Dajjaal, comes from the word دجل which is to deceive and lie in such a way that people not only adopt the lie, but they believe it as the truth and even promote it to others.

This will be the specialty of Dajjaal, and this is why he is known distinctively by this name.

The core ability and fitnah of Dajjaal will be his ability to deceive, to fool, to trick the vast majority of the world, that what he offers, is true ‘freedom’, the ‘solution’ to every problem, ‘advancement’ in every way, the ultimate success. Whether it be in the field of agriculture, governance, education, finance and banking, healthcare, he will offer what seems like a paradise on earth, and 99.9% of people will fall for it.

This is one way to understand the fire and the water of Dajjal as per the hadeeth:

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، عَنْ رِبْعِيٍّ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ فِي الدَّجَّالِ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ مَعَهُ مَاءً وَنَارًا، فَنَارُهُ مَاءٌ بَارِدٌ، وَمَاؤُهُ نَارٌ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ أَنَا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said about Ad-Dajjal that he would have water and fire with him: (what would seem to be) fire, would be cold water and (what would seem to be) water, would be fire.

Ulamaa have also commented on this, that Dajjaal would present what would appear as paradise, which in reality will be Jahannam, and Jahannam which would in reality be Paradise.

Today we are living in that very deception but the majority are completely unaware of it.

A life of luxury & comfort is presented to the world, a life of beautiful homes, cars, clothing, cities, skyscrapers but the reality behind them is a life of unhappiness and depression. It is actually a life of slavery.

This is what a life of real slavery looks like today:

Then on the other hand is a life that appears to be difficult, simple homes, simple clothing, simple food but in reality the people living this type of life are actually free and happy, they dont feel the need to go further and further into debt to keep up with those around them, they don’t have the need to work endlessly to make ends meet, a large portion of their day is spent making dhikr, reading Quran, performing salaah, learning & teaching deen and nourishing their souls in preparation for aakhira and the everlasting life, instead of focusing on this short and fleeting material world.

This is what a life of real freedom looks like today:

In the past a traditional slave was easily recognised:

• Owned by his master

• Fed by his master

• Given water by his master

• Gave a tax to his master from his earnings if allowed to work

• Was not allowed to marry without his master’s permission

• Was not allowed to own anything

• Could be punished, beaten, or even killed without consequence

• Was bought and sold like property

• Had no legal identity or recognition of rights

• His time, body, and labour all belonged to his master

• Lived in constant fear of his master’s anger

Today a modern slave is:

• Indebted to his government

• Reliant on the commercial food production system

• Dependent on corporations and municipalities for access to water

• Taxed on his earnings before he even sees them

• Dependent on permission and licenses for basic freedoms

• Renting his home from banks through endless debt

• Monitored and tracked through digital systems

• Bound to corporations for wages that barely sustain him

• Distracted and pacified by entertainment to keep him obedient

• Stripped of community, made to rely on state structures

• Made to think he is “free,” while every aspect of his life is controlled

But freedom today is surrounded with difficulties if you want to achieve it. Because we have become so used to convenience we don’t know any other way. That is why it has been made to appear like fire by Dajjaal and his cronies, through the modern media and propaganda machine. True independence is portrayed as unattractive, inconvenient, or even impossible to achieve.

Growing your own food, rearing your own animals, and living a self-sufficient lifestyle may look like hardship at first glance. Yet, in reality, it brings ease, happiness, dignity, and barakah — leaving you with more time for ʿibādah, taʿlīm, tazkiyah, and khidmah, and the help of Allah ﷻ is with a person who chooses this path.

Of course, this is exactly what Shayṭān, Dajjaal, and their helpers do not want you to do. They want you ever-busy in the dunyā — trapped in endless cycles of “work, work, work” and “spend, spend, spend.” They want your free time consumed by entertainment, your heart distracted from dhikr, and your family too exhausted to build a lasting deeni legacy.

Instead of striving for a life of simplicity and nearness to Allah, they push you toward luxury, addiction to comfort, and dependence on their systems. This false “freedom” is in fact slavery — to trends, to corporations, to governments, and to your own nafs and shaytaan.

Real freedom is not found in chasing what Dajjal tells you is comfort, luxury and happiness, but in reclaiming: taking ownership of your time, your food, your wealth, and your ibaada. This path may seem like fire to the rest of the world, but in truth it is the coolness of water, just as the fire became cool and a place of safety to Nabi Ibrāhīm عليه السلام.

We are now undoubtedly in the last hours of this world — the time of Dajjāl and his fitnah. It is only his physical appearance and open claims that remain. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has already forewarned us of his coming, his deception, and the steps we must take to safeguard our īmān. These narrations are not distant history; they are guidance for our present reality, for what is unfolding before our eyes.

Among the key instructions given to us:

• Do not approach him or try to debate him.

مَنْ سَمِعَ بِالدَّجَّالِ فَلْيَنْأَ عَنْهُ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَأْتِيهِ وَهْوَ يَحْسِبُ أَنَّهُ مُؤْمِنٌ فَيَتَّبِعُهُ مِمَّا يُبْعَثُ بِهِ مِنَ الشُّبُهَاتِ أَوْ لِمَا يُبْعَثُ بِهِ مِن

الشُّبُهَاتِ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever hears of the Dajjāl, let him keep far away from him, for a man will come to him thinking himself a believer, but he will follow him because of the doubts he stirs up.” (Abū Dāwūd, 4319).

• Take extra care of your womenfolk.

  يَنْزِلُ الدَّجَّالُ فِي هَذِهِ السَّبَخَةِ بِمَرِّقَنَاةَ فَيَكُونُ أَكْثَرَ مَنْ يَخْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ النِّسَاءُ حَتَّى إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَرْجِعُ إِلَى حَمِيمِهِ وَإِلَى أُمِّهِ وَابْنَتِهِ وَأُخْتِهِ وَعَمَّتِهِ فَيُوثِقُهَا رِبَاطًا مَخَافَةَ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ إِلَيْهِ

  The Dajjaal will come upon this marsh of Marriqanat (near Medina). Most of those who go out to him will be women, until a man goes back to his wife, his mother, his daughter, his sister, and his aunt to shackle them tightly, fearing they would go out to him. (Musnad Ahmed)

   

• Remain indoors yourself as much as possible.

  سَتَكُونُ فِتَنٌ الْقَاعِدُ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْقَائِمِ وَالْقَائِمُ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْمَاشِي وَالْمَاشِي فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ السَّاعِي مَنْ تَشَرَّفَ لَهَا تَسْتَشْرِفُهُ وَمَنْ وَجَدَ فِيهَا مَلْجَأً فَلْيَعُذْ بِهِ

  The Messenger of Allah ﷺ advised seclusion in times of fitnah: “Soon there will be tribulations during which the one sitting will be better than the one standing, the one standing better than the one walking, and the one walking better than the one running.” (Bukhārī; Muslim).

   

• In that time, Muslims will flee to the mountains and the places of rainfall with their sheep.

  The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “A time will come upon the people when the best property of a Muslim will be sheep which he takes to the tops of the mountains and to the places of rainfall, fleeing with his religion from the tribulations.” (Bukhārī).

   

• Do not make hijrah into the mountains alone.

  While the hadith mentions retreating into the mountains, scholars point out the importance of maintaining jamāʿah.

  The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever separates himself from the jamāʿah even a hand-span, dies the death of jāhiliyyah.” (Muslim 1848).

  Hence, it is clear that believers must seek out like-minded companions — so that ṣalāh continues in congregation, children continue to learn Qur’an, and dīn is preserved in a protected environment.

   

• Cling to Qur’an and Surah al-Kahf.The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever memorizes the first ten verses of Surah al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjāl.” (Muslim). In another narration: “…the last ten verses.” (Muslim).

   

• Hold firm to ṣalāh and jamāʿah.Allah ﷻ said: “And establish prayer, and do not be among the polytheists, of those who divided their religion and became sects — each faction rejoicing in what they have.” (Qur’an 30:31–32). Ṣalāh and jamaa’ah are the rope of Allah in times of chaos.

   

• Avoid chasing after wealth, power, and status.The Prophet ﷺ warned: “For every nation there is a trial, and the trial of my nation is wealth.” (Tirmidhī 2336). The Dajjaali world order thrives on this weakness.

   

• Prepare for sacrifice.The Messenger ﷺ said regarding Dajjāl: “With him will be a paradise and a fire, but his fire will be paradise and his paradise will be fire.” (Bukhārī 7130; Muslim 2934). The true believer will see through the illusion and choose hardship for Allah’s sake, which will result in comfort and peace from the tribulations.

It is important that one does not delay in making the efforts to break the chains of slavery, it is not an easy task and will take time and effort. Now, we still have a window of opportunity to act upon these ahadeeth.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, said:

بَادِرُوا بِالْأَعْمَالِ سِتًّا الدَّجَّالَ وَالدُّخَانَ وَدَابَّةَ الْأَرْضِ وَطُلُوعَ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا وَأَمْرَ الْعَامَّةِ وَخُوَيْصَّةَ أَحَدِكُمْ

Hasten to perform good deeds before six events: the Dajjaal, the smoke, the beast from the earth, the rising of the sun from the west, and the general turmoil of the masses and individuals.(Muslim 2947)

and in another hadeeth:

 ثَلَاثٌ إِذَا خَرَجْنَ لَا يَنْفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَانُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ آمَنَتْ مِنْ قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِي إِيمَانِهَا خَيْرًا طُلُوعُ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا وَالدَّجَّالُ وَدَابَّةُ الْأَرْضِ

When three signs appear, no soul will benefit from its faith if it did not already believe or earn good by its faith: the rising of the sun from the west, the False Messiah, and the beast from the earth.

Al-Qadi Iyad commented on these ahadeeth, saying:

أَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يُبَادِرُوا بِالْأَعْمَالِ قَبْلَ نُزُولِ هَذِهِ الْآيَاتِ فَإِنَّهَا إِذَا نَزَلَتْ دَهَشَتْهُمْ وَشَغَلَتْهُمْ عَنِ الْأَعْمَالِ أَوْ سُدَّ عَلَيْهِمْ بَابُ التَّوْبَةِ وَقَبُولِ الْأَعْمَالِ

The Messenger of Allah ﷻ commanded them to hasten to perform good deeds before the appearance of these signs, for when they appear they will be stunned and distracted from performing good deeds, or they might lose the opportunity to repent and have their deeds accepted.

Good deeds include breaking away from the system of modern slavery, so that one can be independant and self sufficient and able to practice on deen without interference.

May Allah ﷻ grant us all safety from the fitnah of Dajjaal and the ability and guidance to prepare beforehand. Aameen.

https://www.peacefulmountains.co.za/post/modern-slavery-modern-freedom