Dajjal

Ad-Dajjal (Arabic: ٱلدَّجَّالُ, romanized: ad-Dajjāl, lit. ‘Deceitful’), otherwise referred to simply as the Dajjal, is an evil figure in Islamic eschatology who will pretend to be the promised Messiah and later claim to be God, appearing before the Day of Judgment according to the Islamic eschatological narrative.

The word Dajjal is not mentioned in the Quran, but he is mentioned and described in the Hadith. Corresponding to the Antichrist in Christianity, the Dajjal is said to emerge out in the East, although the specific location varies among the various sources.

The Dajjal will imitate the miracles performed by Jesus, such as healing the sick and raising the dead, the latter done with the aid of demons. He will deceive many people such as weavers, magicians and children of fornication.

wikipedia/en/Al-Masih%20ad-Dajjal

If one were to identify a philosophy that truly embodies the metaphorical characteristics of the Dajjalic phenomenon—blinding its followers with a singular, skewed perspective, symbolized by “one-eyed” and “kuffar” written on its metaphorical forehead—it would likely be “secular humanism.”

Here’s why secular humanism fits the bill metaphysically, logically, and epistemologically as the most Dajjalic of philosophies:

1. Lack of Transcendence:

   • Secular humanism focuses entirely on material and human-centric concerns, ignoring transcendence or divine accountability. This “one-eyed” focus represents an unbalanced view of existence—only acknowledging the seen (dunya) while rejecting the unseen (akhirah).
   • In contrast, Islamic metaphysics emphasizes the harmony between the physical and spiritual realms, balancing both eyes of perception: intellect ('aql) and revelation (wahy).

2. Human Deification:

   • Secular humanism elevates humanity to the position of ultimate authority, essentially making man a god unto himself. This aligns with the Dajjal’s goal of deceiving people into shirk (associating partners with Allah), by substituting divine guidance with human arrogance.

3. Denial of Purpose:

   • The philosophy denies any divine purpose in creation, leading to existential aimlessness. It blinds its followers to the reality of Allah’s sovereignty and the meaning embedded in creation, leaving them lost in nihilism or hedonism.

1. Incoherence of Morality:

   • Secular humanism claims to champion universal ethics but lacks a consistent basis for morality. Without divine guidance, it relies on subjective human consensus, which is prone to contradictions and exploitation.
   • Example: Human rights are touted as inviolable, yet secular humanist societies often support systemic injustices like exploitative capitalism or wars under the guise of progress.

2. Rejection of Absolute Truth:

   • By denying divine revelation, secular humanism undermines the very concept of absolute truth, reducing it to subjective or utilitarian constructs. This rejection of truth is akin to the metaphorical “kuffar” (denial) stamped on the Dajjal’s forehead.

3. Self-Destructive Logic:

   • Secular humanism’s rejection of metaphysics often leads to existential crises. For instance, if life is reduced to random chance and evolutionary mechanics, the pursuit of “justice” or “human dignity” becomes irrational—concepts like justice cannot emerge from blind chance.

1. Reliance on Flawed Rationalism:

   • Secular humanism depends on human intellect as the sole arbiter of truth. This is inherently flawed because human reasoning, without divine guidance, is limited and influenced by desires, biases, and ignorance.

2. Weaponization of Science:

   • Science, a tool for understanding Allah’s creation, is weaponized by secular humanism to dismiss the unseen. By reducing reality to what can be empirically measured, it blinds followers to spiritual realities.
   • Quranic Counterpoint: “They know what is apparent of the worldly life, but they, of the Hereafter, are unaware.” (Quran 30:7)

3. Epistemic Arrogance:

   • Secular humanism dismisses the possibility of divine knowledge, deeming religious worldviews “irrational.” This mirrors the arrogance of the Dajjal, who misleads people into thinking they can know all without Allah.

1. Alienation from Tawheed:

   • By promoting self-reliance to the exclusion of divine reliance, secular humanism cuts its followers off from the source of all mercy and guidance. This alienation leads to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and societal fragmentation.

2. Consumerism and Exploitation:

   • The pursuit of material progress, devoid of spiritual grounding, has led to rampant consumerism, environmental degradation, and social inequality. These are direct consequences of the Dajjalic paradigm of focusing on the dunya while ignoring the akhirah.

3. Subjugation Through Ideology:

   • Secular humanism is often imposed on societies under the guise of “modernity” or “progress.” Non-secular societies are labeled regressive, with their cultures and beliefs systematically eroded. This ideological colonization mirrors the Dajjal’s goal of global domination.

1. The One-Eyed Shepherd:

   • Secular humanism leads humanity like a one-eyed shepherd—able to see the material but blind to the spiritual, guiding them toward the cliff of nihilism.

2. A Clock Without a Watchmaker:

   • Secular humanism treats the universe as a clock without acknowledging its Maker. This analogy highlights the absurdity of admiring the intricate design of creation while denying its Creator.

3. The Mirage of Water:

   • Secular humanism promises fulfillment through material progress, but this is like a mirage that appears as water to the thirsty. Once reached, it offers nothing but emptiness.

1. Balance of Seen and Unseen:

   • Islam teaches that true understanding comes from harmonizing the seen (empirical reality) with the unseen (spiritual truths). This balance prevents the myopia of secular humanism.

2. Divinely Rooted Morality:

   • Unlike secular humanism, which relies on fluctuating human opinions, Islamic ethics are anchored in divine revelation, ensuring consistency and justice.

3. Purposeful Creation:

   • Islam provides a coherent answer to humanity’s existential questions, offering a purpose that transcends materialism: serving Allah and attaining the eternal bliss of the Hereafter.

4. Accountability:

   • While secular humanism denies ultimate accountability, Islam establishes that every action and intention will be judged by Allah, ensuring responsibility and moral coherence.

1. “And do not be like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. They are the defiantly disobedient.” (Quran 59:19)

   • Secular humanism exemplifies forgetting Allah, resulting in spiritual self-alienation.

2. “By time, indeed mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.” (Quran 103:1-3)

   • This verse highlights the futility of pursuits devoid of faith and righteousness.

3. Sayyid Qutb:

   • “When man forgets his Creator, he forgets himself, and his actions become purposeless, his knowledge baseless, and his life without value.”

1. Physical Characteristics: Symbolism of the One-Eyed Vision

   • The figure has one functional eye, symbolizing the exclusive focus on materialism and the rejection of spirituality.
   • The blind eye is a metaphor for the denial of the unseen realities—God, the soul, and the Hereafter.

2. Cloak of Enlightenment

   • Draped in a cloak labeled “Enlightenment,” the figure claims to illuminate humanity but obscures true light (divine guidance) under the guise of rationality and progress.
   • The cloak is tattered, revealing the emptiness beneath.

3. Tools of Deception

   • Golden Tongue: Represents persuasive rhetoric promoting relativism and “freedom,” but the words are hollow.
   • Mirror Shield: The figure deflects criticism by encouraging self-reflection without accountability, convincing people they are their own gods.
   • Chains of Progress: Holds people bound to the endless pursuit of material gain and self-satisfaction.

4. Inscription on the Forehead

   • The figure has “Kuffar” inscribed on its forehead, visible only to those with insight (iman). It symbolizes denial of the ultimate truth—Tawheed.

1. Promise of Utopia

   • The figure promises a “perfect” society through human intellect and technological advancement, ignoring the moral and spiritual decay that results.
   • This mirrors the Dajjal’s promise of paradise, which is ultimately a deception leading to hell.

2. Subtle Nihilism

   • It instills a worldview where purpose is reduced to self-defined goals, eroding universal meaning.
   • This echoes the Quranic description of those who are blind to divine purpose: “They enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat, and the Fire will be a lodging for them.” (Quran 47:12)

3. Eroding the Concept of Accountability

   • By denying the Hereafter, the figure lures people into moral relativism, removing the fear of divine justice and replacing it with social conformity.

4. Deconstruction of Values

   • Claims to liberate humanity but dismantles family structures, gender roles, and ethical boundaries, leaving people alienated and fragmented.

1. Academia and Intellectual Colonization

   • Promotes philosophies like relativism, positivism, and scientism, sidelining metaphysical and divine wisdom.
   • Examples: Academic institutions prioritizing “value-neutral” education devoid of ethics grounded in revelation.

2. Consumerism as Salvation

   • Encourages endless consumption as a replacement for spiritual fulfillment.
   • Example: Advertisements selling happiness, turning humans into perpetual seekers of material satisfaction.

3. Technological Idolatry

   • Frames technology as the ultimate savior of humanity, pushing narratives like transhumanism and artificial intelligence as a path to immortality.
   • Mirrors the Dajjal’s power to deceive with false miracles.

4. Redefinition of Freedom

   • Converts freedom into self-indulgence, fostering addictions and desires that enslave people to their nafs (lower self).
   • Example: The normalization of pornography as “freedom of expression.”

1. Allah’s Sovereignty

   • Secular humanism denies any higher authority, but Islam centers life around Allah’s sovereignty, reminding people that all actions are accountable before Him.

2. Universal Values

   • Secular humanism’s relativism breeds chaos, whereas Islam provides immutable moral guidance.
   • Example: The Quranic command to care for the poor and uphold justice contrasts with the exploitation found in capitalist systems born of secular thought.

3. True Freedom

   • Islam teaches that freedom comes from servitude to Allah, liberating one from the shackles of desires and societal pressures.
   • “Have you seen the one who takes his own desires as his god?” (Quran 25:43)

1. The Snake Oil Salesman

   • The figure sells “progress” as a cure-all but leaves its followers spiritually bankrupt.
   • Analogy: A society that chases endless progress while its citizens face existential despair.

2. The House of Mirrors

   • Like a carnival attraction, the figure leads people into a distorted reality where everything is subjective and they lose sight of the truth.

3. The Golden Cage

   • Promises freedom but traps people in cycles of consumption, addiction, and identity crises, much like the Dajjal’s ability to make fire appear as paradise.

1. Sayyid Qutb:

   • Critiqued Western materialism, warning that it alienates humans from their fitrah (innate disposition).

2. René Guénon (Abd al-Wahid Yahya):

   • Exposed the spiritual emptiness of modernity, linking it to the rejection of metaphysics.

3. Imam Al-Ghazali:

   • Warned against the nafs and the deception of prioritizing dunya over akhirah.

4. Frithjof Schuon:

   • Critiqued secular ideologies for stripping away the sacred dimension of life.

5. C.S. Lewis (non-Muslim perspective):

   • Described secular materialism as a “banishment of wonder,” resonating with the Quranic description of blind hearts.

1. Exposing the Illusion

   • Use statistics: rising depression, addiction, and inequality in secular societies.
   • Question: If progress is your savior, why is happiness declining?

2. Pointing to Spiritual Bankruptcy

   • Ask: Can material success fill the void of existential questions like “Why am I here?”

3. Offering an Alternative Vision

   • Present Tawheed as the holistic worldview that integrates intellect, heart, and spirit, unlike the fragmented vision of secular humanism.