BUT,
SOME OF ITS SIGNS
HAVE ALREADY
COME!
Major Signs of the Last Hour
by
A. R. Hijazi
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First edition, 1415 AH/1995 CE
© Copyright 1995 by A. R. Hijazi
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any language, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the copyright owner.
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Introduction
All thanks are to Allah, Whom we thank and seek for His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of ourselves and the burden of our evil deeds. Whomsoever He guides will never be misled, and whomsoever He misguides will never find enlightenment. I testify that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
O, you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except as Muslims (3:102)
O Mankind! Fear your Lord, Who created you from a single soul and from him created his partner, and from them both sent forth many men and women. Fear Allah from Whom you demand your mutual rights, and give reverence to the wombs that bore you. For Allah ever watches over you. [4:1]
O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the Truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger he has indeed achieved a great achievement. [33:70-71]
The best of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance sent with Muhammad . The worst of matters are innovations (in the religion), and every innovation is a bid’ah, and every bid`ah is a misguide, and every misguide is in the Fire (Hell).
Allah the Mighty and the Exalted said,
Closer draws unto men their reckoning: and yet they remain stubbornly heedless [of its approach]. Whenever there comes unto them any new reminder from their Sustainer, they but listen to it with playful amusement. Their hearts set on passing delight... [21:1-3]
Mankind, except those whom Allah has bestowed His Mercy on, are in heedless, joyful play, ignoring the Hour and its Signs and the Torment of the Day of Resurrection. This life, with its joys, however temporary, has taken over their total attention. This playful life has made the bulk of mankind unaware of the Might of Allah. This heedless, playful and joyful life will accompany mankind, until the sun rises from the west! When the sun rises from the west, all mankind will believe. However, from thereon is the Day when belief will not benefit those who did not believe before, or those who believed but did not benefit themselves by doing good, righteous deeds. This book is only a reminder:
For him who has a heart or gives ear while he is heedful. [50:37]
I ask Allah to benefit all from this reminder.
I divided this book into the following chapters:
1. The False Messiah, Al-Masih The Dajjal.
2. Al-Mahdi, Muhammad bin Abdullah.
3. Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah .
4. Gog and Magog.
Each of the above chapters is explained in detail. Afterwards, I have mentioned the rest of the major signs of the Last Hour which are contained in numerous Hadiths. These signs are: The rising of the sun from the west the; Beast; the Smoke; the three great landslides; and the Fire that gathers people for the Day of Reckoning.
The supporting evidences in this book were collected from the most authentic books of Hadith, such as Al-Bukhari and Muslim, among other collections of Hadith. I also used the books of the master of scholars of Hadith today, Sheikh Nasirud-Din Al-Albani, may Allah grant him protection (from all evils) and grant him the best of rewards in this and the Last Life.
I ask Allah to make seeking His Pleasure the driving force behind writing this book and to help my Muslim brothers benefit from it.
A. R. Hijazi
1415 AH - 1995 CE
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Huthaifah bin Al-Yaman said, “The Messenger of Allah stood in front of us, and left no (major) event (of the future) unmentioned, up to the beginning of the Hour. There are those who have knowledge in it, and there are those who are ignorant in it. Afterwards, I would see a matter that I forgot (from the events of the future that he heard from the Prophet), and remember it, as if a man remembers another man who was absent from him. He sees him and recognizes him.” (Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim).
Amr bin Akhtab said, “The Messenger of Allah told us what has happened and what will happen until the Day of Resurrection. Those of us who are the most knowledgeable are the ones who memorized the most of it.” In another narration, he said, “(He told us) up to when the people of Paradise entered it, and the people of Hell entered it.” (Narrated by Muslim).
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Chapter One
The False Messiah
(Anti-Christ, Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal)
Hadith About al-Jassasah
Imam Muslim narrated that Amir bin Shurahil asked Fatimah bint Qais, the sister of Adh-Dhahhak bin Qais, who was from among the first (Muslim women) to migrate (to Madinah), “Tell me about a Hadith that you heard directly from the Prophet himself, and no one else.” She said, “I will do this, if so you desire.” ‘Amir said, “Yes indeed, tell me.” She said, “I married the son of Al-Mughirah who was then one of the best young men of Quraish. He was injured (during the first battle) of the Messenger of Allah (on the Prophet’s side). When I became a divorcee Abdur-Rahman bin Awf, accompanied by some of the companions of the Messenger of Allah , asked me for marriage. Also, Usamah bin Zaiyd asked me for marriage. I was told before that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Whoever loves me, let him love Usamah.’ When the Messenger of Allah spoke to me, I said to him, ‘(The matter of) my marriage is in your hands, therefore, marry me to whomever you desire.’ He said, ‘Then, move to Umm Sharik’s (house).’ Umm Sharik was from among the Ansar. She used to spend tremendously in the sake of Allah. Also, guests were always present at her (house). I said, ‘I will do that.’ He then said, ‘Do not do that. Umm Sharik has many guests, and I hate that if your khimar falls off, or that your dress (accidentally) shows your legs, some of the people (there) may see from you what you hate (for them to see). Move to your cousin’s (house), Abdullah bin `Amr bin Umm Maktom.’ He was a man from Fihr, a tribe of Quraish. He was from the same tribe as her. ‘So, I moved in with him (as a guest). When my iddah finished, I heard the heralder of the Messenger of Allah calling (the Muslims to come to the Masjid), I sat in the row of women that was just behind the men. When the Messenger of Allah finished his prayer, he sat on the minbar, laughing. Then, he said,‘Let each one of you stay in the place where he prayed.’ Then, he said, ‘Do you know why I gathered you?.’ They said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘By Allah! I did not gather you to prod or warn. On the contrary, I gathered you because Tamim Ad-Dari, a Christian man, who came giving his baiy`ah to become a Muslim, told me a story that is similar to what I used to tell you regarding the False Messiah. He told me that he boarded a ship that went to the sea, along with thirty men from (the tribes) of Lakhm and Judham. Waves wrecked havoc with them for a month until, when it was close to sunset, they were forced near an island in the sea. So, they boarded a lifeboat and landed on the island where they were met by a beast with very thick hair. They could not tell the beast's front from its back because of the thickness of its hair. They said, ‘Woe unto you! What are you?’ She said, ‘I am al-Jassasah.’ They said, ‘And what is al-Jassasah?’ She said, ‘O People! Go to this man inside the temple, for he is eagerly waiting to hear your story.’ He said, ‘When she mentioned a man to us, we feared that she was a devil.’ He then said, ‘We left her quickly. Then, we entered the temple. Inside there was the biggest man we had ever seen, restrained by the thickest of chains. His hands were tied to his neck. Iron chains were (covering him) from his knees to his ankles. We said, ‘Woe unto you! Who are you?’ He said, ‘You will soon hear my story, but first tell me who you are.’ They said, ‘We are an Arab people. We boarded a ship that went to sea at a time when the sea was furious. Waves wrecked havoc with us for a month. Then we reached your island. We boarded a lifeboat and landed on the island. We met a beast with hair so thick that we could not tell her front from her back. We said, ‘Woe unto you! What are you?’ She said, ‘I am al-Jassasah.’ We said, ‘And what is al-Jassasah?’ She said, ‘Go to this man, inside the temple, for he is eagerly waiting to hear your story.’ So, we came to you in a hurry because we feared her and were scared that she may be a devil.’ He (the chained man) said, ‘Tell me about the date-trees of Baisan.’ We said, ‘What do you seek to know about them?’ He said, ‘I ask you about its date-trees, do they still bear fruits?’ We said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Soon they will not bear fruits!’ He then said, ‘Tell me about the lake of Taberias.’ We said, ‘What do you seek to know about it?’ He said, ‘Does it still have water?’ We said, ‘It has plenty of water.’ He said, ‘Soon it its water will disappear.’ He then said, ‘Tell me about the spring of Zughar.’ We said, ‘What do you seek to know about it?’ He said, ‘Does it still flow with water and do its people still grow plants with its water?’ We said, ‘Yes. It still has plenty of water, and its people are still growing plants from its water.’ He said, ‘Tell me about what happened to the Prophet of the Illiterates (the Arabs).’ They said, ‘He migrated from Makkah and went to Yathrib.’ He said, ‘Have the Arabs fought against him?’ We said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘And what did he do to them?’ We told him that he became victorious against those Arabs who were close to him (close to Madinah) and they followed him.’ He then said to them, ‘Did this truly happen?’ We said, ‘Yes, indeed.’ He said, ‘It is better for them if they follow him. I will tell you about myself. I am the Messiah (the False Messiah). Soon, I will be permitted to appear. I will depart here and move about through the earth. I will not leave a village without penetrating it, during forty days, except Makkah and Taiybah (Madinah), for I am prohibited from entering them. Whenever I seek to enter either one of them, I will be met with an angel holding a sword aloft, thus preventing me from (entering) them. At each of their passes, there will be angels who stand guarding them.’” She (Fatimah bint Qais) then said, “The Messenger of Allah then said, while striking the minbar with his staff, ‘This is Taiybah! This is Taiybah’! Meaning Madinah. ‘Did I tell you the same (story)?’ They said, ‘Yes, indeed.’ (He then said,) ‘I liked what Tamim has told me. It agrees with what I told you about him (the False Messiah), Madinah, and Makkah. He is in the Sea of Ash-Sham, or the Sea of Yemen. No! He is certainly in the east (of Madinah). In the east, indeed. In the east, indeed.’” And he pointed to the east with his hand. She said, ‘And I memorized this Hadith from the Messenger of Allah .’”
In this Hadith, repeating the word ‘indeed’ serves to prove with certainty, that the False Messiah will appear from the east of Madinah (Iraq and areas to the east).
The False Messiah (Dajjal) is a Jew
Imam Muslim narrated that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said, “Ibn Sa’ed told me, while I was feeling anxious about him, ‘I have done my best with people, (to convince them that I am not the Dajjal), to no avail! What is the problem between me and you, O companions of Muhammad! Did not the Prophet of Allah say “He is a Jew?”, and I became a Muslim. He also said, “He will have no children,” and here I am, I have children. He also said “Allah prohibited him from (entering) Makkah and Madinah...”
The Prophet used to suspect that Ibn Sa’ed was the Dajjal when he was still young. This is because Ibn Sa’ed used to deal with devils. He also used to claim that news of the unseen was revealed to him and that he saw a throne mounted on water, the devil's throne. However, he later became a Muslim.
Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri had met with Ibn Sa’ed on many occasions. He said, “I accompanied Ibn Sa’ed once to perform Hajj to Makkah. He said to me, ‘I have suffered from people because they claim that I am the Dajjal. Did you not hear the Messenger of Allah say, “He (the Dajjal) will have no children?” I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Here I am, I have children. Did you not hear the Messenger of Allah say, “He will not enter Madinah or Makkah?” I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘I was born in Madinah and here I am on my way to Makkah.’” He (Abu Sa`id) then said, “Then, his last words to me were, ‘By Allah! I know when he was born, his birth-place and his whereabouts!’” He (Abu Sa`id) then said, “He (Ibn Sa’ed) confused (and bewildered) me.”
Also, Imam Muslim narrated that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said, “We went on a Hajj or Umrah trip with Ibn Sa’ed. We rested in an area where people (the riders of the caravan) scattered around (to rest) and I was left alone with Ibn Sa’ed. I felt anxiety because of what people say about him. He brought his luggage and rested it close to my luggage. I said, ‘It is very hot! How about resting your luggage under that tree?’ He did. Then, a herd of sheep passed close by. He left and brought a large cup (of milk), saying, ‘Drink, O Abu Sa`id!’ I said, ‘It is very hot and the milk is hot!’ I did not want to drink from his hand, or to take it from his hand. He then said, ‘O Abu Sa`id! I almost thought of taking a rope and hanging it on a tree to suffocate myself because of what people say about me. O Abu Sai`d! Who has better knowledge in the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah than you, O Ansar? Are you not among the most knowledgeable in the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah ? Did not the Messenger of Allah say, “He (the Dajjal) is kafir?” However, I am a Muslim. Did not the Messenger of Allah say, “He is impotent”? I left my children behind in Madinah. Did not the Messenger of Allah say, “He will not enter Madinah and Makkah?” I have just come from Madinah and I am on my way to Makkah.’” Abu Sa`id said, “I almost sympathized with him. Then, he said, ‘By Allah! I know him (the Dajjal), his birth-place and his whereabouts now!’ He (Abu Sa`id) then said, “I said to him, ‘Woe unto you the rest of the day!’”
What further proves that the Dajjal is a Jew, is that when he appears in Isfahan, also called Asbahan, seventy thousand Jews will follow him.
Anas bin Malik narrated that the Prophet said, “Seventy thousand of the Jews of Asbahan, wearing shawls, will follow the Dajjal.”
The Dajjal's Appearance From Areas to the East (of Madinah)
The Dajjal will appear in the east, the land of fitan. Many of the inhabitants of these areas will follow him, as the Messenger of Allah informed us.
Abu Bakr narrated that the Prophet said, “The Dajjal will appear from a land in the east called Khurasan. He will be accompanied by people whose faces are like forged iron.”
As for the reason behind his appearance, the wife of the Messenger of Allah Hafsah bint Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said, “He will appear, driven in a fit of rage.”
He also said, “He will first appear for people, driven in a fit of rage.”
When the Dajjal appears, he will try to enter Madinah for an unknown reason. Madinah may then be the stronghold of Islam and the Muslims. The Messenger of Allah said, “Islam started as a stranger, and it will be a stranger again. It returns to (areas) between the Two Mosques as the snake returns to its den.”
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The (False) Messiah will appear from the east heading towards Madinah until he reaches behind Uhud. Afterwards, the angels will (force him to) turn his face towards Ash-Sham, and there he will perish.”
Madinah has many good characteristics, one of them is that the Dajjal will not be able to enter it. The Angels guard it, as was narrated by several correct Hadiths.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “On every pass near Madinah there are Angels (guarding it). Plague and the Dajjal will not enter Madinah.”
In another narration of this Hadith, Al-Bukhari and An-Nasai’ narrated that Anas bin Malik said that the Messenger of Allah said, “There is not a city but will be penetrated by the Dajjal, except Makkah and Madinah. Every pass that leads to them will be surrounded and guarded by Angels. He will camp close to As-Sabkhah. Then, Madinah will experience three earth tremors, after which every disbeliever and hypocrite will leave it to join him.”
This is why the Messenger of Allah called Madinah “Taiybah (the pure city).” Also, he said that Madinah purges itself of its worst (people), just as fire purifies iron from its rust.
Al-Bukhari reported that Abu Bakrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “Horror of the Messiah (the Dajjal) will not enter Madinah. Then, it will have seven gates, on each gate there are two Angels (guarding it).”
There are several other Hadiths about this subject.
Description of the False Messiah
In many correct Hadiths, the Messenger of Allah precisely described the False Messiah for us. He said, “Indeed I have told you about the Dajjal, because I feared that you may be baffled by him.” This Hadith will be narrated later, Allah willing.
The calamity that will befall all of mankind because of the Dajjal is tremendous. The Messenger of Allah said, “O people! There has not been a fitnah on the face of the earth, since Allah created Adam, greater than the fitnah of the Dajjal. Allah the Mighty One, never sent a Prophet but he warned his people about the Dajjal. I am the Last of the Prophets. You are the last of the nations, and he will certainly appear to you.”
Of the most obvious marks that will characterize the Dajjal, is that he is blind in his right eye. His left eye is leveled, although he is not blind. The word kafir is written between his eyes. Let us read the description of the Dajjal by the Messenger of Allah .
The Messenger of Allah said, “Indeed I have told you about the Dajjal, because I feared that you may be baffled by him. Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal is pigeon-toed and his hair is curly. His eye is blind, but is neither raised nor leveled. If you are confused about him, know that your Lord is not blind in the eye and that you will not see your Lord but until you die.”
Abdullah bin Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “Allah never sent a Prophet but he warned his people about the Dajjal. Noah and later Prophets warned (their nations) about him. He will appear to you. If you feel confused about him, you are not confused that your Lord is not blind in His Eye. However, he (the Dajjal) is blind in his right eye. His eye is like a floating grape.”
The Messenger of Allah also said, “He will say, ‘I am your lord.’ However, you will not see your Lord until you die. He (the Dajjal) is blind in his eye. Your Lord is not blind. The word kafir will be written between (the Dajjal’s) eyes. Every believer, literate or illiterate, will be able to read it.”
The Messenger of Allah saw the Dajjal in a dream, and described him saying, “Then I met a man with very curly hair. He is blind in his right eye which looks like a floating grape. I asked, ‘Who is this?,’ I was told, ‘Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal.”
The Messenger of Allah said, “The Dajjal has a leveled left eye, with a zaferah on it, and the word kafir is written between his eyes.”
Also, the Dajjal’s eye is green and looks like glass as Ubai bin Ka`ab narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The Dajjal has a green eye that looks like glass.”
The Messenger of Allah stated that the Dajjal resembled Abdul `Uzzaa bin Qatan, a man from the tribe of Khuza`ah. He said, “Then, I saw (in a dream) a man with very curly hair, his right eye is blind. He looks just like Ibn Qatan. He was laying his hands on a man's shoulder and circling the Ka`bah. I said, ‘Who is this.’ They said ‘Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal.’”
We must note here that the Dajjal will appear after Muslims conquer Istanbul (Constantinople) for the second time. The Ottoman Caliph, Muhammad Al-Fatih conquered Istanbul for the first time during the Middle Ages.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The (Last) Hour will not start until the Rum occupy Al-A`amaq or Dabiq. A (Muslim) army, comprised of the best of the people of the earth at that time, will challenge them. When they camp face to face, the Rum will say, ‘Let us fight those who captured some of us. The Muslims will say, ‘Never! By Allah, we will not let you get to our brothers.’ They will fight them. A third of the (Muslim) army will flee. Those are the ones whom Allah will never forgive. Another third will be killed. (Those are) the best martyrs in the sight of Allah. The last third will be victorious. This third will never fall victim to fitnah (calamities or tests of this life). They will capture Constantinople (Istanbul). While they are dividing war possessions, after hanging their swords on olive trees, Satan will shout among them, saying, ‘Al-Masih (Ad-Dajjal) has cornered your people’. They will leave (to Ash-Sham). However, this (warning) is False. When they reach Ash-Sham, he will then appear.’”
In another narration for this Hadith; “While they are dividing war possessions, they will hear a heralder shouting, ‘The Dajjal has apeared.’ They will discard everything and return (to As-Sham).’”
Hadith Narrated by An-Nawwas bin Sam’an
An-Nawwas bin Sam’an said, “The Messenger of Allah , mentioned the Dajjal one day and kept belittling him and speaking in grave terms about his fitnah, until we thought that he was in (hiding in gardens of) date-trees (in Madinah). When we passed by him (the Messenger) he sensed this (anxiety) in us. He said, ‘What is the matter with you?’ We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Earlier, you mentioned the Dajjal and while belittling him you spoke gravely about him until we thought that he was in (hiding in gardens of ) date-trees.’ He said, ‘I fear other than the Dajjal for you! If he appears while I am still among you, I will be his adversary on your behalf. If he appears while I am not among you, each one will have to depend on himself. However, Allah will be the helper of every Muslim after me.
He is young, with very curly hair and his eye is smashed. I would say that he looked like Abdul `Uzzaa bin Qatan. Whoever lives long and meets him, let him recite the beginning of surat Al-Kahf (The Cave). He will appear on a pass between Ash-Sham and Iraq. He will wreck havoc to the right and will wreck havoc to the left. O Slaves of Allah! Hold fast.’ We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! How long will he stay on earth?’ He said, ‘Forty days: One day is as (long as) a year, one day is as (long as) a month and one day is as (long as) a week. The rest of his days will be as (long as) your ordinary days. We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! As for the day that is like a year, will the prayers of one day suffice for it?’ He said, ‘No. Count for its due measure.’ We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, how fast will he move on earth?’ He said, ‘Like the clouds when tailed by the wind. He will come to a people and call them (to worship him) and they will believe in him and accept his call. He will command the sky and it will rain, (he will command) the earth and it will grow (vegetation). Their cattle will return to them with the longest hair, their udders the fullest (with milk) and their stomachs the fattest. Then, he will come to a (different) people and will call them (to worship him) and they will reject his call. He will then leave them. They will wake up (in the morning) destitute, their possessions gone. He will pass a deserted land and will say to it, ‘Bring out your treasures.’ Then, its treasures will follow him as drones. He will summon a youthful man and strike him with the sword, separating him into two pieces, between which is the distance of the archer from his target. He will call him and he will come with his face radiant with pleasure and laughter. While all this is happening, Allah will send the Messiah (Jesus) son of Mary. He will descend close to the white Minaret to the east of Damascus. He will be wearing two bleached thoubs (long dresses). His hands will be placed on the wings of two angels. Whenever he lowers his head, drops (of water) will fall down. Whenever he raises his head, juman that look like pearls will fall down. No disbeliever can survive his (Jesus’) breath. His breath reaches wherever his sight ends. He will then seek him (the Dajjal) and follow him to the doors of Lud. Then, he will kill him. A group of people who, by Allah's help, survived him (the Dajjal), will come to Jesus. He will anoint their faces and tell them about their grades in Paradise. Shortly afterwards, while this is happening with him, Allah will reveal to Jesus saying, ‘I raised a people of my creation that no one can fight. Therefore, gather My slaves to At-Tur.’ Then, Allah will raise Gog and Magog and they will swiftly swarm from every mound. Their front (forces) will reach lake Taberias and will drink all of its water. The last (of their forces) will say as they pass by, ‘There was once water in it!’ Jesus, Allah’s Prophet, will be cornered along with his companions until the head of a bull will be more precious to them than a hundred dinars to you today. Jesus, Allah’s Prophet, and his companions will supplicate to Allah.
Allah will send an-naghaf upon their necks! The morning will come and they will all be dead as if it was the death of one soul. Afterwards, Jesus the Prophet of Allah will come down with his companions to the low grounds. They will find that no space of a hand-span is saved from their fat and rot (rotten corpses). Jesus the Prophet of Allah and his companions will supplicate to Allah. So, Allah will send birds as large as the necks of camels, which will carry them (corpses of Gog and Magog) and will throw them wherever Allah wills. Then, Allah will send rain that no house made of mud (or bricks) or animal hair will be saved from, cleansing the earth until it makes it like a mirror. The earth will be commanded, ‘Produce your fruits and retrieve your blessing.’
Then, a group (of people) will eat from a pomegranate and will take shelter under the shade of its shell. Milk will be blessed. A camel will produce sufficient milk for a large group of people. A cow will produce what is sufficient for a tribe of people. A sheep will produce milk sufficient for a family of people. Meanwhile, Allah will send a pure wind that will overcome them (the Muslims) from under their arms and will take the soul of every believer and Muslim. Only the evil doers among people will remain. They will indulge in taharuj like the taharuj of donkeys. Upon them the Hour will begin.’”
The above honorable Hadith mentions three of the major signs of the Hour; the Dajjal, Jesus son of Mary, and Gog and Magog. Also, this Hadith mentions several events that are explained in detail in other Hadiths, some of which we will mention, Allah willing.
Furthermore, the first part of this Hadith by An-Nawwas bin Sam’an narrates the story of the Dajjal and the story of the young man (whom the Dajjal cuts in half).
The second part mentions the story of the coming of Jesus son of Mary , his killing the Dajjal, and then the story of Gog and Magog. We will again talk about these stories in detail, Allah willing.
Abu Umamah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “O people! There has not been a fitnah on the face of the earth, since Allah created Adam, greater than the fitnah of the Dajjal. Allah the Mighty One, never sent a Prophet but he warned his people about the Dajjal. I am the Last of the Prophets. You are the last of the nations, and he will certainly appear to you. If he appears while I am still among you, I will be his adversary on behalf of every Muslim. If he appears after me, each will have to fend for himself, and Allah is my khalifah for every Muslim. He will appear from a pass between Ash-Sham and Iraq and will wreck havoc to the right and left. O slaves of Allah! O People! Stand fast for I will describe him to you as no Prophet before me described him.
He will say, ‘I am your lord!’ However, you will not see your Lord until after you die. He is blind in one eye. Your Lord is not blind in the eye. The word kafir will be written between his eyes. Every believer, whether literate or illiterate, will be able to read it. As a part of his fitnah, he will have a paradise and a fire. (In reality) his fire is a paradise and his paradise is a fire. Whoever is tested with his fire, let him seek refuge in Allah and recite the beginnings of surat Al-Kahf (The Cave).
A part of his fitnah is that he will be permitted to kill only one soul. He will cut it (the body of a young man) into two parts with the saw. Then he will say, ‘Look at this slave of mine. I will resurrect him, yet he claims that he has another god other than me.’ Allah will resurrect him. The wicked (the Dajjal) will say to him, ‘Who is your lord?’ He will say, ‘My Lord is Allah and you are the enemy of Allah. You are the Dajjal. By Allah! I was never more sure about you than I am today.’
Also, part of his fitnah is that he will command the sky to rain, and it will rain. He will command the earth to produce and it will produce (vegetation). Also, part of his fitnah is that he will pass by a neighborhood and its people will reject him. Then (as a result), none of their cattle will survive for them. They will all perish. A part of his fitnah is that he will pass by a neighborhood and its people will believe in him and he will then command the sky to rain and it will rain. He will also command the earth to produce and it will produce. During that day, their cattle will return to them fatter and larger than they ever were; their stomachs will become engorged and their udders the fullest (with milk). No place on earth will be saved from him and his domination, except Makkah and Madinah. He will not reach them through any of their passes, for angels will meet him with their swords held aloft. He will set up camp near the Red Dune, where the salt marsh ends. The people of Madinah will experience three tremors after which no hypocrite, male or female, will remain in it. They will all go out to (join) him. (Through this, Madinah) will purge itself of its evil as the furnace rids iron of its rust. This day will be called the Day of Al-Khalas (the Day of Purging). He (the Prophet ) was asked, ‘What will be (the condition) of the Arabs then?’ He said, ‘Then, they are few.’”
The Hadiths that we previously mentioned described the Dajjal and how the previous Prophets warned their nations about him. In this Hadith, the Dajjal’s paradise and fire were mentioned.
Furthermore, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “He is blind in his eye. He has something that looks like Paradise and the Fire. However, what he says is Paradise is actually the Fire.”
The Messenger of Allah said, ‘When the Dajjal appears, he will have a (pool of) water and a fire. As for what people see as the fire, it is a cool water. As for what people see as a cool water, it is a burning fire. Whoever among you experiences this, let him fall into what he sees as the fire, for it is cool and sweet.”
The Messenger of Allah said, “Indeed, I am more knowledgeable about what the Dajjal will have than the Dajjal himself! He will have two running rivers. One of which will appear to the eye as white (pure) water. The other will appear to the eye as raging fire. If any of you lives to see them, let him approach what he sees as fire, close his eyes, lower his head and drink from it, for it is cool water. The Dajjal’s left eye is smashed and has a thick zaferah on top of it. Between his eyes, the word kafir is written. Every believer, whether literate or illiterate, will be able to read it.”
The Messenger of Allah even warned against going anywhere near the Dajjal because of the powerful effect of his fitnah. He ( ) said, “Whoever hears of (the appearance of) the Dajjal, let him stay away from him. By Allah! A man will come to him, thinking himself a believer, but will follow him because of the doubts that his affair will raise.”
Beforehand, we mentioned the story of the young man whom the Dajjal will kill. This man will come to the Dajjal from Madinah. While the armed forces of the Dajjal are behind Mount Uhud, the young man will challenge him, publicly refuting his claim of being the Lord.
Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said, “The Messenger of Allah talked at length about the Dajjal. Among what he said to us was, ‘The Dajjal will come, but he is prohibited from entering through any pass of Madinah. He will camp close to some of the salt marshes on the outskirts of Madinah. On that day, the best man or one of the best men will come to him (from Madinah). He will say to him, ‘I testify that you are the Dajjal that the Messenger of Allah, foretold.’ Then, the Dajjal will say, ‘Do you think that if I kill this (man) and then bring him back to life, you will doubt me (that he is the Lord)?’ They will say, ‘No.’ He will then kill him and bring him back to life. He (the young man) will then say, ‘By Allah! I was never more convinced about you than I am today.’
He (the Messenger ) said, ‘The Dajjal wants to kill him, but he will be prevented from doing so.’”
Imam Muslim said that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The Dajjal will appear, and then a man from among the believers will come to him. He will be met by armed forces; the armed forces of the Dajjal. They will ask him, ‘Where are you headed?’ He will say, ‘I am heading to the one who has appeared.’ He (the Messenger ) said, ‘They say to him, ‘Do you not believe in our lord (the Dajjal)?’ He will say, ‘Our Lord is Well-Known.’ They will say (to each other), ‘Kill him.’ Some of them will say to the others, ‘Did not your lord forbid you from killing anyone without his knowledge?’ He (the Messenger ) then said, ‘They will take him to the Dajjal. When the believer sees him, he will say, ‘O people! This is the Dajjal whom the Messenger of Allah mentioned.’ He (the Messenger ) said, ‘Then, the Dajjal will command that he be laid on his stomach, saying, ‘Take him and smash his head.’ His back and stomach will be severely beaten.’ He (the Messenger ) said, ‘He will then say, ‘Do you not believe in me?’ He (the young man) will say, ‘You are the False Messiah.’ He (the Messenger ) said, ‘He will order him to be cut by a saw from his forehead till he divides between his feet.’ He (the Messenger ) then said, ‘Then, the Dajjal will walk between the two halves (of the young man's corpse). Then he will say to him, ‘Arise,’ and he will rise.’ He (the Messenger ) said, ‘Then, he will ask him, ‘Do you not believe in me?’ He will say, ‘My certainty with about you has only increased.’ He (the Messenger ) said, ‘Then he (the young man) will say, ‘O people! He will not be able to do this again to any of the people after me.’ He (the Messenger ) then said, ‘Then, the Dajjal will take him to slaughter. From the collar-bone up, his entire neck will be turned into copper, so he will not be able to harm him.’ He (the Messenger ) said, ‘Then he (the Dajjal) will grab him by the hands and feet throwing him into that which the people think is fire, but it is Paradise.’ Then, the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Among people, this man is the one with the most honorable martyrdom according to the Lord of the Worlds.’”
These Hadiths explain the following Hadith reported by Imams Ahmad and Muslim from Abu Hurairah. He reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “The Dajjal will appear from the east and will head to Madinah until he settles behind Mount Uhud. Then the Angels will turn his face towards As-Sham where he will perish.”
This Hadith explains the story of the Dajjal with a few words. He will perish in Ash-Sham by the hand of Jesus son of Mary , as we will mention later.
A question may arise here, “Will there be signs before the Dajjal that will indicate his imminent appearance?” The answer is, “Certainly.”
A lengthy Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaimah, and ad-Dhiyaa’, attributed to Abu Umamah, reports that the Prophet of Allah said, “There will be three hard years before the Dajjal (appears). During them, people will be stricken by a great famine. In the first year, Allah will command the sky to withhold a third of its rain, and the earth to withhold a third of its produce. In the second year, Allah will command the sky to withhold two thirds of its rain, and the earth to withhold two thirds of its produce. In the third year, Allah will command the sky to withhold all of its rain, and it will not rain a single drop of rain. He will command the earth to withhold all of its produce, and no plant will grow. All hoofed animals will perish, except that which Allah wills.’ He (the Messenger ) was asked, ‘What sustains people during that time?’ He said, ‘tahlil, takbir and tahmid. This will sustain them just as food does.’”
Abdullah bin Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The fitnah of Al-Ahlas (continuous calamity) is mass desertion and war. Then, the fitnah of As-Sarraa will start from under the feet of a man who claims that he is of me (of my descendants). However, he is not of me, for my loyal friends are the ones who have taqwa. Afterwards, people will unite around a man whose reign is unstable. Then, the fitnah of Ad-Duhaymaa (will start) and will not leave any member of this nation without severely touching him. When it is thought that its time has come to an end, it will be lengthened. Meanwhile (during this fitnah), a man will wake up as a believer and will meet the night as a disbeliever, until people divide into two camps: A camp of belief that contains no hypocrisy, and a camp of hypocrisy that contains no belief. If this happens, then await the Dajjal on that day or the next.”
There are other signs to the imminent coming of the Dajjal. Mu’ath narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The flourishing of Jerusalem will mark the desertion of Yathrib (Madinah). The desertion of Yathrib will mark the start of Al-Malhamah. The start of Al-Malhamah will mark the conquering of Constantinople. The conquering of Constantinople will mark the appearance of the Dajjal.”
The flourishing of Jerusalem will happen by the hands of Muslims, by the will of Allah, after it will be retrieved from the Jews.
The Holy Land will be the seat of the Caliphate because the Messenger of Allah said to Ibn Hawalah, “O Ibn Hawalah! If you live to see the seat of the Caliphate in the Holy Land, then earthquakes, disasters and great calamities are imminent. Then, the Hour will be closer to people than this hand of mine to your head!”
Then, Muslims will migrate to Ash-Sham to join the Jihad against the enemies of Allah from among the Jews and Christians. People of Madinah will desert it, not because they dislike it, but for the purpose of joining the Jihad for the sake of Allah. Then, it will be totally uninhabited, wild animals and beasts will roam through it, and it will stay deserted until the Hour begins.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “Madinah will be deserted while in its prime! Then, it will be inhabited by birds and beasts.”
Also, the Messenger of Allah said, “They (Muslims) will leave Madinah while in its prime. Only wild beasts and birds will roam it. The last persons to be gathered (for the beginning of the Last Day) will be two shepherds from (the tribe) of Muzainah heading towards Madinah. They will be herding their sheep, and (when they reach it) they will find it deserted. When they reach Thaniyyat Al-Wadaa’ they will collapse on their foreheads (because the Hour will have started then).”
Also, Abdullah bin `Amr said, “There will be a time among people when every believer will migrate to Ash-Sham.”
Destruction of the False Messiah
As was narrated in the Hadith by An-Nawwas bin Sam’an, the Dajjal will be killed at the hand of Jesus son of Mary.
The Dajjal’s death will occur after the angels turn him towards Ash-Sham away from the outskirts of Madinah. He will perish in Ash-Sham near the eastern door of Lud in Palestine, may Allah return it to the Muslims.
Before we start mentioning the second coming of Jesus son of Mary, we will mention the story of Al-Mahdi, Muhammad bin Abdullah.
Al-Mahdi will appear just before the coming of Jesus . He will lead the Muslim nation with justice and kindness and establish Allah’s rule. A righteous Caliphate will reappear after the earth has experienced its share of injustice and tyranny. Jesus son of Mary, will pray behind him. Among Al-Mahdi’s characteristics is that he will spend money on his subjects without counting it, along with many of his other righteous deeds that were mentioned in several correct Hadiths.
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Chapter Two
Al-Mahdi, Muhammad bin Abdullah
The Rightly Guided Caliph
All those who are gifted with sound comprehension know that the Mahdi, who the Shiites are waiting for, does not and did not exist. The Muslim nation has faced numerous hardships and calamities because of this mystical belief that the Shiites carry and propagate regarding this Mahdi.
In the Shiite mythology, believing in the Imams is a cornerstone of their faith. However, such mythology is similar to Greek and Persian mythology, as well as the beliefs of the other nations of Al-Jahiliyah.
The Sunnis believe that Al-Mahdi will be an ordinary man, born to an ordinary woman, raised by ordinary men and living an ordinary life with the people of his time. He will not live in caves, as the Shiites believe. They are waiting for their Mahdi to appear from an alleged cave, where they claim he has been in hiding for over ten centuries.
In reality, Al-Mahdi will be an Imam and a Caliph, among other Caliphs who rule Muslims with justice. However, what differentiates Al-Mahdi from other Caliphs is that he will meet Jesus son of Mary .
Also, Jesus, the Prophet of Allah, will pray behind Al-Mahdi. Allah will give Al-Mahdi the ability to righteously rule the Muslim nation in the span of a night. He will fill the earth with justice, as it was filled with injustice. He will lead the Muslim nation to the second conquering of Constantinople and possibly Rome.
A Caliphate That Follows the Guidance of the Prophet r
The Prophet Muhammad mentioned that just before the end of this world, the Muslim nation will be ruled by a Caliphate that will follow the guidance sent with the Messenger of Allah .
Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “Prophethood (meaning himself) will remain with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain, then Allah will raise it up whenever he wills to raise it up. Afterwards, there will be a Caliphate that follows the guidance of Prophethood remaining with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then, He will raise it up whenever He wills to raise it up. Afterwards, there will be a reign of violently oppressive rule and it will remain with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then, there will be a reign of tyrannical rule and it will remain for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then, Allah will raise it up whenever He wills to raise it up. Then, there will be a Caliphate that follows the guidance of Prophethood.” Then Hudhaifah said, “The Prophet stopped speaking.”
The reason behind mentioning this Hadith here is to state that Al-Mahdi will live in the last period of rightly guided Caliphs that the Messenger of Allah mentioned.
In this Hadith, the Messenger of Allah divided the history of the Muslim nation into the following stages:
1. The reign of the Prophet Muhammad himself .
2. A Caliphate that rules according to the guidance revealed to the Messenger of Allah . This period is called the reign of the rightly guided Caliphs, starting with Abu Bakr, then Umar, then Uthman and ending with the murder of Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with them all. Some scholars included the short reign of Al-Hasan bin Ali, the grandson of the Messenger of Allah . These are the thirty years which the Messenger of Allah stated comprised the reign of the rightly guided Caliphs.
3. The reign of unjust rule. This reign contains some injustice to a varying degree between one king and another. This period started after Al-Hasan bin Ali and includes the Umayyad, Abbasid, Mamluks and until the fall of the Ottoman State in the twentieth century.
This period includes all states that ruled in the Muslim World during those centuries. However, we exclude the reign of those rulers whose rule was similar to the rule of the rightly guided Caliphs, such as the reign of Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr and Umar bin Abdul-Aziz. These two are considered among the just Caliphs from among the tribe of Quraish who ruled or will rule the Muslim nation.
4. The reign of the tyrannical rule. This period started in the end of the Ottoman state and continues. We ask Allah that He saves us from the evils of this period and that we witness its end soon.
This reign includes all the regimes that ruled the Muslim World, whether imperial, party oriented, governments controlled by the disbelievers, like those after World War I, populist or republic, which all sought to deprive Allah from His right as the Only Legislator in all matters of life and religion.
When the Messenger of Allah mentioned the periods that this nation will experience, he categorized them according to the type of government, whether unjust, or that which follows the guidance of the Prophet, or autocratic and tyrannical, as we experience today.
5. The return of a Caliphate that rules following the guidance of the Prophet . This period requires the Muslims to be prepared and strive for its imminent coming, by spreading the knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah and the way of our righteous ancestors, As-Salaf As-Salih. This is because nothing can resurrect this nation except that which resurrected its ancestors. Until this final period comes, the religion will become a stranger, the same way it started in Makkah, a stranger to its masters and slaves, the powerful and the weak, its women, and its children.
Those who will strive to establish this righteous period are those ghurabaa, strangers as the Messenger of Allah called them, who will carry this religion with knowledge, sound comprehension and determination. They will willingly sacrifice their well-being, face hardships, and persecution, with patience and steadfastness. They will follow the advice of the Messenger of Allah , when he said, “Therefore, hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs, hold it between your front teeth! And beware of innovations (in the religion), for every innovation is a bid’ah, and every bid’ah is a deviation, and every deviation is in the Fire.”
The ghurabaa are the ones who, by the will of Allah, will correct that which people have altered and changed of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah after his departure from this earthly life. They will fight in the sake of Allah and dominate those who oppose them. They will be unrelenting even in the face of those who abandon or defy them, until Allah brings about His Decree (the Hour), while they are steadfast on this path. We ask Allah, the Praised and Ever-High One, that He grants us steadfastness on the path of His Messenger and the path taken by the companions and those who followed their lead until the Day of Judgment.
The hadiths about al-Mahdi and the signs that he is rightly guided
There are several Hadiths about Al-Mahdi. Some of which are weak, but popular with some people. However, there are several authentic Hadiths, some hasan (accepted) and some sahih (authentic), as scholars of Hadith have agreed. The following are some of these authentic Hadiths regarding Al-Mahdi.
Umm Salamah, the wife of the Messenger of Allah , narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “Al-Mahdi is from my family, a descendant of Fatimah.”
Also, Ibn Mas’ud narrated that the Prophet said, “If even one day remain in this life, then Allah would lengthen that day until a man, from among my family is raised up. His name will be like my name and his father’s name will be like my father’s name. He will fill the earth with justice and fairness as it was filled with injustice and inequity.”
Also, Ali bin Abi Talib said that the Prophet said, “If there was even one day left of life, then Allah would raise up a man from among my family who will fill it (the earth) with justice as it was filled with injustice.”
Ahmad, Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhi narrated that Ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet said, “Life will not end nor vanish until a man from among my family, whose name is like my name, rules.”
Therefore, Al-Mahdi is from the descendants of the Messenger of Allah , from his family, and his name is Muhammad bin Abdullah. However, it is not entirely clear if he will be a descendant of Al-Hasan or Al-Husain. This is because the narrations which mention this matter are all weak. Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah suggested that Al-Mahdi is a descendant of Al-Hasan Ibn Ali, because he accepted a saying that was attributed to Ali bin Abi Talib. However, Muhammad Nasirud-Din Al-Albani rendered this narration weak in his edition of Mishkat-ul-Masabih.
As for his physical description, Abu Sa`id reported that the Messenger of Allah said, as was correctly narrated by Abu Dawood and Al-Hakim, “Al-Mahdi will come from me (my lineage). His forehead is wide and his nose is long, thin and pointed. He will fill the earth with justice and equity as it was filled with injustice and inequity. He will rule for seven years.” This Hadith specified that Al-Mahdi’s rule will last for seven years.
Also, Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The earth will be filled with inequity and injustice. When it is full of inequity and injustice, Allah will raise up a man from me, his name is like mine and his father’s name is like my father’s. He will fill it (the earth) with justice and equity. He will stay with you seven or eight (years). If he stays longer, it will be nine.”
Upon his second coming, Jesus will pray behind Al-Mahdi. Bukhari and Muslim narrated that Abu Hurairah said that the Messenger of Allah said, “How will you be when the son of Mary descends to you and your Imam is from among you?”
Also, Abu Na’im recorded an authentic sanad to Abu Sa`id that said that the Messenger of Allah said, “Among us is the one whom Jesus son of Mary, will pray behind.”
Imam Muslim recorded that Jabir bin Abdullah said that he heard the Messenger of Allah saying, “A group of my nation will fight while holding fast to the Truth remaining victorious till the Day of Judgment.” Then, the Messenger said, “Then Jesus son of Mary, will descend. Their leader will say, ‘Come lead us in prayer.’ He will say, ‘No. Some of you are leaders of others as an honor from Allah for this nation.’”
Al-Mahdi is the one whom we believe the following Hadith refers to; “Among the last of my nation, there will be a Caliph who will give away money by the handful and will not count it.” This is part of a Hadith that Imam Muslim recorded in his Sahih.
In another narration of this Hadith, the Messenger of Allah said, “From among your Caliphs is a Caliph who will give away money by the handfuls and will not count it.”.
These Hadiths only serve to show that wars between Muslims and their enemies will be many. Also, these Hadiths show that Muslim victories over the disbelievers and as a consequence, war possessions, will be in abundance during that time.
As for the appearance of Al-Mahdi, it will happen after Allah prepares him to lead this nation, as the Messenger of Allah said, “Al-Mahdi is among us, Ahlu Al-Bayt (the family of the Prophet ). Allah will prepare him (for leadership) overnight.” This Hadith means that Allah prepares Al-Mahdi to lead this nation overnight, and Allah has the perfect Knowledge.
The Messenger of Allah described Al-Mahdi as being righteous, by saying, “And their Imam is a righteous man...”
After Allah prepares Al-Mahdi for leadership, leaders of that time will try to kill him. Al-Mahdi will escape and take refuge in Makkah, along with some of his loyalists, having no credible force, neither in terms of numbers nor arms. An army will be sent after him to kill him. This fact was reported by Imam Muslim, when he narrated that Umm Salamah said, “The Messenger of Allah said, ‘A refugee will seek refuge in Al-Bayt (the Grand Mosque in Makkah). An army will be sent after him until they reach Al-Baydaa, when the earth will collapse underneath of them.’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! How about he who disliked (going after him)?’ He said, ‘The earth will collapse underneath of them, but he will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment according to his real intention.’”
Also, Imam Muslim reported that Hafsah heard the Messenger of Allah saying, “An invading army will head towards Al-Bayt. When they reach Al-Baydaa, the earth will collapse underneath of their mid-line forces. Their front lines will call to those in the rear. Then the earth will collapse underneath of them. None will remain except some survivors who will tell about their fate.” In another narration of this Hadith, Hafsah reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “A group of refugees, who have no credible forces in terms of numbers or arms will take refuge in this House and an army will be sent after them. When they reach Al-Baydaa, The earth will collapse underneath of them.”
Also, Imam Muslim reported that Aaishah said, “The Messenger of Allah moved in an unusual manner during his sleep. We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! You did something in your sleep that we never saw you do before.’ He said, ‘A strange thing indeed is the fact that some of my nation will head towards Al-Bayt, where a man from Quraish will take refuge in the House. When they reach a Al-Baydaa, the earth will collapse underneath of them. We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! The road gathers various kinds of people.’ He said, ‘Yes, indeed. Among them will be those who seek directions (to Makkah), those who are forced, and the wayfarers. However, they will all perish and will be resurrected apart, for Allah will resurrect them according to their intentions.’”
Also, Umm Salamah said that the Prophet said, “A group of my nation will perish due to a collapse of the earth. They will be sent to (kill) a man who will come to Makkah, but Allah will give him refuge from them. The earth will collapse underneath of them. Even though they will all perish together, they will be resurrected apart because some of them will hate (to go after Al-Mahdi to kill him), but will be forced to join them (the army).”
Also, the wife of Al-Qa’qaa’ bin Abi Hadrad Al-Aslami said that she heard the Messenger of Allah say, “O people! When you hear of an army that perished by the earth’s collapsing nearby here, then the Hour is imminent.”
These Hadiths state that an army will be sent after Al-Mahdi, who will take refuge in the House along with some of the believers who follow him. This army will perish in Al-Baydaa, a flat piece of land next to Madinah facing Makkah's direction.
Afterwards, Al-Mahdi will be given a pledge of allegiance as a Caliph for Muslims. He will lead Muslims to many battles in jihad. His reign will be a Caliphate that will follow the guidance of the Prophet and many battles will ensue between Muslims and the disbelievers during his time, until Allah sends down Jesus son of Mary .
It is during Al-Mahdi’s reign that the second conquering of Constantinople (Istanbul) will occur, just before the appearance of Al-Masih Al-Dajjal and the second coming of Jesus .
Yusayr bin Jabir said, “A red sandstorm erupted in the city of Al-Kufah. Afterwards, a man came shouting and repeating the same words, ‘O Abdullah bin Mas’ud! The Hour has come.” He (Yusayr) then said that he sat up after he was leaning (on his side) and said, ‘The Hour will not arrive until no inheritance will be divided and no war possessions will bring about satisfaction.’ He pointed with his hand towards Ash-Sham saying, ‘An enemy will gather its forces against the followers of Islam.’ I said, ‘Do you mean Ar-Rum?’ He said, ‘Yes. Then, during this war, fierce fighting will occur. Muslims will ask for a volunteer expedition that will vie to die or return victorious. They will fight until the night separates between them. Both sides will return to their camps not yet victorious and the expedition will perish. Muslims will then (in the second day) ask for a volunteer expedition that will vie to die or return victorious. They will fight until the night separates between them. Both sides will return to their camps not yet victorious and the expedition will perish. Then, (in the third day) Muslims will ask for a volunteer expedition that will vie to die or return victorious. They will fight until the night and both sides will return to their camps not yet victorious and the expedition will perish. In the fourth day, the rest of the Muslim forces will all stand up against them (the disbelievers) and Allah will defeat them (the disbelievers). They will suffer casualties never heard of before...’ or he said, ‘Never seen before, even birds flying near them will not pass without falling down dead. Afterwards, sons of the same father (from the Muslims side), who were near a hundred, will count the survivors and will find out that only one of them survived. Therefore, what war possessions will bring satisfaction and what inheritance will be divided? While they are doing this they will hear of an even a bigger calamity; that is, a man will scream amongst them that the Dajjal has appeared among their families whom they left behind. They will discard what they have in their hands and proceed. They will send ten horsemen as an expedition force. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘I know their names and their fathers names and the colors of their horses. They will be the best horsemen on the face of earth,’ or (he said) ‘(They) will be among the best horsemen on the face of earth.’”
Also, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The Hour will not begin until after Ar-Rum camp in Al-A’amaq or Dabiq. Then, an army from Madinah, among the most righteous people on earth those days, will head their way. When the two camps face each other, Ar-Rum will say, ‘Let us get through to those who captured some of us, so we can fight them.’ The Muslims will say, ‘No, by Allah! We will never let you get through to our brothers.’ They will fight them and a third of the (Muslim army) will run away, they are those whom Allah will never forgive. Another third will be martyred, they are the best martyrs in the sight of Allah. The (last) third will be victorious and they will never fall to fitnah. They will conquer Constantinople. Afterwards, while they are dividing the war possessions and hanging their swords on olive trees, Satan will shout among them, ‘The (False) Messiah has appeared among your families.’ They will head back home to face him. Although, this warning will be False, when they reach Ash-Sham, he will appear. While they are preparing to fight, straightening their lines, the prayer will be called for and Jesus son of Mary, will descend and rule them. When the enemy of Allah (the Dajjal) sees him, he will dissolve, just as salt dissolves in water. If he was left alone, he would dissolve until he perished. However, Allah kills him by his (Jesus’) hand and he will show them (the Muslims) his blood on his spear.’”
This Hadith mentioned that Jesus will lead the Muslim Nation. In another narration of this Hadith, Muslim reported Abu Hurairah saying, “And he (Jesus) will rule you by the Book of your Lord (Al-Qur’an) and the Sunnah of your Prophet ( ).”
This narration clearly states that Jesus will rule the Muslims by the Qur’an and the Sunnah and not by the Law that he delivered to the Children of Israel.
Before the war between Ar-Rum and the Muslims erupts, there will be a truce between them. Then, Ar-Rum will treacherously break the truce and come to face the Muslims with eighty divisions, each division comprising of ten thousand, and in another narration “... twelve thousand soldiers.” This is when Al-Malhamah will start and when the Muslims will defeat Ar-Rum.
Abu Dawood reported that one of the companions of the Prophet said that the Messenger of Allah said, “You will conduct a truce with Ar-Rum and will join them in fighting an enemy behind you. You will (both) be victorious and divide war possessions and will be safe. You will head back until you camp at Marj Thi Tuloul. Then, a Christian man will raise the cross and shout, ‘The cross has won victory.’ A Muslim man will become angry and kill him. This is when Ar-Rum will show their treachery and gather for Al-Malhamah.’”
Also, Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah and Ibn Hibban reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “You will conduct a truce with Ar-Rum and both invade an enemy from behind you and you will be safe, acquiring war possessions. Then, you will camp by Marj Thi Tuloul. A Rumi man will stand up, and raise the cross saying, ‘The cross has won victory!’ A man from among the Muslims will stand up and kill him. Ar-Rum will break the truce, and Al-Malahim will start. They will gather their forces to face you and come in eighty divisions, each division having ten thousand (soldiers).’” In another narration, Abu Malik Al-Ashja’i said that the Messenger said, “There will be a truce between you and the blond ones (Ar-Rum) and they will break the truce. Then, they will come to you in eighty divisions, with each division twelve thousand (soldiers).”
During Al-Malhamah, the Muslim’s fustat will be docked at Al-Ghoutah, an area that surrounds the city of Damascus. Al-fustat is the main camping ground for the army.
Abu Ad-Dardaa narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The Muslims’ fustat, during Al-Malhamah, is near a city called Damascus, one of the best cities in Ash-Sham.”
In another narration he ( ) said, “The Muslims’ fustat during the Great Malhamah is in a land called Al-Ghoutah, in a city called Damascus, the best of where Muslims reside then.”
This is where Muslims from Ash-Sham, the Arabian Peninsula and other Muslim areas will gather to fight against Allah’s enemies. All these Muslims, including mawali will be united on the religion of Allah fighting with their brethren for the sake of Allah.
Ibn Majah reported that Abu Hurairah said that the Messenger of Allah said, “When the fights begin Allah will send mawali who will have the best horses among the Arabs, and best arms. Allah will make the religion victorious through them.” We ask Allah that he unites this ummah and raise the jahiliyah and the differences from it.
Allah will grant victory for Muslims at Al-Malhamah and they will conquer Constantinople without using weapons to enter it.
The Messenger of Allah said, “Have you heard of a city that is surrounded by land from one side and by sea from the other?” They said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “The Hour will not begin until seventy thousand offspring of Ishmael invade it. When they reach it, they will camp without having had to use a weapon or throw an arrow in fighting. They will say, ‘La Ilaha illa Allah wa-Allahu Akbar.’ Then, one of its sides (the city wall) that is next to the sea will collapse. They will say for the second time, ‘La Ilaha illa Allah wa-Allahu Akbar,’ and the second side (the wall that is next to the land) will collapse. They will say for the third time, ‘La Ilaha illa Allah wa-Allahu Akbar,’ and there will be sufficient holes (in its walls) through which they will enter and collect war possessions. While they are dividing the war possessions, a heralder will come to them, saying, ‘The Dajjal has appeared.’ Then, they will discard everything and return (to Ash-Sham).”
Muslims’ Victories Before the Dajjal's Appearance
Jabir bin Samurah narrated, “Nafi’ bin ‘Utbah said, ‘We were accompanying the Messenger of Allah to a battle.’ Then, he (Nafi’) said, ‘Then, some people from the west (of Madinah) came to the Prophet wearing clothes made of wool and they met him next to a mound. They were standing while the Messenger of Allah was sitting.’ He (Nafi’) then said, ‘So I told myself, “Let me come closer to them and stand between them and him so that they will not assassinate him.” He (Nafi’) then said, ‘(Then, I said to myself) “They may be having a conversation with him.” However, I came close by and stood between them and him.’ He (Nafi’) then said, ‘And then I memorized four sentences from him, and I can count them with my hand. He said, “You will invade the Arabian Peninsula and Allah will grant it (to you). Then (you will conquer) Persia and Allah will grant it (to you). Then, you will invade Ar-Rum and Allah will grant it (to you). Then, you will invade The Dajjal and Allah will grant him (to you).” Nafi’ said to Jabir, “O Jabir! We do not believe that the Dajjal will appear until Ar-Rum is conquered.”
The land of Ar-Rum is Europe and Rome is its heart. The Messenger of Allah gave us the good tidings that we will conquer Rome, the capital of Christendom today, after the Muslims conquered the first capital of Christendom, Constantinople.
Imam Ahmad narrated that Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-Aas said, “While we were around the Messenger of Allah, writing (the Hadith) the Messenger of Allah was asked, ‘Which of these two cities will be conquered first, Constantinople or Romiyah (Rome)?’ He said, ‘The city of Heraclius will first be conquered.’ He meant Constantinople.”
Chapter Three
Jesus son of Mary
Allah refuted the Jews in their claim that they crucified Prophet Jesus son of Mary, saying,
And their saying; “We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah” but they did not kill him, nor crucified him, rather it appeared to them so. And those who differ about it are full of doubts and they have no knowledge about it except that they follow conjecture. For a surety they did not kill him. But Allah raised him up to Himself. And Allah is ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. [4:157-158],
and;
And when Allah said, “O Jesus! I am taking you and raising you to Myself and clearing you of those who disbelieve...” [3:55].
Therefore, Jesus was neither killed nor crucified and he will come to this earth for a second time to fight the disbelievers and force them to accept Islam. Some of the People of the Book will believe in him, as Allah said,
And there is none of the people of the Scripture, but must believe in him before his death And on the Day of Resurrection, he will be a witness against them. [4:159].
We mentioned the Hadith by An-Nawwas bin Sam’an reporting that Jesus son of Mary, will descend next to the white minaret in eastern Damascus. The same Hadith also mentions that any disbeliever whom Jesus’ breath reaches will perish and his breath reaches as far as his sight reaches. We also mentioned that the Dajjal will be killed by the hand of Jesus .
We will now mentioned Jesus’ physical description and his work during his second coming to earth.
Ibn Abbas narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “During the Night of Al-Israa, I passed by Moses son of Imraan , and I saw that he has dark brown skin, he was tall with curly hair and he looked just like one of the men of Shanoo’ah. And I saw Jesus son of Mary; he was well-built, (and the color of his skin was) between red and white and his hair was soft.”
Also, Imam Muslim reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “The Prophets were paraded for me (during the Night of Al-Israa) and I found that Moses was a man who looks just like the men of Shanoo’ah. I also saw Jesus son of Mary and found that the one who resembles him the most is Urwah bin Mas’ud. He was well-built, his color was red as if he has just been to a bath.”
Abdullah bin Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “One night I saw myself in the Ka’bah and I saw a light colored man, as beautiful as a light color in men can be, with his hair reaching the ears as beautiful as any hair can be. He combed it and it was dripping water. He was leaning on two men -- or on the shoulders of two men-- circling the Ka’bah. I asked, ‘Who is this?’ I was told, ‘This is the Messiah, son of Mary...’”
Also, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “There was no Prophet between me and Jesus and he will descend, and if he does, know him. He is a well-built man, (the color of his skin ) between red and white. He will descend while wearing two pieces of clothes. His head looks like it is dripping even though no moisture touched it. He will fight people to accept Islam, breaking the cross, killing the pig and banishing Al-Jizyah. During his time, Allah will destroy all religions except Islam and destroy Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal. He (Jesus) will remain for forty years on earth, then when he dies the Muslims will pray for him.”
The Messenger of Allah described the time when Jesus descends, his work and the situation of Muslims then. He said, “And their Imam is a righteous man. While their Imam has moved forward to lead them in the dawn prayer, Jesus son of Mary, will descend to them in the morning. That Imam will step back so that Jesus can move forward. However, Jesus will lay his hand between his shoulders and then say to him, ‘Move forward and pray for the prayer was called for you (to lead)’. Their Imam will lead the prayer for them. When he goes, Jesus will say, ‘Open the gate,’ and they will open while the Dajjal, along with seventy thousand Jews all wearing beautified swords and sheaths, will be behind it. When the Dajjal looks at him he will dissolve as salt dissolves in water and will start running away. (Jesus will follow him and) will catch him close to the eastern gate of Lud and kill him. Then, Allah will defeat the Jews, they will not find refuge under anything that Allah created. Everything, whether a stone, tree, wall or animal - except the boxthorn tree - because it is one of their trees, will be made by Allah to speak, saying, ‘O Slave of Allah, O Muslim! Here is a Jew, come and kill him.’ Jesus son of Mary will be a just ruler and a fair Imam, breaking the cross, killing the pig, banishing charity, and as a result no sheep or camel will be taken care of. All disputes and hatred will vanish and all (animals) which are dangerous will become harmless. Even a male baby will pet a snake and it will not harm him. A female baby will harm a lion, but the lion will not harm her. The wolf will be like the guard dog for the sheep. The earth will be full of peace, as a pot is filled with water. The word will be one, and only Allah will be worshipped. War will cease and Quraish will be rid of its rule. The earth will be just like a pot of silver, and its greens will grow as they did during Adam’s time. Even a group (of people) will gather around a cluster of grapes and it will provide them with their fill. And a group will gather around a pomegranate, and it will provide them with their fill. The bull will be worth such and such, and the horse will be worth a few dirhams.”
Also, Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah narrated that Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet said, “By Him Whose Hand my soul is in! It is almost the time when the son of Mary descends to you, he will be a just ruler and a fair Imam. He will break the cross, kill the pig, banish Al-Jizyah, and money will be in such abundance that no one will accept it anymore. Then, one sajdah will be better than the earth and all that is in it.”
The Messenger of Allah said that Jesus will perform Hajj to the Holy House in Makkah. The Prophet said, “By Him Whose Hand my soul is in! From Fajj Ar-Rawhaa, Jesus son of Mary will announce that he will perform Hajj, Umrah or both.”
Also, the Messenger of Allah described life during the second coming of Jesus saying, “Blessed is the life after Jesus. The sky will be given permission to send its rain and the earth will grow its produce until if you even throw your seeds on hard stones, they will still grow! A man will even pass by a lion and it will not harm him and step on a snake and it will not harm him. Then, there will be no enmity, envy or hatred.”
The Messenger of Allah gave the glad tidings to those who will fight with Jesus. This group is the remainder of At-Ta’ifatul-Mansoorah that will always raise the flag of Islam first raised by the Prophet and his Companions.
The Prophet said, “Allah has given immunity from the Fire for two groups among my nation: a group that will invade India and a group that will be with Jesus son of Mary.”
Also, the Messenger of Allah said, “There will always be a group of my nation, fighting on the side of righteousness, victorious over all who defy them until the last of them fight Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal.”
We end our research about the Messenger of Allah, Jesus, the son of Mary by mentioning the following Hadith.
Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-’Aas said, “The Messenger of Allah said, ‘The Dajjal will appear in my nation and will remain for forty (days). Then Allah will send down Jesus son of Mary, looking just like Urwah bin Mas’ud to seek him (the Dajjal) and kill him. Afterwards, people will remain for seven years with no enmity between any two people. Allah will send a cool wind from Ash-Sham that will leave no man who has even the weight of an atom of righteousness or faith, but take (his soul). Even if one of you is in the middle of a mountain, it will reach him in it and will take (his soul).’ Then he said, ‘Only the most evil people will remain. They will be as light as birds, having the comprehension of beasts. They will not know or enjoin righteousness, nor forbid or know evil.’”
Chapter Four
Gog and Magog
Allah mentioned in the Qur’an the story of Gog and Magog, who are held behind a dam,
Until, when Gog and Magog are released and they swiftly swarm from every mound. And the True Promise shall draw near [21:96-97].
Also, the Prophet said, “Gog and Magog dig holes in the dam every day until they are almost able to see sunlight, when their leader says to them, ‘Go back! You will dig it tomorrow.’ However, Allah rebuilds it stronger than it was before. When they reach their destined time and Allah ordains to send them upon people, they will come (and dig the dam) until they are able to see the sunlight. Then, their leader will say, ‘Go back! You will dig it tomorrow, Allah willing.’ They will say, ‘Allah willing.’ They will return and find it (unchanged), as they left it (the day) before and they dig it and emerge upon mankind. They will drink the water and people will seek refuge from them in their forts. They will hurl their spears toward the sky; they will return with what appears to be dry blood on them and they will say, ‘We overpowered the people of earth and dominated inhabitants of the sky.’ then Allah will send An-Naghaf to their necks which will kill them. By Him Whose Hand my soul is in! The animals of earth will fatten and become bloated with milk from their meat and blood.’”
Gog and Magog will pass by the Sea of Galilee and will drink all of its water, as reported in the Hadith of An-Nawwas bin Sam’an which we mentioned previously. Also, we mentioned that Allah will reveal to His Prophet Jesus son of Mary to gather the believers at Mount At-Tur because no human can defeat Gog and Magog. Then Allah will cause them all to perish by the worms that will appear on the back of their necks, and they will die as easily and quickly as if they were one soul dying.
Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “Gog and Magog will be release upon mankind just as Allah said,
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And they swiftly swarm from every mound.
They will overwhelm the people. The Muslims will have to seek refuge in their cities and forts along with their cattle. Gog and Magog will drink the water of the earth. Some of them will even pass by a river and drink it all until they leave it dry. Whoever is behind them will pass by the river and say, ‘There was water here once!’ There will be no one left but he will seek refuge in a fort or city. One of them will say, ‘Those are the people of the earth, we are finished with them. Only the inhabitants of the sky remain!’
Then one of them will shake his spear and throw it at the sky and it will return bloody. (All of this will serve as a) test and fitnah (for mankind). While they are doing this, Allah will send creatures like locust worms which will attach to their necks, until they die the death of locusts, piled upon one another. In the morning the Muslims will not hear a sound from them. Therefore, Muslims will say, ‘Will a man sell himself (for the sake of Allah) and see what happened to them.’ Then a man from them goes down being sure that they will kill him. He will find them dead and piled on top of each other. He will shout to the Muslims, ‘Good news! Your enemy was destroyed.’ Then the people will come out and release their cattle. There will be nothing to graze upon but their corpses. They will become fatter from them than they ever did from eating any plant.’”
We also mentioned the Hadith by An-Nawwas bin Sam’an that narrated that the Prophet said, “Afterwards, Jesus the Prophet of Allah will come down with his companions to the low grounds. They will find that no space of a hand-span is saved from their fat and rot (rotten corpses). Jesus the Prophet of Allah and his companions will supplicate to Allah. So, Allah will send birds as large as the necks of camels, which will carry them (corpses of Gog and Magog) and will throw them wherever Allah wills. Then, Allah will send rain that no house made of mud (or bricks) or animal hair will be saved from, cleansing the earth until it makes it like a mirror. The earth will be commanded, ‘Produce your fruits and retrieve your blessing.”
This is the time that the Prophet praised by saying, “Blessed is the life after the Messiah.”
Also, the Messenger of Allah described Gog and Magog’s numbers, when he said, “For seven years Muslims will build fires with Gog and Magog’s bows and arrows.”
Chapter Five
Other Major Signs of the Last Hour
The Hadith by An-Nawwas bin Sam’an reported that a pure, cool wind will overcome the earth and capture the soul of every believer and Muslim. Afterwards, only evil people will remain on the earth and indulging in all types of mischief, including public sexual intercourse. Just before the coming of this wind, the sun will rise from the west; a beast that will be raised from earth will speak directly to the people; the Qur’an will be erased from books and from people’s hearts; the Law of Islam will be totally abandoned and smoke will engulf the earth. The last of these signs is a fire which originates in lower Aden, a place in Yemen. This fire will herd the people from east to west, to their gathering grounds in Ash-Sham, constantly remaining with them until they reach their final destination.
The Hadiths do not give more details about the three great tremors that cause the earth to collapse, except for the tremor near Madinah that will devour the army heading toward Makkah to kill Al-Mahdi. This may be one of the three tremors. However, Allah has the best Knowledge.
Hudhaifah bin Usaid Al-Ghifari said, “The Messenger of Allah passed by us while we were having a conversation and he said, ‘What are you talking about?’ They said, ‘We are talking about the Hour.’ He said, ‘It will not come until you witness ten signs beforehand.’ Then, he mentioned ad-Dukhan (the Smoke); the Dajjal; the beast; the rising of the sun from the west; the descent of Jesus son of Mary ; three tremors; one in the east, one in the west, and one in the Arabian Peninsula. The last is a fire that will rage from Yemen herding people to their final gathering ground.”
Rising of the Sun From the West
Allah said,
Are they waiting for the Angles to arrive for them or your Lord to arrive or some of your Lord’s signs. On the day that some of your Lord’s signs come it will not avail a person to believe if he did not believe before nor earned good through his faith. Say, ‘Wait, we are too waiting [6:158].
Imam Muslim reported that Abu Tharr said, “One day, the Prophet said, ‘Do you know where this sun goes?’ They said, ‘Allah and His Messenger have more knowledge.’ He said, ‘It goes until it reaches its fixed course under the Throne and bows down in sujud and continues doing this until it is told, “Rise up! Go back from where you came.” It go back and rises up in the morning from where it usually rises. Then, while people do not suspect anything, it will run until it reaches its fixed course under the Throne. It will be told, “Rise up! Rise from where you have set.” So it will rise from the west.’ Then, the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Do you know when this will happen? This will happen when no soul will benefit from its belief, unless it believed beforehand and gained any good from its belief.’”
Door to Forgiveness is Open till the Sun Rises From the West
Safwan bin `Assal reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “There is an open door, as wide as seventy years, where the sun sets. This door will still be open for forgiveness until the sun rises from where it sets. When it rises from there, no soul will benefit from its belief, unless it believed beforehand and gained any good from its belief.”
Also, Abu Hurairah said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah saying, ‘The Hour will not start until the sun rises from where it sets. When it rises from where it sets, and people witness this, they will all believe. However, that is the time when no soul will benefit from its belief, unless it believed beforehand or gained any good from its belief.’”
The Beast
Allah said,
And when the Sentence is passed against them, We shall bring forth to them from the earth a Beast which will tell them that mankind had no faith in Our signs [27:82]
Abdullah bin Umar said, “I memorized a Hadith from the Messenger of Allah that I have not forgotten. I heard the Messenger of Allah saying, ‘The first of the signs that will come is the rising of the sun from where it sets and the emergence of the Beast upon the people at early morning. Whichever of these two occurs before the other, then the other is right behind it.’”
This Beast will emerge from the earth stamping people on their noses, (what reads); “... this is a believer and this is a disbeliever.”
Until the pure, cool wind comes and takes the soul of every believer and Muslim.
The Messenger of Allah said, “The Beast will emerge and stamp people on their noses. Then, she will remain with you until a man buys an animal and when asked, ‘Whom did you buy it from?’ He replies, ‘From a stamped man.’”
The Gathering Fire
The Fire that herds mankind for the Day of Judgment is the last of the ten major signs of the Hour. This fire will originate in Yemen, from lower Aden, and will herd people, “Camping where they camp and resting when they rest.”
Before the raging Fire and the pure, cool wind come, “Islam will vanish just as the patterns on a dress vanish. Until no fasting, no prayer, no sacrificing nor charity are known. The Book of Allah will be erased overnight and no verse of it will remain on earth. Groups of old people, old men and women, will be saying, ‘We found our fathers on this word, “La Ilaha illa Allah”, so we say it.’”
However, after the pure, cool wind captures the souls of believers and Muslims, people will revert to worshipping idols and statues, just as their ancestors did during the time of jahiliyyah.
Imam Muslim reported that Aaishah said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah say, ‘The Day and night will not end until Al-Lat and Al-Uzza are worshipped again!’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! I thought that when Allah revealed,
It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to make it superior over all religions even though the polytheists hate it,
its dominance would be permanent?’ He said, ‘This will happen as long as Allah wills, then He will send a pure wind which will bring death to whoever has the weight of a mustard seed of Iman in his heart. Afterwards, only those who have no righteousness will remain and they will revert to the religion of their ancestors’”
Also, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The Hour will not begin until the women of Daws shake their rear ends around Thi Al-Khalasah.”
The Smoke
Who Will Witness the Hour?
The Hour will be witnessed by those who know no righteousness or belief. Allah has ordained that it will not begin while any believer exists on the earth. This is why it will start with those who are pure evil, those who neither know good nor forbid evil, those who do not know good or enjoining righteousness.
The Messenger of Allah said, “The Hour will not begin except upon the most evil among creation.”
Also, He said, “The Hour will not begin until no one will say, ‘Allah, Allah.’” Meaning no one will say, “La Ilaha illa Allah”, as narrated in an authentic Hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad.
Also, the Messenger of Allah said, “The Hour will start while a man is milking an ewe. However, the pot (of milk) will not reach his mouth until it begins. Two men indulging in the sale and purchase of a dress - they will not finish their transaction, but it will begin. A man will be making his trough (for his cattle) and will be unable to bring them to drink, but it will begin.”
Think of how forgetful people are about the major hardships of the Last Hour and the Day of Resurrection, while the Messenger of Allah said, “How can I live in comfort, when the Bearer of the Trumpet has place it in his mouth, lowering his forehead, listening attentively, waiting to be ordered to blow it, so he can blow?” The Muslims said, “O Messenger of Allah! What should we say?” He said, “Say, Hasbuna Allahu wa ni’ma al-Wakil, tawakkalna 'ala Allah rabbina.”
In another Hadith, the Messenger of Allah said, “Ever since he was given his duties, the sight of the Trumpet Bearer is ready and raised toward the Throne, for fear that if he loses his focus, he will be ordered (to blow in the Trumpet). His eyes are like two bright planets.”
We say, “Hasbuna Allahu wa ni`ma al-Wakil.” All our dependence is on Allah, our Lord.
We ask Allah to grant us safety and security from the horrors of the Biggest Day of Horror,
The Day when neither wealth nor sons will avail. Except for he who comes to Allah with a clean heart [26:88-89].