Deception through beautification of wrong actions has always been present in this world. In a Hadith it is said that in later times, a great deceiver (Dajjal) will arise. This does not mean that the deceiver will be huge in the physical sense. Rather, it means that the deception of the deceiver will happen in an age that will offer the deceiver many tools on a large scale for the ease of his task. For instance, in a Hadith of the Prophet, it is said that Dajjal will speak with a voice which will be heard between the East and the West. (Kanz al-Ummal). This does not mean that the Dajjal will be some giant personality. Rather, what it means is that those who will be engaged in deceiving people will appear in such a time when the age of global communications will have arrived and that they will use the means available in their time in order to make their ideas and thoughts reach far and wide. In another Hadith, it is said the word kufr will be written on Dajjal’s forehead. (Sahih Muslim). This means that, although the Dajjal will present his misleading thoughts in a manner that make them seem fair, those who are firmly on the truth will be able to recognize the deception and will be saved from going astray.
Concept of Dajjal and Mehdi in Islam, Part 1