Dajjal
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ad-Dajjal (Arabic: الدّجّال, literally "The Impostor"), is an evil figure in Islamic eschatology. He is to appear pretending to be Jesus at a time in the future, before Yawm al-Qiyamah (The Day of Resurrection, Judgment Day).
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[edit] Usage
Dajjal is a common Arabic word, used in the sense of "false prophet", but ad-Dajjal, with the definite article, refers to "the impostor", a specific end-of times deceiver. The term al-Masīḥ ad-Dajjāl (Arabic for "the false messiah") is a literal translation of the Syriac term Mšīḥā Daggālā, which had been in the common vocabulary of the Middle East and adapted into the Arabic language 400 years prior to the Qur'an via the Peshitta (which uses that term instead of the Greek "Antichristos")
[edit] Eschatology
The belief is based around the events prior to the Day of Judgment around the Second Coming of The Christ, when ad-Dajjal who is blind in his right eye, shall gather an army of those he has deceived and lead them in a war against Jesus, who shall be accompanied by an army of the righteous.
He will appear somewhere between Syria and Iraq, at which time Jesus will return and defeat ad-Dajjal in Palestine. He will travel the whole world preaching his falsehood but will be unable to enter Mecca or Medina.
Linguistically, the reason for his name being al-Masīḥ ad-Dajjāl is simply because masih is a title given to one who travels extensively to increase their influence in the world. Jesus is also called masih because he will roam throughout the world to preach righteousness and virtue, whereas the Dajjal would travel around the world to do just the opposite. He would gain control over the whole world, which is the specific reason he is called masih. Essentially, Jesus is the masih of virtue and righteousness; Dajjal is the masih of evil.[1]
Muhammad had given many signs of the appearance of the Dajjal and exhorted his followers to recite the first and the last ten verses of Sura Al-Kahf, as protection from the trials and mischief of the Dajjal.
[edit] Islam's description
The Qur'an doesn't mention the Dajjal by name, like the Hadith. A couple of hadith describe the Dajjal as follows:
- The Prophet mentioned the Massiah Ad-Dajjal in front of the people saying, Allah is not one eyed while Messsiah, Ad-Dajjal is blind in the right eye and his eye looks like a bulging out grape. While sleeping near the Ka'ba last night, I saw in my dream a man of brown color the best one can see amongst brown color and his hair was long that it fell between his shoulders. His hair was lank and water was dribbling from his head and he was placing his hands on the shoulders of two men while circumambulating the Kaba. I asked, 'Who is this?' They replied, 'This is Jesus, son of Mary.' Behind him I saw a man who had very curly hair and was blind in the right eye, resembling Ibn Qatan (i.e. an infidel) in appearance. He was placing his hands on the shoulders of a person while performing Tawaf around the Ka'ba. I asked, 'Who is this? 'They replied, 'The Masih, Ad-Dajjal.' "[1]
- Once Allah's Apostle stood amongst the people, glorified and praised Allah as He deserved and then mentioned the Dajjal saying, "l warn you against him (i.e. the Dajjal) and there was no prophet but warned his nation against him. No doubt, Noah warned his nation against him but I tell you about him something of which no prophet told his nation before me. You should know that he is one-eyed, and Allah is not one-eyed."[2]
- Allah's Apostle said, "Shall I not tell you about the Dajjal a story of which no prophet told his nation? The Dajjal is one-eyed and will bring with him what will resemble Hell and Paradise, and what he will call Paradise will be actually Hell; so I warn you (against him) as Noah warned his nation against him." [3]
[edit] Dajjal and the Devil
In Islam, the Dajjal and the Devil are defined as two separate beings.
Dajjal: The name given in the Hadith to certain religious impostors who shall appear in the world; a term equivalent to the christian use of the word Antichrist. Muhammad is related to have said there would be about thirty. The Masihu 'd-Dajjal or "the lying Christ" it is said will be the last of the Dajjals for an account of whom refer to article on MASIHU 'D-DAJJAL"[2].
Devil: The devil is believed to be descended from Jann, the progenitor of the evil genii. He is said to have been named 'Azazil, and to have possessed authority over the animal and the spirit kingdom. But when God created Adam, the Devil refused to prostrate before him, and he was therefore expelled from Eden. The sentence of death was then pronounced upon satan Satan; but upon seeking respite, he obtained it until the Day of Judgement, when he will be destroyed, (Vide Qur'an, surah vii, 13) According to the Qu'ran, the devil was created of fire, whilst Adam was created of clay."[3].
Author Maulana Ahmad Ali claims Imam Mahdi will arrange a Muslim army, and will be on the verge of leading the Muslims in morning prayer when Jesus will descend and kill the Dajaal (Abu-Umamah / Ibne Majah).[4]
By definition the Devil & Dajjal are two separate beings (though both evil in Islam) because the Dajjal is a liar who will state that he is Jesus Christ and will be killed by Jesus; the Devil is a being that existed before the creation of Adam who will not die till the Day of Judgement [5].
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2007) |
- ^ Saifur Rahman, Malik. “Imam Mahdi: The Need, the Signs, and His Coming.” Ahmadiyya Gazette Mar. 1991: 19-20.
- ^ Patric Hughes. "A Dictionary of Islam" pg 64 http://books.google.com/books?id=O84eYLVHvB0C&pg=PA1&dq=Islamic+Dictionary&as_brr=0&sig=lv3eYPY59cQeWOaWAvIJDcQEfqQ#PPA64,M1
- ^ Thomas Patrick Hughes "A Dictionary of Islam" Pg 84 http://books.google.com/books?id=O84eYLVHvB0C&pg=PA1&dq=Islamic+Dictionary&as_brr=0&sig=lv3eYPY59cQeWOaWAvIJDcQEfqQ#PPA84,M1
- ^ Maulana Ahmad Ali. "Major Signs Before The Day Of Judgement" Pg 30
- ^ Koran 7:11-15
