Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) saw the Dajjal in dreams/visions

Introduction

Non-Ahmadi Muslims claim that we must understand the ahadith about the Dajjal literally. They believe such prophecies of the coming of Dajjal will be fulfilled exactly as described and no interpretation is needed for them, even though all such descriptions are from the dream and visions of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).

In this article, we will prove that

1. The prophecies about the coming of the Dajjal are all dreams and visions, and thus, require interpretation.
2. Sunni Muslims themselves do interpretations of such ahadith due to the same reason that they were dreams of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).

Dajjal was seen in a dream

Hadith #1

The first hadith shows that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) saw the Dajjal in a dream while sleeping near the Ka’abah.

The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the Masih Ad-Dajjal in front of the people saying, Allah is not one-eyed while Masih Ad-Dajjal is blind in the right eye and his eye looks like a bulging out grape. While sleeping near the Ka`ba last night, I saw in my dream a man of brown color the best one can see amongst brown color and his hair was long that it fell between his shoulders. His hair was lank and water was dribbling from his head and he was placing his hands on the shoulders of two men while circumambulating the Ka`ba. I asked, ‘Who is this?’ They replied, ‘This is Jesus, son of Mary.’ Behind him I saw a man who had very curly hair and was blind in the right eye, resembling Ibn Qatan (i.e. an infidel) in appearance. He was placing his hands on the shoulders of a person while performing Tawaf around the Ka`ba. I asked, ‘Who is this? ‘They replied, ‘The Masih, Ad-Dajjal.‘ “

[Sahih al-Bukhari 3439]

Hadith #2

The dajjal was also seen by the Prophet (S.A.W) during Maira’j, which was yet another special vision/experience granted by Allah to him. For those who don’t believe Maira’j was a vision/dream, here is the article that proves it.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “On the night of my Ascent to the Heaven, I saw Moses who was a tall brown curlyhaired man as if he was one of the men of Shan’awa tribe, and I saw Jesus, a man of medium height and moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors and of lank hair. I also saw Malik, the gate-keeper of the (Hell) Fire and Ad-Dajjal amongst the signs which Allah showed me.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 3239]

Hadith #3

In another hadith, the expression “I liken him” clearly shows that the Prophet (SAW) must have seen Dajjal since he is comparing his physical appearance to someone. The only way he would have is through visions/dreams as he hadn’t appeared during his time.

قَطَطٌ عَيْنُهُ قَائِمَةٌ كَأَنِّي أُشَبِّهُهُ بِعَبْدِ الْعُزَّى بْنِ قَطَنٍ فَمَنْ رَآهُ مِنْكُمْ فَلْيَقْرَأْ عَلَيْهِ فَوَاتِحَ سُورَةِ الْكَهْفِ

He (Dajjal) will be a young man with curly hair and a protuberant eye; I liken him to ‘Abdul-‘Uzza bin Qatan. Whoever among you sees him, let him recite the first Verses of Surat Al-Kahf over him.

[Sunan Ibn Majah 4075]

This hadith is also explained by Sunnis scholars, one of the most renowned is Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari who explains this as:

.لا شك في تشبيهه به إلا أنه لما كان معرفة المشبه في عالم الكشف أو المنام عبر عنه بكاني كما هو المعتبر في تعبير حكاية الرؤيا والله تعالى أعلم

I said: There is no doubt that he was likened to him, except that when the certain person was seen in the world of revelation or a dream, he was expressed by Kaani (as if), as is considered in the expression of the tale of the vision, and God Almighty knows best.

[Mirqat al-Mafatih Sharh Mishkat al-Masabih, pg 115]

Hadith #4

The Prophet (S.A.W) describes the appearance of Dajjal with phrases like “as if”. Just like the above hadith, this too is a clear indication that he must have seen Dajjal. The only way he would have is through visions/dreams.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said (about Ad-Dajjal) that he is one eyed, his right eye is as if a protruding out grape.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 7123]

Another usage of the same phrase can be found in the following hadith

The Dajjal shall emerge from a land in the east called Khurasan. He is followed by a people whom appear as if their faces are shields coated with leather.

[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2237]

Hadith #5

The following hadith is a vision of Tamim al-Dari (R.A) which he narrates to the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), who then narrates it to the rest of the companions (R.A). It is quite long so I will only quote the parts that are relevant.

He said: By Allah. I have not made you assemble for exhortation or for a warning, but I have detained you here, for Tamim Dari, a Christian, who came and accepted Islam, told me something, which agrees with what I was telling, you about the Dajjal.
Then we hurriedly went on till we came to that monastery and found a well-built person there with his hands tied to his neck and having iron shackles between his two legs up to the ankles.
He said: Inform me about the unlettered Prophet; what has he done?
We said: He has come out from Mecca and has settled In Yathrib (Medina).
He said: Do the Arabs fight against him?
We said: Yes. He said: How did he deal with them?
We informed him that he had overcome those in his neighbourhood and they had submitted themselves before him.
Thereupon he said to us: Has it actually happened?
We said: Yes.
Thereupon he said: If it is so that is better for them that they should show obedience to him. I am going to tell you about myself and I am Dajjal and would be soon permitted to get out and so I shall get out and travel in the land, and will not spare any town where I would not stay for forty nights except Mecca and Medina…

[Sahih Muslim 2942a]

This hadith shows that it was a vision of Tamim al-Dari (R.A). The Dajjal here is reported to have asked, “Inform me about the unlettered Prophet; what has he done?”.

After all, how did this person come to know that the Arabian Prophet had already appeared? Should we think that he was also a recipient of revelation? Evidently this could not be. Nor could this be a case of guesswork. Thus, the only possible explanation is that it was seen in a vision as even the Sunni sources state:

Nabi [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] was shown Dajjaal, either in his dream or he was inspired with this vision (Kashf).

[Islamqa.org (Hanafi)]

Hadith #6

Similarly, in another hadith, Dajjal is described to have a “likeness”(بِمِثَالِ) of Paradise and Hell and not an actual Paradise and Hell.

أَلاَ أُحَدِّثُكُمْ حَدِيثًا عَنِ الدَّجَّالِ مَا حَدَّثَ بِهِ نَبِيٌّ قَوْمَهُ، إِنَّهُ أَعْوَرُ، وَإِنَّهُ يَجِيءُ مَعَهُ بِمِثَالِ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ، فَالَّتِي يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا الْجَنَّةُ‏.‏ هِيَ النَّارُ، وَإِنِّي أُنْذِرُكُمْ كَمَا أَنْذَرَ بِهِ نُوحٌ قَوْمَهُ

Shall I not tell you about the False Messiah of which no prophet has told his people before? Verily, he is blind in one eye. He will come with the likeness of paradise and fire. He will bring it and say it is paradise, but it is fire. Verily, I have warned you just as Noah had warned his people.

[Sahih al-Bukhari 3338]

Why don’t all ahadith about Dajjal mention it was a dream/vision?

A reader can ask why don’t all the ahadith about Dajjal mention that they were dreams or visions. Similarly, why can’t all the ahadith about the descent of the Messiah mention that they too were seen in a dream or a vision?

This is a valid question and we have similar ahadith in Bukhari and Muslim where the narrators omit the part which describes the event as a vision while the other mentions it.

‘A’isha reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was startled in the state of sleep. We said:

Allah’s Messenger, you have done something in the state of your sleep which you never did before, Thereupon he said: Strange it is that some people of my Ummah would attack the House (Ka’ba) (for killing) a person who would belong to the tribe of the Quraish and he would try to seek protection in the House. And when they would reach the plain ground they would be sunk. We said: Allah’s Messenger, all sorts of people throng the path. Thereupon he said: Yes, there would be amongst them people who would come with definite designs and those who would come under duress and there would be travellers also, but they would all be destroyed through one (stroke) of destruction. though they would be raised in different states (on the Day of Resurrection). Allah would, however, raise them according to their intention.

[Sahih Muslim 2884]

The above hadith mentions that Muhammad (S.A.W) is describing an event he saw in a dream while the next hadith from Bukhari does not mention it. But the described event is exactly the same.

Narrated `Aisha:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “An army will invade the Ka`ba and when the invaders reach Al-Baida’, all the ground will sink and swallow the whole army.” I said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! How will they sink into the ground while amongst them will be their markets (the people who worked in business and not invaders) and the people not belonging to them?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “all of those people will sink but they will be resurrected and judged according to their intentions.”

[Sahih Muslim 2884]

Thus, we look at all the ahadith about a certain topic in a single lens. Any details omitted by some ahadith are detailed by others, which gives us a better understanding of the context of the ahadith.

“Sunnis” interpret Dajjal hadith since it is a dream

Similarly, “Sunnis” don’t understand all the ahadith about the Dajjal literally. They also interpret them. One of them is the hadith below where the Dajjal is seen doing Tawaf of the Ka’abah.

The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the Masih Ad-Dajjal in front of the people saying, Allah is not one-eyed while Masih Ad-Dajjal is blind in the right eye and his eye looks like a bulging out grape. While sleeping near the Ka`ba last night, I saw in my dream a man of brown color the best one can see amongst brown color and his hair was long that it fell between his shoulders. His hair was lank and water was dribbling from his head and he was placing his hands on the shoulders of two men while circumambulating the Ka`ba. I asked, ‘Who is this?’ They replied, ‘This is Jesus, son of Mary.’ Behind him I saw a man who had very curly hair and was blind in the right eye, resembling Ibn Qatan (i.e. an infidel) in appearance. He was placing his hands on the shoulders of a person while performing Tawaf around the Ka`ba. I asked, ‘Who is this? ‘They replied, ‘The Masih, Ad-Dajjal.‘

[Sahih al-Bukhari 3439]

They don’t take it literally and explain that the Dajjal cannot be in Makkah and do Tawaf as it goes against other ahadith which proves that he cannot enter Makkah nor Medinah.

There will be no town which Ad-Dajjal will not enter except Mecca and Medina.

[Sahih al-Bukhari 1881]
[Sahih Muslim 2884]

Conclusion

In summary, all the ahadith of the Dajjal are visions and dreams that Muhammad (S.A.W) saw. Moreover, it is nothing unusual to interpret dreams. One example is that the hadith of Dajjal doing Tawaf of the Ka’abah is not taken literally because as per other ahadith, Dajjal cannot enter Makkah or Medinah. There are many other visions of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) that did not happen literally and are listed here.

Similarly, the ahadith about the coming of the Messiah are also visions where he saw both the Messiah and the Dajjal together. Thus, interpreting those prophecies is nothing new within Islam but a practice of the Prophet (S.A.W) himself, especially when they have already been fulfilled.