Ibn Sayyaad – Dajjaal?

By Mujlisul Ulama

Is Ibn Sayyaad, the Yahoodi mentioned in the Hadith, the Dajjaal who will appear during the time of Imaam Mahdi (Alayhis salaam)? It appears that some Sahaabah were of the understanding that Ibn Sayyaad was Dajjaal. 

Ibn Sayyaad also known as Ibnus Saa-id was a Yahoodi. There is much mystery surrounding this character. Once when Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu) met him, Hadhrat Umar for some reason gained the impression that this was Dajjaal. He sought permission from Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) to kill Ibn Sayyaad. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “If he is indeed Dajjaal, then you have not been appointed to kill him.” In other words: You will not be able to kill him because Isaa (Alayhis salaam) has been appointed by Allah Ta’ala to slay Dajjaal. 

Thus, this clarification by Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam), the killing by Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam), Dajjaal’s appearance during the age of Imaam Mahdi (Alayhis salaam), Hadhrat Tameemud Daari (Radhiyallahu anhu) and other Sahaabah having personally seen and met the giant Dajjaal on an island where he was chained, Dajjaal being unaware at that time that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had already appeared, and his expressing joy when he was informed by the Sahaabi that Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had already appeared, all of this confirm that Ibn Sayyaad was not the real Dajjaal mentioned by Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) to appear in close proximity to Qiyaamah.

One explanation for the understanding or misunderstanding of Ibn Sayyaad being the promised Dajjaal is that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had said that before the actual Dajjaal’s appearance a number of small dajjaals will appear. He was one such ‘dajjaal’.

Another fact is that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had said that Dajjaal will not be able to enter Makkah and Madinah. But Ibn Sayyaad was in Madinah and he went to Makkah for Hajj or Umrah. Adding to the mystery is the disappearance of Ibn Sayyaad from the scene.

Furthermore, there is a host of signs and acts mentioned in the Hadith about the actual Dajjaal. None of these were demonstrated by Ibn Sayyaad. Also, the actual Dajjaal will appear during the era of Imaam Mahdi (Alayhis salaam) in close proximity to Qiyaamah while Ibn Sayyaad lived during the time of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Although there is some mystery about him, there is certitude that he is not the actual Dajjaal who will appear during the time of Imaam Mahdi. It will be Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam) who will kill him.

This is a brief account of Ibn Sayyaad. There is further academic discussion and other narratives on this issue, but for the sake of brevity we have dispensed with it.