Encyclopedia of Islam

Further reading: Binyamin Abrahamov, Anthropomor-

phism and the Interpretation of the Quran in the Theol-

ogy of al-Qasim ibn Ibrahim (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1996); 

W. Montgomery Watt, The Formative Period of Islamic 

Thought (Oxford: One World Press, 1998).

Antichrist

 

(Arabic: 

al-dajjal, or al-masih  

al-dajjal)

The Antichrist is a well-known figure who Mus-

lims expect to arrive at the End of Times. Ideas 

about the dajjal, which means “deceiver,” do not 

come directly from the q

Uran

, although other 

apocalyptic elements, such as J

Udgment

 d

ay

, Gog 

and Magog (armies lead by the Antichrist), and the 

trials and tribulations of the End Times are pres-

ent. Rather, the term dajjal—the Islamic equiva-

lent of the Christian Antichrist—occurs in the 

hadith

, the second major source of authoritative 

knowledge in Islam. In many hadith collections, 

including the authoritative Sunni collections by 

al-Bukhari and Muslim, the dajjal is variously 

described as being red-complexioned, one-eyed 

(or blind in one eye), and short (or sometimes 

enormously large), with bowed legs and curly 

hair. The name Unbeliever will be written on his 

forehead. It is said that he will perform miracles, 

attracting many whose faith is weak. However, 

true, believing Muslims will not succumb. He will 

reign for 40 years (or 40 days) before he succeeds 

in destroying Muslims. Ultimately, the Antichrist 

will be slain by J

esUs

, who also plays an important 

role in Islamic eschatology. The Shia, it should be 

noted, believe that Jesus and the m

ahdi

 together 

will slay him, after which the End Times and 

Judgment Day will come.

The different and sometimes contradictory 

ways in which the Antichrist is described in 

Islamic eschatology is a result of early inter-

actions among Muslims and Christians in the 

Middle East. Muslim scholars are divided on the 

authenticity of these traditions, which appear to 

go against the Quranic teaching that Judgment 

Day will arrive suddenly. Nonetheless, belief in 

the emergence of the Antichrist is a central aspect 

of belief for Muslims. There is an active apocalyp-

tic tradition today in which various “Antichrists” 

are described; some commentators even see the 

Antichrist embodied in the modern temptations 

and foreign domination to which Muslims have 

been subjected.

See also c

hristianity

 

and

 i

slam

; 

death

; s

hiism

.

John Iskander