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

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)