Narrated in saheeh ahaadeeth Dajjaal will emerge from the east, then he will travel throughout the earth and he will not leave any land but he will enter it, apart from Makkah and Madeenah, al-Masjid al-Aqsa and Masjid al-Toor (Sinai).
Al-Tirmidhi (2237) narrated that Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us: “The Dajjaal will emerge from a land in the east called Khurasaan.” This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
Al-Bukhaari (1881) and Muslim (2943) narrated from Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“There is no land that the Dajjaal will not enter, apart from Makkah and Madeenah. He will not come to any of their entrances but there will be angels standing in rows guarding them. Then Madeenah and its people will be shaken by three earthquakes, and Allaah will expel every kaafir and hypocrite from it.”
Muslim (2942) narrated from the Hadeeth of Faatimah bint Qays, which tells the story of Tameem al-Daari and al-Jassaasah, that the Dajjaal said to them:
“Soon I will be given permission to emerge and I will emerge and travel throughout the land, and I will not leave any town but I will enter it within forty nights, apart from Makkah and Teebah, for they are both forbidden to me. Every time I want to enter one of them I will be met by an angel with an unsheathed sword in his hand, who will drive me back. Over each of their entrances there are angels guarding them.”
[Faatimah] said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, striking the minbar with his stick, “This is Teebah, this is Teebah, this is Teebah,” meaning Madeenah. “Have I not told you that?” The people said, “Yes.” [The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:] “I liked what Tameem said because it agreed with what I have been telling you about him [the Dajjaal] and about Makkah and Madeenah.”
Ahmad (23139) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I have been warning you about the Dajjaal who has one abraded eye.” [The narrators] said: I think he said the left eye.
“He will have with him mountains of bread and rivers of water, and his sign will stay in the earth for forty mornings, and his authority will reach everywhere. He will not come to four mosques: the Ka’bah, the Mosque of the Prophet, al-Masjid al-Aqsa and the Mosque of al-Toor (Sinai).” This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by Shu’ayb al-Arna’oot in Tahqeeq al-Musnad.
The command to flee from the Dajjaal when he emerges is for fear that people may be deceived by his specious arguments and extraordinary feats, for a man may come to him thinking that he has strong faith, then he will follow him.
Abu Dawood (4319) and Ahmad (19888) narrated from Imraan ibn Husayn that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Whoever hears of the Dajjaal, let him keep away from him, for by Allaah a man will come to him thinking that he is a believer, then he will follow him because of the confusion he causes.” This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
This hadeeth indicates that it will be possible to flee from him. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded those who live to see the Dajjaal to recite over him the first few verses of Soorat al-Kahf. Narrated by Muslim, 2937.
Al-Tayyib said: What this means is that reciting these verses will bring protection from his fitnah and confusion.
Abu Dawood (4331) added: “For they will be your protection from his fitnah.” Saheeh Abi Dawood, 3631.
We ask Allaah to protect us from his evil and to help us against his fitnah.
And Allaah knows best.