Bukhari

Benefits and Issues
↰ Although the mention of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is not present in this narration, it is still considered marfu‘ (attributed to the Prophet) in ruling. Regarding this:

◈ The commentator of Sahih Bukhari, Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah (773–852 AH), writes:
«هكذا وقع فى هذه الروايات التى اتصلت لنا بصورة المؤقوف عن ابن عمر، قال : اللهم بارك . . .، لم يذكر النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، وقال القابسي : سقط ذكر النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم من النسخة، ولا بد منه، لان مثلهٔ لايقال بالرأي»
“The narrations that have reached us in a mawquf (stopped at the Companion) form from Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar radi Allahu anhuma are such that he himself made this supplication, and the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is not mentioned in them. Qabisi says that the mention of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has dropped from the manuscript of Sahih Bukhari. Here, the mention of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is necessary, because no Companion could say such a thing based on his own reasoning.” [فتح الباري : 522/2]
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Hadith Commentary:
Najd is situated to the east of the Arab Hijaz; it does not refer specifically to the region that is today called Najd, but rather, by Najd all the eastern lands are meant.

Allamah Qastallani rahimahullah states:
“And it is Tihamah, and everything that rises from the lands of Tihamah to the land of Iraq.”
That is, by Najd is meant the region of Tihamah, which stretches in elevated terrain from the lands of Tihamah to the land of Iraq.

In reality, this Prophetic indication was towards the land of Iraq, where great tribulations (fitan) arose. If one looks with fairness, it becomes clear that from this region began the division and dissension among Muslims, which persists to this day, and perhaps this discord will remain for some time yet. All of this is the product of the land of Iraq.

This narration is presented here as mawquf (stopped at the Companion), but in reality, it is marfu‘ (attributed to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Azhar Samaan has narrated it as marfu‘.

In this very book, i.e., Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Tribulations (Kitab al-Fitan), this hadith will appear, and there a detailed commentary will be provided, insha’Allah.

The author of Fadl al-Bari, the Hanafi translator of Bukhari, writes:
The land of Sham (Greater Syria) is to the north of Madinah, Yemen is to the south, and the land of Najd is to the east.

He attributed Sham to himself because it is the land of Makkah, the land of Tihamah, and Tihamah is related to Yemen.

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam uttered this hadith at a time when the people of Najd had not yet embraced Islam and were engaged in mischief and corruption against him. When those people accepted Islam and sent charity (sadaqah) to him, he, upon seeing the charity, said:
“This is the charity of my people.”

If one reflects carefully, it becomes clear that the attribution to “my people” (qawmi) is stronger than the attribution to “our Sham” or “our Yemen.”

By the “horn of Satan” is meant his group; these words were uttered because they were always causing mischief against him. And Ka‘b said that from Iraq, i.e., from that direction, the Dajjal will emerge (Fadl al-Bari, p. 353, vol. 3).

In this latter era, from the direction of Najd arose that movement which revived the memories of the era of the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the period of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. By this is meant the movement of the renewer of Islam, Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab Najdi rahimahullah, who once again called Muslims to the original Islam and raised the banner of jihad against shirk (polytheism) and innovations (bid‘ah).

The condition of Hijaz before the Najdis is recorded on the pages of history.

From the day the Najdi government was established there, every kind of peace and security was established, and today, the Saudi Najdi government has rendered such outstanding services to the Two Holy Sanctuaries (Haramayn Sharifayn) that will always be remembered in the entire Islamic world.

Ayyadahum Allah bi-nasrihi al-‘aziz (Amin).

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
In this hadith, earthquakes are mentioned, and such signs are meant to frighten and warn people. Allah, the Exalted, says:
﴿وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِالْآيَاتِ إِلَّا تَخْوِيفًا ﴿٥٩﴾)
“We do not send such signs except to frighten (people).” ()
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“When you see Allah’s signs, immediately remember Allah, engage in supplication and seek forgiveness from Him.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Kusuf, Hadith: 1058)
Therefore, whenever an earthquake or any other calamity occurs, it is prescribed to perform prayer and remembrance (dhikr), but there is no specific form or manner for this mentioned in the hadith.
Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah) has mentioned these ahadith only to show that at the time of earthquakes and similar events, one should engage in the remembrance of Allah, supplication, and seeking forgiveness.

(2)
The complete explanation of this hadith will be given in the Book of Tribulations (Kitab al-Fitan).
At this point, we suffice to mention the fact that when the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) identified the land of tribulations, he pointed towards the east.
From this, it is understood that what is meant is Najd of Iraq, which has been a center of tribulations from the very beginning.
It was from this region that the division and dispersion among Muslims began, which continues to this day.
What is meant is not Najd of Hijaz, as is suggested by the people of innovation (ahl al-bid‘ah), because from that region such a movement arose which revived the memory of the Rightly Guided Caliphs (khulafa’ al-rashidun).
From there, Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abd al-Wahhab (rahimahullah) began the call to pure Islam, as a result of which the Najdi government was established there, which is famous as the Saudi government.
This government has accomplished such remarkable deeds for the elevation of Islam and for the Two Holy Sanctuaries (haramayn sharifayn) that will always be remembered in the Muslim world.
May Allah, the Exalted, keep this government established for as long as it lives.
Amin.

Hadith Commentary:
That is, the Dajjal who will come from the land of the East.
From this same direction will come Gog and Magog (Ya'juj and Ma'juj). By Najd is meant that region of Iraq which is situated on high ground.
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not supplicate for it, because from that direction great calamities were destined to appear.
Even Husayn (radi Allahu anhu) was martyred in that very land.
Kufa, Babylon, etc., all these are included within Najd.
Some foolish people have taken the tribulation (fitnah) of Najd to mean the emergence of Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab. They do not know that Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab was a Muslim and a monotheist (muwahhid).
He used to call people towards monotheism (tawhid) and adherence to the Sunnah, and forbade them from polytheism (shirk) and innovation (bid‘ah). His emergence was a mercy, not a tribulation. And the treatise he wrote to the people of Makkah contains entirely these themes: that you should adopt monotheism and adherence to the Sunnah, and avoid the evil innovative practices; do not build high graves, do not go to graves to make vows, do not make pledges there.
All these matters are extremely excellent and in accordance with the Prophetic Sunnah.
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and Ali (radi Allahu anhu) also commanded the leveling of high graves.
Then, if Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab followed his Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), what fault did he commit?
May Allah send blessings and peace upon His beloved Muhammad.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
Najd refers to a highland region.
The area to the east of Madinah Tayyibah is called Najd, while the low-lying area is called Ghawr.
The eastern side from Madinah Tayyibah is a center of tribulations (fitan).
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not supplicate for this region because great calamities were destined to emerge from there.
Kufa, Babylon, and Khurasan, etc., are included in Najd; Gog and Magog (Ya’juj wa Ma’juj) and the Dajjal will come from there.
Al-Husayn (radi Allahu anhu) was also martyred in this very land.

➋
Some narrow-minded, ignorant, and bigoted people consider the movement of Tawhid (monotheism) of Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab (rahimahullah) to be the tribulation of Najd, whereas he was a Muslim and a monotheist.
He called people to pure monotheism and adherence to the Sunnah.
He forbade them from polytheism (shirk) and innovation (bid‘ah), such as building structures over graves, making vows and offerings there, and calling upon other than Allah in times of distress, etc.—he prevented people from all these things.
All these matters are in complete accordance with the Qur’an and Hadith.
The Saudi government is also established upon this call to monotheism and strives day and night for the nurturing of the religion of Islam.
May Allah, the Exalted, keep it established and everlasting.
Amin, ya Rabb al-‘alamin.

Explanation:
1:
The authoritative commentators of hadith have established through definitive proofs and historical facts that the "Najd" mentioned in this hadith refers to "Iraq." History has proven that most religious tribulations (fitan) arose from Iraq. In the Arabic language, "Najd" refers to elevated land (a plateau). The region called "Najd" in Saudi Arabia is also named so for this reason. In this sense, the term "Najd" also applies to Iraq. The emergence of both tangible and intangible religious tribulations from Iraq has proven that the intent of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was indeed this region of Iraq and its surroundings. The innovating sects have claimed that the referent of this hadith is the movement of Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab Najdi. (Shattan ma bayn al-yazidayn) — How vast is the difference between the two! A movement conducted in accordance with the creed of the pious predecessors (salaf salihin) and their understanding of the Shari‘ah, even if it originates from the much-maligned Najd, can never be the referent of this hadith. If the Najdi movement were intended, then the very essence of Islam itself would be intended.