Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
In many Ahaadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) forewarned the ummah about Dajjaal and the trials and tribulations that the Muslims will encounter when he emerges in the world.
Similarly, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) gave graphic descriptions of how the Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and the Muslims will combat him in battle, and how Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam) will eventually kill him at Baab-e-Ludd.
The purpose of all these warnings was so that the ummah may recognize Dajjaal, identify his fitnahs, and avoid falling prey to his snares and traps.
In one Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said that Dajjaal will not be able to enter four places; (1) Makkah Mukarramah, (2) Madinah Munawwarah, (3) Mt Toor, and (4) Musjidul Aqsa. (Musnad Ahmed #23090, 23683)
From all these four places regarding which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) informed the ummah that Dajjaal will not be able to enter, the fourth place is Musjidul Aqsa. Allah Ta‘ala will divinely select this place to be the headquarters of the Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and the Muslim army at the time when the battle with Dajjaal and his army will take place.
One wisdom for this place being selected as the place for the defeat of Dajjaal, who is the fountainhead of kufr, is that Baytul Muqaddas was regarded as the qiblah of the Jews and Christians prior to the nubuwwah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Hence, when Dajjaal and his army will be defeated here, this will be a sign that Islam is victorious over every religion in the world, and Islam will spread throughout the entire world, as the backbone of kufr has now been destroyed.
Below is a narration that sheds light on many aspects of Dajjaal, as well as the crucial condition that will prevail in the world at the time of his emergence:
The Narration of Hazrat Huzaifah bin Aseed (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) Regarding Dajjaal and the Fitnahs Close to Qiyaamah
Abu Tufail (rahimahullah) was a Taabi’ee. He narrates the following:
I was once present in Kufah when people began to say that Dajjaal had emerged. We thus came to Hazrat Huzaifah bin Aseed (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who was engaged in narrating Hadith to a group of people. On coming to him, I exclaimed, “The Dajjaal (whom we have been informed of) has already emerged!” Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) addressed me and said, “Sit down!” I thus sat down.
Abu Tufail (rahimahullah) then explained that after a little while, another person came proclaiming that Dajjaal has emerged. The people of Kufah began to criticize that person for what he was saying. Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also told that person to sit down, till the news was verified and it was discovered that such news had been a lie concocted by some person.
Abu Tufail thereafter mentioned:
We then addressed Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and said, “O Abu Sareehah (i.e. Hazrat Huzaifah [radhiyallahu ‘anhu])! Certainly, you asked us (both) to sit down for some reason, so please tell us what you wish to tell us.”
Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said the following:
If Dajjaal were to emerge in your era (i.e. the era of the Sahaabah and Taabi’een wherein the imaan of people is so strong, then) the children would pelt him with stones. However, Dajjaal will emerge at a time when there will be enmity between people (i.e. there will be dissension among the Muslims) and the deen of the Muslims will be extremely weak. He will come to every place and settlement, and the earth will be folded for him (to move swiftly), just as a sheepskin is folded, until he will come to Madinah Munwwarah.
On coming to Madinah Munwwarah, he will succeed in reaching the outer portion of the city, but will be prevented from entering the inner portion of the city. Thereafter, he will come to the Mountain of Eeliyaa (i.e. Baytul Muqaddas) where he will besiege a group of the Muslims (i.e. the Muslims with the Mahdi [radhiyallahu ‘anhu] inside the city of Baytul Muqaddas).
Those leaders appointed over the Muslims (under the leadership of the Mahdi [radhiyallahu ‘anhu]) will say to them, “Why are we waiting to fight this tyrant (Dajjaal)? Let us fight him and his army, until we will either (be martyred) and meet Allah Ta‘ala, or Allah Ta‘ala will grant us victory over them.” The Muslims will thus decide to commence the battle against Dajjaal and his army the following morning.
When the next morning will come, Nabi Isa bin Maryam (‘alaihis salaam) will join them. He will kill Dajjaal and defeat his army, to the extent that the trees, stones and even the mounds of earth will call out (to the Muslims) saying, “O mu’min! Here is a Jew by me – kill him!”
Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said, “There are three signs in Dajjaal (through which he can be identified). (The first sign is that) he has a defective eye, whereas your Rabb does not have a defective eye (i.e. Allah Ta‘ala is free from all defects). (The second sign is that) the word “kaafir” will be written between his eyes, and every believer will be able to read it, whether the believer is literate or illiterate. (The third sign is that) he will not be able to use any conveyance besides a donkey. He himself is impure, and the path he treads will also be impure.”
Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said, “Besides Dajjaal, in regard to myself and yourself, there is something I have more concern and fear for.” We enquired, “What is it, O Abu Sareehah?” Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “Fitnahs which will be like the portions of a dark night (i.e. each fitnah being worse than the last, just as each portion of the night is darker than the last. We should fear this more than the fitnah of Dajjaal as we will not see the era of Dajjaal).”
We then asked, “Which people will be the worst and most evil at the time of these fitnahs?” Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “Every eloquent orator (who will misguide people), and every rider who hastens towards the fitnah.”
We then asked, “Which people will be the best during the times of the fitnahs?” Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “Every person who is independent from people and who keeps to himself (i.e. he remains distant from people).”
Hearing this, I said, “I am not like this! Neither am I independent, nor do I keep to myself.” Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said to me, “In that case, be like a two-year-old male camel among people – neither is it fit to be a conveyance for people to ride upon, nor does it have udders for people to milk it (i.e. you remain among people, but you remain as a small and unimportant person so that people do not take advantage of you or dominate, thereby causing you to fall into fitnah).” (Mustadrak Haakim #8612)
