Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sabi’ says: The people sent me from the water place towards Kufa to buy some animals. We passed by a dung heap and saw a man around whom people were gathered. My friend went towards the animals and I came to that man. I saw that he was Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him). He was saying: The Companions used to ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about good, and I used to ask about evil. I said: O Messenger of Allah! Will there be evil after this good (i.e., Islam) like there was before it? He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Yes.” I said: What will be the way to avoid it? He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The sword.” I said: Then what will happen? He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “But there will be internal fighting and outward reconciliation. After that, callers to misguidance and deviation will appear. If you see a caliph in those days, then stick to him, even if he harms your body and takes your wealth. And if you do not see any caliph, then flee to a corner of the earth, even if you die in that state clinging to the trunk of a tree.” I said: Then what will happen? He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Then the Dajjal will appear . . . . .”