Abu Burdah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: We passed by al-Rabadhah and there was a tent there. I asked: Whose is this? It was said: It belongs to Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him). So I went in to him, and he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Muhammad bin Maslamah! Soon there will be tribulation (fitnah), division and disagreement. When that happens, break your sword and break your arrows, cut off ties and withdraw, and sit in your house." So the tribulation came about, and I did what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had commanded me. I looked, and there was the sword hanging from the tent pole, so I drew it from its sheath, and it turned out to be a wooden sword. He said: I did what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded me, and I have kept this wooden sword so that I can frighten people with it.
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب الميم / 16566