The Gate of Ludd (Bab al-Ludd) is traditionally identified with the outskirts of the ancient city of Lod (or Lydda), located about 15 km southeast of Tel Aviv in modern-day Israel, near Ben Gurion Airport. In Islamic eschatology, this is prophesied as the site where Nabi Eesa/Jesus Christ (Isa) will defeat the Antichrist (Dajjal);

Nawwas bin Sam’an Al-Kilabi said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioned Dajjal, one morning, as something despised but also alarming, until we thought that he was in the stand of date-palm trees. When we came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the evening, he saw that (fear) in us, and said: ‘What is the matter with you?’ We said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you mentioned Dajjal (AntiChrist) this morning, and you spoke of him as something despised but also alarming, until we thought that he was in the stand of date-palm trees.’ He said: ‘There are things that I fear more for you than the Dajjal. If he appears while I am among you, I will contend with him on your behalf, and if he appears when I am not among you, then each man must fend for himself, and Allah will take care of every Muslim on my behalf. He (Dajjal) will be a young man with curly hair and a protuberant eye; I liken him to ‘Abdul-‘Uzza bin Qatan. Whoever among you sees him, let him recite the first Verses of Surat Al-Kahf over him. He will emerge from Khallah, between Sham and Iraq, and will wreak havoc right and left. O slaves of Allah, remain steadfast.’ We said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, how long will he stay on earth?’ He said: ‘Forty days, one day like a year, one day like a month, one day like a week, and the rest of his days like your days.’ We said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, on that day which is like a year, will the prayers of one day suffice us?’ He said: ‘Make an estimate of time (and then observe prayer).’ We said: ‘How fast will he move through the earth?’ He said: ‘Like a rain cloud driving by the wind.’ He said: ‘He will come to some people and call them, and they will respond and believe in him. Then he will command the sky to rain and it will rain, and he will command the earth to produce vegetation and it will do so, and their flocks will come back in the evening with their humps taller, their udders fuller and their flanks fatter than they have ever been. Then he will come to some (other) people and call them, and they will reject him, so he will turn away from them and they will suffer drought and be left with nothing. Then he will pass through the wasteland and will say: “Bring forth your treasures,” then go away, and its treasures will follow him like a swarm of bees. Then he will call a man brimming with youth and will strike him with a sword and cut him in two. He will put the two pieces as far apart as the distance between an archer and his target. Then he will call him and he will come with his face shining, laughing. While they are like that, Allah will send ‘Eisa bin Maryam (Jesus Christ), who will come down at the white minaret in the east of Damascus, wearing two Mahrud[garment dyed with Wars and then Saffron], resting his hands on the wings of two angels. When he lowers his head, beads of perspiration will fall from it. Every disbeliever who smells the fragrance of his breath will die, and his breath will reach as far as his eye can see. Then he will set out and catch up with him (the Dajjal) at the gate of Ludd, and will kill him. Then the Prophet of Allah ‘Eisa will come to some people whom Allah has protected, and he will wipe their faces and tell them of their status in Paradise. While they are like that, Allah will reveal to him: “O ‘Eisa, I have brought forth some of My slaves whom no one will be able to kill, so take My slaves to Tur in safety.” Then Gog and Magog will emerge and they will, as Allah describes, “swoop down from every mound.”[21:96] The first of them will pass by lake Tiberias and drink from it, then the last of them will pass by it and will say: “There was water here once.” The Prophet of Allah, ‘Eisa and his companions will be besieged there until the head of an ox would be dearer to any one of them than one hundred Dinar are to any one of you today. Then, the Prophet of Allah, ‘Eisa and his companions will supplicate Allah. Then Allah will send a worm in their necks and the next morning they will all die as one. The Prophet of Allah ‘Eisa and his companions will come down and they will not find even the space of a hand span that is free of their stink, stench and blood. They will pray to Allah, and He will send birds with necks like the necks of Bactrian camels, which will pick them up and throw them wherever Allah wills. Then Allah will send rain which will not leave any house of clay or hair, and it will wash the earth until it leaves it like a mirror (or a smooth rock). Then it will be said to the earth: “Bring forth your fruits and bring back your blessing.” On that day a group of people will eat from a (single) pomegranate and it will suffice them, and they will seek shelter beneath its skin. Allah will bless a milch- camel so that it will be sufficient for a large number of people, and a milch-cow will be sufficient for a whole tribe and a milch-ewe will be sufficient for a whole clan. While they are like that, Allah will send a pleasant wind which will seize them beneath their armpits and will take the soul of every Muslim, leaving the rest of the people fornicating like donkeys, and upon them will come the Hour.'”

حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَمْزَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ النَّوَّاسَ بْنَ سَمْعَانَ الْكِلاَبِيَّ، يَقُولُ ذَكَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ الدَّجَّالَ الْغَدَاةَ فَخَفَضَ فِيهِ وَرَفَعَ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهُ فِي طَائِفَةِ النَّخْلِ فَلَمَّا رُحْنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ عَرَفَ ذَلِكَ فِينَا فَقَالَ ‏”‏ مَا شَأْنُكُمْ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ذَكَرْتَ الدَّجَّالَ الْغَدَاةَ فَخَفَضْتَ فِيهِ ثُمَّ رَفَعْتَ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهُ فِي طَائِفَةِ النَّخْلِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ غَيْرُ الدَّجَّالِ أَخْوَفُنِي عَلَيْكُمْ إِنْ يَخْرُجْ وَأَنَا فِيكُمْ فَأَنَا حَجِيجُهُ دُونَكُمْ وَإِنْ يَخْرُجْ وَلَسْتُ فِيكُمْ فَامْرُؤٌ حَجِيجُ نَفْسِهِ وَاللَّهُ خَلِيفَتِي عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ إِنَّهُ شَابٌّ قَطَطٌ عَيْنُهُ قَائِمَةٌ كَأَنِّي أُشَبِّهُهُ بِعَبْدِ الْعُزَّى بْنِ قَطَنٍ فَمَنْ رَآهُ مِنْكُمْ فَلْيَقْرَأْ عَلَيْهِ فَوَاتِحَ سُورَةِ الْكَهْفِ إِنَّهُ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خَلَّةٍ بَيْنَ الشَّامِ وَالْعِرَاقِ فَعَاثَ يَمِينًا وَعَاثَ شِمَالاً يَا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ اثْبُتُوا ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا لُبْثُهُ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالَ ‏”‏ أَرْبَعُونَ يَوْمًا يَوْمٌ كَسَنَةٍ وَيَوْمٌ كَشَهْرٍ وَيَوْمٌ كَجُمُعَةٍ وَسَائِرُ أَيَّامِهِ كَأَيَّامِكُمْ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَذَلِكَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي كَسَنَةٍ تَكْفِينَا فِيهِ صَلاَةُ يَوْمٍ قَالَ ‏”‏ فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ قَدْرًا ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْنَا فَمَا إِسْرَاعُهُ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالَ ‏”‏ كَالْغَيْثِ اشْتَدَّ بِهِ الرِّيحُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ فَيَأْتِي الْقَوْمَ فَيَدْعُوهُمْ فَيَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ فَيَأْمُرُ السَّمَاءَ أَنْ تُمْطِرَ فَتُمْطِرَ وَيَأْمُرُ الأَرْضَ أَنْ تُنْبِتَ فَتُنْبِتَ وَتَرُوحُ عَلَيْهِمْ سَارِحَتُهُمْ أَطْوَلَ مَا كَانَتْ ذُرًى وَأَسْبَغَهُ ضُرُوعًا وَأَمَدَّهُ خَوَاصِرَ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي الْقَوْمَ فَيَدْعُوهُمْ فَيَرُدُّونَ عَلَيْهِ قَوْلَهُ فَيَنْصَرِفُ عَنْهُمْ فَيُصْبِحُونَ مُمْحِلِينَ مَا بِأَيْدِيهِمْ شَىْءٌ ثُمَّ يَمُرُّ بِالْخَرِبَةِ فَيَقُولُ لَهَا أَخْرِجِي كُنُوزَكِ فَيَنْطَلِقُ فَتَتْبَعُهُ كُنُوزُهَا كَيَعَاسِيبِ النَّحْلِ ثُمَّ يَدْعُو رَجُلاً مُمْتَلِئًا شَبَابًا فَيَضْرِبُهُ بِالسَّيْفِ ضَرْبَةً فَيَقْطَعُهُ جِزْلَتَيْنِ رَمْيَةَ الْغَرَضِ ثُمَّ يَدْعُوهُ فَيُقْبِلُ يَتَهَلَّلُ وَجْهُهُ يَضْحَكُ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ فَيَنْزِلُ عِنْدَ الْمَنَارَةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ شَرْقِيَّ دِمَشْقَ بَيْنَ مَهْرُودَتَيْنِ وَاضِعًا كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى أَجْنِحَةِ مَلَكَيْنِ إِذَا طَأْطَأَ رَأْسَهُ قَطَرَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَهُ يَنْحَدِرُ مِنْهُ جُمَانٌ كَاللُّؤْلُؤِ وَلاَ يَحِلُّ لِكَافِرٍ أَنْ يَجِدَ رِيِحَ نَفَسِهِ إِلاَّ مَاتَ وَنَفَسُهُ يَنْتَهِي حَيْثُ يَنْتَهِي طَرْفُهُ فَيَنْطَلِقُ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَهُ عِنْدَ بَابِ لُدٍّ فَيَقْتُلُهُ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ عِيسَى قَوْمًا قَدْ عَصَمَهُمُ اللَّهُ فَيَمْسَحُ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَيُحَدِّثُهُمْ بِدَرَجَاتِهِمْ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ يَا عِيسَى إِنِّي قَدْ أَخْرَجْتُ عِبَادًا لِي لاَ يَدَانِ لأَحَدٍ بِقِتَالِهِمْ وَأَحْرِزْ عِبَادِي إِلَى الطُّورِ ‏.‏ وَيَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ وَهُمْ كَمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ مِنْ كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنْسِلُونَ فَيَمُرُّ أَوَائِلُهُمْ عَلَى بُحَيْرَةِ الطَّبَرِيَّةِ فَيَشْرَبُونَ مَا فِيهَا ثُمَّ يَمُرُّ آخِرُهُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي هَذَا مَاءٌ مَرَّةً وَيَحْضُرُ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ عِيسَى وَأَصْحَابُهُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ رَأْسُ الثَّوْرِ لأَحَدِهِمْ خَيْرًا مِنْ مِائَةِ دِينَارٍ لأَحَدِكُمُ الْيَوْمَ فَيَرْغَبُ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ عِيسَى وَأَصْحَابُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ فَيُرْسِلُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمُ النَّغَفَ فِي رِقَابِهِمْ فَيُصْبِحُونَ فَرْسَى كَمَوْتِ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ ‏.‏ وَيَهْبِطُ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ عِيسَى وَأَصْحَابُهُ فَلاَ يَجِدُونَ مَوْضِعَ شِبْرٍ إِلاَّ قَدْ مَلأَهُ زَهَمُهُمْ وَنَتْنُهُمْ وَدِمَاؤُهُمْ فَيَرْغَبُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ فَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا كَأَعْنَاقِ الْبُخْتِ فَتَحْمِلُهُمْ فَتَطْرَحُهُمْ حَيْثُ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ يُرْسِلُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مَطَرًا لاَ يُكِنُّ مِنْهُ بَيْتُ مَدَرٍ وَلاَ وَبَرٍ فَيَغْسِلُهُ حَتَّى يَتْرُكَهُ كَالزَّلَقَةِ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لِلأَرْضِ أَنْبِتِي ثَمَرَتَكِ وَرُدِّي بَرَكَتَكِ فَيَوْمَئِذٍ تَأْكُلُ الْعِصَابَةُ مِنَ الرُّمَّانَةِ فَتُشْبِعُهُمْ وَيَسْتَظِلُّونَ بِقِحْفِهَا وَيُبَارِكُ اللَّهُ فِي الرِّسْلِ حَتَّى إِنَّ اللِّقْحَةَ مِنَ الإِبِلِ تَكْفِي الْفِئَامَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَاللِّقْحَةَ مِنَ الْبَقَرِ تَكْفِي الْقَبِيلَةَ وَاللِّقْحَةَ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ تَكْفِي الْفَخِذَ ‏.‏ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا طَيِّبَةً فَتَأْخُذُ تَحْتَ آبَاطِهِمْ فَتَقْبِضُ رُوحَ كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ وَيَبْقَى سَائِرُ النَّاسِ يَتَهَارَجُونَ كَمَا تَتَهَارَجُ الْحُمُرُ فَعَلَيْهِمْ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Reference: Sunan ibn Majah 4075; Book 36, Hadith 150;

#Killing the Dajjal, #Antichrist, #Narrations/ Hadith, #Islam, #Jesus / Nabi Eesa bin Maryyam;