except that he warned his people against him (1), thereby underscoring his grave matter and warning them of him. Otherwise, Allah knows that he will not emerge until the end of time. Yet He commanded the messengers to warn their peoples about him so that the enormity and severity of his affair would be made clear. This is authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ, who said:

“If he emerges while I am among you, then I will contend with him on your behalf—that is, I will suffice you against him. But if he emerges while I am not among you, then each person must contend on his own behalf, and Allah is my successor over every Muslim.” (2)

What an excellent successor our Lord, Mighty and Majestic, is. For this reason, the trial of the Dajjal rightly deserves to be singled out from among the trials of worldly life.

As for the name Dajjal, it is derived from dajal, meaning deception and disguise, because he is the greatest deceiver and the most deceitful of people.

This subject may be examined from several angles:

First: his time. He is among the signs of the Hour, but its timing has not been specified, so we do not know it. Since no one knows when the Hour will occur except Allah, likewise we know of its signs only those which have become manifest. Thus, the time of his emergence is unknown to us.

Second: his place. He will emerge from the East, the direction from which tribulations and evil arise, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “Tribulation is there,” and he pointed toward the East. (3) Thus, the East is a source of evil and tribulations: from Khurasan, passing through