Some of The Events That the Prophet said Would Occur after Prophet’s Lifetime(4/5)

Narrations Mentioning Signs Related To The Year 200 And Narrations Indicating That The Best Of Muslims After The Year 200 Are Those Who Have Neither Wealth Nor Children

Ibn Qataadah related that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, "The Signs are after (the year) 200 (H)." [Reported by Ibn Maajah] Ibn Maajah then related it through two other chains from Anas but none of them are authentic. If we suppose that it is an authentic Hadeeth, it is referring to the Trial that resulted from some people saying that the Qur'an is created and to the Trial that Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and his companions from the Imams of Hadeeth endured. Rawaad ibn AI-Jaraah, whose narrations are Munkar, relates the following narration: "The best of you after the year 200 is he who will have a light load on his back." The companions asked what that meant, and he answered, "He who has neither family nor children." This is Munkar (one of the categories of the Da'eef Hadeeth).

The Best Generation Is the Generation of the Messenger (Peace be upon him), Then Those Who Came Next, Then Those Who Came Next, and Thereafter Corruption Will Spread.

‘Imraan ibn Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, "The best of my nation are those of this generation, then those that followed them." ‘Imraan said, "I do not know whether he mentioned two generations after his generation or three." The Hadeeth continues, "Then there will come after you a people who will give their testimony without being asked (scholars have said that this is referring to a person who gives testimony without being asked to give it on behalf of another who has knowledge of the fact that he is a witness; other scholars say that this is referring to one who puts himself forward as a witness but is not worthy of giving testimony), who will be treacherous and cannot be trusted, and who will make a binding oath (Nadhr) to do something but then will not honor that oath; and fatness will become prevalent among them." [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim, and this wording is that of Bukhari]

The Messenger (Peace be upon him)  Did Not Specify When This World Will Come To An End And It Is Not Authentically Related From Him That Prior To The Day Of Judgment He Will Remain In His Grave For 1000 Years

What is related from many commoners regarding the Prophet (Peace be upon him), not remaining under the Earth for 1000 years has no basis; this notion is not related in any trusted book of Hadeeth, and we have not heard it in lengthy compilations or summarized ones. Also, it is not established in any Hadeeth from the Prophet (Peace be upon him) that he specified when the Hour will arrive; all that he mentioned is the signs which indicate that the Hour is near at hand, and we will mention them, Insha Allah.

The Narration That Speaks About A Fire In The Land Of Hijaaz Which Will Illuminate Camels in Busrah, in the Land of Sham

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, "The Hour will not arrive until there appears a fire from the land of Hijaaz that will illuminate the necks of camels in Busra (Busra is in the land of Sham: Syria and surrounding regions)." [Reported by Bukhari] And Muslim related it through ibn Shihaab.

The Appearance Of A Fire In Madeenah That Continued To Rage For An Entire Month In The Year 654 H

Shaikh Shihaabud-Deen Abu Shaamah, Shaikh of the Hadeeth scholars and historians during his era, mentioned that on Friday, the 5th of Jumaadah Al-Aakhirah, 654 H, there appeared a fire in lands near Madeenah An-Nabawiyyah, in some of its surrounding valleys. It extended for four leagues lengthwise and four miles widthwise. Rocks would pour out until they remained like lead or molten tin, and then they became like black coals. By dint of the fire's light, people were able to travel to Teemaa. The fire remained ablaze for an entire month. The inhabitants of Madeenah related this incident and some among them composed verses of poetry about it. Qaadee Al-Qudaat, Sadrud-Deen ‘Ali ibn Al-Qaasim Al-Hanafee, said that a Bedouin once told his father that on that night (i.e. the night of the fire), he was in Busrah and that the people there saw the necks of camels from the light of that fire, which was ablaze in the land of Hijaaz.

Narrations From The Prophet (Peace be upon him) That Speak About The Unseen Future

In a narration related by Tlyaan ibn Ahmad Al-Bakree, Abu Zaid Al-Ansaaree (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "The Prophet (Peace be upon him) led us in the morning prayer, after which he climbed the pulpit and addressed us until Zhuhr. He (Peace be upon him) descended, prayed 'Asr, and then climbed the pulpit again, speaking to us until the setting of the sun. He spoke to us about what was and what will be; he informed us (thereof) and made us memorize (that information)." [Reported by Ahmad]

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) Gave News About Events From The Past And The Future, Covering The Span Of Time Until The Coming Of The Hour (i.e. The End Of This World)

'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Once, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) stood before us and informed us about the beginning of the creation (and he spoke of what will occur) until the inhabitants of Paradise enter their final abodes and the people of the Hellfire enter their final abodes. Some memorized (that information) while others have forgotten it." [Reported by Bukhari] Bukhari narrated this Hadeeth as an attachment and not as a part of his compilation, using phrases indicating that he was not sure about the chain.

Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "The Messenger of Allah once rose, standing before us. He mentioned everything that was to occur from the time he stood there until the time of the Hour. Some memorized it while others forgot it... and something will happen (from what the Prophet (Peace be upon him) mentioned) and I will recall it as a man recalls the face of another man who was absent for a while; then when he sees that face again, he recognizes it."

Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) Witnessed Some Of The Events That The Messenger Of Allah (Peace be upon him) Prophesized About

Abu Nusrah related that Abu Sa'eed (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "One day, after the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) led us in the 'Asr prayer, he stood and addressed us until the sun set. He spoke of everything that was to occur until the Day of Resurrection; some memorized his words while others forgot them. Among the things he said was, 'O people, indeed this world is green (i.e., it has in it beauty, greenery, etc.) and sweet, and indeed Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) has made you to dwell herein for succeeding generations, and He is seeing how you act. So take your precaution from this world and take your precaution from women.' He later on said, 'The time is indeed near when the sun will set. What remains of this world when compared to what is past is like what remains of this day of yours compared to the part of it that is gone.'" [Reported by Ahmad]

‘Ali ibn Zaid ibn Hadjaan, one of the narrators of this Hadeeth, has strange and Munkar narrations; nonetheless, this Hadeeth is supported by similar narrations. At any rate, no one knows exactly when this world will come to an end except for Allah.

(Continued)