Dajjal: A Person, An Entity or A Civilization

I have heard and read myself about the different signs of the Day of Judgment, one of which is the appearance of the one-eyed Dajjal. My understanding of Dajjal is that he will be a person, may be a leader. But some people told me that in their view Dajjal wouldn't be a person but an entity, like a country or an army that will create havoc in the world. I am really confused, because if he were a person, every believer would be able to recognize him easily. On the other hand, if it is an entity, then only a true believer would recognize it, or at least believers would have to think hard, try to make sense out of certain things, use their knowledge to the fullest extent in order to judge better. Am I right? Could you please shed some light on this matter?

The title Dajjal means, deceiver, or the one who is given to deception that it is his main characteristic. He is out to deceive people, knowing that he is presenting falsehood as true. There are several Hadiths describing him and his behavior. One of these mentions that he will govern for forty days and that some of these days will be very long, to the extent that one is like a week, and one like a month while another day is like a year. Different Hadiths make it clear that it will not be difficult for a true believer to recognize the truth of this Dajjal, who would claim to be Jesus Christ on his second mission. We are further told that a believer would see the fact that he is an unbeliever written on his forehead.

All this suggests that he is a person, but some scholars say that it could be an entity, or even a way of life. Some people have even suggested that the present Western civilization could be this Impostor. More recently, some people are suggesting that the US represent this Impostor. Much of the description we have for the Impostor applies to this materialistic civilization, with its great lure attracting people from every corner of the world. It has certainly caused millions to move away from faith.

Whether it is a person or an entity, believers would know the Impostor for its reality. Moreover, there is always a lure trying to seduce people and turn them away from God. There is also a one-sided view of things, always giving support to evil and falsehood. Therefore, we should always be on our guard and make sure to maintain the path of true faith. Besides, the case of the Impostor, or the Dajjal, belongs to an area where our knowledge is limited. We cannot ascertain whether it is a person or a situation until it comes. Therefore, the best way is to be diligent, maintain a good grasp of our faith, and follow its teachings, praying God to strengthen our faith so that we are immune to any false lure. 


Day of Judgment: About the Events Preceding the Day

1. I have heard different reports about the time preceding the Day of Judgment, with one saying that the whole world would be corrupt and people would not remember God at all. The other report says that the Prophet Jesus would come again and kill the Impostor and establish an Islamic state. Which is true? If the first one is the correct answer, then one may argue that Islam is ultimately a failure?

2. Is it a sign of the Day of Judgment that Muslims today are turned against one another, helping unbelievers against their own brethren, caring little for the betterment of Muslim communities and indulging in the pleasures of this world, etc.?

1. There is no conflict between the two reports, which you have heard. But before I explain how this is so, I would like to say that many of the Hadiths that speak of future events, particularly those relating to the Day of Judgment and its signs and the events that precede it are not at the highest level of authenticity. Some of them are of the grade of Sahih, or authentic, and some are Hasan, or acceptable, while others are poor in authenticity. Moreover, many accept a figurative interpretation.

The two reports should be read as speaking of events that occur in succession. The earth would be first full of corruption that people would be so used to it that they do not even think about God or their religious duties. When things reach this stage and the impostor arrives to try to remove all goodness from human life, the second coming of the Prophet Jesus Christ takes place. He would gather around him some believers who would be dedicated to the cause of the divine faith. He fights the Impostor and kills him to establish a world order based on the divine faith in its final form, i.e. complete human submission to God alone, which is the essence of Islam.

Islam is certainly not a failure. It is always victorious. Its victory is seen every day in the behavior of many a Muslim who disdains all temptations, forsaking wealth, position, power and other worldly values for God's sake. Its ultimate victory is seen when such people are of sufficient numbers to organize the life of their community on the basis of Islamic values. This has happened many times in history and will continue to happen again and again until the end of human life on earth.

2. It is in the nature of Islam that it gives strength and dignity to a community that truly believes in it and is committed to its implementation in day-to-day life. When a community takes Islam only as a religion it inherited from its forefathers, or reduces it to a set of rituals it may or may not observe, then Islam does not impart its true nature to such a community. God says in the Qur'an: "If you support God, then God will certainly support you and steady your feet." (47: 7)

When the Qur'an speaks of believers supporting God, it implies supporting His cause by implementing His message and advocating it, making it known to people and calling on them to accept it. This is a basic duty of every Muslim, and it applies at the individual and community levels alike.

It should be pointed out that the verb used in the Arabic text for 'support' also connotes 'giving victory‚' Thus, when we give such support to God's message, He will give us support in every way, including victory against our enemies, in war and peace. Moreover, the final phrase in the quoted verse, which says that God will 'steady your feet' has also military connotations, implying support in case of war. 

The same expression is used in the Qur'an in reference to the duty the angels were assigned in the Battle of Badr, the first major military encounter between Muslims and unbelievers. This clearly indicates that our weakness today and the problems we have are the result of our abandoning the Islamic faith, and turning away from it. When people do that, God leaves them to their own devices, until they realize that they cannot have true power and dignity except through Islam.

This is in a nutshell the present situation of Muslims. As for its being a sign of the Day of Judgment, I am afraid we cannot say so, because this situation may be repeated time after time in human history. What we need to do in order to get rid of our miserable situation today is to start a true revision of our present situation with the aim of starting a genuine Islamic revival that is free from ignorant extremism and rigidity. It should be a revival that brings back Islam in its true nature: Tolerant, caring, compassionate and easy to implement.


Death: Helping the Deceased

My father is dead. What can I do to help him? Can I say prayers for him or read the Qur'an? Do I give charity on his behalf or perform the Umrah or pilgrimage on his behalf? Can I read the Qur'an at his grave? People are giving all sorts of answers. Please answer because I have heard that after death only 3 things continue to benefit the dead: good children, beneficial knowledge and lasting charity.

What the reader finishes with is absolutely correct. The Prophet, peace be upon him, says: "When a human being dies, all his actions come to an end except in one of three ways: a continuing act of charity, a useful contribution to knowledge and a dutiful child who prays for him." This is how a person may increase his own reward after his death. If he arranges some act of charity, which continues after his death, he would receive reward for that. Such an act may take the form of an endowment, or providing a facility for the poor that would last for a long time after his death. Useful knowledge also has this continuing feature. Hence, the Prophet, peace be upon him, mentions it in the three ways. Dutiful children are also a means of earning reward after one's death. It is the parents who bring up the child and impress on him the need to be good and dutiful. Hence, although the child is praying for the parent, the action is in a way a reward for the parent's own action.

But other people could benefit their beloved ones who have already departed from this life in other ways. Generally speaking, any act of worship, which could be done by proxy, may be offered on behalf of the deceased. This is mainly true in the case of the pilgrimage and the Umrah. The Prophet, peace be upon him, was asked by one of his companions if she could offer the pilgrimage on behalf of her deceased father. He asked her: "Would you have paid his debt, had he left an unsettled debt?" When she answered in the affirmative, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "A debt owed to God has a greater claim for settlement."

The same applies to Zakah and charitable donation. You may pay any Zakah your father might have left unpaid. And you may pay any charity and ask God to credit the reward to your deceased father or mother. This would give them the reward and you will earn a reward from God for being both charitable and dutiful. You may also read the Qur'an on your parents' behalf and pray to God to credit the reward for your recitation to your parents, or either of them.

Acts of worship that cannot be done by proxy may not be offered on behalf of a deceased person. According to most scholars, prayer and fasting cannot be done by proxy.

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