We Thank you for your question.

The Dajjaal is a serious matter, indeed he is the greatest fitnah, as it says in the hadeeth, since the creation of Adam and until the Hour begins. No wonder that he is the only one of the trials of life from which refuge is sought in prayer: “A’oodhu Billaah min ‘adhaab Jahannam wa min ‘adhaab il qabri wa min fitnat il-mahyaa wa’l-mamaat wa min fitnat il-maseeh il-dajjaal (I seek refuge with Allaah from the torment of Hell, the torment of the grave, the trials of life and death and the trial of the Dajjaal).”

The word Dajjaal comes from the word dajl, which means misrepresentation or falsification, because he is a falsifier, indeed the greatest falsifier and the worst liar of all people.

The appearance of the Dajjaal is one of the signs of the Hour, but the time of his emergence is not clearly defined, because no one knows when the Hour will be except Allaah. Similarly with regard to the portents of the Hour, all we know is what has already happened (but with regard to those which have not yet happened, we do not know when they will happen). The time of his appearance is not known, but we do know that it is one of the portents of the Hour.

With regard to the direction from which he will emerge, he will emerge from the east, from the direction of tribulation and evil, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Fitnah is here,” and he pointed towards the east. (al-Bukhaari, 3279; Muslim, 5167).