How Long Will Dajjāl Roam the Earth? Authentic Islamic Explanation
Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amrpuri
For how many days will Dajjāl roam the earth?
Dajjāl will travel across the entire earth (except for the two Harams: Makkah and Madinah) for a period of forty days.
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما reported:
"Dajjāl will appear among my Ummah and remain for forty [days]; I do not know whether it will be forty days, forty months, or forty years. Then Allah will send ʿĪsā ibn Maryam عليه السلام, who will resemble ʿUrwah ibn Masʿūd (a Companion). He will pursue Dajjāl and kill him."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2940)
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Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه said:
“I heard Abū al-Qāsim ﷺ — the truthful and the one who was believed — say: The one-eyed Dajjāl, the false Messiah, will emerge from the East during a time of dispute and division among people. He will travel as far as Allah wills across the earth in forty days. Allah knows best the true length of those days. The believers will face severe hardship. Then ʿĪsā ibn Maryam عليه السلام will descend from the heavens. The people will rise (in prayer), and when he lifts his head from rukūʿ and says: 'Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah,' Allah will kill the false Messiah, and the believers will prevail.
I swear that Abū al-Qāsim ﷺ said this — it is the truth. And indeed, it is near, for everything that is coming is near.”
(Musnad al-Bazzār – Kashf al-Astār: 3396 – Chain is authentic)
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"This narration is reported by al-Bazzār, and its narrators are those found in the Ṣaḥīḥ collections."
(Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid: 7/349)
① Dajjāl will roam the earth for 40 days,
② The exact length of those days is known only to Allah — the Prophet ﷺ expressed uncertainty whether it would be days, months, or years,
③ During this time, he will not be able to enter Makkah and Madinah,
④ Eventually, ʿĪsā ibn Maryam عليه السلام will descend and kill Dajjāl,
⑤ This event is authentically reported and will certainly occur — and indeed, it is near.
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I understand, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amrpuri❖ Question:
For how many days will Dajjāl roam the earth?
❖ Answer:
Dajjāl will travel across the entire earth (except for the two Harams: Makkah and Madinah) for a period of forty days.
✿ Ḥadīth of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما reported:
"Dajjāl will appear among my Ummah and remain for forty [days]; I do not know whether it will be forty days, forty months, or forty years. Then Allah will send ʿĪsā ibn Maryam عليه السلام, who will resemble ʿUrwah ibn Masʿūd (a Companion). He will pursue Dajjāl and kill him."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2940)
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✿ Ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه said:
“I heard Abū al-Qāsim ﷺ — the truthful and the one who was believed — say: The one-eyed Dajjāl, the false Messiah, will emerge from the East during a time of dispute and division among people. He will travel as far as Allah wills across the earth in forty days. Allah knows best the true length of those days. The believers will face severe hardship. Then ʿĪsā ibn Maryam عليه السلام will descend from the heavens. The people will rise (in prayer), and when he lifts his head from rukūʿ and says: 'Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah,' Allah will kill the false Messiah, and the believers will prevail.
I swear that Abū al-Qāsim ﷺ said this — it is the truth. And indeed, it is near, for everything that is coming is near.”
(Musnad al-Bazzār – Kashf al-Astār: 3396 – Chain is authentic)
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✿ Commentary of al-Haythamī رحمه الله:
"This narration is reported by al-Bazzār, and its narrators are those found in the Ṣaḥīḥ collections."
(Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid: 7/349)
Summary:
① Dajjāl will roam the earth for 40 days,
② The exact length of those days is known only to Allah — the Prophet ﷺ expressed uncertainty whether it would be days, months, or years,
③ During this time, he will not be able to enter Makkah and Madinah,
④ Eventually, ʿĪsā ibn Maryam عليه السلام will descend and kill Dajjāl,
⑤ This event is authentically reported and will certainly occur — and indeed, it is near.
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I understand, and Allah knows best what is correct.
