Al-Masih ad-Dajjal

Islamic eschatological figure

Al-Masih ad-Dajjal (Arabic: المسيح الدجّال Al-Masīḥ ad-Dajjāl, "the false messiah", or "the deceiver") is an evil figure in Islamic eschatology.[1] He is to appear, pretending to be al-Masih (i.e. the Messiah), before Yawm al-Qiyamah (the Day of Resurrection). According to Islamic belief, at the end of days he will gather together everyone he has deceived into a great army.[2] His army will then confront the Messiah and his army.[2] The Dajjal is not mentioned directly in the Qur'an.[3] This may be because he is only human and is mentioned in the future.[3]

References

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  1. Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, Al-Dajjāl, p. 43.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., Publishers, 2012), p. 16
  3. 3.0 3.1 Oliver Leaman, The Qur'an: An Encyclopedia (London; New York: Routledge, 2006), p. 165