Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "During times of tribulation, break your bows and cut their strings, remain inside your houses, and be like the righteous son among the two sons of Adam (i.e., refrain from fighting and conflict)."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Abdullah bin Amr! What will become of you when you are left among lowly and inferior people, whose covenants and trusts will become corrupted, who will fall into discord and division, and who will become mixed up in such a way?" Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) indicated by intertwining the fingers of his hands. I said: "O Messenger of Allah! What do you command me to do in such circumstances?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Take care of yourself and do not get involved in the affairs of the common people."

Amr bin Wabisah Asadi narrates from his father, who says: I was in my house in Kufa when suddenly I heard a voice at the door: "As-salamu alaikum, may I come in?" I said: "Wa alaikum as-salam, come in." When he entered, I saw that it was Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him). I said: "Abu Abdur-Rahman! Is this the time for a visit? It is the intense heat of midday." He said: "The day was not passing, so I thought to come and have a conversation." Then they began narrating to each other the ahadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he narrated this hadith: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A time of tribulations will come when the one who is sleeping will be better than the one lying down, the one lying down will be better than the one sitting, the one sitting will be better than the one standing, the one standing will be better than the one walking, the one walking will be better than the one riding, and the one riding will be better than the one running. All of their slain will be in Hell." I said: "O Messenger of Allah! When will that be?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It will be during the days of killing and chaos." I said: "When will the days of killing be?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When a man will fear his companion." I said: "If I reach that time, what do you command me to do?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Restrain yourself and your hand, and stay inside your house." I said: "O Messenger of Allah! What if someone (the mischief-maker) enters my house?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then enter your room." I said: "O Messenger of Allah! What if he enters my room?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then enter your place of prostration and do this," then he took his right hand and held his wrist, "and say: 'My Lord is Allah,' (and remain in that state) until you die."

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 . . . . .”

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "When tribulations will break out upon you like pieces of a dark night, then those who will attain the most salvation from them (will be two types of people:) (1) A man who goes to the high peaks (of the mountains) and makes the milk of goats his food, and (2) a man who, turning away from the main road of life, holds the reins of his horse (settling at some frontier) and earns his livelihood through the spoils of his sword."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Trials will cover you like the dark patches of a night. The one who attains salvation will be he who lives on the high peaks (of mountains, etc.), sustaining himself on the milk of goats, or the one who holds the reins of his horse, staying away from the highway of life (engaged in jihad), and eats from his sword (from the spoils of war)."