talajjal

Talajjal, more commonly known in Islamic tradition as al-Dajjāl, is a figure described in eschatological narratives as the false messiah or deceiver who will appear before the Day of Judgment. The term talajjal itself is a transliteration used in some languages, but the figure is most often referred to as al-Dajjāl in Arabic sources. The Qur’an does not name him, and most of the details about his appearance and actions come from hadith literature and later devotional and folkloric traditions. As a result, there is no single universally agreed-upon account, and descriptions vary across sources.

In widely circulated traditions, al-Dajjāl is presented as a human who will travel the world and perform feats that seem miraculous, aiming to mislead people and test their faith. He is often described as one-eyed or otherwise marked, with distinctive features that enable believers to recognize him. He is said to claim divinity or divine authority and to persuade many to follow him through deceptive signs, wealth, and power. Some narrations mention that he will be unable to enter certain sacred cities, such as Mecca and Medina, where guardianship by angels is believed to protect the holy precincts.

A central element of the tradition is that al-Dajjāl will be confronted and defeated in the end times, most commonly by Jesus (Isa) upon his return, often with the support of the Mahdi. This confrontation is followed by a period of justice and peace. Because of the variety of sources and the range of interpretations, discussions of al-Dajjāl emphasize scholarly caution and focus on the broader themes of deception, moral testing, and the ultimate triumph of truth.

See also: Dajjāl, Islamic eschatology.