Saf ibn Sayyad
Saf ibn Sayyad (Arabic: الصف بن الصياد), later known as Abdullah ibn Sa'id (Arabic: عبد الله بن سعيد), was an alleged claimant of prophethood during the time of Islamic prophet Muhammad and his companions who later disappeared after the Ridda wars. Umar bin Khattab and even some scholars today speculate that he might be the Ad-Dajjal who would later come in this world as the False Messiah.
Saf ibn Sayyad | |
|---|---|
الصف بن الصياد | |
| Born | 7th Century AD |
| Disappeared | August 683 Harrat Waqim, Medina, Hejaz, Umayyad Caliphate (now Saudi Arabia) |
| Other names | Abdullah ibn Sai'id |
| Known for |
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Early life
He was born in an Arabian Jewish family. From his name, his father might be Sayyad.
His unreasonable hostility towards Muhammad since childhood gives a firm reason for the scholars to speculate that he is Ad-Dajjal.
Claims of prophethood in childhood
Ibn Sayyad claimed he was a prophet when he was on the threshold of adolescence, and was initially believed to be the False Messiah (Dajjal), as his characteristics were the same as those of the False Messiah:
It was narrated that Muhammad met Ibn Sayyad, at that time Ibn Sayyad was just at the threshold of adolescence. Muhammad said: "Don't you bear testimony to the fact that I am the Messenger of Allah?" Ibn Sayyad said: "No, but you should bear testimony that I am the messenger of Allah." Thereupon `Umar ibn Khattab said: "Allah's Messenger, permit me that I should kill him." Thereupon Muhammad said: "If he is that person [the Dajjal] who is in your mind, you will not be able to kill him, and if he is not, then killing will not do you any good."[1]
Characteristics
Hanafi Islamic scholar Dr. Israr Ahmed referred a narration in which he said that Saf ibn Sayyad had the biological ability to watch and see from his back. Moreover, he was also quoted that:
He use to sleep, but his heart (i.e., mind) was awake
In Sahih Muslim, some narrations also conclude that Saf ibn Sayyad had the ability to read people's minds.
Muhammad said to him: "I have concealed for you (something to test you, so tell me that)."
He said: "It is Dukh."
Thereupon Muhammad said to him: "Be off. You cannot get farther than your rank." [2]
Adulthood
In adulthood Ibn Sayyad allegedly repented and embraced Islam.
Nafi' reported that Ibn `Umar met Ibn Sayyad (now known as Abdullah ibn Sa'id) and said to some of his friends: "You state that it was he (the Dajjal)." Ibn Sa'id said: "By Allah, it is not so". Ibn `Umar said: "You have not told me the truth; by Allah some of you informed me that he would not die until he would have the largest number of offspring and huge wealth and it is he about whom it is thought so."[3]
However, Abu Sa`id al-Khudri reported: "Ibn Sa'id said to me something for which I felt ashamed. He said: I can excuse others; but what has gone wrong with you, O Companions of Muhammad, that you take me as Dajjal? Has Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) not said that he would be a Jew whereas I am a Muslim and he also said that he would not have children, whereas I have children, and he also said: verily, Allah has prohibited him to enter Mecca whereas I have performed Pilgrimage, and he went on saying this that I was about to be impressed by his talk. He (however) said this also: I know where he (Dajjal) is and I know his father and mother, and it was said to him: Won't you feel pleased if you would be the same person? Thereupon he said: If this offer is made to me, I would not resent that."[4] Implying that while he himself may not be Dajjal, he did have some sort of connection to him.
Disappearance
Saf ibn Sayyad was last seen during the Battle of al-Harra, where the Umayyad Caliph Yazid I had sent a force to subjugate the city of Medina.
He reportedly disappeared during the battle and was never seen again.[5]