The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Near the establishment of the Hour, there will be the days of Al-Harj, and the
religious knowledge will be taken away (vanish i.e. by the death of Religious scholars) and general
ignorance will spread." Abu Musa said, "Al-Harj, in the Ethiopian language, means killing."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 88, Hadith 187
Hadith 7067
Chapter 5: The appearance of Al-Fitan - كتاب الفتن
Ibn Mas`ud added:
وَقَالَ أَبُو عَوَانَةَ عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنِ الأَشْعَرِيِّ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ تَعْلَمُ الأَيَّامَ الَّتِي ذَكَرَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَيَّامَ الْهَرْجِ. نَحْوَهُ. قَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ
" مِنْ شِرَارِ النَّاسِ مَنْ تُدْرِكُهُمُ السَّاعَةُ وَهُمْ أَحْيَاءٌ ".
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying; (It will be) from among the most wicked people who
will be living at the time when the Hour will be established."
We went to Anas bin Malik and complained about the wrong we were suffering at the hand of Al-
Hajjaj. Anas bin Malik said, "Be patient till you meet your Lord, for no time will come upon you but
the time following it will be worse than it. I heard that from the Prophet."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 88, Hadith 188
Hadith 7069
Chapter 6: No time will come but the time following it will be worse than it - كتاب الفتن
Narrated Um Salama:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنِي أَخِي، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عَتِيقٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ هِنْدٍ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ الْفِرَاسِيَّةِ، أَنَّ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ، زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتِ اسْتَيْقَظَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيْلَةً فَزِعًا يَقُولُ
" سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ مَاذَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْخَزَائِنِ وَمَاذَا أُنْزِلَ مِنَ الْفِتَنِ، مَنْ يُوقِظُ صَوَاحِبَ الْحُجُرَاتِ ـ يُرِيدُ أَزْوَاجَهُ ـ لِكَىْ يُصَلِّينَ، رُبَّ كَاسِيَةٍ فِي الدُّنْيَا، عَارِيَةٍ فِي الآخِرَةِ ".
(the wife of the Prophet) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) woke up one night in a state of terror and said, "Subhan
Allah, How many treasures Allah has sent down! And how many afflictions have been sent down!
Who will go and wake the lady dwellers (wives of the Prophet) up of these rooms (for prayers)?" He
meant his wives, so that they might pray. He added, "A well-dressed (soul) in this world may be naked
in the Hereafter."
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "None of you should point out towards his Muslim brother with a weapon, for he
does not know, Satan may tempt him to hit him and thus he would fall into a pit of fire (Hell)"
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 88, Hadith 193
Hadith 7073
Chapter 7: “Whosoever takes up arms against us, is not from us.” - كتاب الفتن
Narrated Sufyan:
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَمْرٍو يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ سَمِعْتَ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، يَقُولُ مَرَّ رَجُلٌ بِسِهَامٍ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" أَمْسِكْ بِنِصَالِهَا ". قَالَ نَعَمْ.
I said to `Amr, "O Abu Muhammad! Did you hear Jabir bin `Abdullah saying, 'A man carrying arrows
passed through the mosque and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to him, 'Hold the arrows by their heads! "`Amr
replied, "Yes."
A man passed through the mosque and he was carrying arrows, the heads of which were exposed
(protruding). The man was ordered (by the Prophet) to hold the iron heads so that it might not scratch
(injure) any Muslim.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 88, Hadith 195
Hadith 7075
Chapter 7: “Whosoever takes up arms against us, is not from us.” - كتاب الفتن
Narrated Abu Musa:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ
" إِذَا مَرَّ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي مَسْجِدِنَا أَوْ فِي سُوقِنَا وَمَعَهُ نَبْلٌ فَلْيُمْسِكْ عَلَى نِصَالِهَا ـ أَوْ قَالَ فَلْيَقْبِضْ بِكَفِّهِ ـ أَنْ يُصِيبَ أَحَدًا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْهَا شَىْءٌ ".
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you passed through our mosque or through our market while carrying
arrows, he should hold the iron heads," or said, "..... he should hold (their heads) firmly with his hand
lest he should injure one of the Muslims with it."
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) addressed the people saying, "Don't you know what is the day today?" They replied,
"Allah and His Apostle know better." We thought that he might give that day another name. The
Prophet said, "Isn't it the day of An-Nahr?" We replied, "Yes. O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)." He then said, "What
town is this? Isn't it the forbidden (Sacred) Town (Mecca)?" We replied, "Yes, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)." He
then said, "Your blood, your properties, your honors and your skins (i.e., bodies) are as sacred to one
another like the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours in this town of yours. (Listen)
Haven't I conveyed Allah's message to you?" We replied, "Yes" He said, "O Allah! Be witness (for it).
So it is incumbent upon those who are present to convey it (this message of mine) to those who are
absent because the informed one might comprehend what I have said better than the present audience
who will convey it to him.)" The narrator added: In fact, it was like that. The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "Beware!
Do not renegade as disbelievers after me by striking (cutting) the necks of one another."
The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me during Hajjat-al-Wada`, "Let the people keep quiet and listen." Then he said
(addressing the people), "Beware! Do not renegade as disbelievers after me by striking (cutting) the
necks of one another."
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "There will be afflictions (in the near future) during which a sitting person will
be better than a standing one, and the standing one will be better than the walking one, and the
walking one will be better than the running one, and whoever will expose himself to these afflictions,
they will destroy him. So whoever can find a place of protection or refuge from them, should take
shelter in it."
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "There will be afflictions (in the near future) during which a sitting person will
be better than a standing one, and the standing one will be better than a walking one, and the walking
one will be better than a running one, and whoever will expose himself to these afflictions, they will
destroy him. So whoever can find a place of protection or refuge from them, should take shelter in it."
(Al-Ahnaf said:) I went out carrying my arms during the nights of the affliction (i.e. the war between
`Ali and `Aisha) and Abu Bakra met me and asked, "Where are you going?" I replied, "I intend to help
the cousin of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (i.e.,`Ali)." Abu Bakra said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'If two Muslims take
out their swords to fight each other, then both of them will be from amongst the people of the Hell-
Fire.' It was said to the Prophet, 'It is alright for the killer but what about the killed one?' He replied,
'The killed one had the intention to kill his opponent.'" (See Hadith No. 30, Vol. 1)
Narrated Al-Ahnaf:
Abu Bakra said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said (as above, 204).
The people used to ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the good but I used to ask him about the evil lest I
should be overtaken by them. So I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We were living in ignorance and in an
(extremely) worst atmosphere, then Allah brought to us this good (i.e., Islam); will there be any evil
after this good?" He said, "Yes." I said, 'Will there be any good after that evil?" He replied, "Yes, but
it will be tainted (not pure.)'' I asked, "What will be its taint?" He replied, "(There will be) some
people who will guide others not according to my tradition? You will approve of some of their deeds
and disapprove of some others." I asked, "Will there be any evil after that good?" He replied, "Yes,
(there will be) some people calling at the gates of the (Hell) Fire, and whoever will respond to their
call, will be thrown by them into the (Hell) Fire." I said, "O Allah s Apostle! Will you describe them
to us?" He said, "They will be from our own people and will speak our language." I said, "What do
you order me to do if such a state should take place in my life?" He said, "Stick to the group of
Muslims and their Imam (ruler)." I said, "If there is neither a group of Muslims nor an Imam (ruler)?"
He said, "Then turn away from all those sects even if you were to bite (eat) the roots of a tree till death
overtakes you while you are in that state."
An army unit was being recruited from the people of Medina and my name was written among them.
Then I met `Ikrima, and when I informed him about it, he discouraged me very strongly and said, "Ibn
`Abbas told me that there were some Muslims who were with the pagans to increase their number
against Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (and the Muslim army) so arrows (from the Muslim army) would hit one of
them and kill him or a Muslim would strike him (with his sword) and kill him. So Allah revealed:--
'Verily! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves (by staying
among the disbelievers).' (4.97)
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) related to us, two prophetic narrations one of which I have seen fulfilled and I am
waiting for the fulfillment of the other. The Prophet (ﷺ) told us that the virtue of honesty descended in the
roots of men's hearts (from Allah) and then they learned it from the Qur'an and then they learned it
from the Sunna (the Prophet's traditions). The Prophet (ﷺ) further told us how that honesty will be taken
away: He said: "Man will go to sleep during which honesty will be taken away from his heart and only
its trace will remain in his heart like the trace of a dark spot; then man will go to sleep, during which
honesty will decrease further still, so that its trace will resemble the trace of blister as when an ember
is dropped on one's foot which would make it swell, and one would see it swollen but there would be
nothing inside. People would be carrying out their trade but hardly will there be a trustworthy person.
It will be said, 'in such-and-such tribe there is an honest man,' and later it will be said about some man,
'What a wise, polite and strong man he is!' Though he will not have faith equal even to a mustard seed
in his heart." No doubt, there came upon me a time when I did not mind dealing (bargaining) with
anyone of you, for if he was a Muslim his Islam would compel him to pay me what is due to me, and
if he was a Christian, the Muslim official would compel him to pay me what is due to me, but today I
do not deal except with such-and-such person.
That he visited Al-Hajjaj (bin Yusuf). Al-Hajjaj said, "O son of Al-Akwa`! You have turned on your
heels (i.e., deserted Islam) by staying (in the desert) with the bedouins." Salama replied, "No, but
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) allowed me to stay with the bedouin in the desert." Narrated Yazid bin Abi Ubaid:
When `Uthman bin `Affan was killed (martyred), Salama bin Al-Akwa` went out to a place called Ar-
Rabadha and married there and begot children, and he stayed there till a few nights before his death
when he came to Medina.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 88, Hadith 209
Hadith 7088
Chapter 14: To stay with the Bedouins during Al-Fitnah - كتاب الفتن
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي صَعْصَعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَكُونَ خَيْرَ مَالِ الْمُسْلِمِ غَنَمٌ، يَتْبَعُ بِهَا شَعَفَ الْجِبَالِ وَمَوَاقِعَ الْقَطْرِ، يَفِرُّ بِدِينِهِ مِنَ الْفِتَنِ ".
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "There will come a time when the best property of a Muslim will be sheep which
he will take to the tops of mountains and the places of rainfall so as to flee with his religion from the
afflictions.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 88, Hadith 210
Hadith 7089
Chapter 15: To seek refuge with Allah from Al-Fitan - كتاب الفتن
Narrated Anas:
حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ فَضَالَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ سَأَلُوا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى أَحْفَوْهُ بِالْمَسْأَلَةِ، فَصَعِدَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ الْمِنْبَرَ فَقَالَ " لاَ تَسْأَلُونِي عَنْ شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ بَيَّنْتُ لَكُمْ ". فَجَعَلْتُ أَنْظُرُ يَمِينًا وَشِمَالاً، فَإِذَا كُلُّ رَجُلٍ رَأْسُهُ فِي ثَوْبِهِ يَبْكِي، فَأَنْشَأَ رَجُلٌ كَانَ إِذَا لاَحَى يُدْعَى إِلَى غَيْرِ أَبِيهِ فَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَبِي فَقَالَ " أَبُوكَ حُذَافَةُ ". ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ رَضِينَا بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا، وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا، وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولاً، نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ سُوءِ الْفِتَنِ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا رَأَيْتُ فِي الْخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ كَالْيَوْمِ قَطُّ، إِنَّهُ صُوِّرَتْ لِي الْجَنَّةُ وَالنَّارُ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُهُمَا دُونَ الْحَائِطِ ". قَالَ قَتَادَةُ يُذْكَرُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عِنْدَ هَذِهِ الآيَةِ {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَسْأَلُوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ إِنْ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ}
The people started asking the Prophet (ﷺ) too many questions importunately. So one day he ascended the
pulpit and said, "You will not ask me any question but I will explain it to you." I looked right and left,
and behold, every man was covering his head with his garment and weeping. Then got up a man who,
whenever quarreling with somebody, used to be accused of not being the son of his father. He said, "O
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Who is my father?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Your father is Hudhaifa." Then `Umar got
up and said, "We accept Allah as our Lord, Islam as our religion and Muhammad as our Apostle and
we seek refuge with Allah from the evil of afflictions." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, " I have never seen the good
and bad like on this day. No doubt, Paradise and Hell was displayed in front of me till I saw them in
front of that wall," Qatada said: This Hadith used to be mentioned as an explanation of this Verse:-- 'O
you who believe! Ask not questions about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble.'
(5.101)
The the above hadith was narrated by Anas through another chain and said (with the wording) "and every man had his head wrapped in his garment and weeping". And he said (with the wording) "seeking refuge with Allah from the evil of afflictions" or he said "I seek refuge with Allah from the evil of afflictions."