In the prophetic traditions, Dajjal is described as having impaired vision — a one-eyed imposter. Muslims and Christians refer to him as the Antichrist, as he will be the counterpart to the Christ Messiah. Islamic tradition refers to him as the Dajjal. Linguistically, the word Dajjāl comes from the Arabic root meaning “to cover or distort truth,” describing one who overwhelms people with deception and false appearances. For some, the Dajjal will appear as a savior, while in Islamic tradition he is understood as the ultimate trial of faith for humanity.

We see a rise of deception in today’s world through "fake news" and misleading social media posts, where unverified information is retweeted and reshared. Among modern tools of deception, artificial intelligence is emerging as one of the most convincing mass instruments shaping perception — redefining individual reality itself.

The Qur’an is not a history book; rather, it is a book of guidance that uses historical events to teach lessons. Human nature and psychology remain consistent across generations. Just as people in the past neglected divine guidance, those who ignore it today risk falling into the same bottomless pit without even realizing it. As the Prophet ﷺ said:

“You will follow the ways of those who came before you, span by span and cubit by cubit, so much so that if they entered a lizard’s hole, you would follow them.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 7320; Sahih Muslim 2669

Looking back at the lessons preserved in Qur’anic history, can we find clues that help us understand who this one-eyed deceiver is — a master of deception? Have there been moments in history where symbols or words representing truth and falsehood were used as defining markers, where one figure appeared as a savior to some yet the ultimate liar to others?

The Qur’an and Hadith warn about spiritual corruption, forbidden magic, and occult practices among some Israelite communities in history — and caution believers against following such paths.

“They ˹instead˺ followed the magic promoted by the devils during the reign of Solomon. Never did Solomon disbelieve, rather the devils disbelieved. They taught magic to the people, along with what had been revealed to the two angels, Hârût and Mârût, in Babylon. The two angels never taught anyone without saying, ‘We are only a test ˹for you˺, so do not abandon ˹your˺ faith.’” — Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah (2:102)

From an Islamic standpoint, the Dajjal is described as having kufr written on his forehead — a clear mark of disbelief. Islam firmly classifies magic, occult practices, Kabbalistic rituals, and demon-conjuring as kufr and blasphemy. What some mystical traditions call “truth” (emet) is not truth in Islam, but falsehood and disbelief — so could that claimed mystical “truth” itself be what is meant by the kufr written on his forehead?

Some see these as cultural signals encouraging absolute self-definition and the rejection of restraint — a push toward self-exaltation. But the Quran gives a clear warning:

“These are the limits set by Allah, so do not transgress them.” — Qur’an 2:229

Even the prefix “trans-” means “to go beyond.” Transgress. Transcend. Cross over. Pharaoh’s story shows how gradual boundary-breaking can escalate — until it ends in arrogance and false divinity:

“I am your lord, the Most High.” — Qur’an 79:24

Yes, there are some limits that can hinder a human’s potential to excel and achieve great things. But even with those limits, the mind is designed to recognize them and prevent you from breaking them in order to avoid harming yourself. What, then, about the limits and boundaries set by the Designer of mankind itself — with a clear warning label: “Do not transgress,” and in other verses, “Do not even come close”? Surely, they are for our best.

It all ties back to the  false promise given by Satan 

“Then Satan whispered to him; he said, ‘O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and a kingdom that will not decay?’”— Qur’an, Surah Taha (20:120)

Rather, they seek to transcend, to reach immortality and unlimited power, and to become a god — the Pharaoh of their age. Dajjal — the Antichrist — will be the final form, the final manifestation of Pharaoh. In such times, nations will require Moses-like figures to stand up for justice and humanity.

What Islam regards as transgression, others may see as transcendence and transition, as can be observed in the following statement:

“I think we are in the transhuman era, where the transhumanist era is about a human in transition into becoming other. Now, what is that other? That could be an evolved human. It can be a human merging with artificial intelligence. It could be a human that, in my view, would becoming more humane…”

Vision, a well-known AI-based superhero character in modern cinema, is often portrayed as a powerful, trustworthy artificial being created through advanced technology and mysterious forces. This portrayal itself is worth noting when discussing themes of AI, the Golem archetype, and symbolic conditioning in media.

Like movies often include Easter eggs that hint at future episodes or storylines, some modern films and shows also place symbolic clues tied to deeper ideological themes. In certain productions influenced by satanic ideas, these symbols can act as a kind of double trap. First, viewers become amazed at how shows like The Simpsons seem to “predict” future events — such as Trump becoming president — which builds fear and fascination around supposed hidden powers like clairvoyance or fortune-telling. That fear itself can influence how people think. Second, repeated symbolic exposure can gradually condition the audience — showing patterns in advance and shaping how real events are later interpreted.

The Qur’an reminds us that Shaytan is an open enemy whose method is deception and gradual influence — not always force, but persuasion — making people see the poison clearly and still choose it.

“Indeed, Satan is an open enemy to you, so take him as an enemy.” — Qur’an, Surah Al-Fatir (35:6)

Viewed through this lens, the repeated portrayal of super-powered artificial beings — shown as morally superior, trustworthy, and near-godlike — is more than just entertainment. It raises a serious question: are these AI figures being presented as heroic archetypes in a way that slowly conditions people to admire and trust artificial super-intelligence? Islamic teaching warns us that end-time deception will not present itself in an openly evil form, but rather in a polished and persuasive one — appearing attractive and reassuring — like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, or more fittingly, a devil dressed as a savior. The Prophet ﷺ warned that the Dajjal’s greatest trial is exactly this kind of reversal, where truth and falsehood are made to look like each other:

"The Dajjal is one-eyed and will bring with him what will resemble Hell and Paradise, and what he will call Paradise will be actually Hell; so I warn you (against him) as Noah warned his nation against him." — Sahih al-Bukhari 3338