal)?' He will say: `There (i.e., we know Him to be Allah, Alone, without any partners) is nothing hidden about our Rabb.' Some of them will say: `Let us kill him', but some others will say: `Has your lord (Dajjal) not forbidden you to kill anyone without his consent?'

So they will take him to Dajjal. When the believer will see him, he will say: `O people! This is Dajjal about whom the Messenger of Allah has informed us.' Dajjal will have him laid on his stomach and have his head. He will be struck on his back and on his stomach. Dajjal will ask him: `Don't you believe in me?' He will say: `You are the false Messiah.' He will then give his order to have him sawn with a saw into two from the parting of his hair up to his legs. After that Dajjal will walk between the two halves and will say to him: `Stand up', and he will stand on his feet. He will then say to him: `Don't you believe in me?' The person will say: `It has added to my insight that you are Dajjal'. He will add: `O people! He will not be able to behave with anyone amongst people in such a manner after me.' Dajjal will try to kill him. The space between his neck and collarbone will turn into copper and he will find no way to kill him. So he will catch hold of him by his hand and feet and throw him into (what appears to be the fire). The people will think that he has been thrown into the fire whereas he will be thrown into Jannah.''  

The Messenger of Allah added,

 "He will be the most eminent amongst the people with regard to martyrdom near the Rabb of the worlds.'' [Muslim]


Commentary: In this narration we find the description of a believer's steadfastness and forbearance and his final martyrdom while facing the wickedness and temptation of the mischief of Dajjal, i.e., Antichrist. Here, we find that the part of his neck will turn into copper which could either happen in reality or, according to another interpretation, that he (Dajjal) will not be able to kill him. Allah knows better, as Allah can do whatever He likes, or it may just be a statement like a parable or a simile and some people think that this refers to the fact that Dajjal will not be able to cut his neck. But it is better to consider it in terms of reality.

Al-Mughirah bin Shu`bah said: No one asked the Messenger of Allah more about Dajjal than I asked him. He said to me,

"He will not harm you.''

I said: "O Messenger of Allah, it is reported that he will have with him a mountain of bread and a river full of water.'' Thereupon he   said,

"He (Dajjal) is far too worthless and insignificant near Allah (to let him deceive the believers).'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


Commentary: The last part of the Hadith means that, although Dajjal will have great resources and methods of misleading people, the true believers will not be deceived by his tricks; on the contrary, they will increase in Faith (as what the Prophet said about Dajjal is true).

Anas said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"There has not been a Prophet who has not warned his Ummah of that one-eyed liar (Dajjal). Behold, he is blind in one eye and your Rabb (Allah) is not blind. On his forehead are the letters: (K.F.R.) (meaning Kafir- disbeliever).'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"Let me tell you something about Dajjal (the Antichrist) which no Prophet had told his people. He is blind (in one eye) and will bring with him something like Jannah and Hell; but what he calls Jannah will be in fact Hell.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abdullah bin `Umar (Radhi Allahu Huma) said: One day the Messenger of Allah mentioned Al-Masih Dajjal (the Antichrist) in the presence of the people and said,

"Verily, Allah is not one-eyed but Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal is blind in the right eye which looks like a swollen grape.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]


Commentary: All these narrations about the mischief of Dajjal are correct and have been narrated through reliable narrators, and all scholars agree on their being true. They have been reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, whose narrations are unanimously accepted by the `Ulama'.

The second coming of the Prophet 'Isa (Jesus)  from the heavens is proved on the basis of such reliable and true narrations that none can contradict them. Before the Day of Resurrection all these things will happen, and it is essential to believe in them. Dajjal would be a descendant of the Jews, and he will be called Dajjal because of his mischief. The meaning of Dajjal is `one who greatly resorts to fraud and deception'. Allah will also give him some extraordinary powers to test the belief of the Muslims. Dajjal will claim to be the lord of the world. A large portion of the Jews will be with him. He has also been named as Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal in some narrations. Jesus,   son of Mary will have the honour of killing him.

Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"The Last Hour will not come until the Muslims fight against the Jews, until a Jew will hide himself behind a stone or a tree, and the stone or the tree will say: `O Muslim, there is a Jew behind me. Come and kill him,' but Al-Gharqad tree will not say so, for it is the tree of the Jews.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


Commentary: Gharqad is a thorny plant which is well-known in the area of Palestine. Allah can bestow the power of speech to whatever thing He likes. When Allah wills, He will give mastery to the Muslims. He will help them even by means of plants and stones which will assist the Muslims against the Jews by informing them about the whereabouts of the Jews.

The Jews have predominance over the Muslims in spite of the fact that they are a minority. But according to this true narration, the situation will definitely change before the Day of Resurrection, and the Muslims will dominate the Jews. Allah is the Master and Rabb of everything.

Abu Hurairah reported: The Messenger of Allah said,

"By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, the world will not come to an end until a man passes by a grave and will lie over it saying, `Would that I were in this grave (i.e., dead)!' Not he will say so because of religious reasons but because of widespread mischief and severe trials of this world.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: There would be such disasters and agony in the world that people will prefer death to life under such conditions. This situation will arise before the Day of Resurrection, and the Day of Judgement will dawn on such wicked people.

Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"The Hour will not come to pass before the River Euphrates dries up to unveil the mountain of gold, for which people will fight. Ninety-nine out of one hundred will die (in the fighting) and every man amongst them will say: `Perhaps I may be the only one to remain alive.'''

Another narration is: "The time is near when the River Euphrates will dry up to unveil a treasure of gold. Whosoever may be alive at that time, should not take anything of it.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]


Commentary: The word "Yahsir" means unveil or uncover, i.e., the river will dry up and gold will be discovered underneath its bottom when Allah would like to do so. This will also surely take place before the Day of Judgement. When this incident will take place, only those people would remain safe who will be free from worldly greed and will not try to get this gold.

Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"People will desert Al-Madinah in spite of it being in better condition except for wild beasts and birds. The Last Hour will happen upon two shepherds of the tribe of Muzainah. They will enter Al-Madinah driving their sheep but will find it full of wild beasts and would turn away. When they will arrive at the hill named Thaniyyat-ul-Wada` they will fall on their faces.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


Commentary: According to some scholars like Al-Qadi `Iyad, this prophecy has already been fulfilled, when the caliphate was shifted from Al-Madinah to Syria and Mesopotamia, although Al-Madinah was superior to these places in every way, worldly or otherwise, scholars were in abundance and the people were well off. However, others say that the prophecy has not been fulfilled yet, and that it will be fulfilled shortly before the Day of Judgement; they hold this view because the conditions described in the narration have not taken place. This second view seems to be more correct.

Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said: The Prophet said,

"From your caliphs there will be one in the Last Days who will distribute wealth without counting it.'' [Muslim].


Commentary: Here the abundance of wealth during the time of a caliph has been prophesied. This also refers to the last days of the world.

Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said: The Prophet said,

"A time will come when a man will go about with alms from his gold and will not find anyone to receive it. One man will be seen being followed by forty women dependant upon him on account of the scarcity of men and excess of women.'' [Muslim].


Commentary: This Hadith also reveals one of the prophecies of the Prophet which have not been fulfilled yet. One of them is that wealth will be abundant and females will greatly exceed the males in number. This may happen due to wars, when more males will be killed, or the birth rate of females may exceed that of the males.

Abu Hurairah reported: The Prophet said,

"A man bought a piece of land from another man, and the buyer found a jar filled with gold in the land. The buyer said to the seller: `Take your gold, as I bought only the land from you and not the gold.' The owner of the land said: `I sold you the land with everything in it.' So both of them took their case before a third man who asked: `Have you any children?' One of them said: `I have a boy.' The other said, `I have a girl.' The man said: `Marry the girl to the boy and spend the money on them; and whatever remains give it in charity.''' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


Commentary: This is the story of some people from the past, in which exemplary honesty, piety and the will to abstain from the doubtful property has been described. But as far as the law of Shari`ah is concerned, it appears that in the transaction of land, any buried treasure will not be included in the sale. It will be considered quite separately and apart from the sale of the land. If the previous owner says that the treasure belongs to him and he forgot to take it out, then it will be considered as his property and not the property of the buyer of the land. But if he shows ignorance about it, then it will be considered under the title of "Rikaz". In such a case, one-fifth of it goes to the public treasury and the rest to the owner of the land. Rikaz refers to any buried treasure which is discovered in any land.

Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"There were two women, each had her child with her. A wolf came and took away the child of one of them. One woman said to her companion: `The wolf has taken your son.' The other said: `It has taken your son.' So both of them took the dispute to Prophet Dawud (David) (Alayhi Salam) who judged that the boy should be given to the older lady. Then they went to Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) (Alayhi Salam) son of Dawud (Alayhi Salam) and put the case before him. Prophet Sulaiman (Alayhi Salam) said: Give me a knife so that I may cut the child into two and give one half to each of you.' The younger woman said: `Do not do so; may Allah bless you! He is her child.' On that Prophet Sulaiman (Alayhi Salam) decided the case in favour of the younger woman.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


Commentary: Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) (Alayhi Salam) went to the depth of the matter by wisdom bestowed by Allah and the power of decision using a device or a trick as a method of discovering the truth. He used this trick to discover the truth and not to evade it. Such a trick is not forbidden in the law and there is no doubt in its being permitted. However, those tricks which are used to avoid the law are a great sin for which the Jews are well-known. May Allah save us from such things. Ameen

Mirdas Al-Aslami said: The Prophet said,

"The pious men will depart one after another, the dregs of people, like the sediment of barley or dates will remain; Allah will not raise them in value and esteem.'' [Al-Bukhari].


Commentary: The Hadith shows that the demise of the pious people is one of the signs of the nearness of the Day of Resurrection. It also shows that during the last days near the Day of Resurrection, pious persons will not remain and only the wicked people will inhabit the earth and the Day of Judgement will dawn on such bad people.

Rifa'ah bin Rafi` Az-Zuraqi said: Jibril (Gabriel) (Alayhi Salam) came to the Prophet and asked him: "How do you estimate among you those who participated in the battle of Badr?'' He  replied,

"They were the best of Muslims''  (or he may have said something similar to that).

Jibril (Alayhi Salam) said: "The same is the case with the angels who were at Badr.'' [Al-Bukhari].


Commentary: The Hadith highlights the superiority of those Companions, as well those angels, who participated in the battle of Badr against the forces of Kufr. The Qur'an confirms the fact that the angels fought along with Muslims in this historic battle.

Ibn `Umar (Radhi Allahu Huma) said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"If Allah afflicts punishment upon a nation, it befalls the whole population indiscriminately and then they will be resurrected and judged according to their deeds.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


Commentary: When Allah's punishment comes to pass, it does not distinguish between the upright and the wicked. However, the pious people will be saved from punishment after their death while the wicked ones will be punished in the Hell. May Allah save us from all types of punishments.

Jabir said: There was a trunk of a date-palm tree upon which the Prophet used to recline while delivering Khutbah (sermon). When a pulpit was placed in the Masjid, we heard the trunk crying out like a pregnant she-camel. The Prophet came down from the pulpit and put his hand on the trunk and it became quiet.

Another narration is: The Prophet used to stand by a tree or a date-palm on Friday (to give the Khutbah). Then an Ansari woman or man said, "O Messenger of Allah! Shall we make a pulpit for you?'' He  replied,

"If you wish.''  

So they made a pulpit for him and when it was Friday, the Prophet sat on the pulpit [to deliver the Khutbah (sermon)] and the trunk of the date-palm on which he used to recline cried out as if it would split asunder.

Another narration is: It cried like a child and the Prophet descended (from the pulpit) and embraced it while it continued moaning like a child being quietened. The Prophet said,

"It was crying for (missing) what it used to hear of Dhikr near it.'' [Al-Bukhari].


Commentary: Ibn Hajar said that there is evidence in this Hadith that Allah can endow inanimate objects with a special sense or feeling like that of animals. The Hadith also shows one of the numerous miracles of the Messenger of Allah .

Abu Tha`labah Al-Khushani said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"Allah, the Exalted, has laid down certain duties which you should not neglect, and has put certain limits which you should not transgress, and has kept silent about other matters out of mercy for you and not out of forgetfulness, so do not seek to investigate them.''   [Ad-Daraqutni and others]


Commentary: According to Sheikh Al-Albani there is a break in the chain of this narration. He has given the details about it in his book. But some other scholars have declared it in the category of Hasan narrations. Even Imam An-Nawawi has termed it as Hasan. For details refer to Mustadrak Al-Hakim, Vol. 4: P. 115; Majma` Az-Zawaid, Vol. 7: P.75; Tirmidhi: Chapter relating to Dress, No. 1726; Ibn Majah: Book of Food: Chapter: Eating of Cheese and Butter No:3367; As-Sunan Al-Kubra by Al Baihaqi: Book of Sacrifice, Chapter: What has been said about hyena and fox.

According to Imam As-Sam`ani, this Hadith is very important, as the details of important things have been given here. Whosoever leads his life accordingly, will surely succeed in this life and the Hereafter.