What is the ruling on one who states that the Mahdi is not a reality, and that the Antichrist (Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal) is a metaphor for the abundance of corruption in this era and not a human being?

The narrations concerning the Awaited Mahdi and the Antichrist (Dajjal) have reached the level of tawātur (mass transmission), and this has been mentioned by imams of Hadith such as Ibn Hajar, Al-Sakhawi, Al-Saffarini, Al-Kattani, and Al-Shawkani. Al-Shawkani even authored a treatise specifically on their tawātur. Ibn Taymiyyah criticized those who denied these narrations and relied on the Hadith "There is no Mahdi except Jesus son of Mary," because it is weak. Ibn Hajar Al-Haytami issued a fatwa stating that whoever denies the promised Mahdi, if it is due to a denial of the Sunnah, then it is disbelief (kufr) meriting execution. But if it is merely obstinacy, then he should be disciplined as the ruler deems appropriate to make him recant his corrupt belief.