Dabbatül Arz, which is accepted as one of the portents of the apocalypse according to Islamic belief, is a creature that is believed to emerge in the End Times. It is mentioned in verses 80 and 85 of Surat an-Naml of the Qur’an. These verses indicate that the end of humanity has come due to its evil deeds and that a dabbe will emerge from the earth among the signs of this end.
The 82nd verse of Surah Neml says: “When that word descends on them, We will pull out a dabbe for them from the ground, and it will tell them that people do not believe in our verses properly.”
In the Qur’an, it is not clearly stated what kind of creature Dabbetül Arz is. However, there are various narrations on this subject in Islamic commentaries and Israeli sources. According to these narrations, Dabbetül Arz is a gigantic creature 60 cubits tall, covered with hair, bearded, horned, two wings, ox-headed, pig’s eyes, elephant ears, lion’s mane, tiger-colored and ram’s tail. In your hand Hz. Seal of the Prophet Solomon and Hz. Moses will come out with the staff of the Prophet, and in some places he will move at the speed of a black horse.
The duty of Dabbatül Arz is to remind people of the consequences of not believing in Allah’s verses. Therefore, the appearance of Dabbatül Arz is considered as a warning against people’s sins and against Allah’s decrees.
What Kind of Being Is Dabbatül Arz?
The word dabbe literally means “thumping thing” and is used for all kinds of living things in the Qur’an. It is a term mostly used for animals. Verse 45 of Surat an-Nur states that all reptilian, four- or two-legged animals are dabba. However, in the Qur’an, the term dabbe is used in a way that includes human beings. For example, when we look at the 6th verse of Hud Surah and the 49th and 61st verses of Nahl Surah, it is seen that dabba has a meaning that includes human as well. Therefore, while the word dabbe can be used for animals, it can also be used for humans.
In the 14th verse of Surah Saba’, Hz. While an event about the Prophet Solomon is being told, it is clearly stated that a creature called Dabbatül Arz is a maggot. However, it is not possible for the dabbe mentioned in Surah Neml 82 to be an animal. Because the dabbe must speak and warn people in an exemplary way. For this reason, it is thought that the dabbe mentioned in the Qur’an must have been human, not animal.
The Holy Qur’an Considered the greatest interpreter after the Prophet, Hz. Talking about the dabbe in Neml 82, Ali says: “It is not a dabbe with a tail, it is a dabbe with a beard.” Well doomsday omen The dabbe shown as a human being.
What Will Happen When Dabbetül Arz Occurs
The Qur’an emphasizes this issue by drawing attention to the fact that Dabbatül Arz should not be expected from the sky or from the other realms in Surah Neml 82. Because people generally expect warning or enlightening beings from the heavens or other worlds. However, by stating that Dabbatül Arz will emerge from the earth, the Qur’an enables people to abandon this misconception. If the Qur’an had not informed that Dabbatül Arz would emerge from the earth, people would have thought of it as a spiritual or supermaterial being and would have equipped it with incomprehensible qualities. The Qur’an prevents this misunderstanding and states that Dabbetül Arz will emerge from the earth as an earthling.
According to rumors, Dabbetül Arz; While people are in circumambulation in the Kaaba, a rift will open on the hill of Safa, which is right next to it, and they will come out through this crevice. The aim of Dabbetül Arz, which has the ability to act extraordinarily fast, will be to stigmatize everyone one by one. No one will be able to catch up with Dabbatül Arz’s speed, so no one will be able to escape from its speed. First, he will warn the disbelievers by talking to all people, and then he will shine the faces of the believers with the staff in his hand. Hz. With the seal of Solomon, he will stamp between the eyes of the disbelievers. Thus, whoever looks at whose face will be able to easily understand whether he is a disbeliever or a believer. The event of the sun rising from the west and the emergence of Dabbetül Arz will be experienced one after the other.
Regarding the emergence of Dabbatül Arz, our Master the Prophet reports as follows;
“One of its portents is that it rises from where the sun sets, and that ‘dabba’ appears on people at mid-morning. Whichever of these portents appears first, the other will soon follow.” (Muslim, Fitan, 118)
“Dabba, next to Hz. The staff of Moses and Hz. It comes out with the seal of Solomon. He will shine the believer’s face with a staff and will seal the disbeliever’s nose with a seal. When people living at that time come together, believers and unbelievers will become clear.” (Ahmed b. Hanbal, “Musnad”, II/491)
