Iran & the Seventy Thousand Jews of Isfahan

Dajjal means great deceiver and is called al-maseeh (messiah) in the hadith literature which means he will be the a Liar messiah or false messiah. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ referred to him as “maseeh al-dajjal” meaning “false maseeh (messiah)” or “deceiver maseeh” because he will impersonate the real messiah which as per Al-Quran 3:45 is only Prophet Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus son of Mary). In Israeli history the Jews are waiting for their maseeh, whom they call Mashiach, to appear but when Isa (a.s) did appear, they rejected him and tried to kill him but Allah ﷻ raised him alive (Al Quran 4:157-158). This was a test for the Jews. When dajjal appears and claims to be the messiah a large number of world Jewry will become his followers as prophesied in ahadith such as: “The dajjal will be followed by seventy thousand Jews of Isfahan wearing Persian shawls." (Mishkat, Kitab al-fitan) and also “Most of those who are with him (dajjal) will be Jews and women.” (An Nihaya fil Fitan wa al Malahim, Ibn Katheer quotes hadith from Musnad Ahmad) and yet another “… His (dajjal) companions will be from the Jews, the Magian, the Christians, and these foreigners from the polytheists…” (An Nihaya fil Fitan wa al Malahim, Ibn Katheer quotes hadith from Tabarani)

Now in order for dajjal to succeed in becoming the Mashiach of the Jews, he would need to fulfill three requirements, which as per Jewish scholars are also absolutely necessary for their Mashiach to succeed:

1. The Mashiach needs to gather all Israelis including the Ten Lost Tribes back to the Holy Land of Israel.
2. Rebuild the Temple where Al Aqsa Masjid stands.
3. Bring the Messianic Era, a golden age for humanity.

Interestingly the first two requirements are already being carried out by the Zionist regime under its brutal occupation of Palestine since 1947. Large number of Jews from across the world have migrated to the holy land in the last 100 years, first under British colonial occupation and then under Zionist Israeli occupation. The destruction of Al-Aqsa masjid is also very much part of the Zionist agenda. The third requirement of the messianic era is when the Mashiach will appear and the world will become a Heaven on Earth where diseases will end and dead will be resurrected. Its interesting that dajjal will also be given the power to cure diseases and raise the dead as foretold to us by the Prophet ﷺ: “Indeed the dajjal will come out, and he is ‘Aawar (one-eyed) from the left eye; over it is coarse skin. He will heal the one who was born blind and the leper, and he will bring life to the dead.… (An Nihaya fil Fitan wa al Malahim, Ibn Katheer, Musnad Ahmad) 

​Now coming to the main question why Iran is important for dajjal?

Why Iran is important for dajjal?

The Jewish belief is that after the advent of their Mashiach (messiah) he will bring all the Israelis back to the holy land, including the 10 Lost tribes. History tells us that in 7th century BC when the King of Assyria attacked and destroyed the Kingdom of Israel, he captured the 10 tribes of Israel and dispersed them to the Eastern lands. The Book of Kings and Chronicles of the Old Testament mention their dispersion to lands named “Halah, Habor, Hara, the Gozan River and the cities of Media.” (II Kings and I Chronicles). Various Jewish and non-Jewish writers and travelers in history have attempted to identify the lost tribes with nations in Persia, Afghanistan and India. The Jewish Rabbis in their Torah commentaries on these verses primarily identify some of these locations in and near Western Iran: “Hala” is considered inside Iranian territory bordering Iraq (ancient Babylon), “Gozan” is considered south of Tabriz in Western Iran and “cities of Media” are in today’s province of Hamdaan. Isfahan is a province of Iran, stretching from Central through Western Iran and its capital is also called Isfahan. Isfahan is specifically important for our discussion here because Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “The dajjal will be followed by seventy thousand Jews of Isfahan wearing Persian shawls (طيالسة)." The Jewish Prayer shawl called Tallit in Hebrew or Tayalis (in Arabic طيالسة).
​
Legend says that in the 5th century, Queen Shushan-Dukht, the Jewish consort of Yazdegerd I (reigned 399–420 CE), is said to have settled a colony of Jews nearby Isfahan city in a place called Jouybareh and this colony was called Yahudiyyeh (literally “town of the Jews”). She also established Jewish colonies in the cities of Susa and Shushtar in what is now Khuzestan province, Iran at the north of the Persian Gulf. Isfahan also has a pilgrimage site, particularly to the grave of Serah bat Asher near Pir Bakran, signifying its enduring cultural and religious significance to Jews. Serah is mentioned in the Toah and supposedly one of the daughters of Yaqub (a.s) (Biblical Jacob) who as per later Jewish traditions settled here during Assyrian captivity (700 BCE).

Amu Shoaya, the oldest Synagogue in Jouybareh district (ancient Isfahan)

Then there’s a legend of a Persian Jewish woman named Esther, the Book of Esther of the Bible is named after her. According to the Book, a young Persian woman who caught the eye of a King named ‘Aḥashverosh’, whom some equate with Xerxes I of the Achaemenid Empire. She became his Queen, and with the assistance of her uncle Mordechai, who served in the Kings army, saved Persian Jews from annihilation. Every year, Jews around the world celebrate this miraculous salvation during the holiday of Purim reciting the Book of Esther. For centuries, Iranian Jews have also marked the holiday by making a pilgrimage to a shrine in the city of Hamadan where Esther and Mordechai are traditionally held to be buried.

​One of the most significant moments in Jewish history is the liberation of the Jews from Babylonian captivity by the Persian King Cyrus the great (600 – 530 BCE), also called Kurush. He helped Jewish communities of Persia and Babylonian territories to resettle in Jerusalem and rebuilt their Temple after its destruction by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar (Bakht Nasr) in 586 BCE. The Persian King is even mentioned in the Bible as a Messiah (Isaiah Book 45:01) due his role as a savior of the exiled Jews.

Hence we notice how important Iranian territory is for Jewish history, and for dajjal to exploit.

Iranian Jews pray in Tehran Synagogue wearing Shawls called Tallit in Hebrew or Tayalis (in Arabic طيالسة)

​
​‘Khorasan’ is also important for dajjal

Many times we are told that dajjal will appear from Isfahan in Iran and will be followed by a thousands of Jews but very less do we notice any discussion that dajjal’s emergence from Khorasan precedes his appearance from Isfahan. His emergence will be in Khorasan prior to Isfahan and this is because Prophet Muhammad ﷺ foretold: “The Dajjal will emerge from a land in the east called Khurasan and he will be followed by peoples whose faces are like hammered shields.” (Musnad Ahmad, Sunnah.com) Some, including scholars, mistake Isfahan with Khorasan because both lie in the East of Arabia when the Prophet ﷺ was informing us. Isfahan is in Persia or Faris (also called Fars) modern day Iran, while ‘Khorasan’ is an ancient land which includes parts of Afghanistan, eastern Iran, Northwest Pakistan and southern parts of Central Asian states (Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan). The Central Asian states have Turkish populations. As per Islamic scholars “faces like hammered shields” has always been a reference to the Turkish features. For instance, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The Hour will not begin until you fight people with small eyes and small even noses, as if their faces were hammered shields. And the Hour will not begin until you fight people whose shoes are made of hair.” (Ibn Majah, Sunnah.com). This is a prediction to the early wars that Muslims fought when came in to contact with the Turks and later with the Mongols.

Example of Turkic or Turkish features, small eyes, flat noses and faces. Image is just for example

​The question here would be then why dajjal will be followed by people with Turkish features?
​
The description of dajjal’s followers from Khorasan “whose faces like hammered shields” could be a reference to the increasing political influence of Israel among the Central Asian Turkish states. Its important to note that when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned dajjal’s followers from Isfahan he mentioned their Jewish faith “Jews of Isfahan wearing Persian shawls” but when he mentioned followers of dajjal from Khorasan he only gave their features “peoples whose faces are like hammered shields” without any mention of their faith which entails that they might not be Jewish, in fact most likely Muslim, because albeit being majority Muslim the Central Asian states are secular. Its important to note that unlike the majority of Arab and Muslim countries that do not recognize Israel, almost all Muslim Central Asian states enjoy full diplomatic ties with Israel. The most recent state to officially recognize Israel has been Kazakhstan, the largest in Central Asia. Its quite clear that the primary purpose behind recognition and diplomatic relations of these secular Muslims states with Israel is to gain proximity and economic benefits with the United States and the West.

An honor guard in Astana, Kazakhstan from President Nazarbayev for Netanyahu.

​
​Chabad Lubavitch factor in Khorasan (Central Asia)

Interestingly the Israeli Jewish sect called Chabad Lubavitch, has increased its presence and influence across Central Asia particularly in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The Chabad has increased its centers in the last few decades by taking advantage of the historical Jewish presence in the region. Jewish presence is found across Central Asia dating back from 1st Temple and exile period. There has been considerable Jewish population centers across these states during medieval and modern history due the community’s traveling and economic activity along the Silk Road. A good example is the ‘Bokharan Jews’. Even though Bokhara or Bukhara is a major city of Uzbekistan, and Jews are one of it’s oldest communities yet the term ‘Bukharan Jews’ became synonymous for all the Jews of Central Asia that are known to have lived and traveled throughout modern-day Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan. The latest members to join this ancient community were Jews of Europe, Ashkenazi Jews, mostly associated with the Chabad, that moved to these states after WW2 and during Soviet era. Today majority of Central Asian Jews have also migrated to United States and Israel. As per latest census the Jewish population in Uzbekistan is estimated at 13000, no more than 3,000 of which are Bukharian Jews, the majority are European Ashkenazi Jews.

The Chabad Lubavitch, a European Ashkenazi group, is by far become the most influential and largest and most active among all Jewish sects today. It gained popularity especially under the 20th century leadership of it’s Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902 – 1994), famously called ‘The Rebbe’. Recently Kazakhstan declared the burial site of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, father of Rebbe Menachem, as national heritage site which invites Jews from Israel every year for pilgrimage. The Rebbe, a strong supporter of Zionist occupation of Palestine, during his leadership promoted Messianism and for Jews to expedite the Messianic era unlike any other Rabbis in the last century. Schneerson was passionate about raising awareness of the coming of the Messiah to such a point that his admirers hoped he would be revealed as the Messiah during his life and many still believe he is alive. Netanyahu had met and accepted the Rebbe as his spiritual leader and received ‘blessings’ from him. About 30 years ago before he became Israel’s Prime Minister, the late Lubavitcher Rebbe told a young Netanyahu that “he, Benjamin Netanyahu, will be Israel’s prime minister, who will pass the scepter to the Messiah.” A later meeting recorded between both shows Rebbe sharing his concern with Netanyahu that “Mashiach still hasn’t come, so do something to hasten its coming” to which Netanyahu replies “we are doing… we are doing”.

As the threat of US attack on Iran looms the talks between both are also being held on the side to prevent any war situation, Netanyahu has other plans. He continues to pressure Trump to attack Iran instead of any negotiations whatsoever.

How the Iranian Jews can possibly be dajjal’s followers?

Today the Jewish population in Western Iran is estimated to be between 10,000 to 15,000, which comparatively seems less because the hadith claims that “dajjal will be followed by 70,000 Jews from Isfahan” and “seventy thousand” in Arabic means multitude. The large number indicates that in the near future if U.S under pressure from Zionist lobby and Israel succeeds in attacking and bringing down the Islamic govt in Iran, then a replacement of that govt would probably return large number of Persian Jewish diaspora back to Iran. The majority of the Iranian Jews gradually migrated from Iran after 1979 Islamic Revolution. The ‘Jews of Isfahan’ in the hadith must include Iranian Jewish diaspora who are now concentrated mostly in the United States and Israel. In fact, Israel has the largest number of Iranian Jews, an estimate 200,000 – 250,000. These Iranian Jews carrying ancestral links to Isfahan and Western Iran might become dajjal’s followers. But why would they return to Iran instead of staying in the Holy Land under the Zionist regime? This could be mainly if Iran also succeeds in destroying large parts of Israel in retaliation of a US & Israeli attack on its soil. The 12 day war between Iran and Israel proved how vulnerable Israel’s air defenses, the Iron Dome, was when Iran rained a barrage of missiles on them. Many Israelis escaped via boats to Cyprus and other territories to escape Iranian bombing. Moreover many Israelis have been gradually migrating from Israel since Hamas’s attack on October 7th, 2023 and the subsequent wars of Israel.

If US & Israel somehow succeed in removing the Islamic govt then we can expect Iran to be balkanized in to separate territories based on ethnicities, such as Azeri Turk state in North, Kurdistan for Kurds, Sistan-Baluchistan for Balochis who are fighting insurgency, Central Iran for Farsi speaking majority, a Khuzestan state for Arab population, and who knows, maybe even a Farsi Jewish state of Isfahan. At that point we could see return of the Persian Jewish diaspora back to Isfahan till the advent of dajjal. This return will most likely be facilitated by the Western countries in order for this community to play a more Western oriented and pro-Israeli role in the country’s politics. After his advent we can expect dajjal to mimic Cyrus the Great and repeat history by leading the Persian Jews to the Holy Land with the promise to rebuild the Temple.


​References:
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/108400/jewish/The-End-of-Days.htm#When
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2500863/jewish/Where-Are-the-Ten-Lost-Tribes-of-Israel.htm 
Serah bat Asher Shrine at Pir-i Bakran, Iran
​Tomb of Esther and Mordechai at Hamadan, Iran
https://www.britannica.com/place/Esfahan/Contemporary-city
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-pushing-for-iran-conflict-while-relying-on-us-power-experts/3839001
Israel deepens its ties with countries across Central Asia | The Jerusalem Post
Lubavitcher Rebbe: “After Bibi comes the Messiah” - Israel Today
History of the Uzbekistan Jewish Community
https://youtu.be/-SyhrD2prjY?si=Zm8PL0GLG6EAhZBx (https://youtu.be/-SyhrD2prjY?si=Zm8PL0GLG6EAhZBx)
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/06/17/birthright-israel-evacuates-1500-via-ship-to-cyprus/