Ibn Majah

Benefits and Issues:
The tribulation of denying predestination (qadar) had already begun during the era of the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum). Therefore, seeing the abhorrence of this tribulation, Ibn Umar (radi Allahu anhu) surmised that this very misguided sect is deserving of such punishments.

1:
Khasf:
To cause to sink into the earth,
Maskh:
To transform appearances,
and Qadhf:
Refers to the punishment of stones.

Takhrij:
[سنن ترمذي 2152 نحو المعني باختلاف یسیر],
[سنن ابوداود 4613 بغير ھذا اللفظ]

Hadith Authentication:
The chain of narration for this report is hasan li-dhatih (good in itself).
● With some variation, it has also been narrated by Ibn Majah [4061] and others.
Imam Tirmidhi said: «حسن صحيح غريب» and both al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi declared it authentic according to the conditions of Muslim. See: [المستدرک 84/1 ح285]
● The narrator of this hadith, Abu Sakhr Humayd ibn Ziyad, has been declared trustworthy and truthful (thiqah and saduq) by the majority of hadith scholars; therefore, he is hasan al-hadith, and any criticism against him is rejected.

Fiqh of the Hadith:
➊ The meaning of «خسف» is the earth swallowing (people), and the meaning of «مسخ» is the distortion of forms.
These matters will occur among the people of innovation (ahl al-bid‘ah) who deny predestination (qadar) before the Day of Resurrection. Some will be swallowed by the earth, and some will have their forms distorted, and it is possible that both will happen to some. «والله اعلم»
➋ Belief in predestination (qadar) is obligatory, and its denial is forbidden.
➌ In the narration of Sunan Tirmidhi, it is also mentioned that Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar radi Allahu anhuma did not reply to the greeting (salam) of an innovator. From this, it is understood that the greeting of the people of major innovation (bid‘ah kubra) should not be answered. When replying to their greeting is not legislated, then how can it be permissible to pray behind them?
➍ From the narration in Sunan Abi Dawud, it is understood that it is also permissible to boycott (hajr) the people of innovation (if it is a major innovation).
➎ This narration is among the reports of the unseen (ghayb) which Allah, the Exalted, informed His Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam of through revelation, and its occurrence is still to come.
➏ In this narration, the ummah referred to is the ummah of response (ummah ijabah).

Authentication of the Hadith:
The chain of narration (isnad) of this hadith is hasan (good).
Al-Hakim [84/1] and al-Dhahabi have both declared it authentic according to the conditions of Muslim.
The narrator of this narration, Abu Sakhr Humaid ibn Ziyad, is considered trustworthy (thiqa) by the majority of hadith scholars; therefore, the hadith is hasan.

Jurisprudence of the Hadith:
➊ One should not reply to the greeting (salam) of an innovator (mubtadi‘) who is guilty of a major innovation (bid‘ah kubra).
➋ Due to necessity or a legitimate Islamic excuse, a complete boycott of the people of innovation (ahl al-bid‘ah) can also be carried out.
➌ Qadariyyah refers to those who deny predestination (qadar), and this is a major innovation (bid‘ah kubra). It should be noted that in the books of biographical evaluation (asma’ al-rijal), some people have been counted among the Qadariyyah, such as Qatadah and others. By this, it is not meant that they denied predestination, but rather those who say that evil is from Satan. Many people have been accused of being Qadari, such as Mak-hul and others, but in the field of critical research, this accusation is baseless and rejected.
➍ Before the Day of Judgment, some of the innovators (mubtadi‘un) of the Muslim ummah will have their faces transformed, some will be swallowed by the earth, and some will have stones rained upon them.
➎ It is a quality of the people of faith (ahl al-iman) that they continuously uphold the banner of the Book and the Sunnah by presenting evidences.