THE BOOK OF AL-FITAN (Trials and afflictions etc.)

CHAPTER 1. The statement of the Prophet: ‘After me you will see things which you will disapprove of.’

9:177, 178 Narrated Ibn ‘Abbâs:

The Prophet said, “Whoever disapproves of something done by his ruler then he should be patient, for whoever disobeys the ruler even a little (little = a span) will die as those who died in the Period of Ignorance. (i.e., as rebellious sinners).” He narrated in another Hadith, “Whoever notices something which he dislikes done by his ruler, then he should be patient, for whoever becomes separate from the company of the Muslims even for a span and then dies, he will die as those who died in the Period of Ignorance (as rebellious sinners).

9:179 (Narrated Junâda bin Abi Umaiya):

We entered upon ‘Ubâda bin As-Samit while he was sick. We said, “May Allah make you good and healthy. Will you tell us a HadIth you heard from the Prophet and by which Allah may make you benefit?” He said, “The Prophet called us and we gave him the Bai’a – pledge for Islam, and among the conditions on which he took the Baia – pledge from us, was that we were to listen and obey (the orders of a Muslim ruler) both at the time when we were active and at the time when we were tired, and at our difficult time and at our ease and to be obedient to the ruler and give him his right even if he did not give us our right, and not to fight against him unless we noticed him having open Kufr (disbelief) for which we would have a proof with us from Allah.”

CHAPTER 2. The appearance of Al-Fitan (trials and afflictions etc.).

9:188 Narrated (‘Abdullâh) Ibn Mas’üd

that he heard the Prophet saying, “(It will be) from among the most wicked people who will be living at the time when the Hour will be established.”

CHAPTER 3. No time will come but the time following it will be worse than it.

9:189 Narrated (Az-Zubair bin ‘Adi):

We went to Anas bin Mâlik and complained about the wrong, people were suffering at the hand of Al-Hajjâj. Anas bin Mâlik 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 your Prophet

CHAPTER 4. The statement of the Prophet: ‘Whoever takes up arms against us, is not from us.’

9:193 Narrated Abü Huraira:

The Prophet 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).”

CHAPTER 5. There will be Fitan (trials and afflictions etc.) during which a sitting person will be better than standing one.

9:202 Narrated (Abü Huraira):

Allah’s Messenger said, “There will be Fitan (trials and afflictions etc.) (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 Fitan (trials and afflictions etc.), they will destory him. So whoever can find a place of protection or refuge from them, should take shelter in it.”

CHAPTER 6. To stay (in the desert with the bedouins) during the period of Al-Fitnah (trials and afflictions etc.).

9:209 Narrated Salama bin Al-Akwa’

that he visited Al-Hajjâj (bin Yusuf). Al-Hajjâj said, “0 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 allowed me to stay with the bedouin in the desert.”

CHAPTER 7. If Allah sends a punishment upon a nation.

9:224 Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:

Allah’s Messenger said, “If Allah sends punishment upon a nation then it befalls upon the whole population indiscriminately and then they will be resurrected (and judged) according to their deeds.”

CHAPTER 8. If a person says something in the presence of some people and then goes out and says something different.

9:230 Narrated Hudhaifa bin Al-Yamân:,

“infact, it was hypocrisy that existed in the lifetime of the Prophet , but today it is Kufr (disbelief) after belief.”

CHAPTER 9. The coming of the fire.

9:234 Narrated Abü Huraira:

Allah’s Messenger said, “The Hour will not be established till a fire will come out of the land of Hijâz, and it will throw light on the necks of the camels at Busra.”

9:235 Narrated (Abü Huraira):

Allah’s Messenger said, “Soon the river Euphrates will disclose the treasure (the mountain) of gold, so whoever will be present at that time should not take anything of it.”

CHAPTER 10.

9:237 Narrated (Abü Huraira):

Allah’s Messenger said, “The Hour will not be established till: (1) two big groups fight each other whereupon there will be a great number of casualties on both sides and they will be following one and the same religious doctrine, (2) about thirty Dajjáls (liars) appear, and each one of them will claim that he is Allah’s Messenger, (3) the religious knowledge is taken away (by the death of religious scholars) (4) earthquakes will increase in number (5) time will pass quickly, (6) Al-Fitan (trials and afflictions etc.) will appear, (7) A1-Harj, (i.e., killing) will increase, (8) wealth will be in abundance — so abundant that a wealthy person will worry lest nobody should accept his Sadaqa, and whenever he will present it to someone, that person (to whom it will be offered) will say, ‘I am not in need of it, (9) the people compete with one another in constructing high buildings, (10) a man when passing by a grave of someone will say, ‘Would that I were in his place (11) and till the sun rises from the west. So when the sun will rise and the people will see it (rising from the west) they will all believe (embrace Islam) but that will be the time when: (As Allah said,) “No good will it do to a person to believe then, if he (or she) believed not before, nor earned good (by performing deeds of righteousness) through his (or her) Faith.” (V.6:158). And the Hour will be established while two men spreading a garment in front of them but they will not be able to sell it, nor fold it up; and the Hour will be established when a man has milked his she-camel and has taken away the milk but he will not be able to drink it; and the Hour will be established before a man repairing a tank (for his livestock) is able to water (his animals) in it; and the Hour will be established when a person has raised a morsel (of food) to his mouth but will not be able to eat it.”