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

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]