Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. I was looking for a hadith about the Dajjaal (Antichrist) in which the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, told us that if we see the Dajjaal we should recite Soorah Al-Kahf, spit on him, flee from him, and hide in a hole, even if we see a snake in that hole. This was related to me by someone, but I could not find this hadith. So could you please tell me if this hadith exists or not? May Allaah bless you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

With regard to reciting Soorah Al-Kahf [Quran 18] in order to be saved from the Dajjaal, then what is confirmed in this regard is the hadeeth reported by Muslim and narrated by An-Nawwaas ibn Sam’aan in which the Prophet said (in a long hadeeth about the Dajjaal), “Whoever of you is alive when he appears should recite the first verses of Soorah Al-Kahf.”

Also, Abu Ad-Dardaa' narrated that the Prophet said, “Whoever memorizes the first ten verses of Soorah Al-Kahf will be protected (by Allaah) from the Dajjaal.” [Muslim]

Another narration reads, “Whoever memorizes the last ten verses of Soorah Al-Kahf…” [Muslim]

As for spitting on the Dajjaal: there is a long hadeeth narrated by Umaamah and reported by Al-Haakim in Al-Mustadrak, and by At-Tabaraani in Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer, that reads, “Whoever amongst you meets him (the Dajjaal), let him spit in his face and recite the first verses of Soorah Al-Kahf.” [Al-Haakim and Ath-Thahabi classified it as authentic according to the conditions of Imaam Muslim] Ibn Katheer said, “This is a very strange hadeeth from this route.”

As regards fleeing from the Dajjaal: Jaabir, said, “Umm Shareek informed me that she heard the Prophet say, 'People will run away to the mountains from the Dajjaal.' Umm Shareek said, 'I said, 'O Messenger of Allaah, where will the Arabs be then?' He said, 'They will be few in number.''”

Moreover, Imraan ibn Husayn narrated that the Prophet said, “Whoever hears of the Dajjaal, he should stay away from him. I swear by Allaah, a man would come to him believing that he himself has strong faith, but ultimately he will follow him (the Dajjaal) because of the great afflictions that the latter brings about.” [al-Albaani graded it saheeh (sound)]

As regards the last statement: 'and hide in a hole even if we see a snake in it;' then we have not come across any hadeeth with this wording.

For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 86933.

Allaah knows best.