Protection from the Dajjal’s Tribulations

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Protection from the Dajjal’s Tribulations (1/2)

The Dajjal Knowing The False Messiah




Despite the great tribulations the Dajjal brings by which Allah will test his servants, we are not left to face them alone. Rather, Allah and his Messenger (Peace be upon him) 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 Dajjal’s lies and answer his call.
The First Ten or Last Ten Verses of Surah al-Kahf
Abu al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated a hadith collected in Sahih Muslim in which he said that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever memorizes ten verses from the beginning of Surah al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal,” and in another narration: “From the end of al-Kahf.”[1]
Commenting on this hadith in his explanation of Sahih Muslim, Imam al-Nawawi says,
“The reason for this is because of the great wonders and signs contained in the beginning of it (Surah al-Kahf). Whoever contemplates them will not be put to test by the Dajjal.”[2]
And from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever recites Surah 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 Dajjal to appear, he would not be able to harm that person.”[3]
In a narration of al-Nawwas Ibn Sam’an (may Allah be pleased with him) collected by Muslim and Abu Dawud, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said about the Dajjal at the beginning of the hadith:
“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 Dajjal), let him recite the opening verses of Surah al-Kahf upon him for they are your safety from his tribulations."[4]
Al-Munawi says in Fayd al-Qadir about Surah al-Kahf and its protection from the Dajjal:
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 Dajjal, 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 Dajjal) and keep him safe from him. Or perhaps there is something else specifically characteristic of this chapter.[5]
Avoiding Meeting Him & Fleeing from Him
Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and al-Hakim collected a hadith from ‘Imran Ibn al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

“Whoever hears about the Dajjal, 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
Al-Bukhari collected from Anas Ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“There is no land the Dajjal 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-Bukhari also collected the statement of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) from Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
“The terror of the Dajjal 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]
And in Sahih al-Bukhari from Anas Ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“Medina – the Dajjal will come to it but find angels guarding it; the Dajjal will be unable to come near it. He said: And neither will the plague, if Allah wills.”[9]

(Continued)

[1] Collected by Muslim

[2] Sharh al-Nawawi ‘alá Muslim

[3] Collected by al-tabarani and al-Nasai, and al-Albani says it is authentic in Sahih al-Targhib wal-Tarhib (no. 225)

[4] Collected by Muslim and Abu Dawud and that is the wording from Abu Dawud. al-A

[5] Fayd al-Qadir (vol. 6, pg. 118)

[6] Collected by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and al-Hakim, and al-Albani says it is authentic in Sahih Sunan Abi Dawud (no. 3629)

[7] Collected by al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Ahmad

[8] Collected by al-Bukhari

[9] Collected by al-Bukhari

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Protection from the Dajjal’s Tribulations (2/2)

The Dajjal Knowing The False Messiah



Muslim collected a narration in which the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“Written between his two eyes is: كافر (kafir – “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 (Glorified and Exalted be He) until he dies.”[1]
Similarly in Sahih Muslim, Hudhayfah Ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“And the Dajjal has one eye partially covered by a thick eyelid. Written between his two eyes is: كافر (kafir – “disbeliever”). Every believer will be able to read it, literate or illiterate.”[2]

Choosing the Dajjal’s Fire if Tested with Such
Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and al-Hakim collected a narration from Hudhayfah Ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said:
“The Dajjal 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.”[3]
Similarly, in the hadith of Abu Umamah al-Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him), that the prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“…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 (Surah) al-Kahf. ”[4]
And in another narration from Hudhayfah, the prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“I know what the Dajjal 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.”[5]
Seeking Protection with Allah, Especially in Every Prayer
Zayd Ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the tribulation of the Dajjal was among the trials the prophet instructed the companions to seek protection with Allah regarding. The prophet (Peace be upon him) told them:
“Seek protection with Allah from the tribulations of the Dajjal.”
The companions then immediately did as advised, saying, “We seek protection with Allah from the tribulations of the Dajjal.”[6]
As for seeking protection from the Dajjal in prayer, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“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 Dajjal Messiah.”[7]
‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) used to also say in his prayer:
“Oh Allah, I seek protection with you from the punishment of the grave, and I seek protection with you from the tribulations of the Dajjal 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 (Peace be upon him) answered:
“A man, when he incurs a debt, speaks but lies and promises but breaks his promise.”[8]

[1] Collected by Muslim, and al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, and al-Tirmidhi collected similar hadith from Anas Ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him).

[2] Collected by Muslim, Ahmad, and Abu Dawud.

[3] Collected by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and al-Hakim, and it is no. 8049 in al-Albani’s Sahih al-Jami’.

[4] Collected by Ibn Majah, al-Hakim, and Ibn Khuzaymah, and it is in al-Albani’s Ṣahih al-Jami’ (no. 7875).
[5] Collected by Muslim, Ahmad, and Abu Dawud.

[6] Collected by Muslim.

[7] Collected by Muslim, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and others

[8] Collected by al-Bukhari, Muslim, and al-Nasai.