One of the prominent events preceding the Day of Judgement is the appearance of Dajjal. We have been apprised of many aspects of Dajjal both in the Quran and the Hadith. The Muslims have been more informed about the Dajjal by the Holy Prophet than by previous nations by their respective prophets. Abdul Kareem bin Saleh al Humaid writes in his booklet entitled “Dajjal” that:
“The episode of Dajjal is most assuredly a crucial one. It would suffice to say that no event between Hadhrat Adam (alayhis salam) and Doomsday is more awesome than this, as Our Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) has informed us. What is apparent is that every Messenger of Allah had warned his nation of Dajjal but their information and warnings were less than those of our Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam. This is because, according to the knowledge of Allah and His Divine Will, Dajjal's emergence will be within this Ummah (fraternity) of Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam).”
This article is an attempt to inform the people about Dajjal: where he will appear, what he will do, and how ultimately he will be killed by Hadhrat Isa (alayhis salam).
Dajjal will appear somewhere between Iraq and Syria after the Battle of Istanbul takes place. The name in the Hadith is Constantinople, which is the former name of Istanbul. The Dajjal is the greatest evil (fitnah) to appear on earth.
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Busr (radiAllahu anhu): The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: “The time between the great war and the conquest of the city (Constantinople) will be six years, and the Dajjal (Antichrist) will come forth in the seventh.” [Sunan of Abu Dawud #4283]
Dajjal will be a Jew. His distinguishing feature is that he will be one-eyed and the word “Kafir” or “unbeliever” will be written on his forehead.