Signs of the Final Hour

The Dajjal

The Dajjal is one of the ten major signs before the Hour and one of the greatest trials mankind will face. The Sunnah gives enough detail to recognise the truth, protect faith, and avoid the dramatic inventions people attach to this topic.

Major Sign Status: To Come Protection: Dua and Surah al-Kahf

What Muslims Believe About the Dajjal

The Dajjal is not a normal sinner, not just a political enemy, and not a vague word for every corrupt system. He is a real end-time figure described in authentic hadith. His trial will be severe because he will call people to falsehood while showing things that confuse the eyes and shake weak hearts.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ spoke about him many times. He taught the Ummah his signs, the danger of his deception, the places he cannot enter, the dua to recite for protection, and the role of Isa ibn Maryam عليه السلام in ending his trial by Allah’s permission.

The safest path is simple: believe what is authentic, avoid guessing dates and identities, do not chase him, and hold tightly to tawheed, Salah, Qur’an, Sunnah, and the protection taught by the Prophet ﷺ.

Sign 01 Real Major Sign

A Real Person and a Severe Trial

The Dajjal will appear near the end of time as a real individual. His name is linked to deception because he will cover truth with falsehood and make falsehood look attractive. His test will not be small, because he will claim what no created being has the right to claim.

The Prophet ﷺ said that from the creation of Adam until the Hour, there would be no created trial greater than the Dajjal. This tells us why Muslims should learn this topic calmly and seriously, without turning it into scary gossip or internet theatre.

Every Prophet warned his people about him. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave this Ummah extra detail because this Ummah is closest to the end of time. This warning is mercy, not fear for entertainment.

Qur’an and Hadith Source

Sahih Muslim 2901a: The Dajjal is listed among the ten major signs before the Hour.
Sahih Muslim 2946a: The Prophet ﷺ said there would be no creation causing greater trouble than the Dajjal from the creation of Adam until the Last Hour.
Sahih al-Bukhari 7408 and Sahih Muslim 2933a: Every Prophet warned his nation about the one-eyed liar.
Qur’an 6:158: Allah mentions that when some signs of the Lord come, belief will no longer benefit a soul that did not believe before. This verse is general about decisive end-time signs; the Dajjal himself is described in hadith.

Sign 02 Clear Description

His Appearance and the Word Written Between His Eyes

The Sunnah describes the Dajjal as one-eyed. Some narrations mention his right eye and compare it to a protruding grape. Other narrations mention that the word kafir will be written between his eyes, and every believer will be able to read it.

The most important point in these narrations is tawheed. The Prophet ﷺ repeatedly taught that Allah is not one-eyed. Allah is perfect, free from deficiency, and nothing resembles Him. The Dajjal’s defect exposes his lie before his claims even begin.

This description must never be used to mock people with eye conditions or disabilities. Not every one-eyed person is Dajjal. The hadith describes a specific end-time liar, and the believer must keep the matter where the Prophet ﷺ placed it.

Qur’an and Hadith Source

Sahih al-Bukhari 7407: The Prophet ﷺ said Allah is not one-eyed, while the Dajjal is blind in the right eye and his eye is like a protruding grape.
Sahih al-Bukhari 7408: The Prophet ﷺ said the word kafir is written between the Dajjal’s eyes.
Sahih Muslim 2933a: The Prophet ﷺ mentioned the one-eyed liar and the letters k, f, r on his forehead.
Qur’an 42:11: Nothing is like Allah. This verse gives the aqeedah foundation for rejecting any false claimant to lordship.

Sign 03 Deception

His False Paradise, False Fire, and Worldly Deception

The Dajjal’s test will be powerful because things will not appear as they truly are. Authentic hadith says he will have what appears to people as water and fire. What looks like fire will be cool water, and what looks like water will be fire. The lesson is clear: during his trial, eyesight alone will not save a person. Revelation will.

The long narration of Nawwas ibn Sam’an رضي الله عنه describes how the Dajjal will move quickly across the earth, call people, and be followed by worldly effects that confuse people. Some will respond to him and be tested through wealth, rain, land, and outward benefit. Others who reject him will face hardship.

This does not mean the Dajjal owns the universe. He owns nothing independently. Allah allows his trial to happen as a test. The believer must remember that worldly comfort is not proof of truth, and hardship is not proof that Allah has abandoned a person.

Qur’an and Hadith Source

Sahih al-Bukhari 7130: The Prophet ﷺ said the Dajjal will have water and fire, but what seems to be fire will be cool water and what seems to be water will be fire.
Sahih Muslim 2934b: The Prophet ﷺ described two flowing rivers with him, one appearing as clear water and one appearing as flaming fire.
Sahih Muslim 2937a: The narration of Nawwas ibn Sam’an رضي الله عنه describes the Dajjal’s movement, his stay on earth, his tests, and the command to recite the opening verses of Surah al-Kahf.
Qur’an 67:2: Allah created life and its ending to test people as to who is best in deed. This is general Qur’anic context for understanding trials.

Sign 04 Forty Days

How Long He Will Remain on Earth

In the famous hadith of Nawwas ibn Sam’an رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said the Dajjal will remain for forty days: one day like a year, one day like a month, one day like a week, and the remaining days like ordinary days.

The Companions asked an important fiqh question: on the day like a year, would one day’s prayers be enough? The Prophet ﷺ said no, and told them to estimate the time. This shows that even during the strangest end-time trial, Salah remains obligatory and Muslims must preserve prayer.

This hadith is also a warning against treating end-time signs like a puzzle game. The Companions did not ask for entertainment. They asked how to worship Allah correctly during the trial.

Qur’an and Hadith Source

Sahih Muslim 2937a: The Prophet ﷺ mentioned forty days, including a day like a year, a day like a month, and a day like a week, and instructed the Companions to estimate prayer times.
Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 2240: A narration also mentions the forty days and estimating prayer time.
Qur’an 4:103: Prayer is prescribed for believers at fixed times. This verse gives the Qur’anic foundation for the importance of prayer times.

Sign 05 Protected Cities

He Will Not Enter Makkah and Madinah

The Dajjal will travel widely, but authentic hadith states that he will not be able to enter Makkah and Madinah. Angels will guard their entrances. Madinah will shake, and Allah will expel hypocrites and disbelievers from it.

This is a clear boundary from the Sunnah. Any story claiming that the Dajjal will enter Makkah or Madinah contradicts authentic hadith. A believer does not trade the words of the Prophet ﷺ for viral claims.

This protection also shows the honour of the two sanctuaries. But a person should not imagine that merely living in a blessed city replaces faith and sincerity. The hadith itself mentions that hypocrites will be exposed.

Qur’an and Hadith Source

Sahih al-Bukhari 1881: The Prophet ﷺ said the Dajjal will not enter Makkah and Madinah, and angels will guard their entrances.
Sahih al-Bukhari 7125: The terror of the Dajjal will not enter Madinah, and angels will guard its gates.
Sahih Muslim 2942a: The report of Tamim al-Dari رضي الله عنه includes that Makkah and Madinah are forbidden for the Dajjal to enter.
Qur’an 3:97: Allah mentions the security of the Sacred House. This verse gives Qur’anic context for the sanctity of Makkah, while the Dajjal boundary is from hadith.

Sign 06 End of His Trial

Isa عليه السلام Will Kill the Dajjal

The Dajjal’s trial will not last forever. Allah will send Isa ibn Maryam عليه السلام. Isa عليه السلام will pursue the Dajjal and kill him at the gate of Ludd. This connects the Dajjal topic directly to the next major sign: the descent of Isa عليه السلام.

This ending is important because it destroys the false claim of the Dajjal. He will pretend to have power, but he will be unable to escape the decree of Allah. The one he falsely challenges will not need armies of imagination to defeat him. Allah will end his trial through His Prophet Isa عليه السلام.

Qur’an and Hadith Source

Sahih Muslim 2937a: The narration mentions Isa ibn Maryam عليه السلام descending and then pursuing the Dajjal until he catches him at the gate of Ludd and kills him.
Sahih Muslim 2940a: The Prophet ﷺ said Allah will send Isa son of Maryam عليه السلام, who will chase the Dajjal and kill him.
Qur’an 4:157-159: These verses are discussed by scholars in relation to Isa عليه السلام and his end-time return, while the killing of the Dajjal is explained in hadith.

Dua and Protection Taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

The Prophet ﷺ did not leave the Ummah with fear only. He taught clear protection: seek refuge with Allah in prayer, memorise from Surah al-Kahf, recite the opening verses of Surah al-Kahf if facing him, and stay away from him instead of testing one’s faith.

Dua after the final tashahhud before salam

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ، وَمِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ

Transliteration: Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min ‘adhabi Jahannam, wa min ‘adhabil-qabr, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mamat, wa min sharri fitnatil-Masihid-Dajjal.

Meaning: O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of living and dying, and from the evil of the trial of al-Masih ad-Dajjal.

When to recite: After the final tashahhud in Salah and before salam. This is the specific time mentioned in the hadith.

Memorise the first ten verses of Surah al-Kahf. The Prophet ﷺ said whoever memorises the first ten verses of Surah al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal.
Recite the opening verses of Surah al-Kahf if alive when he appears. In the hadith of Nawwas ibn Sam’an رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ instructed whoever sees him to recite the opening verses of Surah al-Kahf over him.
Do not go near him to test yourself. The Prophet ﷺ said whoever hears of the Dajjal should keep far from him, because a person may think he is a believer and still be shaken by the confusion he causes.
Hold firmly to tawheed. The Dajjal’s biggest lie is a claim connected to lordship. The believer remembers that Allah is perfect, unseen by the people of this world, and nothing resembles Him.

Sources for protection

Sahih Muslim 588a and Sahih Muslim 589: The Prophet ﷺ taught seeking refuge from four matters after tashahhud, including the evil of the trial of al-Masih ad-Dajjal.
Sahih Muslim 809a: Whoever learns by heart the first ten verses of Surah al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal.
Sahih Muslim 2937a: Whoever lives to see him should recite the opening verses of Surah al-Kahf over him.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4319: The Prophet ﷺ said whoever hears of the Dajjal should stay far from him.

Fabrications and Wrong Claims People Make About the Dajjal

The Dajjal topic attracts rumours because it is frightening and mysterious. A Muslim should not build belief on forwarded messages, dramatic videos, political anger, or invented stories. The rule is simple: accept what is authentic, stop where the evidence stops, and do not speak about the unseen without knowledge.

Wrong claim: Dajjal is only the internet, television, AI, or a world system. These things can carry trials, but authentic hadith describes the Dajjal as a specific end-time figure with clear signs, movement, claims, and an end.
Wrong claim: A current leader, celebrity, billionaire, or public figure is definitely the Dajjal. The Sunnah did not tell us to play identity games. Until the signs described by the Prophet ﷺ appear clearly, naming people is reckless.
Wrong claim: Every one-eyed or disabled person is connected to Dajjal. This is false and cruel. The hadith describes one specific liar, not ordinary people with physical conditions.
Wrong claim: Dajjal will enter Makkah or Madinah. Authentic hadith says he will not enter them, and angels will guard their entrances.
Wrong claim: We know the exact year of his appearance. No authentic text gives a date. The timing of the major signs belongs to Allah.
Wrong claim: Secret numbers, amulets, special symbols, or invented rituals protect from him. The protection taught by the Prophet ﷺ is seeking refuge with Allah, Surah al-Kahf, staying away from him, and remaining firm upon faith.
Wrong claim: Every story online about his island, tunnels, family, army, or exact location is reliable. The hadith of Tamim al-Dari رضي الله عنه in Sahih Muslim is authentic, but many added details people circulate are not established from authentic sources.
Wrong claim: The Dajjal is stronger than Allah’s decree. His trial is only by Allah’s permission, and he will end exactly as Allah’s Messenger ﷺ foretold.

Sources that correct these claims

Sahih al-Bukhari 7407, Sahih al-Bukhari 7408, and Sahih Muslim 2933a: These narrations describe the Dajjal as a specific one-eyed liar and connect the warning to tawheed.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1881 and Sahih Muslim 2942a: These narrations state that he will not enter Makkah and Madinah.
Sahih Muslim 2937a and Sahih Muslim 2940a: These narrations describe his trial and his end through Isa ibn Maryam عليه السلام.
Qur’an 7:33: Allah forbids speaking about Him without knowledge. This applies strongly to unseen matters and end-time claims.

What a Believer Should Do Now

Read the dua in Salah. Make it a habit after the final tashahhud and before salam.
Memorise the first ten verses of Surah al-Kahf. Do not leave this protection as information only. Turn it into practice.
Strengthen tawheed. The heart that knows Allah properly is not easily fooled by false claims.
Avoid end-time sensationalism. Do not share claims unless the source is reliable and the wording is careful.
Ask Allah for firmness. The Dajjal’s trial is not defeated by confidence. It is survived by Allah’s protection and sincere faith.