Tamim Al Dari (RA) – The Sahabi who had a Close Encounter with the Dajjal

The Companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), known as the Sahabah, were the individuals who interacted with him or had personal contact with him during his lifetime, believed in his message, and died as Muslims. This group included diverse individuals like the Muhajirun (the Emigrants from Makkah) and the Ansar (Helpers/Hosts from Madinah), from various backgrounds and tribes. They played crucial roles in preserving and spreading Islam, and establishing Islamic governance and institutions after Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) death. Many of them are credited with providing valuable service to Islam as they not only preserved the Qur’an (through its recitation and  meticulous recording) but also transmitted and chronicled the multitude of hadiths (traditions and sayings) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Hence Muslims the world over are indebted to the Companions who were instrumental in preserving and spreading Islam, and who acted as the first generation of Muslims to transmit the Prophet’s teachings to future generations. As Islam spread, they not only established the early foundational structures of the Islamic regime, administration, and institutions, but also of mosques, as places of worship and as the focal point of congregations. Their actions and efforts were instrumental in the rapid spread of Islam during a relatively short period in the Prophet’s lifetime. They worked “shoulder to shoulder” with the Prophet (PBUH), fighting in wars and endeavoring unstintingly and diligently to establish a sound Muslim Ummah oftentimes ready to sacrifice their families, wealth and their own lives in this phenomenal effort. Prominent among them were the first four Caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, who hold a highly esteemed position, and are those included among the “Ten Companions” promised paradise. The Life of Tamim Al Dari (RA) One such eminent Companion was Tamim al-Dari (RA), who was a wealthy, well- travelled, literate, scholarly merchant, familiar with Christian scriptures. Imam al-Dhahabi who has written the most famous and extensive collection of biographies about the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) has mentioned Tamim Al Dari (RA) in his book Siyar A’lam an-Nubala in the 1300s. He stated that Tamim Al Dari (RA) was an Arab Christian who lived under the auspices of the Roman Empire. He lived in Byzantine-ruled Palestine and belonged to the Banu al-Dar—a clan of the Lakhm tribe. He interacted with other merchants and caravans on the trade routes and was thus well aware of prevalent events in Makkah and Madinah. Being a well- versed scholar, he had acquired in-depth knowledge of the Torah and the Gospel. He was under the belief and assumption that Prophet Muhammad’s teachings would be similar to the beliefs of the pagan Arabs. As he conversed with numerous traders and heard more about the Prophet (PBUH), he began to realize that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was actually descended from the Prophets Abraham (AS) and Ismail (AS), and that he was teaching the message of Tawhid. He sought deeper knowledge and found that Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) teachings affirmed the teachings of Prophet Isa (Jesus) (AS). His first contact with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was in 628 CE when he led and arrived with a delegation of ten members of Banu al-Dar. Amongst the delegation was his brother, Abu Hind al-Dari, who himself later became a great Companion of the Prophet (PBUH). He arrived to meet the Prophet (PBUH) bearing gifts for him, namely, an impressive Arabian horse, a beautiful cloak and five slaves who the Prophet (PBUH) set free promptly. Earlier, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had granted Banu al-Dar a part of the revenues of conquered land after the Muslim victory at the Battle of Khaybar. He therefore met with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to receive the revenues and after meeting him, al-Dari took a pledge, embraced Islam and settled in Madinah. The Prophet (PBUH) changed al-Dari’s (RA) name to Siraj. After his conversion, al-Dari became an adviser to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), particularly on public worship. Some scholars say he was the first to suggest construction of a mimbar (pulpit) in the mosques, and his advice included not only the introduction of oil lamps in mosques, but he also assumed the responsibility of lighting these very same oil lamps in several mosques. He narrated traditions (hadiths) from Prophet Muhammad concerning ethics, prayer, and the Qur’an, and subsequently, his narrations were included in major hadith collections. He is traditionally considered to be the first narrator of Islamic religious stories. Many of his stories included themes about the end of the world and the coming of the Dajjal. He stayed in Madinah, quickly devoting himself to the Prophet (PBUH) in an extraordinary way, by disseminating dawah. Al-Dari (RA) was especially passionate about conveying Islamic dawah to the People of the Book, as he used to be one of them. He particularly assisted with the new converts to Islam, thereby also earning the eminent position of representing the Prophet (PBUH) in certain delegations. When someone was ready to convert or repent, Tamim al-Dari (RA) was the Companion who would bring them to the mosque, instruct them about the fundamentals of Islam, and impart to them the valuable rules of prayer. Due to his thoroughness, his scholarly intelligence and his earnest devotion to the Qur’an, he was one of the quickest men to memorize the Qur’an and become a hafidh, eventually transforming into a beautiful reciter of the Holy Book. He memorized the Qur’an even though he only had the good fortune of getting acquainted with the Prophet (PBUH) in his last year and later proved to be a conscientious scholar of the Qur’an. His expertise led him to become an Imam to many companions who had become Muslim well before him. The Narrative of Dajjal He is best known for his legendary encounter with the Dajjal (the Muslim Antichrist). While on a sea-faring journey, al-Dari (RA) and his companions were caught in a severe storm and tossed in the sea for a month or so. Eventually, al-Dari (RA) and his entourage were shipwrecked on a mysterious island. The hadith from Tamim al-Dari involves him and these shipwrecked travelers encountering a strange, hairy creature called al-Jassasah on this mystic island. Al Jassaah guided them to a monastery and eventually there, intrigued and fearful, they beheld a powerful, massively built man, his arms, legs and neck bound in iron shackles. This chained man asked them about the outside world, the natural condition of various lands, and certain ecological facts and details (relating to vital signs showing the eminence of the Day of Judgement). Then he questioned them about the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He was told that the Prophet (PBUH) has overcome the Arabs and gained victory over them and now they were following the religion of Islam. He affirmed that it’s in their interest to follow the Prophet (PBUH). He then introduced himself as Masih al-Dajjal, and that he would soon emerge to travel the entirety of the earth in 40 nights and 40 days. He would be permitted to go everywhere, but would be denied entrance into Madinah and Makkah. He then provided them with eschatological details related to his advent in the future. The tribesmen left the island and recounted this intriguing and compelling encounter to Prophet Muhammad in Madinah. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shared this story with his Companions, confirming and corroborating details about the Dajjal’s future emergence. This is an incredible narration by a Companion because it provides a vivid first-hand description of the Dajjal. The other Companions understood that this was a miracle that Allah had revealed to Tamim al-Dari (RA) and to the ten men with him. Al-Dari (RA) brought not only a certain level of confirmation, but also strong affirmation to the hadith about the Masih al-Dajjal, that the Prophet (PBUH) had previously relayed to his Companions. Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) reaction also confirmed the veracity of the Dajjal’s existence, and the authenticity of his arrival at the end of times as had been revealed to him by Allah Almighty. Tamim’s story has become the bedrock of various medieval narratives and legends, earning Tamim the title of “The Intrepid Traveler.’ Hadith about the Dajjal Amir b. Sharahil Sha’bi Sha’b Hamdan reported that he asked Fatimah, daughter of Qais and sister of Ad-Dahhak b. Qais and she was the first amongst the emigrant women, “Narrate to me a hadith which you had heard directly from Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and there is no extra link in between them.” The story was narrated in well-known hadith which is known as the Hadith of Al-Jassaasah. It was narrated that Fatimah bint Qays (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I heard the voice of the caller, the caller of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), saying, “Prayer is about to begin,” so I went out to the mosque and I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). I was in the women’s row that was closest to the people. When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) had finished his prayer, he sat on the mimbar and was smiling. He said, “Let each person stay in the place where he just prayed.” Then he said, “Do you know why I called you together?’ They said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “By Allah, I did not call you together for an exhortation or for a warning. I have called you together because Tamim al-Dari was a Christian and he came and swore allegiance and became Muslim, and told me something which agrees with what I was telling you about the Dajjal. He told me that he sailed in a ship with thirty men of Lakhm and Judhaam and they were tossed by the waves of the sea for a month. Then they came to an island at sunset. They sat in a small rowing-boat and landed on that island. They were met by a beast with a great deal of hair and they could not distinguish his face from his back because he was so hairy. They said, ‘Woe to you, what are you?’ It said, ‘I am Al-Jassaasah.’ They said, ‘What is al-Jassaasah?’ It said, ‘O people, go to this man in the monastery for he keen to know about you.’ He said, ‘When it named a man for us we were afraid of it lest it be a devil.’ Then we set off, rushing, until we came to that monastery, where we found the hugest man we had ever seen, bound strongly in chains with his hands tied to his neck and his legs bound from the knees to the ankles with iron shackles. We said, ‘Woe to you, who are you?’ He said, ‘You will soon find out about me; tell me who you are.’ They said, ‘We are people from Arabia who embarked on a ship, but the sea became wild and the waves tossed us about for one month, then they brought us to this island of yours. We took to the rowing-boats and landed on this island. We were met by a beast with a great deal of hair. We said, “Woe to you, what are you?” It said, “I am al-Jassaasah.” And then it said, “Go to this man in the monastery for he is keen to know about you.” So we came rushing to you.’ He (that chained person) said, ‘Tell me about the date-palm trees of Baysaan.’ We said, ‘What do you want to know about them?’ He said, ‘I am asking you whether these trees bear fruit.’ We said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Soon they will not bear fruit.’ He said, ‘Tell me about the lake of Tabariyyah’ We said, ‘What do you want to know about it?’ He said, ‘Is there water in it?’ They said, ‘There is a great deal of water in it.’ He said, ‘Soon it will dry up.’ Then he said, ‘Tell me about the spring of Zughar (which is in the south of Syria).’ They said, ‘What do you want to know about it?’ He said, ‘Is there water in the spring and do the people grow crops with the water of the spring?’ We said to him, ‘Yes, there is plenty of water in it and the people grow crops with its water.’ He said, ‘Tell me about the Prophet of the unlettered; what has he done?’ We said, ‘He has left Makkah and has settled in Yathrib (Madinah).’ He said, ‘Do the Arabs fight against him?’ We said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘How did he deal with them?’ We told him that he had prevailed over the Arabs in his vicinity and they had shown obedience to him. He said to us, ‘Has it really happened?’ We said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘If it is so that is better for them that they show obedience to him. Now I will tell you about myself. I am the Dajjal and soon I will be given permission to emerge. So I will come out and travel in the land, and will not spare any town but I will stay for forty nights, except in Makkah and Taybah (Madinah). They are both forbidden to me; every time I try to enter one of them, I will be met by an angel with a sword in his hand, who will bar my way, and on every route, there will be angels guarding it.’” She said: Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) struck the mimbar with his staff and said, “This is Taybah, this is Taybah, this is Taybah,” meaning Madinah, “Did I net tell you this before?” The people said, “Yes.” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “I liked the event of Tamim because it agrees with what I used to tell you about him and about Makkah and Madinah. But he is in the Syrian Sea (Mediterranean) or the Yemeni Sea (Arabian Sea). No, rather he is in the east, he is in the east, he is in the east,” and he pointed towards the east with his hand. She said: I memorized this from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).’ Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih (2942), so it is an authentic hadith. It was also narrated by the scholars in their books, with their chains from Faatimah bint Qays (may Allah be pleased with her). Al-Tirmidhi stated this in his al-Jami’ al-Sahih (2253). Significance of the Hadith Dajjal’s Imprisonment: The story provides a concrete account of the Dajjal’s approximate location and his state of existence before his eventual emergence. Confirmation of the Unseen: It serves as confirmation of the Dajjal and some other aspects of the unseen, aligning with information the Prophet (as revealed to him by Allah) had previously shared with his followers. Mention of actual places:

• The date-palms of Baysan: He asked if the trees were still bearing fruit. Today, this area is known as Beit She’an, Israel, which is located in the northern Jordan Valley. The Dajjal stated that its date palms would soon stop bearing fruit.
• The lake of Tabariyyah: He asked if there was still water in this lake. This is known today as the Sea of Galilee or Lake Kinneret in northern Israel. The Dajjal commented that the lake would eventually dry up.
• The spring of Zughar: He asked if the spring still had water and if people were using it for irrigation. This spring is in the region known as Zugar or Ghor es-Safi, located near the southern end of the Dead Sea. By questioning if it was still in use for irrigation, he hinted that its water would also cease.

Warning for the Ummah: The account is seen as a significant event that helps believers to understand the nature and arrival of the Dajjal, a major sign of the end of times, the unparalleled chaos he will bring and the massive fitnah (trial) he will be for humankind. The significance of the Dajjal in Islam: Anas (RA) related that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “There has not been a Prophet who has not warned his Ummah of that one-eyed liar (i.e., Dajjal). Behold, he is blind in one eye and your Lord is not blind. On his forehead are the letters: K-F-R (meaning kafir– disbeliever).” (Bukhari & Muslim) The Prophet (PBUH) also stated,

“Whoever commits to memory the first/last ten verses of Surah al-Kahf, will be protected from (the trial of) the Dajjal.” (Muslim)

The Dajjal will be the ultimate in deception and a hard-core test for humanity towards the end of time. He will use supernatural powers to mislead people, causing true believers to remain staunch in their faith while many others will be severely led astray and their faith will be undermined. The Dajjal’s chief objective will be to present an ultimate test to deceive people and to differentiate between the true and false believers before the Day of Judgment. With the help of the jinn and devils, he will use miracles, such as controlling “rivers of fire and water” which will actually be the reverse, and in order to delude people he will exercise the ability to kill and resurrect people. His power for duplicity will be so immense that he will present his hell as paradise and his paradise as hell, a hoax that will cause many to blindly follow him. His emergence is considered the first of the ten major signs of the end of times. Prior to his appearance there will be a period of famine which will be preceded by events such as a decrease in rainfall and paucity of agricultural produce. The Dajjal is described as the “worst of all the signs” and a major harbinger of spiritual blindness. After a period of tribulations and severe misguidance, he will be confronted by Isa (AS) who will return to Earth, and kill him, by Allah’s command. The followers of the Dajjal will be eventually exposed, and a final age of peace will begin. Tamim Al Dari’s (RA) Later Years and Death  Al-Dari (RA) requested the Prophet (PBUH) the waqf(endowment) of land in Bethlehem for himself and his family which the Prophet (PBUH) allotted to him. Later Umar (RA) declared that he was a witness to the Prophet (PBUH) gifting the land to him. The deed was written up by Ali (RA) and when the Muslims conquered Palestine in 634, al-Dari (RA) acquired the territory. Originally, al-Dari’s role as the owner of the property was to collect the land taxes. He was forbidden to enslave any of the locals or sell their property. In 655, al-Dari left Madinah to reside in his native Palestine where he died in 661. His grave is in Bayt Jibrin in the vicinity of Hebron. According to the Egyptian historian Ibn Lahi’a (714–790), members of al-Dari’s family were still the owners of his estates in Hebron and Beit Einun during the historian’s lifetime. Tamim al-Dari (RA) will be remembered for his widespread advocacy in the spread of Islam. However, his name will forever be linked with the unusual, compelling and intriguing incident of the encounter with the Dajjal – an event that describes an entity who is to arrive at the end of times, foretold by the Prophet more than a thousand years ago. Unquestionably, his contribution and that of the other Companions to the entire Islamic theology is immense. We are unduly indebted to them for meticulously recording the events of the Prophet’s (PBUH) life, his hadith and the assiduous preservation of the Holy Qur’an. Their strong moral character, sacrifices, and close association with Prophet Muhammad serve as an enduring source of inspiration for all Muslims.