Islamic tradition recognizes the coming, near the end-times, of a man who will deceive the world, called Ad-Dajjal, the impostor messiah or charlatan. Muhammad (~) has spoken at length of the Antichrist (Al-Massih Ad-Dajjal), whose identity will remain obscure up to the moment of his appearance (Hadith n. 204 [1]). He has described him as a “one-eyed liar” (Hadith n. 1815) and warned against his power to set astray: “I fear for you but the Charlatan…He will present himself before the people and will invite them; they will believe in him and respond to him” (Hadith n. 1806). His civilization will be one-eyed, in the sense that it will pretend to organize itself independently of the divine commandments. Different commentators attach to it sexual depravity in the new global masonic order, an inversion of values [2]. According to the Sunni tradition, the “Antichrist” will appear in the East and will come from Khorason. He will pass by the town of Ispahan where he will be joined by 70.000 Jews in arms. Then he will go to Medina and Mecca to overthrow them. Angels will turn him and force him to take the direction of Sham [3]. This false messiah will be reached by ‘Issa (Jesus) who will return materially near the gate of Lod (in the Holy Land) and who will raise warriors rendered invincible (n. 1806).
How can we say that the coming of the Dajjal or Antichrist is logical, rational?
Up to the present, we could not define a “camp of good” and a “camp of evil” because a just man could become a sinner and vice-versa, as was said also by the prophet Ezekiel (Ez 18). So that the Judgment of the earth can be accomplished, there must be particular circumstances where men are arrived at such a degree of good or evil that they can no longer change “camp.” We know then that the Antichrist will manifest himself.
Besides, how can all these people be judged who have never known the veritable Gospel?
The Judgment which will take place at the glorious manifestation of Christ will be done not only for or against Jesus (‘Issa), but also for or against the “Antichrist” which will be manifested before this Judgment. This is why Antichrist (against Christ) is called also Antechrist (the one who comes before the return of Christ).
Do the Muslims reflect that their ideas on the coming of an Antechrist or Antichrist is by definition an idea of Christian origin?
Saint Paul designates the Antichrist as being an impious man: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by his appearing and his coming. The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” (2 Thess 2:8-10). Then God will reign on the earth for a certain time in preparation for eternal Life in Heaven, Saint Irenaeus of Lyon explains, who holds this from Saint Polycarp, who holds this from Saint John, the apostle of Jesus.