Tamīm’s hadith contains nothing to indicate that al-Jassāsa is the Beast that will emerge at the end of time. It merely states that he encountered a shaggy beast covered in abundant hair. He asked it, “What are you?” It replied, “I am al-Jassāsa.”

It was named al-Jassāsa because it spies out reports for the Dajjāl (1).

Moreover, what has been related concerning the Beast under discussion—its harsh reproach and rebuke of people for their disbelief in the signs of Allah Most High—shows that it is not al-Jassāsa, which conveys reports to the Dajjāl. Allah knows best.

Third: It is the serpent that loomed over the wall of the Kaaba and was carried off by the eagle when Quraysh intended to reconstruct the Kaaba.

Al-Qurtubī (2) attributed this opinion to Ibn Abbās—may Allah be pleased with them both—citing it from al-Naqqāsh’s book, though he mentioned no basis for it. Al-Shawkānī also mentioned it in his Tafsīr (3).

Fourth: The Beast is a human being who speaks, debates the proponents of religious innovation and unbelief, and argues with them;