Prophecies of the Holy Prophet ﷺ: Truths of the Past and the Portrait of the Ummah’s Present

Allah Almighty granted numerous miracles to His final Messenger, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which are clear proofs of his truthfulness in prophethood. Among these miracles, a prominent aspect is the prophecies that you ﷺ made on various occasions. Many of these prophecies have been fulfilled exactly as foretold, while some pertain to the future and are yet to be fulfilled. However, our faith is that they will surely come true at their appointed time.
In this article, we mention those prophecies that have already been fulfilled, so that lessons may be learned from them, our beliefs and actions may be reformed, and our conviction in the truthfulness of the Holy Prophet ﷺ may be further strengthened. These prophecies can be divided into two categories:

◈ Prophecies related to various events
◈ Prophecies related to the actions of people

In this section, we will first mention those prophecies that relate to various historical events.

The Roads Becoming Peaceful and the Conquest of Khosrow’s Treasures

Hazrat Adi bin Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he was once present in the company of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. At that time, a man came complaining of poverty and hunger, then another man came complaining about the insecurity of the roads and looting. On this occasion, the Prophet ﷺ said to Hazrat Adi (may Allah be pleased with him):

(( فَإِنْ طَالَتْ بِکَ حَیَاۃٌ لَتَرَیَنَّ الظَّعِیْنَۃَ تَرْتَحِلُ مِنَ الْحِیْرَۃِ حَتّٰی تَطُوْفَ بِالْکَعْبَۃِ، لَا تَخَافُ أَحَدًا إِلَّا اللّٰہَ ))

Translation:
If your life is prolonged, you will surely see a woman traveling alone from Hira who will perform Tawaf of the Kaaba, and she will fear no one except Allah.

This prophecy was an indication that after the establishment of the Islamic system, the roads would become completely peaceful.

Then the Prophet ﷺ made a second prophecy:

(( وَلَئِنْ طَالَتْ بِکَ حَیَاۃٌ لَتُفْتَحَنَّ کُنُوْزُ کِسْرٰی ))

“And if your life is prolonged (O Umar!), the treasures of Khosrow will surely be conquered.”

Hazrat Uday رضي الله عنه said: What about the treasure of Khosrow bin Hormuz?
You ﷺ said:

(( کِسْرٰی بْنُ ہُرْمُزَ ))

Translation:
If your life is prolonged, you will surely see that the treasures of Khosrow bin Hormuz will be conquered.

After this, the Holy Prophet ﷺ made the third prediction:

(( وَلَئِنْ طَالَتْ بِکَ حَیَاۃٌ لَتَرَیَنَّ الرَّجُلَ یُخْرِجُ مِلْئَ کَفِّہٖ مِنْ ذَہَبٍ أَوْ فِضَّۃٍ یَطْلُبُ مَنْ یَّقْبَلُہُ مِنْہُ، فَلَا یَجِدُ أَحَدًا یَقْبَلُہُ مِنْہُ… ))

Translation:
If your life is prolonged, you will see a person carrying a handful of gold or silver looking for someone who will accept it, but no one will accept it.

Then he mentioned the conversation between the servant and Allah Almighty on the Day of Judgment, in which the accounting of deeds was described and the punishment of Hell was warned about.

Hazrat Adi bin Hatim رضي الله عنه says that he witnessed the first two prophecies of the Prophet ﷺ being fulfilled word for word in his lifetime. The woman coming alone from Hira to Mecca and the conquest of the treasures of Khosrow—he was a witness to both these events himself. He says that the third prophecy will also certainly be fulfilled, as later happened during the time of Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz رحمہ الله, when prosperity became so widespread that there was no one left to accept charity.

The Emergence of the Kharijites

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ foretold the emergence of a misguided sect that would appear outwardly pious but would be outside the fold of religion in terms of belief and ideology. This prophecy was also fulfilled word for word.

Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (RA) narrates that one day we were present in the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and you ﷺ were distributing wealth. During this time, a man from Bani Tamim, whose name was Dhu al-Khuyasirah, came and said:
“O Messenger of Allah! Be just and fair.”

Hearing this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( وَیْلَکَ! وَمَنْ یَّعْدِلُ إِذَا لَمْ أَعْدِلْ؟ قَدْ خِبْتُ وَخَسِرْتُ إِنْ لَّمْ أَکُنْ أَعْدِلُ ))

Translation:
May you perish! If I do not act justly, then who will act justly? If I do not do justice, then I will be ruined and destroyed.

Hearing this, Hazrat Umar (RA) said:
O Messenger of Allah! Permit me to cut off his neck.

Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( دَعْہُ، فَإِنَّ لَہُ أَصْحَابًا یَحْقِرُ أَحَدُکُمْ صَلَاتَہُ مَعَ صَلَاتِہِمْ، وَصِیَامَہُ مَعَ صِیَامِہِمْ، یَقْرَؤُنَ الْقُرْآنَ لَا یُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِیَہُمْ، یَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الدِّیْنِ کَمَا یَمْرُقُ السَّہْمُ مِنَ الرَّمِیَّۃِ… ))

Translation:
Leave him, for he will have some companions whom you will consider your prayers and fasts insignificant compared to theirs. They will recite the Qur’an, but it will not go beyond their throats, and they will leave the religion as an arrow leaves the hunted animal’s body.

Then the Prophet ﷺ gave an example that every part of the arrow will be examined, but there will be no effect of the blood or flesh of the prey on it, even though it would have pierced through the prey. This means that in the deeds of those people, the reality of religion will not remain.

Then the Noble Prophet ﷺ also described a specific sign of the Kharijites:

(( آیَتُہُمْ رَجُلٌ أَسْوَدُ إِحْدَی عَضُدَیْہِ مِثْلُ ثَدْیِ الْمَرْأَۃِ، أَوْ مِثْلُ الْبَضْعَۃِ تَدَرْدَرُ، وَیَخْرُجُونَ عَلٰی حِیْنِ فُرْقَۃٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ ))

Translation:
Their sign will be that among them will be a black man whose one arm will be like a woman’s breast or like a hanging piece of flesh, and these people will emerge when there is discord and turmoil among the Muslims.

Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I bear witness that I heard this Hadith myself from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and I also bear witness that this prophecy was fulfilled during the caliphate of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) fought against the Kharijites, and I myself participated in that battle alongside him. Then, by the order of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), the specific person whose sign the Prophet ﷺ had described was searched for, and when he was brought, his appearance was exactly as the Prophet ﷺ had described.

News of the killing of the leaders of Quraysh at Badr

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, one day before the Battle of Badr, named several leaders of the disbelieving Quraysh and indicated the places where they would be killed. This prophecy was also fulfilled exactly as stated, without the slightest difference.

Hazrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that once we were traveling between Makkah Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah with Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). During the journey, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated a hadith about the people of Badr and said that one day before the Battle of Badr, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ informed us:

(( ہٰذَا مَصْرَعُ فُلَانٍ غَدًا إِنْ شَاءَ اللّٰہُ ))

Translation:
So-and-so person will be killed here tomorrow, if Allah wills.

Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

اس ذات کی قسم جس نے محمد ﷺ کو حق کے ساتھ مبعوث فرمایا! جس جگہ رسول اللہ ﷺ نے کسی شخص کے قتل کی نشاندہی فرمائی تھی، وہ اس سے ایک بال برابر بھی اِدھر اُدھر نہ ہوا، بلکہ وہ بعینہٖ اسی جگہ پر قتل ہوا۔

This incident is clear evidence that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was given knowledge of the unseen by Allah Almighty, which was beyond ordinary human knowledge, and all this was through divine revelation.

The Fate of the Person Who Commits Suicide

Hazrat Suhail bin Saad Al-Saadi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that during a battle, there was intense fighting between the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the polytheists. After the battle, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned to his place of stay, and the people also went to their respective places.

Among the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, there was a person who, in the battlefield, would attack any polytheist who came before him and kill him with his sword. Seeing his courage and bravery, the Companions said:

“Today, no one among us has shown bravery like this person.”

Hearing this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( أَمَا إِنَّہُ مِنْ أَہْلِ النَّارِ ))

Translation:
Beware! He is a denizen of Hell.

Hearing this, the Companions were deeply troubled. Then one of the Companions said that he would stay with this person today to see why he was a denizen of Hell.

That Companion stayed with the person. Wherever he stopped, he also stopped; wherever he walked fast, he also walked fast. Eventually, the person became severely wounded. Unable to bear the pain of his wounds, he hastened death by committing suicide.

He placed the hilt of the sword on the ground, rested its tip between his two breasts, and put his entire body weight on it until he died.

Seeing this scene, the pursuing companion immediately came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said:

’’أَشْہَدُ أَنَّکَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ‘‘

I bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“What is the matter?”

The companion narrated the entire incident of how that person killed himself. Upon hearing this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَیَعْمَلُ عَمَلَ أَہْلِ الْجَنَّۃِ فِیْمَا یَبْدُوْ لِلنَّاسِ وَہُوَ مِنْ أَہْلِ النَّارِ، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَیَعْمَلُ عَمَلَ أَہْلِ النَّارِ فِیْمَا یَبْدُوْ لِلنَّاسِ وَہُوَ مِنْ أَہْلِ الْجَنَّۃِ ))

Translation:
Indeed, a person may outwardly perform the deeds of the people of Paradise, while he is among the people of Hell, and a person may outwardly perform the deeds of the people of Hell, while he is among the people of Paradise.

Peace between Hazrat Hasan (RA) and Two Groups

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made a great prophecy about his grandson Hazrat Hasan bin Ali (RA) which was fulfilled exactly.

Hazrat Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that one day the Messenger of Allah ﷺ brought his grandson Hazrat Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) outside the house, then seated him on the pulpit and said:

(( اِبْنِی ہٰذَا سَیِّدٌ، وَلَعَلَّ اللّٰہَ أَنْ یُّصْلِحَ بِہٖ بَیْنَ فِئَتَیْنِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِیْنَ ))

Translation:
This son of mine is a leader, and perhaps Allah will bring about reconciliation between two groups of Muslims through him.

This prophecy was fulfilled when Hazrat Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) became Caliph after the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). On the other hand, Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) was ready with a large army for confrontation, but Hazrat Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) relinquished the caliphate to avoid Muslim bloodshed and to maintain unity in the Ummah, making peace in favor of Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him). Thus, peace was established between the two major groups of Muslims.

This entire incident is detailed in Sahih al-Bukhari.

The Death of Caesar and Khosrow

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also foretold the fate of the two great empires of the world—Rome and Persia—which was later fulfilled word for word.

Narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

(( إِذَا ہَلَکَ کِسْرٰی فَلَا کِسْرٰی بَعْدَہُ، وَإِذَا ہَلَکَ قَیْصَرُ فَلَا قَیْصَرَ بَعْدَہُ، وَالَّذِیْ نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِیَدِہٖ لَتُنْفَقَنَّ کُنُوْزُہُمَا فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰہِ ))

Translation:
When Khosrow (the King of Persia) will be killed, then there will be no other Khosrow after him, and when Caesar (the King of Rome) will be killed, then there will be no other Caesar after him. By Him in Whose hand is the life of Muhammad (ﷺ)! The treasures of both of them will surely be spent in the way of Allah.

This prophecy was fulfilled during the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, especially Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Uthman (RA), when the empires of Persia and Rome were conquered and never re-established, and their treasures were spent in the way of Allah.

False Claimants of Prophethood

The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) also foretold the appearance of false claimants of prophethood among his Ummah.

Narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

(( وَلَا تَقُوْمُ السَّاعَۃُ حَتّٰی یُبْعَثَ دَجَّالُوْنَ کَذَّابُوْنَ قَرِیْبًا مِّنْ ثَلَاثِیْنَ، کُلُّہُمْ یَزْعُمُ أَنَّہُ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ ))

Translation:
The Day of Judgment will not be established until nearly thirty false Dajjals appear, and each one of them will claim that he is the Messenger of Allah.

Another hadith with the same meaning narrated from Hazrat Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him):

(( وَإِنَّہُ سَیَکُوْنُ فِیْ أُمَّتِیْ ثَلَاثُوْنَ کَذَّابُوْنَ، کُلُّہُمْ یَزْعُمُ أَنَّہُ نَبِیٌّ، وَأَنَا خَاتَمُ النَّبِیِّیْنَ، لَا نَبِیَّ بَعْدِیْ ))

Translation:
There will come thirty false claimants among my Ummah, each of whom will claim prophethood, although I am the Seal of the Prophets; there is no prophet after me.

This prophecy was fulfilled during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet ﷺ when Musaylimah the Liar and Aswad Ansi falsely claimed prophethood. In later times, various false claimants continued to appear, including the sedition of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian.

Appearance of the Deniers of Hadith

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ foretold the emergence of a group within his Ummah who would accept only the Quran as proof and deny the Prophetic traditions (Ahadith). This prophecy has also been fulfilled exactly.

Narrated from Hazrat Miqdad bin Maadi Karib رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( أَلَا إِنِّی أُوْتِیْتُ الْکِتَابَ وَمِثْلَہُ مَعَہُ، أَلَا یُوْشِکُ رَجُلٌ شَبْعَانُ عَلٰی أَرِیْکَتِہٖ یَقُوْلُ: عَلَیْکُمْ بِہٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ، فَمَا وَجَدْتُّمْ فِیْہِ مِنْ حَلَالٍ فَأَحِلُّوْہُ، وَمَا وَجَدْتُّمْ فِیْہِ مِنْ حَرَامٍ فَحِرِّمُوْہُ… ))

Translation:
Beware! I have been given the Qur’an and along with it something similar (i.e., the Sunnah) has also been given. Beware! Soon a man will sit comfortably on his throne and say: Just hold firmly to this Qur’an, consider what is lawful in it as lawful and what is forbidden in it as forbidden.

Then the Prophet ﷺ clearly stated that the meat of the domestic donkey and beasts with claws are also forbidden, even though their prohibition is not explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an but is established through the Sunnah.

Another narration with the same meaning is found in Sunan Ibn Majah:

(( أَلَا وَإِنَّ مَا حَرَّمَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ مِثْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ اللّٰہُ ))

Translation:
Beware! Whatever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has declared forbidden is forbidden just as Allah Almighty has declared it forbidden.

From these ahadith it is clear that the Sunnah is also a permanent proof in Shariah, and denying it is in fact denying a major part of the religion.

The Companions’ (May Allah be pleased with them) Passion for Hadith

It is an undeniable fact that the Companions (May Allah be pleased with them) had immense love for the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. They not only memorized them but also considered it a great honor to transmit them further.

Hazrat Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him) says that people think he narrated many Hadiths, whereas the reality is that he was a poor man and spent most of his time in the service of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, while the Muhajireen were engaged in trade and the Ansar were busy in their fields.

One day the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( مَنْ یَّبْسُطُ ثَوْبَہُ فَلَنْ یَّنْسٰی شَیْئًا سَمِعَہُ مِنِّیْ ))

Translation:
Whoever spreads his cloak (to sit), he will not forget anything he hears from me.

Hazrat Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him) says that he spread his cloak, then held it close to his chest, and after that day he did not forget any Hadith.

The Companions’ Journeys in Pursuit of Hadith

The Companions (May Allah be pleased with them) used to travel for months just to acquire a single Hadith.

First Incident: Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah (RA)
Hazrat Jabir (RA) narrates that he came to know of a hadith which he had not heard directly from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ but was narrated by another companion. Accordingly, he bought a camel and traveled for a month to reach Syria, where Hazrat Abdullah bin Anis (RA) was residing, and from him, he heard that hadith.

This hadith mentions the concept of Qisas (retribution) on the Day of Judgment through good and bad deeds in response to injustices.

Second Incident: Hazrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (RA)

The Companions (RA) loved the blessed hadiths of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ so much that they undertook long and arduous journeys to acquire even a single hadith.

Hazrat Abu Ayyub Ansari رضي الله عنه traveled from Madinah Munawwarah to Egypt solely to verify a single hadith. He wanted to ask Hazrat Uqbah bin Amir Al-Juhani رضي الله عنه about this hadith, which only those companions who heard it directly from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were present for.

Hazrat Abu Ayyub رضي الله عنه went straight to the house of the governor of Egypt, Hazrat Muslimah bin Mukhlad Al-Ansari رضي الله عنه. When it was found that he was sleeping, he said that he would not wait and should be awakened immediately. When Hazrat Muslimah رضي الله عنه woke up, he invited the guest to rest, but Hazrat Abu Ayyub رضي الله عنه said that first Hazrat Uqbah bin Amir رضي الله عنه should be called.

When Hazrat Uqbah رضي الله عنه arrived, Hazrat Abu Ayyub رضي الله عنه asked him:

Have you yourself heard this hadith from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that:

(( مَنْ سَتَرَ مُؤْمِنًا فِی الدُّنْیَا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَةِ ))

Translation:
Whoever conceals the faults of a believer in this world, Allah Almighty will conceal his faults on the Day of Resurrection.

Then a question was asked about another narration:

(( مَنْ وَّجَدَ مُسْلِمًا عَلٰی عَوْرَةٍ فَسَتَرَهُ فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْیَا مَوْؤُودَةً ))

Translation:
Whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, it is as if he has brought to life a girl who was buried alive from the grave.

Hazrat Uqbah bin Amir (RA) confirmed that he had heard these hadiths directly from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. After this confirmation, Hazrat Abu Ayyub (RA) immediately mounted his ride and set off back to Madinah Munawwarah.

Arrangements for Writing Hadith

Some people claim that hadiths were fabricated in later times, whereas the reality is that arrangements for writing hadiths were present during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (RA) narrates:
Whatever I heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I used to write it down to remember. The people of Quraysh forbade me from doing so and said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is also a human being; sometimes he speaks in happiness and sometimes in anger. Upon this, I stopped writing and mentioned this matter before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Then he ﷺ pointed with his finger towards his mouth and said:

(( اُكْتُبْ! فَوَالَّذِی نَفْسِی بِیَدِهِ مَا یَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ إِلَّا حَقٌّ ))

Translation:
Write, by the One in Whose hand is my soul, nothing but the truth comes out of this mouth.

This narration is definitive proof that the Noble Prophet ﷺ himself permitted and even encouraged writing down the Ahadith.

The Virtue of Memorizing and Conveying Ahadith

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave a special supplication and glad tidings for those who memorize, preserve, and convey his Ahadith.

(( نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً سَمِعَ مَقَالَتِی فَوَعَاهَا وَحَفِظَهَا وَبَلَّغَهَا ))

Translation:
May Allah make the face of the person who listens to my words, remembers them, and conveys them fresh and radiant.

In another narration it is stated:

(( نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً سَمِعَ مِنَّا شَیْئًا فَبَلَّغَهُ كَمَا سَمِعَهُ ))

Translation:
May Allah refresh the face of the person who hears something from us and conveys it exactly as he heard it.

Predictions Related to Actions

The second major part of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s predictions concerns the actions that will become common among the Muslim Ummah in the future. It is a matter of regret that the actions about which the Prophet ﷺ warned are exactly present in our society today. The purpose of these predictions was not merely to inform but to warn the Ummah and call them towards reform.

The Ummah Following the Ways of Jews and Christians

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( لَتَتَّبِعُنَّ سَنَنَ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ شِبْرًا بِشِبْرٍ، وَذِرَاعًا بِذِرَاعٍ، حَتَّىٰ لَوْ سَلَكُوا جُحْرَ ضَبٍّ لَسَلَكْتُمُوهُ ))
قُلْنَا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ! الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ؟
قَالَ: (( فَمَنْ؟ ))

Translation:
You will surely follow the ways of those who came before you, hand span by hand span and cubit by cubit, so much so that if they enter the den of a lizard, you will also enter it after them.
We asked: O Messenger of Allah! Are you referring to the Jews and Christians?
He ﷺ said: Then who else?

This prophecy has been fulfilled. Today, the majority of Muslims imitate the Jews and Christians in beliefs, culture, civilization, lifestyle, clothing, social conduct, and even in their way of thinking.

Making graves places of prostration

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrate that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ repeatedly said during his illness before passing away:

(( لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ ))

Translation:
May the curse of Allah be upon the Jews and Christians who have made the graves of their prophets places of prostration.

The purpose of this command was to warn the Ummah not to turn graves into places of worship, but today, regrettably, it must be said that this practice has become common among the Ummah.

Making Scholars and Sheikhs into Lords

Allah Almighty says:

﴿ اِتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ ﴾

Translation:
They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah.

Hazrat Uday bin Hatim (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ explained this verse by saying:

(( أَمَا إِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَعْبُدُونَهُمْ، وَلَكِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا أَحَلُّوا لَهُمْ شَيْئًا اسْتَحَلُّوهُ، وَإِذَا حَرَّمُوا عَلَيْهِمْ شَيْئًا حَرَّمُوهُ ))

Translation:
They did not worship them, but when they declared something lawful, they considered it lawful, and when they declared something unlawful, they considered it unlawful.

This is the exact situation found today among Muslims in the form of blind imitation.

The Ummah Dividing into Sects

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَىٰ ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً، كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا وَاحِدَةً ))
قِيلَ: مَنْ هِيَ؟
قَالَ: (( مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ وَأَصْحَابِي ))

Translation:
My Ummah will be divided into seventy-three sects, all of whom will be in Hell except one.
It was asked: Which sect will that be?
He said: The one that follows the path on which I and my companions are.

The spread of pride, arrogance, hatred, and envy in the Ummah

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( سَیُصِیْبُ أُمَّتِی دَاءُ الْأُمَمِ ))
قَالُوا: یَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ! وَمَا دَاءُ الْأُمَمِ؟
قَالَ:
(( الْأَشَرُ وَالْبَطَرُ، وَالتَّكَاثُرُ وَالتَّنَافُسُ فِی الدُّنْیَا، وَالتَّبَاغُضُ وَالتَّحَاسُدُ حَتَّىٰ یَكُونَ الْبَغْیُ ))

Translation:
Soon my Ummah will be afflicted with the disease that afflicted previous nations.
The Companions (RA) asked: O Messenger of Allah! What is the disease of the nations?
You ﷺ said: Pride and arrogance, boasting about wealth and riches, competing to surpass each other in worldly gains, harboring hatred for one another, and envying each other, to the extent that it leads to oppression.

All these diseases are clearly present today in the Muslim Ummah, which have severely damaged mutual love and brotherhood.

The decline of the Muslim Ummah and the dominance of enemies

Hazrat Thuban رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( یُوشِكُ الْأُمَمُ أَنْ تَدَاعَىٰ عَلَیْكُمْ كَمَا تَدَاعَى الْأَكَلَةُ إِلَىٰ قَصْعَتِهَا ))
قَالَ قَائِلٌ: وَمِنْ قِلَّةٍ نَحْنُ یَوْمَئِذٍ؟
قَالَ:
(( بَلْ أَنْتُمْ یَوْمَئِذٍ كَثِیرٌ، وَلَكِنَّكُمْ غُثَاءٌ كَغُثَاءِ السَّیْلِ، وَلَیَنْزِعَنَّ اللَّهُ مِنْ صُدُورِ عَدُوِّكُمُ الْمَهَابَةَ مِنْكُمْ، وَلَیَقْذِفَنَّ اللَّهُ فِی قُلُوبِكُمُ الْوَهْنَ ))
قِیلَ: وَمَا الْوَهْنُ یَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟
قَالَ:
(( حُبُّ الدُّنْیَا وَكَرَاهِیَةُ الْمَوْتِ ))

Translation:
It is near that other nations will attack you as people who eat attack a dish.
Someone asked: Will we be fewer in number at that time?
He said: No, rather you will be many in number, but weak like stalks of a flood. Allah will remove your awe from the hearts of your enemies and put weakness in your hearts.
It was asked: What is weakness?
He said: Love of the world and dislike of death.

Pride in decorating mosques instead of populating them

Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( لَا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّىٰ یَتَبَاهَى النَّاسُ فِی الْمَسَاجِدِ ))

Translation:
The Hour will not be established until people compete with one another in the decoration and adornment of mosques.

And Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما said:

(( مَا أُمِرْتُ بِتَشْیِیدِ الْمَسَاجِدِ ))
قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ:
(( لَتُزَخْرِفُنَّهَا كَمَا زَخْرَفَتِ الْیَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ ))

Translation:
I have not been commanded to adorn mosques.
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) said: You will surely adorn mosques just as the Jews and Christians have done.

The disappearance of the distinction between halal and haram

Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( لَیَأْتِیَنَّ عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لَا یُبَالِی الْمَرْءُ بِمَا أَخَذَ الْمَالَ، أَمِنَ الْحَلَالِ أَمْ مِنَ الْحَرَامِ ))

Translation:
A time will come upon the people when a person will not care whether his wealth is earned through halal means or haram means.

This prophecy has been fulfilled today in the form of widespread usury, bribery, deceit, fraud, and unlawful sources of income.

The prevalence of adultery, silk, intoxicants, and musical instruments

Hazrat Abu Aamir or Abu Malik al-Ash’ari (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( لَیَكُونَنَّ مِنْ أُمَّتِی أَقْوَامٌ یَسْتَحِلُّونَ الْحِرَ وَالْحَرِیرَ وَالْخَمْرَ وَالْمَعَازِفَ ))

Translation:
There will certainly be some people among my Ummah who will consider adultery, silk, wine, and musical instruments as lawful.

This prophecy has fully manifested today. Adultery is being justified under various names, silk—which is forbidden for men—is openly worn, alcohol and other intoxicants are prevalent under different names, and music is called “art” and “entertainment” instead of a sin.

The Holy Prophet ﷺ clearly stated about intoxicants:

(( كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ خَمْرٌ، وَكُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ ))

Translation:
Every intoxicating thing is khamr (wine), and every intoxicating thing is forbidden.

Punishment due to the prevalence of musical instruments and alcohol

It is narrated from Hazrat Sahl bin Sa’d (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

(( سَیَكُونُ فِی آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ خَسْفٌ وَقَذْفٌ وَمَسْخٌ ))
قِیلَ: وَمَتَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ یَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟
قَالَ:
(( إِذَا ظَهَرَتِ الْمَعَازِفُ وَالْقَیْنَاتُ وَاسْتُحِلَّتِ الْخَمْرُ ))

Translation:
In the last days, there will be occurrences of the earth swallowing people, stones raining down, and faces being disfigured.
It was asked: O Messenger of Allah! When will this happen?
He said: When musical instruments become widespread, female singers increase, and alcohol is considered lawful.

Committing sins in seclusion and the loss of good deeds

Hazrat Thuban (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

(( لَأَعْلَمَنَّ أَقْوَامًا مِنْ أُمَّتِی یَأْتُونَ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَةِ بِحَسَنَاتٍ أَمْثَالِ جِبَالِ تِهَامَةَ بَیْضًا، فَیَجْعَلُهَا اللَّهُ هَبَاءً مَنْثُورًا ))
قَالَ ثَوْبَانُ: یَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ! صِفْهُمْ لَنَا.
قَالَ:
(( أَمَا إِنَّهُمْ إِخْوَانُكُمْ، وَیَأْخُذُونَ مِنَ اللَّیْلِ كَمَا تَأْخُذُونَ، وَلَكِنَّهُمْ إِذَا خَلَوْا بِمَحَارِمِ اللَّهِ انْتَهَكُوهَا ))

Translation:
I know of people from my Ummah who will come on the Day of Judgment carrying good deeds as heavy as the mountains of Tahamah, but Allah will turn them into flying dust.
Hazrat Thuban (RA) asked: O Messenger of Allah, please explain who they are.
He said: They will be your own brothers, who pray at night, but when alone, they commit what Allah has forbidden.

Conclusion

It is obligatory upon us not to ignore the prophecies of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as mere historical events, but to learn lessons from them.
We must correct our beliefs according to the Quran and Sunnah, avoid both apparent and hidden sins, and shape our lives according to the pleasure of Allah.
May Allah grant us the ability to recognize the truth, act upon it, and grant us a good ending. Ameen.