At the end of the Hadith of Al-Jassasah, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, spoke about the location of the Dajjal and said that he was in the Sea of Syria or the Sea of Yemen, before saying:

“No, rather from the east,”

while pointing toward the east.

Some have raised an objection concerning this wording, asking how the Prophet could first mention the Sea of Syria or Yemen and then identify the east, given the Islamic belief that the Prophet was guided by revelation in matters of religion.

Scholars addressed this question and explained that there is no contradiction in the authentic hadith.

How Did Scholars Explain the Statement?

One of the main explanations concerns the Arabic wording “ma huwa” in the phrase.

Scholars such as Qadi Iyad and Imam Al-Nawawi explained that the particle “ma” in this context can function as an additional grammatical element rather than as a negation.

Accordingly, the statement establishes that the Dajjal is associated with the direction of the east.

What Does “Rather, From the East” Mean?

Imam Al-Nawawi, in his commentary on Sahih Muslim, explained that “ma huwa” in this context is not intended as a negation.

The intended meaning is to affirm that the Dajjal is in or from the eastern direction.

Thus, the wording can be understood as a transition from the earlier possibilities to a clarification pointing specifically toward the east.

Was the Prophet Uncertain About the Dajjal’s Location?

Scholars offered several interpretations of the wording.

One explanation is that the Prophet had previously spoken about the Dajjal without specifying his exact location, and when Tamim Al-Dari later reported his encounter, the Prophet noted that Tamim’s account corresponded with what he had already told the companions about the Dajjal.

Some scholars also considered the possibility that the wording reflected an initial uncertainty or general description before the matter was clarified.

However, the interpretation that “ma” is an additional grammatical particle rather than a negating particle was regarded by the cited scholars as the stronger explanation.

Why Were the Seas of Syria and Yemen Mentioned?

Scholars explained the reference to the Sea of Syria and the Sea of Yemen in different ways.

One possibility is that these were among the seas known to the Arabs and associated with different sides of the Arabian Peninsula.

Another explanation is that the references may describe different portions or directions of the same broad sea surrounding part of the Arabian Peninsula.

Therefore, the wording does not necessarily establish two contradictory locations.

Could the Prophet Have Exercised Ijtihad?

Some scholars mentioned another possible interpretation: the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, could exercise judgment in matters where ijtihad was applicable.

If an initial judgment required correction, however, he would not be left upon an error; divine revelation would clarify the matter.

Under this interpretation, even if the statement were understood as an initial uncertainty, the subsequent clarification would establish the correct direction as the east.

Nevertheless, the linguistic explanation of “ma” as an additional particle rather than a negation is considered the stronger interpretation in the material cited by the scholars.

Does the Hadith Conflict With the Prophet’s Guidance?

No. The apparent problem arises from interpreting the Arabic expression “ma huwa” as a negation.

Scholars explained that it can instead function as a grammatical connective, making the statement an affirmation that the Dajjal is associated with the eastern direction.

The Prophet then reinforced the statement by repeating “from the east” and pointing toward that direction.

Why Did the Prophet Repeat “From the East”?

The repetition and accompanying gesture can be understood as emphasis and clarification.

Rather than leaving the audience with an unclear geographical description, the Prophet repeated the eastern direction and pointed toward it, reinforcing the intended meaning.

What Is the Main Answer to the Objection?

The Hadith of Al-Jassasah is authentically recorded in Sahih Muslim, and the apparent contradiction does not provide a valid basis for rejecting it.

The strongest explanation presented by the cited scholars is that “ma” in “ma huwa” is not a negating particle. Instead, it serves a grammatical function, with the statement ultimately affirming the eastern direction.

Other scholarly interpretations include the possibility of an initial ambiguity followed by clarification, or ijtihad followed by correction through revelation. However, these are secondary to the linguistic explanation.

Therefore, the issue is primarily one of understanding the Arabic wording and its context, rather than an actual contradiction in the hadith.

Is the Hadith of Al-Jassasah authentic?

Yes. The Hadith of Al-Jassasah is authentically narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih.

What did the Prophet say about the Dajjal’s location?

He said: “No, rather from the east,” while pointing toward the east.

Did the Prophet first say the Dajjal was in the Sea of Syria or Yemen?

Scholars explained that the wording does not necessarily indicate a contradiction, particularly because “ma” in “ma huwa” can function as an additional grammatical particle rather than negation.

Does “ma huwa” mean “he is not”?

According to explanations attributed to scholars including Qadi Iyad and Al-Nawawi, “ma” in this expression is not negating the statement but serves a grammatical function supporting the intended meaning.

Could the Prophet exercise ijtihad?

Scholars stated that ijtihad was possible for the Prophet in matters where ijtihad applied, but he would not be left upon an error if correction was required; revelation would clarify the matter.