Dajjal - The Dark Messiah
By a student of Darul Uloom, Bury, U.K.

The change in the weather had been sudden and dramatic, tossing the
small fishing vessel around like a piece of flotsam; until it was no
more than that. Its crew, a group of Sahaabah radiyallahu anhum (the
companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad , peace & blessings be upon
him), were washed up onto the shore of a foreign beach.

When they regained consciousness, they found that they all had survived 
the wreck. They decided to explore the island to see whether they could 
find someone to help them. Maybe supply them with a boat.

It wasn’t long before they met a woman washing her hair in a rock pool. 
She directed them to a cave, managing to convey to them that there was
someone there who wanted to speak with them. Intrigued, they entered
the cave.

Within, they found a short man with only one eye, chained to the cavern
wall. Right away, he began to ask them questions, whether certain
events had taken place or not. They answered truthfully because of
their nature. They could feel the evil of this man like a physical
presence. When they had confirmed all that he had asked, the man said,
‘Alas, my time is near.’

The companions managed to get off the island and returned home safely.
Upon arriving, they told their story to the Prophet (peace & blessings
be upon him). It was then that they first heard of Dajjal, the Dark
Messiah.

There are three aspects of Dajjal:

1. The individual

2. A world wide social and cultural phenomenon

3. An unseen force.

The latter two aspects of Dajjal have been explained and outlined
brilliantly by Ahmed Thomas in his book ‘Dajjal - The King Without
Clothes.’ Through intense research, he has managed to write a brilliant
account of scary facts that bring home the full weight of reality. He
explains the social and cultural phenomenon as a system that is being
prepared by the minions and followers of Dajjal, through which he will
operate and spread his evil. The Unseen Force is defined as the
supernatural beings, such as Djinns and UFO’s, who abduct and posses
humans to further his cause. Contemporary books such as ‘Omen’ and
‘Body Snatchers’, paint a frightening image of possibilities.
 
In this article, I intend to unveil the first aspect; the individual.
The Book of Revelations by John (New Testament) contains prophecies
regarding the Anti Christ. However, over the times, many alterations
have occurred in the original text and the commentaries have deviated
from the actual meanings. That and the lack of consistency have left it
in doubt of reliability and accuracy. Hence, there only remains the
Hadith of the Noble Prophet Mohammed  (peace & blessings be upon him)
as the only accurate source of information.

In a Hadith narrated by Imran ibn Hussain radiyallahu anhum, the
Prophet  (peace & blessings be upon him) said, ‘Since the birth of Adam 
till the advent of Qiyaamah (Judgement Day) there is no fitnah
(tribulation) much greater than that of Dajjal.’ [Muslim]

In anyone’s book, Dajjal is the embodiment of evil. A wise man once
said, ‘Know your enemies and keep them close to you. By knowing them,
you know your weakness, thus neutralising their potency.’ There are
many Hadith which describe Dajjal’s appearance, his height and his
powers.
  
Ubadah ibn Saamit radiyallahu anhu narrates that the Last Prophet
(peace & blessings be upon him) said, ‘I have explained Dajjal to you,
but I fear that you might not have understood. Maseeh-ud-Dajjal will be
short and his legs will be crooked. The hair on his head will be
extremely twisted. He will have one eye, while his other eye will be
flat. It will be neither deep, nor protruding.’

Ibn Umar radiyallahu anhuma narrates from the Last Prophet (peace &
blessings be upon him) regarding Dajjal, ‘...red complexioned, fat,
curly haired man, blind in the right eye which looks like a bulging
grape.’ [Bukhari]

According to the many Ahaadith describing Dajjal, the most
distinguishing feature of his face besides the bulging eye will be
the Arabic letters Kaaf (k), Faa (f), Raa (r), on his forehead.
These letters spell Kufr (disbelief). All believers, regardless of
their literacy will decipher these letters.
  
It has also been ascertained from the Hadith that he will emerge
from between Syria and Iraq, and his emergence will become known when
he is in Isfahaan, at a place called Judea. He will be of Jewish origin
and the Jews of Isfahaan will be his main followers and they will refer
to him as the Messiah. As he goes on through the world, Jews and a
great number of non-Jewish women will flock to him upon witnessing his
false miracles.
  
Imran ibn Hussain radiyallahu anhu narrated from the Prophet Mohammed
(peace & blessings be upon him), ‘Those who hear about Dajjal should
stay away from him. By Allah! A person will approach him thinking
himself to be a believer. But on seeing his amazing feat he will become
his follower.’ [Abu Dawood]

‘The Beast was taken and with him the false prophet who wrought
miracles before him with which he deceived them.’ (Revelation:19)

The miracles and feats spoken of by the Prophet  (peace & blessings be
upon him) and John, the writer of the Book of Revelations, are further
clarified by the Hadith narrated by Hadhrat Huzaifah radiyallahu anhu:

‘Dajjal will be blind in the right eye. He will have thick hair on
his body and he will also have Paradise and Hell with him. Though his
Paradise will appear as Jannah, in reality it will be Hell, and
likewise, though his Hell will appear like Jahannnam, in reality it
will be Paradise.’ [Muslim]

Those who obey the Dark Messiah will enter his Paradise (and thus enter 
Hell), and those who denounce him will enter his Hell (and so shall in
reality be entering Paradise). He will travel by means of a gigantic
mule, at impossible speeds. He will cause droughts and famine upon
those who reject him. But the remembrance of the true Lord will satiate
them.

Ubadah ibn Saamit radiyallahu anhu narrates from the Noble Prophet
(peace & blessings be upon him), ‘If you still have any doubts
regarding him (Dajjal), then remember, your Sustainer is not one-eyed.’
 
Ibn Umar radiyallahu anhuma narrates from the Noble Prophet (peace &
blessings be upon him), ‘Allah is not one-eyed, while
Maseeh-ud-Dajjal is blind in the right eye.’ [Bukhari]

He will remain on the Earth for a period of forty days, of which the
first day will be as long as a year, the second day as long as a month,
the third as a week and the rest will be normal in length. He will try
to gain entry to the two holy cities Makkah and Madinah, but the angels
who guard them will bar him from them. From there, he will flee to
Syria, where he will meet resistance from the forces of Imam Mahdi, the
leader of the Muslims. Then shall the battle between Good and Evil
begin in earnest.
 
Imran ibn Hussain radiyallahu anhu narrates from the Noble Prophet
Mohammed  (peace & blessings be upon him), ‘There will always be a
group of people upon the path of Allah, overpowering their enemies
until the Order Of Allah comes and Isa alaihis salaam (Jesus - peace be
upon him) descends.’

Finally, when the spirit of the Muslims begins to ebb, Isa (Jesus -
peace be upon him) will be commanded by Allah to descend from the
heavens. He will not descend as a prophet, but as a follower of the
Prophet Muhammad  (peace & blessings be upon him) and Islam.
 
‘Anti Christ in Christian Theology, the opponent of Christ. The
appearance of the Anti Christ is believed to signal the Second Coming,
at which Christ would conquer his opponent. The concept may stem from
the idea of conflict between light and darkness, which is present in
Persian, Babylon and Jewish literature and which influences early
Christian Theology.’ (Hutchinsons Encyclopaedia)

As before, through the medium of the Hadith, the event of Isa
(Jesus - peace be upon him)’s return and all that follows has been
accurately recorded. He will descend on Mount Afeeq, on the white
Eastern Minaret of Damascus. He will descend from the heavens with his
hands resting on the shoulders of two angels. His cheeks will be flat
and his hair straight. When he lowers his head it will seem as if water
is flowing from his hair, when he raises his head, it will appear as
though his hair is beaded with silvery pearls.

He will descend during the time of Fajr and the leader of the Muslims
will address him thus, ‘O`Roohullah, lead the salat.’

Isa (Jesus - peace be upon him) will decline with the words, ‘The
virtue of this Ummah is that they lead each other.’

After the prayer, Isa (Jesus - peace be upon him) will prepare himself 
to do battle and shall take up a spear. An army shall return from a
campaign launched before the arrival of Isa (Jesus - peace be upon
him). They shall bring glad tidings of victory over India, granted to
them by the Lord Almighty. Isa (Jesus - peace be upon him) shall set
out in pursuit of Dajjal. All those who embraced the evil of Dajjal
shall perish even as the breath of Isa (Jesus - peeace be upon him)
touches them. The breath of Isa (Jesus - peace be upon him) shall
proceed him as far as the eye can see. Dajjal will be captured at
Lydda. The Dark Messiah shall begin to melt, as lead melts in fire. The 
spear of Isa (Jesus - peace be upon him) shall plunge into Dajjal’s
chest, ending his dreaded reign. The followers of Dajjal will be rooted 
out, for even the trees and rocks will speak out against them. Then all
battles shall cease and the world will know an age of peace. Then truly 
the sheep will lie in the shadow of the wolf without fear. The rule of
Jesus will be just and all shall flock to him to enter the folds of the 
one true religion, Islam.