It is narrated from Sayyiduna Hudhayfah bin Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood among us and mentioned every event that would occur until the Day of Resurrection. Those who remembered them, remembered them, and those who forgot, forgot them. I myself see many such things which I had forgotten, but when I see them, I remember them, just as a man recognizes a person whom he had forgotten when he sees him after his absence.
Hadith Takhrij«أخرجه البخاري: 6604، ومسلم: 2891 ، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 23274 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 23663»
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam mentioned many such matters that would occur in the future, and many of these matters pertained to the era of the noble Companions, for example: the oppressed martyrdoms of Sayyiduna Umar, Sayyiduna Uthman, and Sayyiduna Ali; the division of the Muslim Ummah into different groups during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu; the wars among them and then reconciliation through Sayyiduna Hasan radi Allahu anhu; the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Husayn radi Allahu anhu; the abundance of wealth and riches; the cursing and reviling of the noble Companions; monarchy and its effects; and the statement regarding some Companions that they would be killed at the hands of a rebellious group, and so on.
When Sayyiduna Hudhayfah radi Allahu anhu witnessed such an event taking place, he would recall the related hadith. Reflect on hadith number (12882), in which the life of Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu was considered a barrier to tribulations, and when this barrier was removed, Sayyiduna Hudhayfah radi Allahu anhu understood that the wait for tribulations had ended. Then, gradually, this sequence increased, until Sayyiduna Uthman radi Allahu anhu was martyred and the Muslim Ummah split into two major factions, confronting each other.