In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

The Trial of Dajjāl, Its Severity and Duration (Major Signs of the Day of Judgment)

(In the Light of Ḥadīth)

The trial of Dajjāl:

    Ḥudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Prophet ﷺ that he said regarding Dajjāl:
    “He will have with him water and fire. In reality, his fire will be cool water, and his water will be fire. Beware, do not destroy yourselves.”
    (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)

    Ḥudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
    “When Dajjāl appears, he will have with him water and fire. What people will think is water will in fact be burning fire, and what they will think is fire will in fact be cool, sweet water. Whoever among you lives to see that time should plunge into what appears to be fire, for it will be pure and pleasant water.”
    (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)

    Nawwās ibn Samʿān (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that one day the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned Dajjāl. We asked: “O Messenger of Allah, how fast will he travel across the earth?”
    He replied:
    “Like rain driven by the wind. He will come to a people and call them to believe in him; they will believe and respond to him. Then he will command the sky and it will rain, and command the earth and it will produce vegetation. By evening, their livestock will return with humps larger than before, udders full, and sides well-fed.
    Then he will come to another people and call them to believe in him, but they will reject him. He will leave them, and they will suffer drought, and all their wealth will perish.
    Then he will pass by a desolate land and command it to bring forth its treasures, and its treasures will follow him like swarms of bees.”
    (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)

The severity of the trial of Dajjāl:

    Hishām ibn ʿĀmir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
    “From the time of Ādam until the Day of Judgment, there will be no trial greater than that of Dajjāl.”
    (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)

    ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
    The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to me while I was weeping. He asked, “Why are you crying?”
    I said, “O Messenger of Allah, I remembered Dajjāl.”
    He said:
    “If Dajjāl appears during my lifetime, I will suffice you against him. But if he appears after me, then remember that your Lord is not one-eyed.”
    (Musnad Aḥmad)

Believers will flee to the mountains out of fear of Dajjāl:

    Umm Sharīk (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that she heard the Prophet ﷺ say:
    “People will flee from Dajjāl to the mountains.”
    She asked: “O Messenger of Allah, where will the Arabs be at that time?”
    He replied: “They will be few in number.”
    (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)

No city will remain safe from Dajjāl except Makkah and Madinah:

    Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
    “There will be no city that Dajjāl will not enter except Makkah and Madinah. Angels will stand guarding every entrance to them. Dajjāl will reach the rocky outskirts of Madinah; it will shake three times, and every disbeliever and hypocrite will leave it and go to him.”
    (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)

The duration of the trial of Dajjāl:

    According to our reckoning of days and nights, the period of Dajjāl’s presence will equal approximately one year, two months, and two weeks.

    Nawwās ibn Samʿān (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
    “He will remain on earth for forty days: one day like a year, one day like a month, one day like a week, and the remaining thirty-seven days like your normal days.”
    We asked: “O Messenger of Allah, on the day that is like a year, will the prayers of one day suffice?”
    He said: “No. Estimate the time and observe the prayers accordingly.”
    (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)