The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said
“O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Shaam. O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Yemen.” The people said, “O Messenger of Allaah, and our Najd.” I think the third time the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said, “There (in Najd) will occur earthquakes, trials and tribulations, and from their appears the Horn of Satan.” Reported in al-Bukhaaree [Book of Trials, Chpt. ‘The afflictions will come from the East’ 9/166 no. 214 Eng. Trans]
A hadeeth which has some controversy surrounding it due to obvious sectarian reasons. A hadeeth which has been (deliberately) misunderstood by certain groups of people in order that they may spread their misguidance and deceive ignorant Muslims.
This because upon research and investigation and looking to the words of our early scholars we find that this hadeeth does not refer to the Najd that is famously known in Saudi today, but rather it refers to Iraaq.
About two years ago I read a book entirely devoted to this hadeeth entitled, “an-Najd Qarnu ash-Shaytaan” [I cannot remember the author as I do not have the book on me anymore.] I will quote in general from what I remember from this book, and refrain from mentioning precise quotes except from those references that I have on me.
Amongst the scholars that are mentioned who referred this hadeeth to Iraaq were: al-Khattaabee, al-Kirmaanee, al-Aynee, an-Nawawee, ibn Hajr and others. The reasons behind this are numerous and clear:
The Generality of the Hadeeth Pertaining to the Fitna Coming from the East.
212) From the father of Saalim: The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, stood up besides the pulpit (and pointed towards the east) and said: “Afflictions are there! Afflictions are there! From where appears the horn of Satan” or he said, “the horn of the Sun”
213) From ibn Umar that he said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alyahi wa sallam, saying while facing the east: “Indeed Afflictions are there, from where appears the Horn of Satan.”
214) The hadeeth of Najd under discussion.
Similar hadeeth can be found in Saheeh Muslim (volume 4 no.’s. 6938+). Hadeeth that give the same meaning can be found in Saheeh Muslim (volume 1 no.’s 83+)
That the Generality of the Early Trials and Tribulations arose from the East, many of them actually in Iraaq itself.
Ibn Hajr al-Asqalaanee said after quoting the words of al-Khattaabee explaining the meaning of Qarn (horn), “and others have said that the People of the East were disbelievers at that time and the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, informed us that the trials and tribulations would arise from that direction and it was as he said. And the first of the trials that arose, arose from the direction of the east and they were the reason for the splitting of the Muslim ranks, and this is what Satan loves and delights in. Likewise the innovations appeared from that direction.” [Fath al-Baaree 13/58 in commentary to the hadeeth of Najd]
Amongst the trials that arose in Iraaq and the east was the martyrdom of Alee, the martyrdom of the grandson of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, the first battle between the Muslims occurred in Iraaq, and many more.
Imaam Nawawee mentions that one of the greatest trials to appear from the East will be the appearance of the Dajjaal. [Sharh Saheeh Muslim 2/29]
From the innovations that appeared in the east and specifically Iraaq, was many of the early deviant sects amongst them the Qadariyyah (as the first hadeeth in Muslim shows), the Jahmiyyah and their offshoots etc…
That at the time of the Prophet, sallaahu alayhis wa sallaam, there were 13 places known as Najd [according to ‘Najd Qarnu ash-Shaytaan’] depending on where one was. This because Najd linguistically means a raised/elevated land. Therefore the Arabs referred to lands that were elevated with respect to them as Najd. One of the most commonly referred to areas at that time as Najd was Iraaq.
The Najd for those people living in Madeenah in the direction of the East would be Iraaq.
Ibn Hajr said: “al-Khattaabee said: ‘the najd in the direction of the east, and for the one who is in Madeenah then his Najd would be the desert of Iraaq and it’s regions [baadiya al-Iraaq wa Nawaaheehaa] for this is to the east of the People of Madeenah. The basic meaning of Najd is that which is raised/elevated from the earth in contravention to al-Gawr for that is what is lower than it. Tihaamah [the coastal plain along the south-western and southern shores of the Arabian Peninsula] is entirely al-Gawr and Mecca is in Tihaamah.'”
Ibn Hajr continues, “by this [saying of al-Khattaabee] the weakness of the saying of ad-Daawodee is understood that ‘Najd is in the direction of Iraaq’ [min Naahiya al-Iraaq] for he suggests that Najd is a specific place. This is not the case, rather everything that is elevated with respect to what adjoins it is called Najd and the lower area called Gawr.” [Fath al-Baaree 13/58-59]
Al-Mubaarakfooree endorses these words in his commentary to Sunan at-Tirmidhee (10/314 no.4212)
The Hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim [4/1505 no.6943]
Saalim bin Abdullaah bin Umar said: O people of Iraaq, how strange is it that you ask about the minor sins but commit the major sins? [The killing of al-Husayn] I heard my father, Abdullaah bin Umar narrating that he heard the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, saying while pointing his hand to the east: “Indeed the turmoil would come from this side, from where appear the horns of Satan and you would strike the necks of one another…”
The Variations in Wording of the Hadeeth of Najd that Leave no Doubt Whatsoever as to what it refers to.
The hadeeth of ibn Umar Reported by Abu Nu’aym in al-Hilya (6/133), “O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Madeenah, and bestow your blessings on our Mecca, and bestow your blessings on our Shaam, and bestow your blessings on our Yemen, and bestow your blessings in our measuring (fee saa’inaa wa muddinaa).” A person said, ” O Messenger of Allaah and in our Iraaq” and so he turned away from him and said, “there will occur earthquakes, trials and tribulations and there will appear the horn of Satan.”
Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut declares it’s isnaad to be saheeh as in his footnotes to ‘Sharh as-Sunnah’ (14/206-207 fn. 2) and he too endorses the words of al-Khattaabee quoted above.
The hadeeth of ibn Umar reported in at-Tabaraanee in ‘al-Awsat’ that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam prayed Fajr and then faced the people and said, “O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Madeenah, O Allaah bestow your blessings in our measuring, O Allaah bestow your blessings in our Shaam and our Yemen.” A person said, “And Iraaq O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “from there arises the horn of Satan and the trials and tribulations would come like mounting waves.”
Ibn Hajr al-Haythamee says in his ‘Mujma az-Zawaa’id’ (3/305 – chapter ‘collection of du’aas made for (Madeenah)’): ‘its narrators are trustworthy and precise.’
[This hadeeth could possibly considered to be the same as b) above, but I have included it separately due to the slight difference in wording. Allaah knows best.]
The hadeeth of ibn Abbaas reported by at-Tabaraanee in ‘al-Kabeer’ that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, supplicated and said, “O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Shaam and Yemen.” A person from amongst the people said, “O Prophet of Allaah and Iraaq?” He said, “indeed there is the Horn of Satan, and the trials and tribulations will come like mounting waves, and indeed harshness/coarseness is in the east.”
Al-Haythamee says: “it’s narrators are trustworthy and precise.” (ibid.)
The Virtues of Bani Tameem Bani Tameem constitute the majority of the inhabitants of the Najd that is in Saudi Arabia.
The hadeeth of Saheeh Bukhaaree reported by Abu Hurayra (RA): “I have loved the people of the tribe of Bani Tameem, ever since I heard three things the Messenger of Allaah , sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said about them. I heard him saying, ‘these people (of the tribe of Bani Tameem) would stand firm against the Dajjaal.’ When the Saddaqat from that tribe came, the Messenger of Allaah , sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said, “these are the Saddaqat (charitable gifts) of our folk.” Aa’ishah had a slave girl from that tribe, and the Prophet , sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said to Aa’ishah, ‘manumit her as she is a descendant of Ismaa’eel, alayhis salaam.'”
[Hadeeth no. 2543, 4366 of al-Fath] Ibn Hajr al-Asqalaanee said, “this hadeeth also contains a clear mention of the excellence and superiority of Bani Tameem.” [Fath 5/217]
The hadeeth of Ikrimah from one of the Companions reported in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad and in it occurs, “do not say of Bani Tameem anything but good, for indeed they are the severest of people in attacking the Dajjaal.”
Al-Haythamee says: “its narrators are those of the Saheeh.” [Mujma 10/48 chpt: What is reported concerning Bani Tameem]
It is not strange that Bani Tameem would be the most severe against the Dajjaal, because the tools required to combat him are none but a correct and firm belief and proper beneficial knowledge. Alhumdolillaah many of the scholars of Saudi are from the most noble and skilled scholars on the face of this earth today, firmly upon the way of our noble Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.
This is what Allaah has allowed me to very quickly put together. And our Lord Most High Knows best.
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The hadith has two parts. It is definitely problematic for salafis who defend the Saudi family.
The Prophet (saw) referred to geographically regions like sham (levant) , Yemen (big area), Iraq (big area). All big geographic areas and real places. Innthe first part of the hadith. So najd will have to be similarly big geographic areas.
I hear salafis reinterpret najd to mean it’s root word (high peaks) and feign ignorance thsn the higher terrain in central Saudi arabia wasn’t always known as najd.
Now the “out” I can offer is this could be in any time in the history of Islam
During early Islamic history in recall during rida wars that the false prophet muslaymia hailed from thr najd reason along with the false prophetess. I believe sahabas raised armies from sham, Yemen to fight muslaymia.
East of Madeenah is the najd of Saudi not Iraq (which is North of Madeenah) – just open a map if you’re struggling
And the purpose of this article? Is this a defense for all the Isil/isil/is salafi hate in reference to Saudia/Riyadh/Najd – being the so-called root and creation of the ugly state? This article shouldve been titled ‘Saudi rejects Isis’. But nonetheless I guess its the rerun attempt to muster Saudi scholars and their traditionalists are not in common link with new age mass fitna. That’s a better debate than trying to define precisely ‘that is najd’ and we’re clean free puritans. Just as a small example – if you say Iraq is the defined area as najd – how many significant scholars in Islam and decades of dignified muslims have been linked to this region? Are they all included – even Abu Hanifa Radhiallahu anh – and the largest and strongest madhahib to this date?
Why do you people never read an article before commenting? This was written four years before ISIS was even made, and explicitly mentions the would-be doubt you failed to create. You’re just embarrassing yourselves!
Salaams, after sitting with both sufi uleema and salafi uleema personally the accusations made against Abdul Wabhab do not hold water. My meaning hear is if an accusation is made upon anyone and you have a interest in that subject you have a duty to research and acertain what that person accused has written himself rather than reading material written by, in this case salafi -been for and sufis been against. I personally have’nt come across books written by Abdul Wabhab saying anything wrong written by himself.Although come across Sufis writting things against him and salafis defending him! Go with an open mind!
as far as we can see
People are forgetting the fact that as far as history has seen, 3iraq has always been the hub of tribulations: the Tartars, the constant coup d’etat, the situation in 3iraq now, the wars and massacres such as karbala, as 3iraq was the centre of the Muslim world longer than any other place it full of tribulation unlike Hijaz area which has been relatively protected. There is a reason why there was a famous statements “Ahlu 3iraq, ahl un-nifaaq.” It was the least reliable place for 7adeeth studies as they used to say, “If a 7adeeth went to 3iraq a palms length, it would come out a forearms length.”
Also the hadeeth doesn’t even tell us about which time period we’re talking about. Perhaps a new movement will occur from either Saudi or Iraq sometime in the future. Saying its definitely Group A or Group B however is just guessing.
Which country has historically had more earthquakes?
[img]http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/middle_east/gshap.php[/img]
This image is from the following website, which is part of the US govt.
[url]http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/middle_east/gshap.php[/url]
[img]http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/middle_east/seismicity.php[/img]
Granted this is only for the recent past, but it does look very bad for Iraq if these patterns are repeated during the past too.
It is Abu Rumaysah’s article
his name is Refi Shafi
Assalamualikum
This article seems like the same as that one by brother Abu Rumaysa. While it has many good points, it’s also very one sided. I think the hadith is somewhat open to interpretation. Hence why you have sufis saying one things and salafis saying another, I personally think some certain points made by both sides are quite strong. But in regards to this particular article, I think you should research more on hadiths that take about this issue, you will find that it isn’t as simple, stating that its Iraq has flaws and I wouldn’t put it past being the saudi tyrant regime and their scholars who defend them, defend the status qou and are an obstacle for the reestablishment of the Khilafah. The Prophet saw also said that there will rise a group who will speak and know arabic, and boast religious knowledge but it won’t go past their throats. I can think of plenty of groups who fall into that category.
wa salams
Some light
The author states:
“Alhumdolillaah many of the scholars of Saudi are from the most noble and skilled scholars on the face of this earth today”
In my view and what is apparent is that some of those scholars are praising the tyrant rulers of the muslim lands and do not forbid evil that afflicts the ummah, instead you here duas for the tyrant king of Saudi, whose family attached their name to a noble land (Arabia). They are usurping the muslim wealth thanks to a man from Najd in saudi Arabia.
There is hardly any hilly land in Iraq!
Abdul Wahhabs father refuted him, and his brother said that he was one of the horns of the devil.
May Allah guide us all. ameen
In response to :
“what salafi wahhabi nonsense!”
Is this in reference to any hadeeth of the Prophet in particular, or in reference to a saying of one of the aforementioned scholars?
Osman
what salafi wahhabi nonsense!