The Prophet (ﷺ) said about Ad-Dajjal that he would have water and fire with him: (what would seem to be) fire, would be cold water and (what would seem to be) water, would be fire.
Afflictions and the End of the World
Sahih al-Bukhari - Hadith 7130
The Nature of Dajjal's Deception
This profound hadith reveals the essence of Dajjal's fitnah (trial) - the inversion of reality and deception of the senses. What appears as beneficial is harmful, and what seems dangerous is actually safe.
The fire that appears terrifying will actually be cool, pure water that gives life, while what appears as refreshing water will be destructive fire that consumes. This mirrors Dajjal's entire mission: to present falsehood as truth and truth as falsehood.
Scholarly Commentary
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that this demonstrates how Dajjal will test people's faith through sensory illusions. The believer must rely on divine revelation rather than apparent reality.
Al-Qurtubi notes that this specific miracle is granted to Dajjal by Allah's permission to distinguish between those who follow truth with certainty and those who are swayed by appearances.
The scholars emphasize that the true believer will recognize this deception through the light of faith and the teachings of the Prophet, while the weak in faith may be misled by what their eyes behold.
Spiritual Lessons
This teaching prepares Muslims for the ultimate test of discernment, where outward appearances cannot be trusted and only firm grounding in Islamic creed provides protection.
It serves as a metaphor for all trials in life - sometimes what seems difficult (like religious obligations) brings ultimate coolness and peace, while what appears attractive (worldly temptations) leads to spiritual destruction.