his hair tightly coiled, blind in his right eye, and his hands resting on the shoulders of another man as he circumambulated the House. He asked about him, and they replied, “That is the False Messiah, the Dajjāl.” This is answered by noting that the Dajjāl will be barred from entering Mecca and Medina only when he emerges at the end of time. Allah knows best (1).

• The Followers of the Dajjāl:

Most of the Dajjāl’s followers will be Jews, non-Arabs, Turks, and a mixture of other people, predominantly Bedouins and women.

Muslim narrated from Anas ibn Mālik—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “Seventy thousand Jews of Isfahan, wearing cloaks, will follow the Dajjāl” (2).

According to a narration of Imam Ahmad: “Seventy thousand, wearing crowns” (3).

The aforementioned hadith of Abū Bakr states: “He will be followed by people whose faces resemble leather-covered shields” (4).

Ibn Kathīr said, “What appears to be the case—and Allah knows best—is that those meant here are the Turks, the supporters of the Dajjāl” (5).