Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sayyiduna Abu Sa‘id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon to us, and an excerpt from that sermon is as follows: “Be aware! Soon I will be called (by Allah) and I will respond to that call. After me, various rulers will take responsibility for you; they will act upon what they say and will act upon what they know. Their obedience is true obedience; you will remain in this state for some time. Then such rulers will be imposed upon you who will not act upon what they say, and if they do act, they will not recognize it. Those who show sympathy to them, become their advisors and supporters, they will destroy themselves and will destroy others as well. (O people!) Outwardly remain with them, but in matters of action, separate from them, and bear witness to the righteousness of the righteous and to the evil of the evil.”