Fitan

Hudhaifa said: God's messenger gave us an address on which occasion he left out nothing that would happen up to the last hour without telling of it. Some remembered and some forgot, and these companions of mine have known it. Some of it I have forgotten, but when I see it, I remember it, just as a man remembers another's face when he is away and recognizes him when he sees him. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He told that he heard God's messenger say, "Temptations will be presented to men's hearts as a reed mat is woven stick by stick, and any heart which is impregnated by them will have a black mark put in it, but any heart which rejects, them will have a white mark put in it. The result is that hearts will be of two kinds, one white like a white stone which will not be harmed by temptation as long as the heavens and the earth endure, and the other black and dust-colored like a vessel which is upset, not recognizing what is reputable or rejecting what is disreputable, but being impregnated with its passion." Muslim transmitted it.

He said that God's messenger told them two traditions one of which he had seen happen and was looking forward to the other. He told them that faith had come down into the roots of men's hearts, then they gained knowledge from the Qur'an, then gained knowledge from the sunnah. He also told about its removal, saying, "A man will sleep[2] and faith will be taken from his heart, but its mark will remain like the mark of a spot. He will sleep again, and it will be taken away, its mark remaining like the mark of a blister, as when you drop live coals over your foot a water blister is produced and you see it swollen with nothing in it. People will make business agreements with one another and scarcely one will fulfil his trust. It will then be said that among the B. so and so there is a trustworthy man. People will remark how intelligent, excellent, and resolute a man is while he has not as much faith in his heart as a grain of mustard seed." 1. Fitan pl of fitnah. There are different meanings, e.g., temptation, seduction; discord, commotion, civil war; testing, trial; impiety, unbelief. 2. This may either be understood literally, or as a figure of speech for carelessness. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said: People used to ask God's messenger about good, but I used to ask him about evil from fear that it might overtake me. I said, "Messenger of God, we were in a state of ignorance and evil, then God brought us this good. After this good will any evil come?" On his replying that there would, I asked whether after that evil any good would come, and he replied that there would but that it would contain some duskiness. I asked what that would consist of and he replied, "People will follow a sunnah other than mine and give guidance other than mine, so you will find in them both something to acknowledge and something to reject." I asked whether there would be any evil after that good and he replied, `Yes, there will be people who summon others at the gates of Jahannam into which they will cast those who respond to them." I asked God's messenger to describe them to us and he said, "They will be of our stock and speak like us." I asked, what command he had to give me if that happened in my time and he replied, "You must adhere to the community and the leader of the Muslims." I asked what I should do if they had neither community nor leader and he replied, "Withdraw from all those factions even though you should have to cleave to the root of a tree till death overtakes you in that state." (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim he said, "After my death there will be leaders who follow neither my guidance nor my sunnah, among whom will arise men whose hearts will be the hearts of devils in human bodies." Hudhaifa said he asked God's messenger how he should act if he reached that time and he replied, "You must hear and obey the ruler, and if he beats your back and takes your property you must still hear and obey." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Do good deeds before trials come like portions of a dark night when a man will be a believer in the morning and an infidel in the evening, and a believer in the evening and an infidel in the morning, selling his religion for some worldly goods" Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "There will be periods of commotion in which the one who sits will be better than the one who stands, the one who stands better than the one who walks and the one who walks better than the one who runs. He who contemplates them will be drawn by them, so he who finds a refuge or shelter should go to it." (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim he said, "There will be a commotion in which he who sleeps will be better than he who is awake, he who wakes will be better than he who stands up and he who stands up better than he who runs, so he who finds a refuge or shelter should go to it." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Bakra reported God's messenger as saying, "Commotions will arise after which other commotions will arise, and then there will be a period of commotion in which the one who sits will be better than the one who walks and the one who walks better than the one who runs to it. When it happens, he who has camels should remain with his camels, he who has sheep should remain with his sheep, and he who has land should remain in his land." A man said, "Tell us, messenger of God, about the one who has no camels, sheep or land," and he replied, "He should go to his sword, strike its edge on a stone, and then escape if he can," adding three times, "0 God, have I conveyed[*] Thy message?" A man then said, "Tell me, messenger of God, suppose I am taken by force and made to join one of the ranks, and a man strikes me with his sword, or an arrow comes and kills me?" He replied, "He will bear the punishment of his sin and yours and go to hell." *This may be translated as "I have conveyed," some grammarians saying that the particle hal is originally equivalent in meaning to qad. Cf. W. Wright, A grammar of the Arabic language, 2:309 C. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id reported God's messenger as saying, "A Muslim's best property will soon be sheep which he will take to the tops of the mountains and the places where the rain falls, fleeing with his religion from civil strife." Bukhari transmitted it.

Usama b. Zaid told that the Prophet (ﷺ) looked down on one of the fortresses of Medina and asked, "Do you see what I see?" When his hearers replied that they did not, he said, "I see civil commotions occurring among your houses like rain falling." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "The destruction of my people will be at the hands of young men of Quraish." Bukhari transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "When the time becomes short[1] knowledge will be withdrawn, civil strife will appear, niggardliness will be cast into people's hearts, and harj will be prevalent." He was asked the meaning of harj and said it meant slaughter.[2] 1. Literally, `when time is contracted'. The reference is to the approach of the last hour. 2. Harj, meaning 'turmoil' or 'Rioting, a state of affairs which leads ta people being killed. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God's messenger as saying, "By Him in whose hand my soul is, the world will not pass away till a day comes to mankind when the killer will not know why he killed, or the one who is killed why he was killed." He was asked how that could be and replied, "There will be turmoil, and the killer and the one who is killed will go to hell." Muslim transmitted it.

Ma'qil b. Yasar reported God's messenger as saying, "The reward for engaging in worship during the turmoil will be like that for coming to me as emigrants." Muslim transmitted it.

Az-Zubair b. `Adi said: We went to Anas b. Malik and complained to him of what we were suffering from al-Hajjaj, and he replied, "Show endurance, for no time will come to you which will not be followed by one that is worse till you meet your Lord. I heard this from your Prophet." Bukhari transmitted it.

Hudhaifa said: I swear by God that I do not know whether my companions have forgotten or have pretended to forget. I swear by God that God's messenger did not omit a leader of a wrong belief up to the end of the world whose followers reach the number of three hundred and upwards without mentioning to us his name, his father's name and the name of his tribe." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Thauban reported God's messenger as saying, "I fear for my people only the leaders who lead men astray, for when the sword is used among my people it will not be withdrawn from them till the day of resurrection." Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Safina told that he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say, "The Caliphate will last thirty years, then there will be a kingdom." Then Safina was saying: Calculate Abu Bakr's Caliphate as two years, `Umar's as ten, `Uthman's as twelve, and `Ali's as six. Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Hudhaifa told that he asked God's messenger whether there would be evil after this good just as there was evil before it, and when he was told that there would he asked wherein protection lay and was told that it lay in the sword. He asked if any would be spared after the use of the sword and he replied, "Yes, there will be an amirate with specks in its eye and an illusory truce¹." He asked what would come next and he replied, "Then people who summon men to error will arise; and if God has in the earth a Caliph who flays your back and takes your property, obey him; otherwise die holding on to the stump of a tree." He asked what would come next and he replied, "Then the dajjal will come forth accompanied by a river and a fire. He who falls into his fire will certainly get his reward and have his load taken off him, but he who falls into his river will have his load retained and his reward taken off him." He asked what would come next and he replied, "Then a foal will be born but not ridden before the last hour comes." In a version he said, "An illusory truce and a community with specks in its eye." He asked God's messenger what the illusory truce meant and he replied, "The hearts of people will not return to their former condition." He asked whether there would be evil after that good and he replied, "There will be wrong belief which will blind and deafen men to the truth² in which there will be summoners at the gates of hell. If you, Hudhaifa, die adhering to a stump, it will be better for you than following any of them." Abu Dawud transmitted it. [1] This is a free translation of the words hudna 'ala dakhan which mean literally "a trace upon malice (or, evil disposition)," indicating a trace which is liable to ho broken at any time. [2] Literally, 'blind and deaf, wrong belief.

Abu Dharr said: One day I was riding behind God's messenger on a donkey, and when we had got beyond the houses of Medina he asked, "How will you do, Abu Dharr, when there is famine in Medina and you get up from your bed but do not reach your mosque before being overcome by hunger?" When I replied that God and His messenger knew best, he said, "Restrain yourself, Abu Dharr." He then asked, "How will you do, Abu Dharr, when there will be death in Medina and a house[1] will reach the value of a slave so that a grave will be sold for a slave?" When I replied that God and His messenger knew best he said, "You must show endurance, Abu Dharr." He then asked, "How will you do, Abu Dharr, when there is slaughter in Medina and. Ahjar az Zait[2] will be covered with blood?" When I replied that God and His messenger knew best he said, "You must go to those who are like-minded with you." I asked whether I should arm myself and replied, "You would then associate yourself with the people." So I asked God's messenger how I should act and he replied, "If you are afraid the gleam of the sword may dazzle you put the end of your garment over your face in order that [the one who kills you may bear the punishment of your sin and his." Used figuratively for a grave, the meaning being made more explicit in the words which follow. Ahjar Az-Zait, an area outside of Al Madinah. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. `Amr b. al- `As reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "How will you do when you are left among dregs of mankind whose covenants and guarantees have been impaired, who have disagreed and become thus?" intertwining his fingers. He asked what he ordered him to do and he replied, "Keep to what you approve, abandon what you disapprove, attend to your own affairs and avoid the generality." A version has, "Keep to your house, control your tongue, accept what you approve, abandon what you disapprove, attend to your own affairs and leave alone the affairs of the generality." Tirmidhi transmitted it, calling it sahih.

Abu Musa reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Before the last hour there will be commotions like pieces of a dark night in which a man will be a believer in the morning and an infidel in the evening, or a believer in the evening and an infidel in the morning. He who sits during them will be better than he who gets up and he who walks during them will be better than he who runs. So, break your bows during them, cut your bowstrings during them, and strike your swords on stones. If people then come in to one of you, let him be like the better of Adam's sons[*]." A version by him has the same up to "better than he who runs." It then says the people asked what he ordered them to do and he replied, "Keep to your houses". *The reference is to Abel who was killed by his brother Cain. Abu Dawud transmitted it. Tirmidhi's version states that God's messenger said about the commotion, "Break your bows during it, cut your bowstrings during it, keep to the inside of your houses during it, and be like Adam's son." Tirmidhi transmitted it. He said this is a sahih gharib tradition.

Umm Malik al-Bahziya told that when God's messenger mentioned civil strife and its nearness she asked him who would be the best of the people during it and he replied, "A man with his cattle who pays the zakat due on them and worships his Lord, and a man who holds his horse's head and causes fear to the enemy while they are causing him fear." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. `Amr reported God's messenger as saying, "There will be civil strife which will wipe out the Arabs, and their slain will go to hell. During it the tongue will be more severe than blows of the sword." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "There will be civil strife which will render people deaf, dumb, and blind regarding what is right. Those who contemplate it will be drawn by it, and giving rein to the tongue during it will be like smiting with the sword." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. `Amr said: When we were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) he mentioned periods of commotion, mentioning many of them, and when he mentioned the one when people should keep to their houses someone asked him the meaning of that and he replied, "It will be flight and plunder. Then will come a testing which is pleasing, its murkiness being due to the fact that it is raised by a man from the people of my house who will assert that he belongs to me whereas he does not, for my friends are only the God-fearing. Then the people will unite under a man who will be like a hip-bone on a rib[*]. Then there will be the little black commotion which will leave none of this people without giving him a slap, and when people say it is finished it will be extended. During it a man will be a believer in the morning and an infidel in the evening, so that the people will be in two camps, the camp of faith which will contain no hypocrisy and the camp of hypocrisy which will contain no faith. When that happens, expect the dajjal that day or the next." *A figure of speech indicating instability. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Woe to the Arabs because of evil which has drawn near! He will escape who restrains his hand." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Al-Miqdad b. al-Aswad told that he heard God's messenger say, "The happy man is he who avoids dissensions; the happy man is he who avoids dissensions; the happy man is he who avoids dissensions; but how fine is the man who is afflicted and shows endurance." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Thauban reported God's messenger as saying, "When the sword is used among my people it will not be withdrawn from them till the day of resurrection, and the last hour will not come before tribes of my people attach themselves to the polytheists and tribes of my people worship idols. There will be among my people thirty great liars each of them asserting that he is God's prophet, whereas I am the seal of the prophets after whom there will be no prophet; but a section of my people will continue to hold to the truth till God's command comes and will prevail and will not be injured by those who oppose them." Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "The mill of Islam will go round till the year 35, or 36, or 37, then if they perish, they will have followed the path of those who perished before them, but if their religion is maintained for them, it will be maintained for them for seventy years." He asked him whether that meant seventy years more or seventy altogether, and he replied that it meant seventy altogether. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Waqid al-Laithi told that when God's messenger went out to the battle of Hunain, he passed a tree called Dhat Anwat[*] belonging to the polytheists on which they hung their weapons. The people asked him to appoint a Dhat Anwat for them just as those people had one, to which God's messenger replied, "Glory be to God! This is like what the people of Moses said when they asked him to appoint them a god just as other peoples had gods. By Him in whose hand my soul is, you will certainly follow the practices of your predecessors." *The tree was an object of pagan worship. Its name means that it had things hung on it. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn al-Musayyib said: When the first civil strife occurred, i.e., the assassination of `Uthman, not one of those who had been at Badr remained; when the second occurred, i.e., the Harra, not one of those who had been at al-Hudaibiya remained; and the third [1] one occurred and did not disappear while there was intelligence among the people.[2] 1. Probably a reference to 'Abdallah b. az-Zubair who claimed the Caliphate and was killed in 73 A.H. when al-Hajjaj stormed Mecca. 2. See Bukhari, Maghazi, 12, where the wording is slightly different. Qastallani remarks that tabakh means `intelligence,' but some say 'strength' and also `remains of good in the religion'. I have used the meaning he prefers, but one might use 'strength' which is said to be the basic meaning. Lane gives 'firmness,' 'soundness,' `strength and fatness', 'intelligence' and `good,' Cf. Mirqat. v, 153. Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "The last hour will not come before two parties which make the same profession fight together and a great slaughter results, before about thirty lying dajjals are sent forth each of them asserting that he is God's messenger, before knowledge is withheld, earthquakes are abundant, the time becomes short, dissensions appear, and there is much harj, which means slaughter, before wealth is abundant and overflowing among you, before one who possesses property is anxious to find someone who will accept his sadaqa, before he offers it and the one to whom it is offered says he has no need of it, before people try to outstrip one another in building, before a man passes another's grave and expresses the desire that he were in his place, and before the sun rises in its place of setting. Then when it rises and people see it, they will all believe, but that is a time when a soul will not be benefited by faith it did not have before, or acquire any good from its faith. The last hour will certainly come when two men have spread out their garment between them, but they will not complete the transaction or fold up the garment; the last hour will certainly come when a man has gone off with the milk of his milch camel, but he will not taste it; the last hour will certainly come when a man is repairing his tank, but he will not water his camels from it; and the last hour will certainly come when one has raised his food to his mouth, but he will not taste it." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God's messenger as saying, "The last hour will not come before you fight with a people whose sandals are of hair, and before you fight with the Turks who have small eyes, red faces, short noses, whose faces look as if they were shields covered with skin." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God's messenger as saying, "The last hour will not come before you fight with Khuz and Kirman[*] who are foreigners with red faces, snub noses and small eyes, whose faces look as if they were shields covered with skin and whose sandals are of hair." *Yaqut, Mu'jam, ii, 494, says Khuz is used both of Khuzistan and of its people. The districts mentioned are in what is now Iran. Bukhari transmitted it. A version of his on the authority of `Amr b. Taghlib has ``broad faces."

He reported God's messenger as saying, "The last hour will not come before the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims kill them, so that Jews will hide behind stones and trees and the stone and the tree will say, `O Muslim, O servant of God, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him.' The only exception will be the box-thorn, for it is one of the trees of the Jews." Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "The last hour will not come before a man of Qahtan comes forth driving people with his stick." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God's messenger as saying, "Days and nights will not pass away before a man called al-Jahjah rules." A version has "Before one of the clients called al-Jahjah rules." Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir b. Samura told that he heard God's messenger say, "A band of the Muslims will certainly gain the treasure of the family of Kisra which is in al-Abyad." * *A fortress in the Persian capital al-Mada'in. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Kisra will perish and there will be no Kisra after him, Qaisar will certainly perish and there will be no Qaisar after him, and their treasures will certainly be divided in God's path." He also called war a method of deceit. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Nafi' b. `Utba reported God's messenger as saying, "You will attack Arabia and God will conquer it; then Persia and God will conquer it; then you will attack the Byzantines and God will conquer them; then you will attack the dajjal and God will conquer him." Muslim transmitted it.

'Auf b. Malik said : I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) at the expedition to Tabuk when he was in a leather tent, and he said, "Count six signs before the last hour comes: my death, then the conquest of Jerusalem, then a mortal disease which will affect you like qu'as[*] in sheep, then a superabundance of wealth so that when a man is given a hundred dinars he will remain displeased, then a civil strife which will leave no house of the Arabs without entering it, then a truce between you and the Greeks who will act treacherously and come to you under eighty banners with twelve thousand under each." *A disease affecting sheep and goats which causes an exudation from the nose and results in speedy death. Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "The last hour will not come before the Byzantines alight in al-A`maq or in Dabiq[1], and an army consisting of the best people in the earth at that time will come forth from Medina against them. When the lines are drawn up the Byzantines will say, `Let us get at those who took captives from us and fight them,' but the Muslims will reply, `We swear by God that we will not let you get at our brethren.' They will then fight and a third whom God will never forgive will be routed, a third who will be the most excellent martyrs in God's sight will be killed, and a third who will never be subjected to trials will be victorious. They will then conquer Constantinople, but while they are dividing the spoils, having hung their swords on olive-trees, the devil will cry among them, `The dajjal has taken your place among your families;' so they will go out, but that will prove to be false. Then when they come to Syria he will come forth, and while they are preparing for battle and arranging the ranks the time for prayer will come and Jesus, son of Mary will descend and lead them in prayer. When God's enemy sees him, he will dissolve like salt in water, and if he[2] were to leave him he would dissolve completely; but God will kill him by his hand and he will show them his blood on his spear." Mirqat, 5:159. quotes the view that al-A'maq is on the outskirts of Medina and that L'abiq (or Dabaq) is a market-place in Medina. Yaqut, iii, 513. says Dabiq is a village near Aleppo, and (1:316) al-A'maq is a district near Dabiq between Aleppo and Antioch. i.e., Jesus. Muslim transmitted it.

Abdallah b. Mas'ud said: The last hour will not come before an inheritance cannot be divided and people do not rejoice over spoil. Then an enemy will equip itself against the people of Syria and the Islamic people will equip themselves against them, meaning the Byzantines. The Muslims will then prepare a suicide squad which will return only if victorious and they will fight till the night intervenes. Both sides will return not having gained the victory, but the squad will be wiped out. The Muslims will again prepare a suicide squad which will return only if victorious and they will fight till the night intervenes. Both sides will return not having gained the victory, but the squad will be wiped out. The Muslims will again prepare a suicide squad which will return only if victorious and they will fight till the evening. Both sides will return not having gained the victory, but the squad will be wiped out. On the fourth day the remainder of the people of Islam will arise against them and God will decree that the enemy should be routed. They will then fight such a battle as has never been seen before, so that if a bird were to pass their flanks it would fall down dead before reaching the end of them. When count is taken of a hundred men who were related it will be found that only one has survived; so over what spoil can there be rejoicing, and what inheritance can be divided? Then when things are so they will hear of a war greater than that and a cry will reach them, "The dajjal has taken your place among your offspring." They will therefore cast away what is in their hands and go forward sending ten horsemen as a scouting party. God's messenger said, "I know their names, their fathers' names, and the colour of their horses. They will be the best horsemen (or, among the best horsemen) on the face of the earth at that time." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Have you heard of a city part of which is on the land and part in the sea?" On receiving the reply, "Yes, messenger of God," he said, "The last hour will not come before seventy thousand of the descendants of Isaac attack it. When they come to it, they will dismount and will not fight with weapons or shoot arrows, but will say, `There is no god but God' and `God is most great,' whereupon one of its sides will fall down. (Thaur b. Yazid the transmitter remarked that he thought he said the part which was in the sea.) Then they will say a second time, `There is no god but God' and `God is most great,' whereupon the other side will fall down. A third time they will say, `There is no god but God' and `God is most great,' whereupon a breach will be made for them and they will enter it and take booty; but while they are dividing the spoils a cry will reach them to the effect that the dajjal has come forth, and they will abandon everything and go back." Muslim transmitted it.

Mu'adh b. Jabal reported God's messenger as saying, "The flourishing state of Jerusalem will be when Yathrib is in ruins, the ruined state of Yathrib will be when the great war comes, the outbreak of the great war will be at the conquest of Constantinople, and the conquest of Constantinople when the dajjal comes forth." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "The greatest war, the conquest of Constantinople, and the coming forth of the dajjal will take place within a period of seven months." Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. Busr reported God's messenger as saying, "The time between the great war and the conquest of the city[*] will be six years, and the dajjal will come forth in the seventh." * This could be Medina, but is more probably a reference to Constantinople. Abu Dawud transmitted it, saying this is sounder.

Ibn `Umar said: The Muslims will soon be besieged up to Medina, so that their most distant frontier outpost will be Salah which is near Khaibar. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Dhu Mikhbar told that he heard God's messenger say, "You will make a secure peace with the Byzantines, then you and they will fight an enemy behind you, and you will be victorious, take booty, and be safe. You will then return and alight in a meadow with mounds and one of the Christians will raise the cross and say, `The cross has conquered!' One of the Muslims will become angry and smash it, and the Byzantines will act treacherously and prepare for battle." Some transmitters added, "The Muslims will then make for their weapons and will fight, and God will honour that band with martyrdom." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. `Amr reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Leave the Abyssinians alone as long as they leave you alone, for it is only the Abyssinian with short legs who will seek to take out the treasure of the Ka'ba." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

One of the Prophet's companions said: Let the Abyssinians alone as long as they let you alone, and leave the Turks alone as long as they leave you alone. Abu Dawud and Nasai transmitted it.

Buraida told that in the tradition telling that people with small eyes, i.e. the Turks, would fight with them, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You will drive them off three times till you catch up with them in Arabia. On the first occasion when you drive them off those who fly will be safe, on the second occasion some will be safe and some will perish, but on the third occasion they will be extirpated," or words to that effect. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Bakra reported God's messenger as saying, "Some of my people will alight in low-lying ground which they will call al-Basra beside a river called the Tigris over which there is a bridge. Its people will be numerous and it will be one of the capital cities of the Muslims. At the end of time the descendants of Qantura'[*] will come with broad faces and small eyes and alight on the bank of the river. The town's inhabitants will then separate into three sections, one of which will follow cattle into the desert and perish, another of which will seek security for themselves and perish, but a third will put their children behind their backs and fight with the invaders, and they will be the martyrs." Abu Dawud transmitted it. * The common explanation by Arabic writers is that Qantura' was a slave girl of Abraham from whom the Turks were descended. (Cf. Genesis, 25:1, which says that Abraham took a wife named Keturah -- in Hebrew Qeturah.) Ibn al-Athir, an-Nihaya fi gharib al-hadith, 3:314, says the Turks and Chinese were descended from the offspring of Qanturs'. Lisan al-'Arab, 6:432, says her offspring were the Turks, and some say the negroes. Mirqat, 5:166 f., finds a difficulty because Abraham was a descendant of Shem and the Turks were descended from Japheth. It suggests that Qantura' was a descendant of Abraham who married a descendant of Japheth. Dr. J.A. Boyle of Manchester University has drawn my attention to an article in the Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, 12:287, which quotes an Armenian historian, Grigor of Akner (1250-1335 A.D.), as saying that Kendura, a handmaiden of Abraham, bore Imran who became the ancestor of the Parthians.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "The people will establish cities, Anas, and one of them will be called al-Basra. If you should pass by it or enter it, avoid its salt-marshes, its river front, its palm trees, its market, and the gate of its commanders, and keep to its environs, for the earth will swallow some people up, pelting rain will fall and earthquakes will take place in it, and there will be people who will spend the night in it and become apes and swine in the morning." . . . transmitted it. (The name of the source is omitted in the text. The tradition is in Abu Dawud, Malahim, 10).

Salih b. Dirham said: We went on pilgrimage and met a man who asked whether there was a town near us called al-Ubulla. On our replying that there was he asked if any of us would undertake to pray two or four rak'as on his behalf in the mosque of al- `Ashshar, stating that they were on behalf of Abu Huraira, for he had heard his friend Abul Qasim say, "On the day of resurrection God who is great and glorious will raise martyrs from the mosque of al-'Ashshar who will be the only ones to rise along with the martyrs of Badr." Abu Dawud transmitted it, saying this mosque is near the river.

Shaqiq quoted Hudhaifa as saying: When we were with `Umar he asked which of us remembered the tradition of God's messenger about the fitna, and I replied that I remembered it just as he had uttered it. Telling me to relate it, and remarking that I was daring, he asked how he had spoken and I replied that I had heard God's messenger say, "A man's fitna concerns his family, his property, his person, his children and his neighbour for any shortcoming in which atonement made by fasting, prayer, sadaqah recommending what is reputable and reproving what is disreputable.[1] `Umar said that this was not what he meant, for he was thinking of the fitna which swells like the waves of the sea.[2] I asked the commander of the faithful what he had to do with it, for between him and it there was a closed door. He asked whether the door would be broken down or opened, and when I replied that it would be broken down, he said it would never likely be closed. Hudhaifa was asked if `Umar knew who the door was and he replied that he knew it as well as he knew that a night comes before tomorrow, adding that he had told him a tradition which included no misleading language. They were afraid to ask Hudhaifa who the door was, so they asked Masruq to ask him, and when he did so he replied that it was `Umar.3 A man who has these responsibilities may fall short of what is due from him, but can make atonement for his shortcoming. Contention which leads to strife and warfare. The point of the tradition is that the fitna would not occur in `Umar's lifetime, but that as he was to be assassinated there was no hope of peaceful conditions ever returning. The opening of the door indicates a natural death and the breaking down of the door a violent death. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said the conquest of Constantinople would be associated with the coming of the last hour. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Anas told that he heard God's messenger say, "Among the signs of the last hour will be the removal of knowledge, the abundance of ignorance, the prevalence of fornication, the prevalence of wine-drinking, the small number of men and the large number of women, so that fifty women will have one man to look after them." A version has "the small amount of knowledge and the presence of ignorance." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir b. Samura told that he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say, "Before the last hour there will be great liars, so beware of them." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that while the Prophet (ﷺ) was talking a nomadic Arab came and asked when the last hour would come, to which he replied, "When the practice of honouring a trust is lost expect the last hour." He asked how it could be lost and he replied, "When rule is given to people who are unworthy of it, expect the last hour." Bukhari transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "The last hour will not come before wealth is abundant and overflowing, before a man brings the zakat on his property and cannot find anyone to accept it from him, and before the land of the Arabs becomes meadows and rivers." In a version by him he said, "the dwellings reach to Ihab or Yihab[*]." *Either two places in the neighbourhood of Medina, or alternative names for the same place. Cf, Yaqut, Mu'jam, 1:408. Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir reported God's messenger as saying, "In the last days there will be a Caliph who will distribute wealth without reckoning it." In a version he said, "Among the last of my people there will be a Caliph who will pour out wealth without counting it." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "The Euphrates is soon to uncover a treasure of gold, but those who are present must not take any of it." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God's messenger as saying, "The last hour will not come before the Euphrates uncovers a mountain of gold for which people will fight, ninety-nine out of each hundred of whom will be killed; but every man among them will say that perhaps he will be the one who will escape." Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "The earth will vomit oblong `pieces of its liver like columns of gold and silver, and the murderer will come and say it was for this he committed murder, the breaker of family ties will come and say it was for this he broke them, and the thief will come and say it was for this his hand was cut off. They will then leave it and not take any of it." Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "By Him in whose hand my soul is, the world will not pass away before a man comes by a grave and rolls on it saying he wishes he were, in the place of the occupant of that grave, not for religious reasons, but because of tribulation." Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "The last hour will not come before there issues from the land of the Hijaz a fire which will illuminate the necks of the camels in Busra." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "The least of the signs of the last hour will be a fire which will gather mankind from the East to the West." Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "The last hour will not come before time contracts, a year being like a month, a month like a week, a week like a day, a day like an hour, and an hour like the kindling of a fire." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. Hawala said: God's messenger sent us on foot to get spoil, but we returned without getting any. When he saw the signs of distress on our faces, he stood up among us and said, "0 God, do not put them under my care, for I would be too weak to care for them; do not put them in care of themselves, for they would be incapable of that; and do not put them in the care of men, for they would choose the best things for themselves." He then placed his hand on my head and said, "Ibn Hawala, when you see the Caliphate has settled in the holy land, earthquakes, sorrows and serious matters will have drawn near, and on that day the last hour will be nearer to mankind than this hand of mine is to your head." . . .transmitted it[*]. *The name of the source is omitted in the text. The tradition is in Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad (Cairo, 1313), vol. 5 p. 288, and Abu Dawud, Jihad, 35.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, ``When the booty is taken in turn,[*] property given in trust is treated as spoil, zakat is looked on as a fine, learning is acquired for other than a religious purpose, a man obeys his wife and is unfilial towards his mother, brings his friend near and drives his father far off, voices are raised in the mosques, the most wicked member of a tribe becomes its ruler, the most worthless member of a people becomes its leader, a man is honoured through fear of the evil he may do, singing-girls and stringed instruments make their appearance, wines are drunk, and the last members of this people curse the first ones, look at that time for a violent wind, an earthquake, being swallowed Up by the earth, metamorphosis, pelting rain, and signs following one another like bits of a necklace falling one after the other when its string is cut." *Cf. Quran, 59:7 Tirmidhi transmitted it.

"Ali reported God's messenger as saying, "When my people do fifteen things trial will alight on them." He enumerated these things, but did not mention that learning would be acquired for other than a religious purpose. He said, "shows kindness to his friend and repulses his father." He also said, "wine is drunk and silk is worn." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God's messenger as saying, "The world will not pass away before the Arabs are ruled by a man of my family whose name will be the same as mine.' Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it. In a version by the latter he said, "If only one day of this world remained God would lengthen that day till He raised up in it a man who belongs to me (or, to my family) whose name is the same as mine and whose fathers name is the same as my father's, who will fill the earth with equity and justice as it has been filled with oppression and tyranny." Aba Dawud transmitted it.

Umm Salama told that she heard God's messenger say, "The Mahdi will be of my family, of the descendants of Fatima." Aba Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God's messenger as saying, "The Mahdi will be of my stock and will have a broad forehead and a prominent nose. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny, and will rule for seven years." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying in the course of the story about the Mahdi that a man will come to him and say, "Give me, give me, Mahdi," and he will pour into His garment as much as he is able to carry. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Umm Salama reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Disagreement will occur at the death of a Caliph and a man of the people of Medina will come forth flying to Mecca. Some of the people of Mecca will come to him, bring him out against his will, and swear allegiance to him between the Corner[1] and the Maqam.[2] An expeditionary force will then be sent against him from Syria, but will be swallowed up in the desert between Mecca and Medina, and when the people see that, the high saints[3] of Syria and the best people of al-`Iraq will come to him and swear allegiance to him. Then will arise a man of Quraish whose maternal uncles belong to Kalb and send against them an expeditionary force which will be overcome by them, and that is the expeditionary force of Kalb. He will then govern the people by the sunnah of their Prophet and establish Islam in the earth. He[4] will remain seven years, then die, and the Muslims will pray over him." 1. The corner of the Ka'ba containing the black stone. 2. i.e., Maqam Ibrahim. 3. The word is abdāl. These are righteous people whose number never diminishes, as each one is replaced when he dies. Abdal is the plural of badal which ordinarily means a substitute. I have used a free translation because a literal translation of the word would not convey any conception of the meaning. 4. i.e., the Mahdi. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id told that God's messenger mentioned a trial which would afflict this people so that a man would find no place of refuge to which he could go from oppression, saying, "God will then send a man of my stock and family by whom He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it had been filled with oppression and tyranny. Those who dwell in heaven and those who dwell on earth will be pleased with him. The sky will not cease to give any of its rain, but will pour it forth copiously and the earth will not cease to produce any of its plants, but will bring them forth so that the living will wish the dead were alive in that period of seven, eight, or nine years." Al-Hakim transmitted it.

`Ali reported God's messenger as saying, "A man called al-Harith, a farmer, will come forth from Ma Wara' an-Nahr whose army will be led by a man called Mansur who will establish (or, consolidate) things for Muhammad's family as Quraish consolidated them for God's messenger. Every believer must help him." Or he said, "respond to his summons." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God's messenger as saying, "By Him in whose hand my soul is, the last hour will not come before wild beasts speak to men, the end of a man's whip and the thong of his sandal speak to him, and his thigh informs him what his family have done since he left them." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Qatada reported God's messenger as saying, "The signs will come after the end of the second century.'' Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Thauban reported God's messenger as saying, "When you see the black standards have come from the direction of Khurasan go to them, for God's khalifa the Mahdi will be among them." Ahmad and Baihaqi, in Dala'il an-nubuwa, transmitted it.

Abu Ishaq told that `Ali looked at his son al-Hasan and said, "This son of mine is a sayyid as God's messenger named him, and from his loins will come forth a man who will be called by your Prophet's name and resemble him in nature but not in appearance." He then mentioned the story about his filling the earth with justice. Abu Dawud transmitted it, but did not mention the story.

Jabir b. `Abdallah told that no locusts were seen in one of the years of `Umar's Caliphate, the year in which he died, and becoming very anxious on this account he sent a rider to the Yemen, another to `Iraq and another to Syria to enquire whether any locusts had been seen. The rider who came from the Yemen brought him a handful and scattered it in front of him, and when `Umar saw it, he said, "God is most great," and told that he had heard God's messenger say, "God who is great and glorious created a thousand species, six hundred in the sea and four hundred on the land. The first species to perish will be the locusts, and when they perish the species will follow one another like beads on a string." Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman

Hudhaifa b. Asid al-Ghifari told that the Prophet (ﷺ) once came on them when they were discussing and asked the subject of their discussion. On being told that they were discussing the last hour he said, "It will not come till you have seen ten signs before it." He then mentioned the smoke,[1] the dajjal, the beast,[2] the rising of the sun in its place of setting, the descent of Jesus, son of Mary, Gog and, Magog,[3] three subsidences, one in the East, one in the West, and one in Arabia, at the end of which a fire will issue from the Yemen and drive mankind to their place of assembly. A version says that a fire will issue from the lowest part of Aden and drive mankind to the place of assembly. A version has about the tenth "a wind will cast mankind into the sea." Cf. Quran, 44:10. Cf. Quran, 27:82. Cf. Quran, 18:94; 21:96. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Hasten to do good deeds before six things happen: the smoke, the dajjal, the beast of the earth, the rising of the sun in its place of setting, the trial which will affect all mankind[*], and the one which applies more particularly to one of you." *The Arabic is amr al-'amma which I prefer to explain as in the translation above. It could mean the rule in the hands of the common people. Muslim transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. `Amr told that he heard God's messenger say, "The first of the signs to appear will be the rising of the sun in its place of setting and the coming forth of the beast against mankind in the forenoon. Whichever of them comes first will soon be followed by the other." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "When three things appear faith will not benefit anyone who has not previously believed or acquired any good from his faith: the rising of the sun in its place of setting, the dajjal, and the beast of the earth." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Dharr told that at sunset God's messenger asked him if he knew where the sun went and that when he replied that God and His messenger knew best he said, "It goes and prostrates itself under the Throne, then asks permission to depart and this is granted; but it will soon prostrate itself and that will not be accepted from it, and will ask permission to depart and that will not be granted. It will be told to go back the way it came, and it will rise in its place of setting." That is the meaning of the words of Him who is exalted, "The sun runs to a determined limit[*]." He said that its determined limit is under the Throne. *Quran, 36:38 (Bukhari and Muslim.)

`Imran b. Husain told that he heard God's messenger say, "Between the creation of Adam and the coming of the last hour there is no more serious matter than the dajjal." Muslim transmitted it.

`Abdallah[*] reported God's messenger as saying, "God is not hidden from you, God most high is not one-eyed, but the antichrist is blind in the right eye, his eye looking like a floating grape." *i.e., Ibn Mas'ud (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "There is no prophet who has not warned his people about the one-eyed liar. I tell you that he is one-eyed, but your Lord is not one-eyed. On his forehead are the letters k, f, r." * *Meaning kufr (infidelity) to which he summons people. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Let me tell you something about the dajjal which no prophet has told his people. He is one-eyed, and will bring with him something like paradise and hell, but what he calls paradise will be hell. I warn you as Noah warned his people about him." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Hudhaifa reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "The dajjal will come forth having with him water and fire, and what mankind see as water will be fire which burns and what they see as fire will be cold, sweet water. Any of you who live till that time must fall into what they see as fire, for it is sweet, fresh water." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Muslim added, "The dajjal will have an eye obliterated over which there will be a coarse film, and `Infidel'[*] will be written on his forehead. Every Muslim who can write and those who cannot will read it." He reported God's messenger as saying, "The dajjal is blind in the left eye and has a great quantity, of hair. He will have his paradise and his hell, but his hell will be paradise and his paradise hell." *kafir The word is written in full in the text. In the tradition of Anas above the alif indicating the long vowel is not written. Muslim transmitted it.

An-Nawwas b. Sam`a.n told that God's messenger mentioned the dajjal saying, "If he comes forth while I am among you I shall be the one who will dispute with him on your behalf, but if he comes forth when I am not among you a man must dispute on his own behalf, and God will take my place in looking after every Muslim. He will be a youth with curly hair and a floating eye whom I might compare to `Abd al- `Uzza b. Qatan. Those of you who live till his time should recite over him the opening verses of sura al-Kahf[1] (a version having `should recite over him the opening verses of sura al-Kahf, for they are your protection from his trial'). He will come forth on a road between Syria and al- `Iraq and do mischief right and left. Stand firm, servants of God." God's messenger was asked how long he would remain in the earth and replied, "Forty days, one like a year, one like a month, one like a week, and the rest of his days like yours." God's messenger was then asked if one day's prayer would suffice them in that day which would be like a year and replied, "No, you must make an estimate of its extent." He was asked how quickly he would go in the earth and replied, "Like rain driven along by the wind. He will come to people and summon them and they will believe in him. He will then give command to the sky and it will give rain and to the earth and it will produce crops. Then in the evening their pasturing animals will come to them with their humps as high as possible; their udders full of milk, and their flanks distended. He will then come to people and summon them, but they will reject what he says, so he will leave them. In the morning they will be destitute, possessing none of their property. He will pass the waste land and tell it to bring forth its treasures, and its treasures will follow him like swarms of bees. He will then summon a man in the prime of youth, strike him with a sword and cut him in two like a shot at a target, after which he will call him and he will come forward laughing with his face shining. But at that very moment God will send the Messiah son of Mary who will descend at the white minaret in the east of Damascus wearing two garments dyed with saffron and placing his hands on the wings of two angels. When he lowers his head, it will drip and when he raises it beads like pearls will scatter from it. Every infidel who feels the odour of his breath will die, and his breath will reach as far as he can see. He will then seek him till he catches up with him at the gate of Ludd and kills him. People whom God has protected from him will then come to Jesus who will wipe their faces and tell them of the ranks they will have in paradise. While this is happening God will reveal to Jesus that He has brought forth servants of His with whom no one will be able to fight and tell him to collect His servants at at-Tur. God will then release Gog and Magog and they will swarm down from every slope.' [2] The first of them will pass the lake of Tiberias and drink its contents and when the last[3] of them passes he will say there was once water there. They will then journey till they come to the mountain of thickets which is the mountain of Jerusalem and will say, `We have killed those who are in the earth come and let us kill those who are in heaven.' They will then shoot their arrows into the sky and God will send their arrows back to them dyed with blood; and God's prophet and his companions will be restrained till an ox-head seems better to one of them than a hundred dinars do to you to-day. God's prophet Jesus and his companions will then beseech God who will send to them insects in their necks and in the morning, they will have perished as if they were one person. God's prophet Jesus and his companions will then come down to the earth and will not find in the earth as much space as a span which is not filled with their putrefaction and stench. God's prophet Jesus and his companions will then beseech God who will send birds with necks like those of Bactrian camels and they will carry them and throw them where God wills. (A version says they will throw them in an-Nahbal[4] and the Muslims will burn their bows, arrows, and quivers for seven years.) God will then send a rain which no house of clay or camel's wool will keep out and it will wash the earth till it leaves it like a mirror. The earth will then be told to bring forth its fruit and restore its blessing, and on that day a company of people will eat a pomegranate and seek shelter in its skin, and the milk will be blessed so that a milch-camel will be sufficient for a number of people, a cow in milk will be sufficient for a tribe of men and a ewe will be sufficient for a clan of men. At that time God will send a pleasant wind which will take them under their arm pits and the spirit of every believer and every Muslim will be taken, but the wicked people will remain in the earth and will be disorderly like asses. Then the last hour will come to them." 1-Quran, 18. 2-Quran, 21:96. 3-In the Arabic of this sentence the plural is used for 'first' and the singular for `last.' 4-This appears as a proper name in the tradition, but Taj al-arus in the article hbl says this is an error for al-mahbal which means a great pit. Cf also Ibn al-Athir, Nihaya, 4:252. Muslim transmitted it, except for the second version which is "They will throw them into an-Nahbal... seven years." That is transmitted by Tirmidhi.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God's messenger as saying, "When the dajjal comes forth one of the believers will go towards him, and the armed men, those of the dajjal, will meet him and ask him where he is making for. He will reply that he is making for this man who has come forth, whereupon they will ask him whether he does not believe in their lord, and when he replies, `There is nothing hidden about our Lord,' they will say, `Kill him.' But they will ask one another whether their lord has not forbidden them to kill anyone without his knowledge, and so they will take him to the dajjal; and when the believer sees him, he will say, `0 people, this is the dajjal whom God's messenger mentioned.' The dajjal will then order that he be stretched out, saying, `Take him and stretch him out.' After he has been given many blows on his back and stomach, he will ask him if he does not believe in him, but he will reply that he is the false Messiah. He will then order him to be sawn with a saw from the parting of his hair to between his legs, after which the dajjal will walk between the two pieces and tell him to get up. When he stands up he will ask him if he believes in him, to which he will reply that he has simply received more insight into his true nature, adding, `0 people, no one will be treated thus after me.' The dajjal will then seize him to cut his throat, but the space between bis neck and his collar-bone will be turned into copper and he will find no way by which he can kill him, so he will take him by the hands and feet and throw him into the air, and the people will think he has thrown him into hell, but he will simply have been thrown into paradise." God's messenger said, "This will be the one who suffers the severest martyrdom in the sight of the Lord of the universe." Muslim transmitted it.

Umm Sharik reported God's messenger as saying, "People will fly from the dajjal till they get to the mountains." She asked where the Arabs would be in that day, and he replied that they would be few. Muslim transmitted it.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "The dajjal will be followed by seventy thousand Jews of Isfahan wearing Persian shawls." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God's messenger as saying, "The dajjal will come but will not be allowed to enter the mountain passes of Medina, so he will alight in one of the salt tracts which are near Medina. A man who is the best (or, one of the best) of the people will go out to him, and will say he testifies that he is the dajjal the report of whom was given them by God's messenger. The dajjal will then ask the people to tell him whether, supposing he kills this man and brings him back to life, they will have any doubts about the matter, and when they reply that they will not he will kill him and afterwards bring him back to life. The man will then say, `I swear by God that I have had no clearer insight into your true nature than I have to-day.' The dajjal will therefore want to kill him, but will not be given power over him." (Bukhari and Muslim.)