K N O W I N G F A L S E M E S S I A H Protection from the Dajjāl s Tribulations Despite the great tribulations the Dajjāl brings by which Allah will test his servants, we are not left to face them alone. Rather, Allah and his messenger ( صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ) have shown the path of salvation from this False Messiah and his deceptions. Whoever follows this path is saved. Whoever refuses to follow the path, he is then in a very dangerous position as he may become one of those who believe the Dajjāl s lies and answer his call. The First Ten or Last Ten Verses of Sūrah al-kahf Abū al-dardā ( رضي اهلل عنه ) narrated a ḥadīth collected in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim in which he said that the prophet ( صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ) said: و ف ي أ و ل س و ر ة م ن آي ات ع ش ر ح ف ظ م ن الد ج ال م ن ع ص م ال ك ه ف ال ك ه ف آخ ر م ن ر و اي ة : Whoever memorizes ten verses from the beginning of Sūrah al-kahf will be protected from the Dajjāl, and in another narration: From the end of al-kahf. 1 Commenting on this ḥadīth in his explanation of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Imām al-nawawī says, The reason for this is because of the great wonders and signs contained in the beginning of it (Sūrah al-kahf). Whoever contemplates them will not be put to test by the Dajjāl. 2 1 Collected by Muslim 2 Sharḥ al-nawawī alá Muslim Page 1 of 9
K N O W I N G F A L S E M E S S I A H And from Abū Sa īd al-khudrī ( رضي اهلل عنه ), Allah s messenger ( صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ) said: ق ر أ س و ر ة م ن م ك ة إ ل ى م ق ام ه م ن ال ق ي ام ة ي و م إل ى ن و ر ا ل ه ك ان ت ال ك ه ف ي ض ر ه ل م الد ج ال خ ر ج ث م آخ ر ه ا م ن آي ات ع ش ر ق ر أ و م ن Whoever recites Sūrah al-kahf, he will have a light from his place to Mecca which will last until the Day of Resurrection. And whoever recites ten verses from the end of it and then were the Dajjāl to appear, he would not be able to harm that person. 3 In a narration of al-nawwās Ibn Sam ān ( رضي اهلل عنه ) collected by Muslim and Abū Dāwūd, the prophet ( صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ) said about the Dajjāl at the beginning of the ḥadīth: إ ن ي خ ر ج و أ ن ا ف يك م ف أ ن ا ح ج ي ج ه د ون ك م و إ ن ي خ ر ج و ل س ت ف ام ر ؤ ح ج ي ج ن ف س ه و الل ه خ ل ي ف ت ي ع ل ى ك ل م س ل م ف م ن أ د ر ك ه ف ل ي ق ر أ ع ل ي ه ف و ات ح س ور ة ال ك ه ف ف إ ن ه ا ج و ار ك م م ن ف ت ن ت ه ف يك م م ن ك م If he appears while I am among you, I will be his opponent instead of you. But should he appear when I am not with you then everyone will have to encounter him himself, and Allah is (still) the protector of every Muslim after I am gone. So whoever among you encounters him (the Dajjāl), let him recite the opening verses of Sūrah al-kahf upon him for they are your safety from his tribulations. 4 3 Collected by al-ṭabarānī and al-nasāī, and al-albānī says it is authentic in Ṣaḥīḥ al-targhīb wal-tarhīb (no. 225) 4 Collected by Muslim and Abū Dāwūd and that is the wording from Abū Dāwūd. al-albānī says it is authentic in Ṣaḥīḥ Sunan Abī Dāwūd (no. 3631) Page 2 of 9
K N O W I N G F A L S E M E S S I A H al-munāwī says in Fayḍ al-qadīr about Sūrah al-kahf and its protection from the Dajjāl: That is because of the miraculous wonders in the story of the people of the cave. Whoever knows about them would neither be so amazed at what occurs at the hand of the Dajjāl, nor would he be put to trial with him. Or perhaps it is because whoever genuinely reflects over these verses, considering their meanings, they would help him beware of him (the Dajjāl) and keep him safe from him. Or perhaps there is something else specifically characteristic of this chapter. 5 Avoiding Meeting Him & Fleeing from Him رضي ( al-ḥuṣayn Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, and al-ḥākim collected a ḥadīth from Imrān Ibn said: ) صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ( Allah ) who said that the messenger of اهلل عنه م ن س م ع بالد ج ال ف ل ي ن أ ع ن ه ف و الل ه إ ن الر ج ل ل ي أ ت ي ه و ه و ي ح س ب أ ن ه م ؤ م ن ف ي ت بع ه م م ا ي ب ع ث به م ن الش ب ه ات أ و ل م ا ي ب ع ث به م ن الش ب ه ات Whoever hears about the Dajjāl, let him stay away from him. For by Allah, a man may come to him thinking he is a believer but may then follow him because of the doubts he brings with him. 6 A Believer s Residing in Mecca or Medina 5 Fayḍ al-qadīr (vol. 6, pg. 118) 6 Collected by Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, and al-ḥākim, and al-albānī says it is authentic in Ṣaḥīḥ Sunan Abī Dāwūd (no. 3629) Page 3 of 9
K N O W I N G F A L S E M E S S I A H al-bukhārī collected from Anas Ibn Mālik ( رضي اهلل عنه ) who narrated that the messenger of Allah ( صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ) said: ن ق ابه ا م ن ل ه ل ي س و ال م د ين ة م ك ة إ ال الد ج ال س ي ط ؤ ه إ ال ب ل د م ن ل ي س ع ل ي ه إ ال ن ق ب ال م ال ئ ك ة ص اف ني ث الث بأ ه ل ه ا ال م د ين ة ت ر ج ف ث م ي ح ر س و ن ه ا و م ن اف ق ك اف ر ك ل الل ه ف ي خ ر ج ر ج ف ات There is no land the Dajjāl will not enter except Mecca and Medina. There is not a single path leading to them except that there are angels in rows guarding them. Medina will then be shaken by three earthquakes whereby Allah will remove every disbeliever and hypocrite (from Medina). 7 al-bukhārī also collected the statement of the prophet ( صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ) from Abū :( رضي اهلل عنه ( Bakrah ي و م ئ ذ س ب ع ة ل ه ا الد ج ال ال م س ي ح ر ع ب ال م د ي ن ة ي د خ ل ال ع ل ى أ ب و اب م ل ك ان ب اب ك ل The terror of the Dajjāl Messiah will not enter Medina. On that day, it will have seven gates (or paths) and at every gate there will be two angels. 8 said: (.وسل م صل ى اهلل عليه ( prophet ), the رضي اهلل عنه ( Mālik And in Ṣaḥīḥ al-bukhārī from Anas Ibn 7 Collected by al-bukhārī, Muslim, and Aḥmad 8 Collected by al-bukhārī Page 4 of 9
K N O W I N G F A L S E M E S S I A H ف ال ال م ال ئ ك ة ف ي ج د الد ج ال ي أ ت ي ه ا ال م د ي ن ة ي ح ر س و ن ه ا الد ج ال ي ق ر ب ه ا الل ه إ ن ش اء الط اع و ن و ال ق ال : Medina the Dajjāl will come to it but find angels guarding it; the Dajjāl will be unable to come near it. He said: And neither will the plague, if Allah wills. 9 Correct, Strong, & True Belief in Allah Muslim collected a narration in which the messenger of Allah ( صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ) said: إ ن ه م ك ت وب ب ي ن ع ي ن ي ه : ك اف ر ي ق ر ؤ ه م ن ك ر ه ع م ل ه أ و ي ق ر ؤ ه ك ل م ؤ م ن و ق ال : ت ع ل م وا أ ن ه ل ن ي ر ى أ ح د م ن ك م ر ب ه ع ز و ج ل ح ت ى ي م وت. Written between his two eyes is: كافر (kāfir disbeliever ). Whoever hates his actions will be able to read it, or every believer will be able to read it. Know that not a single one among you will ever see his Lord ( عز وجل ) until he dies. 10 Similarly in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥudhayfah Ibn al-yamān ( رضي اهلل عنه ) narrated that the prophet ( صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ) said: ك اف ر ع ي ن ي ه ب ي ن م ك ت و ب غ ل ي ظ ة ظ ف ر ة ع ل ي ه ا الع ي ن م م س و ح الد ج ال و إ ن ك ات ب و غ ي ر ك ات ب م ؤ م ن ك ل ي ق ر ؤ ه 9 Collected by al-bukhārī 10 Collected by Muslim, and al-bukhārī, Abū Dāwūd, and al-tirmidhī collected similar ḥadīth from Anas Ibn Mālik ) رضي اهلل عنه ( Page 5 of 9
K N O W I N G F A L S E M E S S I A H And the Dajjāl has one eye partially covered by a thick eyelid. Written between his two eyes is: literate or illiterate. 11 it, (kāfir disbeliever ). Every believer will be able to read كافر Choosing the Dajjāl s Fire if Tested with Such Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, and al-ḥākim collected a narration from Ḥudhayfah Ibn al-yamān said: ) صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ( messenger ) who said that Allah s رضي اهلل عنه ( ن ه ر ه د خ ل ف م ن و ن ار ن ه ر م ع ه الد ج ال ي خ ر ج أ ج ر ه و ح ط و ز ر ه و ج ب الس اع ة ق ي ام ه ي إ ن م ا ث م و ز ر ه و ح ط أ ج ر ه و ج ب ن ار ه و م ن د خ ل The Dajjāl will appear and with him will be a river and a fire. Whoever enters his river, his sin is guaranteed and his reward is removed. And whoever enters his fire, his reward is guaranteed, his sin removed. Then it is the establishment of the (last) hour. 12 said: ) وسل م صل ى اهلل عليه ( prophet ), the رضي اهلل عنه ( al-bāhilī Similarly, in the ḥadīth of Abū Umāmah بن ار ه. اب ت ل ي ف م ن ن ار و ج ن ت ه ف ن ار ه ج ن ة و ن ار ا ج ن ة م ع ه أ ن ف ت ن ت ه م ن...و إ ن بالل ه ف ل ي س ت غ ث و لي ق ر أ الك ه ف ف و ات ح 11 Collected by Muslim, Aḥmad, and Abū Dāwūd. 12 Collected by Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, and al-ḥākim, and it is no. 8049 in al-albānī s Ṣaḥīḥ al-jāmi Page 6 of 9
K N O W I N G F A L S E M E S S I A H And surely from his tribulations is that he will have with him a paradise and a fire, but his fire is actually a paradise and his paradise is actually a fire. So whoever is tested with his fire, let him seek help from Allah and recite the opening verses of (Sūrah) al-kahf. 13 And in another narration from Ḥudhayfah, the prophet ( صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ) said: م اء الع ي ن ر أ ي أ ح د ه م ا ي ج ر ي ان ن ه ر ان م ع ه م ن ه الد ج ال م ع مبا أ ع ل م أل ن ا أ ب ي ض و اآلخ ر ال ذ ي الن ه ر ف ل ي أ ت أ ح د أ د ر ك ن ف إ م ا ت أ ج ج ن ار الع ي ن ر أ ي ب ار د م اء ف إ ن ه م ن ه ف ي ش ر ب ر أ س ه لي ط أ ط ئ ث م و ل ي غ م ض ن ار ا ي ر اه I know what the Dajjāl will have with him even more than he knows himself. He will have two flowing rivers. One will appear like clear water, the other like a blazing fire. If someone encounters them, then he should go to the river which appears like a fire, close his eyes, lower his head, and drink from it for it is cool water. 14 Seeking Protection with Allah, Especially in Every Prayer Zayd Ibn Thābit ( رضي اهلل عنه ) narrated that the tribulation of the Dajjāl was among the trials the prophet instructed the companions to seek protection with Allah regarding. The prophet them: ) told صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ( 13 Collected by Ibn Mājah, al-ḥākim, and Ibn Khuzaymah, and it is in al-albānī s Ṣaḥīḥ al-jāmi (no. 7875). 14 Collected by Muslim, Aḥmad, and Abū Dāwūd. Page 7 of 9
K N O W I N G F A L S E M E S S I A H الد ج ال ف ت ن ة م ن بالل ه ت ع و ذ و ا Seek protection with Allah from the tribulations of the Dajjāl. The companions then immediately did as advised, saying, We seek protection with Allah from the tribulations of the Dajjāl. 15 As for seeking protection from the Dajjāl in prayer, Abū Hurayrah ( رضي اهلل عنه ) said that the prophet ( صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ) said: : ع ذ اب م ن أ ر ب ع م ن بالل ه ف ل ي ت ع و ذ اآلخ ر الت ش ه د م ن أ ح د ك م ف ر غ إ ذ ا ال م س ي ح ش ر و م ن و ال م م ات ال م ح ي ا ف ت ن ة و م ن ال ق ب ر ع ذ اب و م ن ج ه ن م الد ج ال When any of you finish with the final Tashahhud (in prayer), let him seek protection with Allah from four things: from the punishment of Hell, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the Dajjāl Messiah. 16 Āishah ( رضي اهلل عنها ) reported that the messenger of Allah ( صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ) used to also say in his prayer: 15 Collected by Muslim 16 Collected by Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Mājah, and others Page 8 of 9
K N O W I N G F A L S E M E S S I A H ال م س ي ح ف ت ن ة م ن بك و أ ع و ذ ال ق ب ر ع ذ اب م ن بك أ ع و ذ إ ن ي الل ه م م ن بك أ ع و ذ إ ن ي الل ه م ال م م ات و ف ت ن ة ال م ح ي ا ف ت ن ة م ن بك و أ ع و ذ الد ج ال. و ال م غ ر م امل أ ث م Oh Allah, I seek protection with you from the punishment of the grave, and I seek protection with you from the tribulations of the Dajjāl Messiah, and I seek protection with you from the trials of life and the trials of death; oh Allah, I seek protection with you from sin and debt. Someone asked him, Why do you so often seek the protection of Allah from debt? The prophet answered: ) صل ى اهلل عليه وسل م ( غ ر م ح د ث إ ذ ا الر ج ل إ ن ف أ خ ل ف و و ع د ف ك ذ ب A man, when he incurs a debt, speaks but lies and promises but breaks his promise. 17 17 Collected by al-bukhārī, Muslim, and al-nasāī Page 9 of 9