Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah Almighty will say: 'O Adam!' He will say: 'O our Lord! I am present.' Allah Almighty will call out: 'Indeed, Allah commands you to separate a group from your descendants for Hell.' He will ask: 'O my Lord! What is the number of the group for the Fire?' Allah Almighty will say: 'From every thousand, separate nine hundred and ninety-nine (999) for Hell.' (Upon hearing this dreadful news) pregnant women will miscarry and children will become old, as Allah Almighty has said: «يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّا أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَى وَمَا هُمْ بِسُكَارَى وَلَـكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّـهِ شَدِيدٌ» 'And you will see the people as if they are intoxicated, while they are not intoxicated, but the punishment of Allah is severe.' (22: Al-Hajj: 2) This matter was so hard upon the Companions that their faces changed. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (encouraging them) said: '(On the Day of Resurrection, the proportion will be that) from Yajuj and Majuj, nine hundred and ninety-nine individuals, and from you, one individual.' Then (in comparison to the people of previous nations) your number will be like the white hair on the back of a black ox or the black hair on the back of a white ox. I hope that you will be a quarter of the inhabitants of Paradise." (Upon hearing this) we said Allahu Akbar. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "(I hope that) you will be a third of the inhabitants of Paradise." We said Allahu Akbar. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Half of the inhabitants of Paradise will be you people." (Upon hearing this) we said Allahu Akbar.