The physical description of Ad-Dajjaal:

The Prophet accurately mentioned the physical description of Ad-Dajjaal referring to his unique physical characteristics and even likened him to some people whom the Companions knew so that people would know him for sure without any ambiguity. The Prophet said that he is one-eyed and that his right eye is protruding like a floating grape.

In a Hadeeth on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet said, “Ad-Dajjaal is blind in the right eye and his eye looks like a floating grape." [Al-Bukhari]

As for his left eye, Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said, “Ad-Dajjaal has a leveled left eye, with a Thafirah on it (a tumor-like piece of skin that grows near the inner corner of the eyes),and ‘Kaafir’ is written between his eyes.” [Ahmad in Al-Musnad]

Another narration about the physical description of Ad-Dajjaal reads, “It is written between his eyes “Kaafir” (i.e. disbeliever) that could be read by every Muslim.” [Al-Bukhari]

Imaam An-Nawawi said, “The sound opinion that was adopted by the senior scholars is that this word is actually not metaphorically written, and that Allah The Almighty Made it one of the definite and unmistakable signs of his Kufr, lying and invalid claims. Allah The Almighty Will Make this word legible to every Muslim whether literate or illiterate, while it will be illegible to those whom Allah The Exalted Wanted to put to trial and affliction.”

He was also described as being fleshy, with a red complexion (i.e. white in the Arabic culture) and curled hair. The Prophet said, “…a man with a huge body, red complexion and curly hair …. the man he resembled most is Ibn Qatan, a man from Banu Al-Mustaliq from the tribe of Khuzaa‘ah.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The Prophet also said that his head looks like an ’Asalah (a kind of snake that is short with a very large head. The Prophet likened the head of Ad-Dajjaal to this kind of snake due to its large size and rounded shape). [Ahmad and Ibn Hibbaan]

According to Hadeeths, Ad-Dajjaal is also “short and bowlegged.” [Abu Daawood]

Hence, we can sum up all the pervious physical characteristics to say that Ad-Dajjaal is a stumpy man with a large head. His eyes are both defective, because the right one is blind and looks like a floating grape, and the left one is leveled, with a tumor-like piece of skin covering it. His hair is thick and curly and he is white and bowlegged. The word “Kaafir” is written between his eyes.
Ad-Dajjaal cannot enter Makkah or Al-Madeenah:

Allah The Almighty Shielded both Makkah and Al-Madeenah against Ad-Dajjaal to re-affirm their sanctity, prove the validity of the Muslims’ religion, expose the inability of Ad-Dajjaal, and refute his Kufr. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said, “There are at the approaches of Al-Madeenah angels so that plague and Ad-Dajjaal shall not penetrate into it.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Faatimah bint Qays, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that Tameem Ad-Daari told the Prophet that Ad-Dajjaal told him, “…I shall leave and travel in the land, and will not spare any town where I would not stay for forty nights except Makkah and Taybah (Al-Madeenah) as these two (places) are prohibited (areas) for me…” [Muslim]

Furthermore, even the terror caused by Ad-Dajjaal cannot enter Al-Madeenah, as Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said, “The terror caused by Ad-Dajjaal will not enter Al-Madeenah and at that time Al-Madeenah will have seven gates and there will be two angels at each gate (guarding them).” [Al-Bukhari]

When Ad-Dajjaal would approach Al-Madeenah, one of its believers would get out to refute his claim and expose his fraud and lying. Abu Sa‘eed, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said, “Ad-Dajjaal will come and will be forbidden to enter the mountain passes of Al-Madeenah. He will encamp in one of the salt areas neighboring Al-Madeenah and there will appear to him a man who will be the best or one of the best of the people. He will say 'I testify that you are Ad-Dajjaal whose story the Messenger of Allah has told us.' Ad-Dajjaal will say (to his audience), 'Look, if I kill this man and then give him life, will you have any doubt about my claim?' They will reply, 'No,' Then Ad-Dajjaal will kill that man and then will make him alive. The man will say, 'By Allah, now I recognize you more than ever!' Ad-Dajjaal will then try to kill him (again) but he will not be given the power to do so.” [Al-Bukhari]

With regard to the hypocrites of Al-Madeenah and its disbelieving residents, the city will be shaken thrice spitting them out to follow Ad-Dajjaal.

Anas ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said, “…then he (Ad-Dajjaal) would appear in a barren place adjacent to Al-Madeenah and it would rock three times so that every unbeliever and hypocrite would leave it towards him.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Ad-Dajjaal is also prohibited from entering Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa and Masjid At-Toor, as the Prophet said, “Ad-Dajjaal will not approach four Masjids: Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, Masjid Al-Madeenah, Masjid At-Toor and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.” [Al-Haythami in Al-Majma‘ and Ahmad on the authority of the narrators who are approved by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The supernatural abilities of Ad-Dajjaal:

The trial of Ad-Dajjaal is not related to his appearance or speech, but rather in the supernatural abilities and events that occur at his hands. These abilities deceive people and make them believe in Ad-Dajjaal and follow him. For example, he has water that appears to people as having the ability to quench thirst, and a fire that appears to people as having the ability to burn. However, this is unreal, because his fire is actually water and his water is actually fire. Huthayfah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said, “He [Ad-Dajjaal] will appear, and with him will be water and fire, but his water will in fact be a burning fire, and his fire will in fact be cool water.” [Al-Bukhari]

Huthayfah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said, “I am more knowledgeable about what there would be with Ad-Dajjaal than he does. There would be with him two rivers; one of them the eye will perceive it to be flowing with clear water and the other the eye will perceive it to be a burning fire. He who witnesses this amongst you should go to the river that he perceives to be fire and close his eyes and lower his head and drink from it, for it is cool water.” [Muslim]

He will be accompanied by mountains of bread and his supernatural powers include the ability to command the sky to rain and the earth to grow plants and he also orders the earth to extract its hidden treasures, and they will come out and follow him. The Prophet said, “He will be accompanied by rivers of water and mountains of bread.” [Ahmad]

An-Nawwaas ibn Sam‘aan, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet mentioned the trial of Ad-Dajjaal and said, “Then he will go to other people and ask them to follow him but they will reject him and refuse his talk; then he will leave them and their possessions will follow him. They will wake up to find themselves possessing nothing of their money. Then, he will go to some people and ask them to follow him and they will believe in him and obey him. He will then order the sky to rain and it will rain, and order the land to produce plants and it will produce. Hence, their pastures will be more productive, the udders of the cattle will have plenty of milk, and their flocks will multiply. He will pass by a ruin and say to it, ‘Get out your treasures [the metals buried inside you].’ Then its treasures will follow him just as bees follow their leader. He will call a youthful man and he will strike him with the sword and cut him into two pieces. Then he will call him and the man will come to him with a smiling cheerful face.” [Muslim]

Undoubtedly, this is a great trial that tempts whoever does not know the reality of Ad-Dajjaal, but those who read the Hadeeths of the Prophet and believe in them, would be steadfast, because the reality of Ad-Dajjaal would be clear for them like the sun at noon.

How long will Ad-Dajjaal stay?

Out of His Mercy, Allah The Almighty Will Make the stay of Ad-Dajjaal short. According to a prophetic Hadeeth, “He (Ad-Dajjaal) will stay on earth for forty days.” [Al-Haythami in Al-Majma‘ and Ahmad on the authority of narrators who are approved by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

These days are not equal in length, as the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, asked the Prophet : how long would he stay on earth? He said, “For forty days, one day like a year and one day like a month and one day like a week and the rest of the days would be like your days.” We said: O Messenger of Allah, would one day's prayer suffice for the prayers of the day equal to one year? Thereupon he said: No, but you must make an estimate of time (and then observe prayer). We said: O Messenger of Allah, how quickly would he walk upon the earth? Thereupon he said: Like cloud driven by the wind.” [Muslim]

This Hadeeth indicates that the time of Ad-Dajjaal will pass quickly and that his trial will not last long. Hence, the Muslim is only required to be patient, because this trial should end soon. Of course, this is out of the Mercy of Allah The Exalted upon His slaves; otherwise, if the stay of Ad-Dajjaal were long, this would be extremely difficult for people, and many of them would follow him including some of those who initially resisted him. It is known that a long time can establish many invalid claims.