Part 6

Book of The End : Great Trials and Tribulations 35

Lord (Alone). None can reveal its time but He. Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you except all of a sudden.’ They ask you as if you have a good knowledge of it. Say: The knowledge thereof is with Allah (Alone) but most of mankind know not,“

“The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder (the people of Makkah requested Prophet Muhammad 8 to show them a miracle, so he showed them the splitting of the moon).""7)

The Nearness Of The Hour

It is related in a narration, “(So near is it at hand) that it has almost preceded me.” This indicates its proximity in relation to the time that has gone by in this world. Allah 8 says: we te ke ae oetee E epee per Bee pelle th Sah “Draws near for mankind their reckoning, while they turn away in heedlessness,’"!

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“The Event (the Hour or the punishment of disbelievers and polytheists or the Islamic laws or commandments), ordained by Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted is He above all that they associate as partners with Him. a)

36 Book of The End: Great Trials and Tribulations

“Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it, while those who believe are fearful of it, and know that it is the very truth. Verily, those who dispute concerning the Hour are certainly in error far eway."")

On The Day Of Resurrection, The Muslim Will Be Resurrected With Those Whom He Loves

A Bedouin once asked the Messenger of Allah :% about the Hour, and he #% said, “Indeed it is happening (Le. it will certainly come to pass), and what preparation have you made for it?” The man said, “By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I have not prepared much in terms of prayer or action, but I do indeed love Allah and His Messenger.” The Prophet #8 said, “You are with those whom you loved.” (Muslim) The Muslims never became as happy about something as they became with this hadith.

Whoever Dies, Then His Hour Has Arrived

The Keys To The Unseen Are Five: None Knows Them Save Allah %

In an authentic hadith the Prophet # said that there are five matters regarding which none has knowledge save Allah #%. The Prophet #@ then recited:

Book of The End: Great Trials and Tribulations

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“Verily, Allah! With Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die, Verily, Allah is All-Knower, All-Aware (of things). vA

The Messenger Of Allah #3 Did Not Know The Time Of The Hour

When Jibreel # came in the form of a Bedouin and asked the Prophet #% about Islam, then Eemaan, and then Ihsaan, the Prophet 2% answered him. But when Jibreel # asked about the Hour, the Prophet 2% said, “The one who is questioned does not have more

knowledge about it than the questioner.”

38 Book of The End: Great Trials and Tribulations

THE TRIALS IN GENERAL

The Prophet # Informed Us About The Rotation Of Good And Evil

Islam Will Return Strange And New As It Had Begun

‘Abdullah Tbn Mas‘ood reported that the Messenger of Allah ¢ said, “Indeed Islam began new and strange and it shall return as it began - new and strange. So glad tidings to the strangers.” (Muslim) It was asked, “And who are the strangers?” He 2% said, “Those who are far away from the tribes.” (Ibn Maajah)

Division Within The Nations

Abu Hurairah # related that the Messenger of Allah #€ said, “The Jews divided into 71 sects and my Nation will divide into 73 sects.”

Book of The End: Great Trials and Tribulations 39

The Prophet #% Informed Us That Trials Will Divide The Nation And Safety Will Be In Adhering To The Jamaa’ah (Those Who Are Upon The Way Of The Prophet #3 And His Companions)

‘Aout ibn Maalik -& related that the Messenger of Allah #% said, “The Jews divided into 71 sects: one is in Paradise and 70 are in the Hellfire. The Christians divided into 72 sects: one is in Paradise and 71 are in the Hellfire. And by the One Who has my soul in His Hand, this nation of mine will be divided into 73 sects: one is in Paradise and 72 are in the Hellfire.” It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who do you see they (i.e., the members of the saved group) are?” He #8 said, “Al-Jamaa‘ah (those who are upon the way of the Prophet # and his Companions).” (Ibn Maajah)

Anas ibn Maalik related that the Messenger of Allah #& said, “Indeed the children of Israel divided into 71 sects, and my nation will be divided into 72 sects. All of them are in the Hellfire save for one: they are the Jamaa’ah.” (Ibn Maajah)

Ahmad ibn Abee ‘Aamir Al-Hoozanee related that Mu’aawiyah ibn Abee Sufyaan stood and said, “Indeed the Messenger of Allah 2% stood among us and said, ‘Lo! Indeed those before you from the People of the Book divided into 72 sects, and indeed this religious community (Le., this nation) will be divided into 73 (sects) - 72 in the Hellfire and one in Paradise, and they are the Jamaa’ah.” (Abu Daawood) Abu Daawood alone related it and its chain is Hasan. In another narration, when they asked the Prophet # about the saved. group, he 2% said, “That which I and my Companions are upon today.” (Mustadrak Al-Haakim) And we have already seen from the hadith of Hudhaifah 4 that the one who is saved from trials when they come is he who follows the Jamaa’ah and adheres to obedience (to Allah, his Messenger #@, and those in authority).

This Nation Will Not Gather Upon Misguidance

40 Book of The End: Great Trials and Tribulations

adhere to the vast majority - the truth and its people.” So the people of the truth constitute the majority of this nation, especially in the first generations: you would hardly find anyone that was upon an innovation. As for later generations, there will continue to remain a group that is upon the truth.

Permission To Withdraw From People When Trials Become Severe And When Desires Become Deeply Ingrained

What some of these narrations indicate is that it is permissible to withdraw from people when trials begin to appear. And the following is established in a hadith: “Then if you see miserliness with avarice being obeyed, desires being followed, the opinion of each person being admired by its holder, then upon you is to adhere to your own self, leaving the affairs of the general public.”