Are These Hadiths About The End Times Authentic?
Answered by Ustadh Farid Dingle
Question
- There is a hadith, ‘Every action has its peak and every peak has it’s a low …’ What is the source and authenticity of this hadith?
- There is a hadith from Abdullah ibn Masud (Allah be well pleased with him) about twenty-odd signs of the End of Time. Is the hadith authentic?
- There is a hadith from Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al As (Allah be well pleased with him) about tunnels being dug in Mecca and the closeness of the hour. Is the hadith authentic?
- Is it true that the spread of homosexuality is one of the signs of the end of time?
Answer
- There is a hadith, ‘Every action has its peak and every peak has it’s a low …’ What is the source and authenticity of this hadith?
The hadith is in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad (6539-6340) that Abdullah ibn Amr al-As (Allah be well pleased with him) said, ‘It was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) that certain men who really expending themselves in worship. He replied, ‘This is the eagerness kindled by newly becoming Muslim. Every eagnerness has its voracity, but every voracity has its weakening. Whoever weakens off towards to true moderation and prophetic example has followed something truly sound; whoever weakens towards sins is the one who is truly destroyed.’
The editor of the Risala print of the Musnad, Shaykh Shuayb al Arnaut, rated the hadith as authentic (sahih li ghayrihi).
- The hadith from Abdullah ibn Masud (Allah be well pleased with him) about twenty-odd signs of the End of Time is in Tabarani in al Mujam al Kabir and Bayhaqi in al Bath wa al Nushur, and is very weak or possibly even fabricated. (al Bath wa al Nushur, Bayhaqi; Mughni an Haml al-Asfar fi al-Asfar, Iraqi)
Among the twenty-off signs, it mentions children being angry, alcohol being rife, homosexuality becoming widespread, and dishes being continuous/connected. Allah knows best, but I believe it is referring to overeating, and not satellite dishes, as the questioner suggested. But Allah knows best.
- The hadith from Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al As (Allah be well pleased with him) about tunnels being dug in Mecca and the closeness of the hour is an authentic hadith according the Shaykh Muhammad Awwama. They are the words of Abdullah ibn Amr himself, so the hadith is mawquf. (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayba, #14306, ed. Shaykh Muhammad Awwama). The text of the hadith is:
Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al As (Allah be well pleased with him) said, ‘When you see tunnels/canals being dug in Mecca and the buildings higher than the peak of the mountains, then know that the matter is shadowing over you.’
The editor, Shaykh Muhammad Awwama, says that it refers to the tunnels that have been made in the modern era. He does accept that there are other valid linguistic interpretations. (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayba, #14306, ed. Shaykh Muhammad Awwama)
- It does indeed seem true that the spread of homosexuality is one of the signs of the end of time. There are various weak hadiths to indicate this, and together they offer good evidence.
One such hadith is the weak hadith mentioned in question #1 in which we read, ‘Indeed on the signs of the Hour and its portents is that men will suffice themselves with men, and women with women.’ (al Mujam al Kabir, Tabarani; al Bath wa al Nushur, Bayhaqi)
Although the hadith is very weak, the idea is found in many weak hadiths, so the concept seems to be sound. And Allah knows best.
Practical upshot
A bedouin once asked the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) when the Hour would be. He replied, ‘What have you prepared for it?’
‘Love of Allah and His messenger.’
‘You will be with whomever you love.’ (Bukhari)
I pray this helps.
[Ustadh] Farid
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years, he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.
