Is the Hadith About Black Flags from Khurasan Authentic? A Scholarly Review
Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah – Volume 3, Usul, Takhrij al-Riwayat and Their Rulings – Page 180
Date of Compilation: 28 October 2010
Subject of Research: Authenticity of the Narration Regarding Black Flags from Khurasan
A narration states:
"When you see black flags coming from the direction of Khurasan, then join that army, even if you have to crawl over snow to reach them, for among them will be Allah's final caliph, al-Mahdi."
(See: Abu Lubabah Shah Mansoor Deobandi, Dajjal Kon? Kab? Kahan?, p. 35-36; referenced in: Al-Fitan by Nuʿaym bin Ḥammād: 896, Al-Mustadrak by Al-Hakim: 8564, Asim Umar Deobandi, Teesri Jang-e-Azeem aur Dajjal, p. 56; Al-Mustadrak 4/1510; Sunan Ibn Majah 2/1367)
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
This narration is transmitted through the following chain:
"From Sufyan al-Thawri, from Khalid al-Hadhdha’, from Abu Qilabah, from Abu Asma’ al-Rahbi, from Thawban (رضي الله عنه)"
It appears in the following works:
① Sunan Ibn Majah (4084)
② Al-Mustadrak by Al-Hakim (4/463-464, Hadith 8432) – Al-Hakim declared it authentic according to the conditions of Bukhari and Muslim, and Al-Dhahabi concurred.
③ Musnad al-Ruyani (Vol. 1, p. 317-418, Hadith 637)
④ Dala’il al-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqi (6/515) – Comment: "This narration is only transmitted by ʿAbd al-Razzaq from al-Thawri."
⑤ Al-Sunan al-Waridah fi al-Fitan by Al-Dani (5/1032-1033, Hadith 548)
Imam Sufyan al-Thawri (رحمه الله) was a meticulous Imam, but also a well-known mudallis (one who obscures the mode of transmission).
✿ Abu Zur‘ah Ibn al-‘Iraqi: "Famous for tadlis" (Kitab al-Mudallisin, p. 52, no. 21)
✿ Ibn al-‘Ajami & Suyuti: "Known for it" (Al-Tabyin li Asma’ al-Mudallisin, p. 25; Asma’ al-Mudallisin, p. 18)
✿ Hafiz Ibn Hibban (رحمه الله): Only those mudallis narrators are acceptable whose narration includes explicit mention of hearing (samaʿ), like Sufyan al-Thawri, al-A‘mash, Abu Ishaq, etc. (Al-Ihsan 1/90; ‘Ilmi Maqalat, Vol. 1, p. 266; Vol. 3, p. 308)
✿ ‘Ayni (Hanafi): "A narration from a mudallis through ‘an’ (عن) is not a valid proof unless there is explicit confirmation of hearing." (‘Umdat al-Qari 3/112; Al-Hadith Hazro 66, p. 27)
✿ Ibn al-Turkmani (Hanafi): While criticizing a narration, he identified three defects, one of which was that Sufyan al-Thawri is a mudallis and narrated via ‘an’. (Al-Jawhar al-Naqi 8/262)
This narration lacks explicit confirmation of hearing (samaʿ), hence it is classified as weak.
Moreover, based on certain evidences, classifying Sufyan al-Thawri among second-tier mudallisun is incorrect.
(See: Al-Hadith 67, p. 3211)
"When you see black flags emerging from Khurasan, then go to them even if you have to crawl, for among them is Allah’s Caliph, al-Mahdi."
(Al-Mustadrak 4/502, Hadith 8531; Dala’il al-Nubuwwah 6/516)
✿ This narration is mawquf – i.e., a statement of the Companion, not directly from the Prophet ﷺ. Its chain is hasan li-dhatihi (intrinsically sound).
✿ The narrator ʿAbd al-Wahhab ibn ‘Aṭā explicitly mentioned hearing (samaʿ).
✿ Yahya ibn Abi Talib is deemed reliable by the majority and is considered a ḥasan al-ḥadith narrator.
✿ Mentions black flags.
✿ Appears in several Hadith collections:
Narrator: Yazid ibn Abi Ziyad al-Kufi – considered weak by the majority.
(See: Hady al-Sari by Ibn Hajar, p. 459; Zawa’id Sunan Ibn Majah by al-Busiri 2116)
✿ Imam al-Dhahabi remarked: "هذا موضوع" – This is fabricated.
Hence, narrating it is impermissible.
(See: Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2269 – “This hadith is strange and hasan”, Musnad Ahmad 2/365, Hadith 8775, Al-Awsat by al-Tabarani 3/323, Dala’il al-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqi 6/516, Hadith 3560)
✿ Narrator: Rushdayn ibn Saʿd – considered weak by the majority.
(See: Takhrij al-Ihya by al-‘Iraqi 4/84; Majmaʿ al-Zawa’id 5/66, 1/58, 201; Itḥaf al-Sadah al-Muttaqin 9/53)
✿ Contains numerous weak and rejected narrations and reports.
(See: Hadiths 851–866)
✔ The narration is not proven to be Marfuʿ (i.e., directly from the Prophet ﷺ).
✔ However, it is established as Mawquf, i.e., a statement of the Companion Thawban (رضي الله عنه).
✔ The narration lacks a valid samaʿ in the chain of Sufyan al-Thawri and thus is weak as a Marfuʿ report.
✔ Some other narrations mentioning black flags also suffer from weak chains and even fabrication.
Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah – Volume 3, Usul, Takhrij al-Riwayat and Their Rulings – Page 180 Date of Compilation: 28 October 2010 Subject of Research: Authenticity of the Narration Regarding Black Flags from Khurasan❖ Question:
A narration states:
"When you see black flags coming from the direction of Khurasan, then join that army, even if you have to crawl over snow to reach them, for among them will be Allah's final caliph, al-Mahdi."
(See: Abu Lubabah Shah Mansoor Deobandi, Dajjal Kon? Kab? Kahan?, p. 35-36; referenced in: Al-Fitan by Nuʿaym bin Ḥammād: 896, Al-Mustadrak by Al-Hakim: 8564, Asim Umar Deobandi, Teesri Jang-e-Azeem aur Dajjal, p. 56; Al-Mustadrak 4/1510; Sunan Ibn Majah 2/1367)
❖ Response:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
◈ Examination of the Chain and Sources of the Narration:
This narration is transmitted through the following chain:
"From Sufyan al-Thawri, from Khalid al-Hadhdha’, from Abu Qilabah, from Abu Asma’ al-Rahbi, from Thawban (رضي الله عنه)"
It appears in the following works:
① Sunan Ibn Majah (4084)
② Al-Mustadrak by Al-Hakim (4/463-464, Hadith 8432) – Al-Hakim declared it authentic according to the conditions of Bukhari and Muslim, and Al-Dhahabi concurred.
③ Musnad al-Ruyani (Vol. 1, p. 317-418, Hadith 637)
④ Dala’il al-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqi (6/515) – Comment: "This narration is only transmitted by ʿAbd al-Razzaq from al-Thawri."
⑤ Al-Sunan al-Waridah fi al-Fitan by Al-Dani (5/1032-1033, Hadith 548)
◈ Status of Narrator: Sufyan al-Thawri
Imam Sufyan al-Thawri (رحمه الله) was a meticulous Imam, but also a well-known mudallis (one who obscures the mode of transmission).
❀ Statements of Hadith Scholars:
✿ Abu Zur‘ah Ibn al-‘Iraqi: "Famous for tadlis" (Kitab al-Mudallisin, p. 52, no. 21)
✿ Ibn al-‘Ajami & Suyuti: "Known for it" (Al-Tabyin li Asma’ al-Mudallisin, p. 25; Asma’ al-Mudallisin, p. 18)
✿ Hafiz Ibn Hibban (رحمه الله): Only those mudallis narrators are acceptable whose narration includes explicit mention of hearing (samaʿ), like Sufyan al-Thawri, al-A‘mash, Abu Ishaq, etc. (Al-Ihsan 1/90; ‘Ilmi Maqalat, Vol. 1, p. 266; Vol. 3, p. 308)
✿ ‘Ayni (Hanafi): "A narration from a mudallis through ‘an’ (عن) is not a valid proof unless there is explicit confirmation of hearing." (‘Umdat al-Qari 3/112; Al-Hadith Hazro 66, p. 27)
✿ Ibn al-Turkmani (Hanafi): While criticizing a narration, he identified three defects, one of which was that Sufyan al-Thawri is a mudallis and narrated via ‘an’. (Al-Jawhar al-Naqi 8/262)
This narration lacks explicit confirmation of hearing (samaʿ), hence it is classified as weak.Moreover, based on certain evidences, classifying Sufyan al-Thawri among second-tier mudallisun is incorrect.
(See: Al-Hadith 67, p. 3211)
◈ A Second Marfuʿ Narration from Thawban (رضي الله عنه):
"When you see black flags emerging from Khurasan, then go to them even if you have to crawl, for among them is Allah’s Caliph, al-Mahdi."
(Al-Mustadrak 4/502, Hadith 8531; Dala’il al-Nubuwwah 6/516)
✿ This narration is mawquf – i.e., a statement of the Companion, not directly from the Prophet ﷺ. Its chain is hasan li-dhatihi (intrinsically sound).
✿ The narrator ʿAbd al-Wahhab ibn ‘Aṭā explicitly mentioned hearing (samaʿ).
✿ Yahya ibn Abi Talib is deemed reliable by the majority and is considered a ḥasan al-ḥadith narrator.
◈ A Lengthy Narration from ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿud (رضي الله عنه):
✿ Mentions black flags.
✿ Appears in several Hadith collections:
- Sunan Ibn Majah (4082)
- Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (15/235, Hadith 37716)
- Musnad Ibn Abi Shaybah (1/209-210, Hadith 308)
- Musnad al-Shafiʿi (1/347, Hadith 329)
- Musnad Abi Yaʿla (5/1783; another version 6/232)
- Al-Ḍuʿafāʾ by al-‘Uqayli (4/381)
- Al-Fitan by al-Dani (5/1031-1032, Hadith 547)
- Al-Fitan by Imam Nuʿaym ibn Ḥammād al-Ṣadūq (852)
Narrator: Yazid ibn Abi Ziyad al-Kufi – considered weak by the majority.
(See: Hady al-Sari by Ibn Hajar, p. 459; Zawa’id Sunan Ibn Majah by al-Busiri 2116)
◈ A Fabricated Narration in Al-Mustadrak (4/464, Hadith 8434):
✿ Imam al-Dhahabi remarked: "هذا موضوع" – This is fabricated.
Hence, narrating it is impermissible.
◈ A Narration Attributed to Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
(See: Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2269 – “This hadith is strange and hasan”, Musnad Ahmad 2/365, Hadith 8775, Al-Awsat by al-Tabarani 3/323, Dala’il al-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqi 6/516, Hadith 3560)
✿ Narrator: Rushdayn ibn Saʿd – considered weak by the majority.
(See: Takhrij al-Ihya by al-‘Iraqi 4/84; Majmaʿ al-Zawa’id 5/66, 1/58, 201; Itḥaf al-Sadah al-Muttaqin 9/53)
◈ Regarding the Book Al-Fitan by Nuʿaym ibn Hammad al-Marwazi:
✿ Contains numerous weak and rejected narrations and reports.
(See: Hadiths 851–866)
✦ Summary of Research:
✔ The narration is not proven to be Marfuʿ (i.e., directly from the Prophet ﷺ).
✔ However, it is established as Mawquf, i.e., a statement of the Companion Thawban (رضي الله عنه).
✔ The narration lacks a valid samaʿ in the chain of Sufyan al-Thawri and thus is weak as a Marfuʿ report.
✔ Some other narrations mentioning black flags also suffer from weak chains and even fabrication.
