Part 3

The People Of The First Generation, The Companions Of The Messenger of Allah #%, Are The Best Of This Nation.

Some Narrations Which Mention That A Large Number Of People From This nation Will Enter Paradise Without Reckoning ..

A Woman Might Have Been Married To More Than One Man During Her Lifetime; In Paradise,

Book of The End: Great Trials and Tribulations 21

Jn The Name Of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful.

O Allah, send prayers and salutations on Muhammad, his family, and his Companions. ‘This is the Book of The End: Great Trials and Tribulations. It deals with what the Prophet 2% informed us about regarding the signs of the Hour and the great events that are to take place before the Day of Judgment, all of which we must have faith in, because the Prophet # spoke not from desire, but from revelation.

Abu Moosa Al-Ash’aree related that the Messenger of Allah 2 said, “This nation of mine is one upon which there is mercy; there is no punishment upon it in the Hereafter; its punishment is in this world — with trials, earthquakes, and killings.”

Hitherto in our discussion on the unseen past/] we covered in detail events that pertain to the beginning of the world, the stories of the prophets, and the history of peoples until our era. Then we discussed the biography of the Prophet #é, mentioning his characteristics and the proofs of his prophethood. Then we covered some events that the Prophet #¢ prophesized about and that have already taken place before our century. When we gave an account of events that took place after the Prophet's death, we pointed out those occurrences about which a hadith gave information. Since we already mentioned those prophesies that have already become realized and since it. would be too long to repeat them all here, we will suffice by mentioning only a few examples, after which we will return to the main theme of this work. And we seek help from Allah #.

' This book is a continuation of Ibn Katheer’s history book, Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah; whereas the previous volumes are concerned with past events, this one is chiefly concerned with events that are yet to take place.

22 Book of The End : Great Trials and Tribulations

SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT THE PROPHET # SAID WOULD OCCUR AFTER HIS LIFETIME

The Prophet #¢ intimated that after him Abu Bakr would take charge over the Muslim Nation

In another narration, the Prophet # said, “And with those two who come after me, Abu Bakr and “Umar.” (Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, AtTirmidhee, who ruled it to be authentic). These words were proven to be true, for Abu Bakr .4 became Khaleefah after the Prophet # and he was then followed by ‘Umar #.

The Prophet #% Intimated To Us That The Muslims Would Conquer Egypt

Yon Ka’ab related from his father @ that the Messenger of Allah 2¢ said, “When you conquer Egypt, then treat its inhabitants in a good manner.” (Maalik) And in another narration, “Treat its inhabitants in a good manner, for they have the right of security and they are kinsfolk (Hagar, the mother of Ismaa’eel, was from them).” ‘Amr ibn Al-Aas 2 led the Muslim army that conquered Egypt in the year 20 H, during the caliphate of ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab . And Abu Dhar # related that the Prophet 2% said, “Indeed you will conquer a land in which Al-Qeeraat is mentioned (Al-Qeeraat is a portion of a dinar, dirham, and other currencies; the people of

Book of The End: Great Trials and Tribulations 23

Egypt, who used Al-Qeeraat in their transactions, would speak about it often). Treat its inhabitants well, for they have the right of security and they are kinsfolk.” (Muslim)

The Prophet #% Foretold The End Of The Persian And Roman Empires

The Messenger of Allah #¥ said, “When Caesar is destroyed, there will be no Caesar after him, and when Kisra {a title designated to the emperor of Persia) is destroyed, there will be no Kisra after him. And by the One Who has my soul in His Hand, you will spend their treasures in the way of Allah.” (Bukhaaree and Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah 4 Prophesized “Umar’s Murder

24 Book of The End: Great Trials and Tribulations

which will become agitated like the agitation of the sea (i.e. when people will become submersed in discord).’ I said, ‘O leader of the believers, indeed between it and you is a closed door.’ He said, ‘Woe unto you! Will the door be opened or will it break?’ I said, ‘Rather, it will break.’ He said, ‘Then it will never be closed again.’ I said, ‘Indeed.’ ”

Shafeeq Ibn Salamah said, “We said to Hudhaifah, ‘It is as if (Umar 4% knows who that door is?’’” Hudhaifah answered, “Yes, J related to him a hadith that was not false (not false because it was spoken by the Prophet #%, who spoke not from desire, but from revelation).” Shafeeg later said, “We were afraid to ask Hudhaifah who the door was, so we asked Masrooq to ask.” Hudhaifah a answered, “Umar.” And this is exactly what occurred. After ‘Umar 2 was killed in the year 23 H, people became engulfed in trials; ‘Umar’s death was what led to the spreading of those trials.

The Prophet #% Foretold The Trials That ‘Uthmaan .# Was To Undergo

The Prophet #¢ said that ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan #& was from the inhabitants of Paradise but that he would first be afflicted by a trial. This happened when he was besieged in his own home. Throughout that trial until its culmination - when he was murdered - he was patient and was hoping for his reward from Allah #%, and he became a martyr. When we previously discussed the events surrounding ‘Uthmaan’s murder, we mentioned those Ahandeeth in which that murder was foretold by the Prophet 2%. Similarly, we mentioned those Ahaadeeth which foretold of the events that took place during the days of Jamal and Siffeen."] And we seek help from Allah 4%.

The Prophet 3 Foretold ‘Ammaar Ibn Yaasir‘s Killing

There are narrations in which the Prophet #¥ said that ‘Ammar 2 would be killed. As for the Khawaarij, whom ‘Alee Ibn Abee Taalib # fought, there are many ahaadeeth related about them, ahaadeeth

& Brom this point forward, when Imam Ibn Katheer - may Allah have mercy on him - says about a hadith or topic that he discussed it earlier, it might be from an earlier section of this volume, but he may be referring to what he wrote in a previous volume of his book on history.

Book of The End: Great Trials and Tribulations 25

we have hitherto mentioned - all praise is for Allah and all blessings are from Him. We have also discussed the murder of ‘Alee & and the ahaadeeth that foretold it.

The Prophet 2% Specified That The Period Of The Caliphate Was To Last For Thirty Years After His Death And Then The Era Of Kingdoms Would Begin

Safeenah “ reported that the Messenger of Allah ## said, “The Khilaafah (caliphate) after me will last for thirty years; then there will be kingdom(s).” (Ahmad, Abu Daawood, An-Nisaaee, and AtTitmidhee, who ruled it to be Hasan)

The Prophet # Gave Tidings Of Al-Hasan Making Peace Between Two Huge Groups Of Muslims