الطَّالَقَانِيُّ عَنِ الْجَلُودِيِّ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ وَ كَانَ قَارِئاً لِلْكُتُبِ قَالَ قَرَأْتُ فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ وَ ذَكَرَ أَوْصَافَ النَّبِيِّ ص إِلَى أَنْ قَالَ تَعَالَى لِعِيسَى أَرْفَعُكَ إِلَيَّ ثُمَّ أُهْبِطُكَ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ لِتَرَى مِنْ أُمَّةِ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيِّ الْعَجَائِبَ وَ لِتُعِينَهُمْ عَلَى اللَّعِينِ الدَّجَّالِ أُهْبِطُكَ فِي وَقْتِ الصَّلَاةِ لِتُصَلِّيَ مَعَهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ أُمَّةٌ مَرْحُومَةٌ

1- Al-Amali as-Saduq: It is narrated from Taliqani from Jaludi from Hisham Ibn Ja’far from Hammad from Abdul Ibn Sulayman that he said:

“I read in Injeel where the qualities of the Holy Prophet (S) are mentioned; till the Almighty Allah said to ‘Isa (‘a): O ‘Isa, I will raise you up and then send you down during the last period of time, so that you may witness the extraordinary things of the nation of that prophet and help him in fighting Dajjal (anti-Christ). I will send you down at the time of prayers, so that you may pray with them as they are the recipients of divine mercy.”

2- Qurb al-Asnad: It is narrated from Harun from Ibn Sadaqah from Ja’far from his father (‘a) that the Messenger of Allah (S) said to his companions:

“What will be your condition at a time when your women will be corrupted and your youth will be transgressors; and when you will neither encourage good nor forbid evil?”

They asked: “O Messenger of Allah (S), would such a thing really happen?”

He replied: “Yes and worse. What will be your condition when you will order evil and forbid good?”

They asked: “O Messenger of Allah (S), would such a thing really happen?”

He replied: “Yes and worse. What will be your condition when you will consider good as evil and evil as good?”

3- Qurb al-Asnad: It is narrated from the two1 of them from Hanan that he asked Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) about the splitting of the earth at Baidha and he replied:

“(It will occur at) A valley in Sahra, between Mecca and Medina and it is at a distance of twelve miles from Zatul Jesh.”

4- Tafsir Qummi: It is narrated from Abul Jarud from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) regarding the verse:

إِنَّ اللّهَ قَادِرٌ عَلَى أَن يُنَزِّلٍ آيَةً

“Surely Allah is able to send down a sign…” (Surah Al-Anam, 6:37).

Imam (‘a) said: “In the last period of time, the Almighty Allah will show you many of His signs, among them being the appearance of Dabbat al-Ardh, the advent of Dajjal, the descent of Prophet ‘Isa (‘a) and the rising of the sun from the west.”

And Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) said with regard to the following verse:

قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ

“Say: He has the power that He should send on you a chastisement from above you or from beneath your feet, or that He should throw you into confusion, (making you) of different parties; and make some of you taste the fighting of others. See how We repeat the communications that they may understand.” (Surah Al-Anam, 6:65).

“‘From above you’ means the advent of Dajjal and the call from the sky. ‘From beneath your feet’ means the splitting of the earth. ‘Throw you into confusion’ denotes difference about religion and ridiculing each other. ‘Make some of you taste the fighting of others’ means that you will kill each other and all this will occur among Muslims only.”

5- Qurb al-Asnad: It is narrated from Ibn ‘Isa from Ibn Asbat that he said: Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) said:

“Do you think that the reappearance of Imam al-Qa’im (‘a) will occur without the advent of Sufiyani? It will not be so. The reappearance of the Qa’im as well as the advent of Sufiyani are inevitable. The reappearance of Imam al-Qa’im (‘a) will occur only after the advent of Sufiyani.”

6- Qurb al-Asnad: It is narrated from Ibn ‘Isa from Bazanti from Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) that he said:

“Before the reappearance of Imam al-Qa’im (‘a) there will occur the killing of ‘Buyuh’.”

I asked: “What is the meaning of killing of ‘Buyuh’?”

He replied: “Continuous bloodshed and killings.”

7- Qurb al-Asnad: It is narrated through his chains from Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) that he said:

“In the view of Ibn Abi Hamza, Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) thought that my father (Imam Musa al-Kazim (‘a)) was the Qa’im. But Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) did not know what command was supposed to come from the Almighty Allah. By Allah, the Almighty Allah mentions the statement of His Prophet in the Holy Qur’an that he said:

وَمَا أَدْرِي مَا يُفْعَلُ بِي وَلَا بِكُمْ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ

“I do not know what will be done with me or with you: I do not follow anything but that which is revealed to me…” (Surah Al-Ahqaf, 46:9).

And Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) also used to remark:

“The reappearance of the Qa’im will be preceded by four events: and they will prove the truth of his reappearance. Three have occurred and only the fourth remains.”

We said: “May we be sacrificed on you, what are those events that have already occurred?”

He replied: The month of Rajab when the man of Khorasan dismissed the caliphate of Mamun and removed his name from the coins and seals. After that came the Rajab in which he attacked Ibn Zubaidah and removed Amin from the throne. After that came the Rajab in which Muhammad Ibn

Ibrahim Ibn Isma’il Ibn Ibrahim Ibn Hasan Ibn Imam al-Hasan (‘a), alias Ibn Tabatabai staged an uprising in Kufa.”

We asked: “Is the fourth Rajab a continuation of the same?”

He (Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’) replied: “Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) had said only this much.”

8- Qurb al-Asnad: It is narrated through his chains from Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) that he was asked:

“How near is the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (‘a)?

He replied: “Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) has narrated from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said: The first sign of the reappearance will be seen in 195 A.H. Then in 196 A.H. the Arabs will be divested of their kingdom and there is annihilation in 197 A.H. In 198 A.H. there is exile.”

Then he said: “Can you not see that the Bani Hashim clan has been uprooted completely?”

I asked: “Is there exile for them?”

He replied: “For others also and in 199 A.H. if Allah wills, all the calamities will be dispelled and in 200 A.H. will happen what the Almighty Allah wills.”

We asked: “May we be your ransom, what will happen in 200 A.H.?”

He replied: “If I had informed anyone else, I would have told you also. And in my view I don’t think it will be proper to inform you also. But when the Almighty Allah would intend to express a matter, no one will be able to conceal it.”

I asked: “May I be your ransom, you have narrated the statement of your respected father and said at the beginning of the year that the kingdom of so-and-so will end in so-and-so year.”

He said: “Yes, I did say that.”

I said: “May Allah, keep you in health, when the kingdom of so-and-so ends, would the kingdom of anyone from Quraish be established?”

He replied: “No.”

Then I asked: “Then what would happen?”

He said: “The same which you and your associates say.”

I said: “That is the advent of Sufiyani?”

He replied: “No.”

I asked: “Then the advent of Qa’im?”

He replied: “Whatever the Almighty Allah wills will come to pass.”

I asked: “Then are you that Qa’im?”

He replied: “Definitely not! Some signs will become visible before the advent of the Qa’im. An event will occur between the holy sanctuaries.”

I asked: “Which event?”

He replied: “Bloodshed and killings and so-and-so man from so-and-so family will slay fifteen men.”

9- Tafsir Qummi: It is narrated from his (author’s) father from Muhammad Ibn Fudhail from his father from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he asked the Imam:

“May I be sacrificed on you, thus when would this happen? Imam (‘a) replied: We have not been informed about any fixed time for this. But you should know that when we tell you something and that is fulfilled, you should say: Allah and His Messenger told the truth. And if that is not fulfilled, you should still say: Allah and His Messenger told the truth. In this way you will be rewarded twice. Then he said: But when hunger and poverty increase and people will deny each other, at that time you should await for the reappearance day and night. The narrator asked: What does, “people will deny each other” means? The Imam said: When a person approaches other, the former will not meet him cheerfully, like he used to do previously and neither would he talk to him with the same courtesy as he used to do before.”

10- Tafsir Qummi: It is narrated from Abul Jarud from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) regarding the verse:

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ عَذَابُهُ بَيَاتًا أَوْ نَهَارًا مَّاذَا يَسْتَعْجِلُ مِنْهُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ

“Say: Tell me if His punishment overtakes you by night or by day! what then is there of it that the guilty would hasten on?” (Surah Yunus, 10:50).

“This punishment will befall the sinful Muslims of the last period of time, when they will reject the fact that any heavenly punishment can befall them.”

11- Tafsir Qummi: It is narrated from Abul Jarud from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) regarding the verse:

وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ فَزِعُوا فَلَا فَوْتَ

“And could you see when they shall become terrified but (then) there shall be no escape…” (Surah Saba, 34:51).

Imam (‘a) said: “This terror will be from the sky and a sound will come from the sky.

وَأُخِذُوا مِن مَّكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ

“…and they shall be seized upon from a near place…” (Surah Saba, 34:51).

He said: “That is the ground below their feet will split and they would sink into the earth.”

The author of Kashaf has narrated from Ibn Abbas that he said: “This verse was revealed about the splitting of the earth in the desert.”

It is narrated from Abu Hamza Thumali that he said: “I heard from ‘Ali Ibn Husayn and Hasan Ibn Hasan Ibn ‘Ali both that it denotes the army of the desert which will sink into the punishment below their feet.”

Narrated to me Amr Ibn Murra and Humran Ibn Ayyan and they from Mohajir Makki who says that he heard Lady Umm Salama (r.a.) say: the Messenger of Allah (S) said: A seeker of refuge will take refuge in the Ka’ba and an army will be sent to apprehend him. When that army reaches the desert of Medina, ground will split and the whole army will sink into it.

Huzaifah Yamani says that once the Holy Prophet (S) was explaining the mischief that would occur between the people of the east and the west. His Eminence, said: They would have been involved in this mischief when Sufiyani will arise from the valley of Yabis and reach Damascus. Then he will send an army to the east and another to Medina and they will camp in Baghdad, the unlucky city of Babel and slay more than three hundred men and rape a hundred ladies. They will also eliminate three hundred men from Bani Abbas.

Then they will move to Kufa and plunder the surrounding areas. From there, they will turn to Shaam. At that time a standard of guidance will come out from Kufa and slay all of them, free all the prisoners and take booties in their possession. Another army will reach Medina and indulge in plunder and slaughter for three days.

After that the army will come out from there and set out for Mecca. When it reaches the desert, the Almighty Allah will send Jibra’il and order him to destroy all of them.

When Jibra’il arrives there and kicks the ground, it will split and the whole army will sink into it. Only two men from the tribe of Jahina will survive.

It is with regard to this that the Almighty Allah has said:

وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ فَزِعُوا فَلَا فَوْتَ

“And could you see when they shall become terrified but (then) there shall be no escape…” (Surah Saba, 34:51).

Thalabi has also mentioned this report in his Tafsir.

And our associates have also narrated in the account of Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) a similar report from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) and Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a).

12- Tafsir Qummi: It is narrated from Husayn Ibn Muhammad from Mualla from Muhammad Ibn Jamhur from Ibn Mahbub from Abul Jarud that he asked Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) regarding the verse:

وَأَنَّى لَهُمُ التَّنَاوُشُ مِن مَكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ

“And how shall the attaining (of Imam al-Mahdi) be possible to them from a distant place?” (Surah Saba, 34:52).

Imam (‘a) said: “They will seek Imam al-Mahdi (‘a), but the time would have passed and it will be of no use.”

13- Kanz Jami’ al-Fawaid: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Abbas from Muhammad Ibn Hasan Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Sabah Madaini from Hasan Ibn Mahbub Ibn Shuaib from Musa Ibn ‘Umar Ibn Yazid from Ibn Abi Umair from Mansur Ibn Yunus from Isma’il Ibn Jabir from Abu Khalid Kabuli from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“Imam al-Qa’im (‘a) will rise up and then when he sets out from that place, on the way he would be informed that the person he had appointed as his governor has been assassinated. He will return and fight the enemies and then again set out from their calling the people. Till the time he reaches Baidha. Two armies of Sufiyani will emerge from there and the Almighty Allah will order the earth to sink beneath their feet. Thus the Almighty Allah has said:

وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ فَزِعُوا فَلَا فَوْتَ وَأُخِذُوا مِن مَّكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ

“And could you see when they shall become terrified, but (then) there shall be no escape and they shall be seized upon from a near place.” (Surah Saba, 34:51).

وَقَالُوا آمَنَّا بِهِ وَأَنَّى لَهُمُ التَّنَاوُشُ مِن مَكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ

“And they shall say: We believe in it. And how shall the attaining (of faith) be possible to them from a distant place?” (Surah Saba, 34:52).

They will say: We believe in the coming of the Mahdi. But how can they reach him from so far? Although before that they had denied it under various pretexts.”

14- Tafsir Qummi:

سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ

“One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall.” (Surah Al-Maarij, 70:1).

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) was asked about the meaning of the above verse and he said: “A fire will rise up from the west and a king will be flaming it from behind till reaches the house of Saad Ibn Hamam near their mosque. And he will not leave any house of Bani Umayyah without burning it down. He will burn to ashes all those who have oppressed Aali Muhammad (‘a). He will be Imam al-Mahdi (‘a).”

15- Ikmal ad-Din: It is narrated from Ibn Walid from Saffar from Ibn Maruf from Ibn Fadhdhal from Zareef Ibn Nasih from Abi Husayn that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said:

“The Messenger of Allah (S) was asked about the timing of Judgment Day and he replied: When people will have faith in astrology and deny destiny and fate from Allah.”

16- Al-Amali at-Tusi: It is narrated from Shaykh al-Mufid from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn ‘Isa Alawi from Haider Ibn Muhammad Samarqandi from Abu Amr Kishi from Hamduyah Ibn Bashar from Muhammad Ibn ‘Isa from Husayn Ibn Khalid that he said:

“I said to Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a): O son of Allah’s Messenger, Abdullah Ibn Bukair has reported a tradition, which I would like to quote before you.

Imam (‘a) asked: Which tradition is it?

I said: Abdullah Ibn Bukair has narrated a tradition from Ubaidah Ibn Zurarah that he said: I met Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) in the year of the uprising of Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Ibn Hasan and a man asked him if it was allowed to support Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Ibn Hasan in his uprising? He said: “Be quiet till the sky is silent and the earth is at rest.”

He said: Abdullah Ibn Bukair used to say: “By Allah, if we are supposed to sit quiet till the sky and the earth are at rest, it implies that there is neither any uprising nor any Qa’im.”

Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) said: “The tradition of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) is right but what Ibn Bukair has concluded is wrong.”

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) means to say that till the sky and the earth is silent you must remain quiet; that is till a call does not come from the sky and till the earth does not split.”

17- Ma’ani al-Akhbar: Shaykh as-Saduq (r.a.) has narrated from his father from Ahmad Ibn Idris from Sahl from ‘Ali Ibn Rayyan from Dahqan from Husayn Ibn Khalid from Abul Hasan Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) that I said to him:

“May I be your ransom, Abdullah Ibn Bukair has narrated a tradition from Ubaidah Ibn Zurarah that he said: I met Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) in the year of the uprising of Ibrahim Ibn Abdullah Ibn Hasan and he said to me: “Be quiet till the sky is silent and the earth is at rest.”

He said: Abdullah Ibn Bukair used to say: “By Allah, if Ubaidullah Ibn Zurarah is true, it implies that there is neither any uprising nor any Qa’im.”

He said: Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) said to me: “The tradition as Ubaidullah has narrated and as interpreted by Abdullah Ibn Bukair. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) means to say that till the sky is silent and the name of your Qa’im is not announced and till the earth remains quiet and the army of Sufiyani does not sink in it.”

18- Ma’ani al-Akhbar & Al-Amali at-Tusi: It is narrated from Ibn Walid from Muhammad Ibn Attar and Ahmad Ibn Idris together from Ashari from Sayyari from Hakam Ibn Saalim from one who narrated to him from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“We and the progeny of Abu Sufiyan are two houses that are opposed to each other with regard to the Almighty Allah. We say that the Almighty Allah has said the truth and they say that Allah has lied. It was upon this that Abu Sufiyan fought the Holy Prophet (S), Muawiyah fought ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) and Yazid Ibn Muawiyah fought Imam Husayn (‘a) and on the same pretext will Sufiyani fight Imam al-Qa’im (‘a).”

19- Basair ad-Darajat: It is narrated from Muawiyah Ibn Hakim from Muhammad Ibn Shuaib from Ghazwan from a person from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“A man from Balkh came to Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) and the Imam asked him: O Khurasani, do you know about such and such valley?”

He replied: “Yes sir, I do.”

“And do also know of a cracked lowland in that valley?”

“Yes sir, I do.”

“That is the point from where Dajjal will arise.”

The narrator says that after that Imam (‘a) asked a Yemenite man: “Are you familiar with this depression and mountain pass?”

“Yes sir, I do.”

“Do why know about such and such tree that grows in that pass?”

“Yes sir, I do.”

“Have you seen a huge rock below that tree?”

“Yes sir, I have.”

“It is the point where the tablets of Prophet Musa (‘a) are buried for Prophet Muhammad (S).”

20- Thawab al-’Amal: Shaykh as-Saduq has narrated from his father from ‘Ali from his father from Naufili from Sakuni from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (S) said:

“A time will come when my Ummah will become impure from inside and attractive from outside in order to acquire wealth. They will do show-off instead of gaining divine rewards. They will not fear Allah. Allah will punish all of them. At that time, people will supplicate like a drowning man, but their supplications will not be accepted.”

21- Thawab al-’Amal: Through the same chains, it is narrated from the Messenger of Allah (S) that he said:

“A time will come on my Ummah when only the name of the Holy Qur’an will remain. They will have only the title of Islam, while they will be far away from it. Their mosques will be filled apparently, but will be completely deprived of guidance. Their jurists will be worst under this sky and mischief will start from them and return to them.”

Remoteness Of Islam

22- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Ja’far Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Hasan Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Abdullah Ibn Mughairah Kufi (r.a.) that he said: Narrated to me my grandfather Hasan Ibn ‘Ali from his grandfather Abdullah Ibn Mughairah from Isma’il Ibn Muslim from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) from his father from his ancestors from ‘Ali (‘a) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (S) said:

“Islam certainly began strange and very soon it will revert to being strange. Thus, blessed be the strange ones.”

In Ghaybah an-Nu’mani this same tradition is narrated through another chain of narrators and it is narrated in Ikmal ad-Din from Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) from another chain of narrators.

23- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Muzaffar Ibn Ja’far Ibn Muzaffar Alawi Amari Samarqandi (r.a.) that he said: Narrated to us Ja’far Ibn Muhammad Ibn Masud from his father Muhammad Ibn Masud from Ja’far Ibn Ahmad from Amaraki Ibn ‘Ali Bufaki from Hasan Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Fadhdhal from ‘Ali Ibn Musa ar-Ridha’ from his father Musa Ibn Ja’far from his father Ja’far Ibn Muhammad from his father Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali from his father ‘Ali Ibn Husayn from his father Husayn Ibn ‘Ali from his father ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (S) said:

“Islam certainly began strange and very soon it will revert to being strange as it started. Thus blessed be the strange ones.”

Effect Of The Uprising Of Imam Az-Zaman (‘A) And Its Signs

24- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Isaam (r.a.) that he said: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Yaqub Kulayni: Narrated to us Qasim Ibn Alaa: Narrated to me Isma’il Ibn ‘Ali Qazwini: Narrated to me ‘Ali Ibn Isma’il from Asim Ibn Humaid Hannat from Muhammad Ibn Muslim Thaqafi that he said: I heard Aba Ja’far Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Baqir (‘a) say:

“The Qa’im from us will be aided by awe and helped with divine assistance. The earth will fold up for him and the treasures will be exposed for him. His dominions will be in the east and the west and through him will Allah, the Mighty and Sublime make His religion dominate over all religions even though the polytheists hate this. Then no ruin will remain in the earth, but that he will restore it. And the spirit of Allah, ‘Isa Ibn Maryam (‘a) will come down and pray behind him.

I said: O son of Allah’s Messenger, when will your Qa’im appear? He replied: When the men will resemble women and women will resemble men. When men will satisfy their lusts with men and women with women. When women will ride horses. False testimony will be accepted and true testimony will be obstructed. Murder will be considered a minor thing. Adultery and usury will be common. People will fear the talks of the evil people. Sufiyani will arise from Shaam and Yamani will appear from Yemen. The Baidha desert will sink. A youth from Aali Muhammad will be killed between the Rukn and Maqam. He will be Muhammad Ibn Hasan Nafs az-Zakiyyah. A call will come from the sky that the truth is with him and with all the Shi’a. At that time will arise our Qa’im. When he reappears, he would lean on the Ka’ba and three hundred and thirteen men would reach him, and the first words he speaks would be:

بَقِيَّةُ اللّهِ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

“What remains with Allah is better for you if you are believers…” (Surah Hud, 11:86).

Then he would say: “I am the remnant of Allah on the earth and the vicegerent of God and His Divine Proof upon you.” Then no Muslim would greet him except by the words:

“Peace be on you, O the remnant of Allah on His earth.”

And when the number of his supporters reaches one Iqd, that is 10000 men, he would set out. Then no deity except Allah, the Mighty and Sublime would remain on the earth. Idols, statutes and such other things would be destroyed, and fire would rise up among them; and this would come to pass after a prolonged occultation till the Almighty Allah knows who brings faith during the occultation and who obeys.”

25- Al-Mahasin: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali from Mufaddal Ibn Salih from Asadi from Muhammad Ibn Marwan from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

The Messenger of Allah (S) said: “One who harbours enmity to Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a) will be raised by Allah as a Jew.”

He was asked: “O Messenger of Allah (S), even though he has confessed to Islamic beliefs?”

“Yes, although by his confession he would have escaped death and payment of Jizya.”

Then he said: “One who harbours enmity to Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a) will be raised by Allah as a Jew.”

He was asked: “Why is it so?”

He replied: “Because if he reached to the time of Dajjal, he would bring faith in him.”

Sermon Of Amir Al-Mu’minin (‘A) And The Conditions In The Last Period Of Time

26- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Ibrahim Ibn Ishaq (r.a.) that he said: Narrated to us Abdul Aziz Ibn Yahya Jaludi in Basra: Narrated to us Husayn Ibn Maaz: Narrated to us Qais Ibn Hafs: Narrated to us Yunus Ibn Arqam from Abi Yasar Shaibani from Zahhak Ibn Muzahim from Nazaal Ibn Sabra that he said:

“Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) delivered us a sermon; he praised Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, invoked blessings on the Holy Prophet and his progeny (‘a). Then he said thrice:

‘Ask me, O people, before you lose me.’

Saasa Ibn Sauhan arose and asked with respect, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin, when will Dajjal appear?’ Imam (‘a) said: ‘Sit down as the Almighty Allah has heard you and He knows your intention. By Allah, one who is asked is not more knowledgeable than the questioner. But there are some signs and aspects for it, which come one after another, like one step falls after another. If you want, I can inform you about it. “Yes, please do, O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a),” said the narrator.

The Imam (‘a) said: “Know that those signs are as follows:

When people would forget the prayers, trusts will be betrayed. Lying would be considered lawful. Usury will become common. Bribes would be rampant. Tall buildings would be constructed. Religion will be sold in exchange of worldly gains. Fools will be in power. Advice will be sought from women. Relationships will be broken off. Carnal desires will be widely followed. Bloodshed will be considered a minor matter.

Forbearance will be looked upon as weakness and oppression will be considered a matter of pride. Kings and rulers will be sinners and transgressors. Ministers shall be liars. The general public shall be dishonest. The reciters of Qur’an will be transgressors. False testimony will be acceptable. Sins would be committed openly. Laying false allegations will be a common thing. Sinfulness and rebellion will be rife. The Qur’an will be looked down upon. Mosques will be decorated. Minarets will be elevated. Evil people would be accorded honour. Rows, instead of displaying unity would present a scenario of strife.

Hearts of the people will be distant from each other. Oaths and promises will be readily broken. That which has been promised will come near. Greed for wealth will impel people to take women as partners in business. Voices of the singers will rise up high and they shall find much audience.

The lowly people shall become the leaders of the community. Male and female singers shall be procured on payment. The people of this age will curse the people of the past. Women will ride (horses). Women will resemble men and men will resemble women.

Witnesses will testify without being asked to do so and other people without recognizing the truth and in other than religion they will give deep thought and give testimony. World would be given precedence over the hereafter. Apparently, they would be like wolves, but their hearts will be more rotten than carrion. They shall be stinking and more bitter than aloe. At that time all would say, ‘Hurry up, hurry up. At that time the Bayt al-Muqaddas will be the best place to live in. And a time will come upon the people that everyone will desire to reside in the Bayt al-Muqaddas.”

Who Is Dajjal?

Asbagh Ibn Nubatah stood up and said: O Maula! Who would Dajjal be? He replied, ‘The name of Dajjal is Saeed Ibn Saeed. Thus one who supports him is unfortunate. And are fortunate who deny him. He shall emerge from Yahoodiya village of Isfahan.

He shall be blind in the right eye. The left would be on the forehead like a bloody piece, which would be glinting like the morning star. On his forehead would be inscribed: ‘Kafir’ (disbeliever) which would readable to the literate as well as the illiterate. He shall jump into the seas. The Sun will follow him. A mountain of smoke will precede him and a white mountain will follow him, which in times of famine will be mistaken to be a mountain of food (bread).

He shall be mounted on a white ass. One step of that ass will be of one mile. Whichever spring or well he reaches, will dry up forever. He will call out aloud, which shall be audible to all in the east and the west from the Jinns, humans and satans. He would tell his friends: “I am the one who created then shaped. And I estimated and guided. I am your High Lord.” That enemy of Allah will be a liar. He shall be a one-eyed man having human needs, who walks about while your Lord is neither one-eyed nor in need of food. He neither walks nor is there decline for him. He is above all things.

Know that the majority of his followers will be persons of illegitimate birth and they shall be wearing green caps. The Almighty Allah will have him eliminated on a Friday after three hours would have passed in the evening on the Uqbah Afeeq at the hands of one behind whom Prophet ‘Isa (‘a) would pray. Know that! After this will come to pass the Great event.”

Thus, we asked: O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), what would that be? He replied, “Dabbat al-Ardh will emerge from Mt. Safa. He shall be having the seal ring of Prophet Sulayman (‘a). When that ring would be touched on the face of a believer, it would brand him to be a true believer. And when it is touched on the face of an infidel it would clearly mark that he is really a disbeliever. So much so that the believer will say to the infidel, “Hell is ordained for you, O infidel.” And the disbeliever will say to the believer, “Tooba is ordained for you, O believer. Alas! If only I were also successful and delighted with you this day!”

Thus, when the Dabba raises his head he would, by the permission of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime be able to see whatever is present between the east and the west. And it would be at a time when the Sun will rise from the west. At that time the time for repentance would be over and no repentance would be accepted from anyone. Neither would any deed rise up to the heavens as mentioned:

لاَ يَنفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَانُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ آمَنَتْ مِن قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِي إِيمَانِهَا

“…its faith shall not profit a soul which did not believe before, or earn good through its faith…” (Surah Al-Anam, 6:158).

Then Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said: “Do not ask me about the conditions following this. This is a covenant that I have made with my dearest one that I would not inform about this to anyone except my descendants.”

Nazaal Ibn Sabra says that I asked Saasa Ibn Sauhan what Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) meant by this? He replied, “O Ibn Sabra, he is the same behind whom Prophet ‘Isa (‘a) would pray. He shall be the twelfth descendant and he would be the ninth descendant of Husayn Ibn ‘Ali (‘a). He would be the one for whom the Sun would rise from the west and he shall reappear between the Rukn and Maqam. Then he would purify the earth and establish the scales of justice. Then no one would be able to oppress another. Thus, the dearest one of Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), the Messenger of Allah (S) had taken an oath from the latter that he must not inform anyone about the events after this except his purified descendants, Allah’s blessings be on them all.”

Saduq has narrated this traditional report from Nafe from Abdullah Ibn Amr and he has also narrated the same from the Holy Prophet (S).

Would Dajjal Be A Jew?

27- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn ‘Umar Ibn ‘Uthman Ibn Fadl Uqaili Faqih through this chain of narrators from his Mashayakhs (teachers) from Abi Yala Musili from Abdul Alaa Ibn Hammad Narsi from Ayyub from Nafe from Ibn ‘Umar that he said:

“One day the Messenger of Allah (S) prayed the Morning Prayer with his companions. After that he arose and accompanied by his companions reached to a house in Medina and knocked the door. A lady emerged and asked: What do you want, Abul Qasim? The Messenger of Allah (S) said: O Abdullah’s mother allow me to go to Abdullah. She said: O Abul Qasim, what do you want from Abdullah? By Allah, he has lost his mind and he speaks to himself. He is disputing with me in a very important matter.

The Holy Prophet (S) said: Let me see him. She said: Are you prepared to meet him at your own risk? He replied in the positive. She said: Come. So he entered the house to find him covered with a shawl and shivering and muttering to himself. She told him to keep quiet and to sit up. This is Muhammad. He has come to you. So he fell silent and sat up. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: What is wrong with him? May Allah’s curse be upon him. If he leaves me I can tell you if he is that same one.”

After that the Holy Prophet (S) asked: What can you see. He replied: I can see truth and falsehood and I can see a throne on the water. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: Will you testify the oneness of Allah and my messengership? He replied: Rather you testify the oneness of Allah and my messengership! Because Allah has not made you worthier than me for it.

On the next day again the Messenger of Allah (S) prayed the Morning Prayer with his companions. After that he arose and they came to that house and knocked the door. A lady emerged and said: Please come in. They saw that he was atop a date palm, singing a song. His mother said: Shut up! And come down. This is Muhammad and he has come to meet you. That man fell silent. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: What has happened to him? Allah’s curse be on him! If he leaves me I can tell that he is the same one.

On the third day again the Messenger of Allah (S) prayed the Morning Prayer with his companions. After that he arose and they came to that house and saw that he was baaing with a sheep. His mother said: Keep quiet. This is Muhammad and he has come to meet you. He became quiet and sat down.

On that day some verses of Surah Dukhan had been revealed and the Prophet had recited them in the daily prayer that day. The Prophet again asked him: Do you testify that there is no god except Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah? He said: Rather you should testify to the oneness of Allah and that I am the messenger of Allah, because Allah has not made you more rightful than me for it. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: I have concealed something from you. Tell me what it is? He replied: Smoke. Smoke.

The Holy Prophet (S) said: Keep quiet, and remember that you will not proceed before your appointed period and you will not reach to your aim. And you will get only as much as is decreed for you. Then he told his companions: O people, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime did not send any prophet but that he warned his nation of Dajjal and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime has kept him alive till your time. When you fall in doubt about him you should remember that your Lord cannot be one-eyed.

Indeed, Dajjal would be astride an ass and the distance between the two ears of the ass will be one mile. He will be accompanied with Paradise and Hell and a mountain of bread and a stream of water. Most of his followers will be Jews, women and ignorant ones. He will roam through the whole earth except for the Holy Ka’ba in Mecca, and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.”

Opinion Of Ahl Al-Sunnat Scholars About Dajjal

The same incident is quoted from Abu Saeed Khudri in Sharh Sunnah and it is mentioned therein that the Messenger of Allah (S) asked him: What can you see?

He replied: “I can see a throne on water.”

The Holy Prophet (S) said: “It is the throne of Iblis.”

Abu Sulayman says: In my view that incident occurred when a treaty was signed between the Holy Prophet (S) and the Jews and their successors and Ibn Sayyid was also present in this armistice. The Messenger of Allah (S) had been told that he claimed to be a soothsayer; hence he tested him and found that he was a soothsayer or a sorcerer or that he controlled a jinn or a devil.

The author says: There is difference among Ahl al-Sunnat whether Ibn Sayyad and Dajjal are same or not. According to one view they are different and it is due to this that there is a report that Ibn Sayyad repented at a later stage and passed away in Medina. When his face was uncovered, he was found dead.

Another report from Abu Saeed Khudri also shows that Ibn Sayyad was not Dajjal.

On the other hand, some people believe that Ibn Sayyad was in fact Dajjal and this view is supported by the reports of Ibn ‘Umar and Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari.

Shaykh As-Saduq’s Statements About Dajjal

The author says: People of malice and denial accept all such reports and they consider reports about Dajjal, his occultation, long age and his advent in the last period of time as correct. But they are not prepared to accept that the Qa’im is present, that he will remain in occultation for a long time and then finally reappear and fill the earth with justice and equity as it would be fraught with injustice and tyranny. This is despite the fact that we have traditions from the Prophet and the Imams regarding the Imam’s name, lineage and occultation. And there are traditional reports on prolongation of occultation. The aim of their denial is to put out the light of Allah and invalidate the matter of the Wali of Allah. But Allah will perfect His light even though polytheists may find it distasteful. Our opponents say that the reason of their denial is that the traditions regarding the Imam and his occultation that are present in our collections are not in their books of traditional reports.

This is the same argument that apostates, Hindus, Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians give for denying the prophethood of the Holy Prophet (S). They also say that the reports you quote with regard to his miracles and evidences, are not found in our books. Through this we prove the falsity of those reports. If we accept the objection of our opponents to be true, what would be done with the objection of those who deny the Holy Prophet (S) who are more than the deniers of the Imam?

Objections

In the same way our opponents also object that they also cannot understand how the age of a person can exceed the age of the people of his time like it is thought about our Imam.

Thus we shall tell them: You agree that it is possible for the age of Dajjal in occultation to exceed the age of other people, and in the same way you admit to the longevity of the accursed Iblis; yet you don’t accept this could be possible with regard to the Qa’im, in spite of the fact that there are traditional reports with regard to his occultation, long lifespan and his reappearance and advent after the divine command. Such traditions have also been presented in this book. This is further supported by the tradition of the Holy Prophet (S) that says: Whatever had passed in the previous nations, the same will come to pass in this, exactly.

And it has been mentioned that many prophets and Divine Proofs had long life spans. Like Prophet Nuh (‘a) who lived for 2500 years. And the Qur’an say that he lived in his nation for 950 years.

We have also presented the tradition whose chain of narrators is mentioned in this book that it says: In the Qa’im there is resemblance to Prophet Nuh (‘a) and that is having a long lifespan. Then what is the reason that you cannot understand this and that you consider it impossible? You should in fact accept it, because the existence of the Imam is proved by the traditions of the Holy Prophet (S).

Accepting the existence of the Qa’im is necessary just as it is necessary to accept that the People of the Cave slept in their cave for 309 years. If the latter report can be accepted then the former is also worthy of acceptance. How are the reports of Wahhab Ibn Munabbah and Kaab Ibn Ahbar accepted when there is no statement of the Messenger of Allah (S) vouchsafing their truthfulness? Their traditions do not fit any logic. While people are in doubt and they deny whatever has been related by the Holy Prophet (S) with regard to Qa’im, about his occultation and his reappearance, even though it is about a true fact. Is it anything other than a wilful denial of truth?

How can the opponents say that a person cannot exceed the age of the people of his time while the statement of the Messenger of Allah (S) is true that all the practices of the past nations will be repeated in this Ummah, especially in well-known aspects. Now which aspect is more well known than that of the Qa’im? Who is it that is mentioned by the people of the east and the west? Who is it that is mentioned by those who believe in him as well as those who deny him? Thus, if the occultation of the Qa’im has been proved invalid even though there are authentic traditions of the Holy Prophet (S) it would in fact prove the invalidity of the prophethood of the Holy Prophet (S), because he has informed about the occultation of the Qa’im. Thus, in this way the prophethood of the Prophet will be proved false.

Although the opponents accept that the Prophet said regarding Ammar Ibn Yasir that he would be killed by a rebellious group, and that the beard of Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) would be dyed in the blood of his head, he said regarding Imam al-Hasan (‘a) that he would be martyred through poison, and that Imam Husayn (‘a) would be martyred through the sword. Then why don’t the opponents deny his sayings stating the occultation of the Qa’im and his name and lineage etc?

Indeed, the Prophet was true in all his statements and held particular views. No one can have perfect faith till one does not accept the decisions of the Prophet and submits to all his commands without there being the slightest doubt. This is what Islam is. Islam means submission and obedience and one who brings a religion other than Islam, it would not be accepted and such a person will be a loser in the hereafter.

The most surprising fact is that our opponents narrate that Prophet ‘Isa (‘a) passed through Karbala and saw a herd of deer. When he moved closer, he saw that they were weeping. Seeing this Prophet ‘Isa (‘a) sat down and his disciples sat around him.

Thus ‘Isa (‘a) cried and his disciples also cried even though they did not know why he had sat down and why he was crying. They asked: O spirit of Allah and His word, why did you cry? He asked: Do you know this land? They said: No, we don’t. He said: It is the land where the son of Ahmad, the prophet of the last period of time and son of the Purified Batool (‘a) who is an image of my respected mother, Maryam will be martyred and buried. The dust of this land is purer than musk, because it is the burial ground of this oppressed martyr. And the essence of the prophets and his progeny is such.

These deer talk to me and they say that they graze on this land in devotion to the oppressed Imam as a result of which they feel secure over here. After that ‘Isa (‘a) split their droppings and smelt them and said: O Lord, preserve these dropping in this state so that the father of the martyr may smell them and obtain comfort. Thus, those droppings remained till the time of ‘Ali (‘a). When Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) passed from there he smelt those droppings, cried and informed about the impending tragedy of Karbala.

Our opponents accept the veracity of this incident and agree that those droppings remained for more than five hundred years and there was no difference in their freshness and smell. The passage of time did not affect them in any way. But they don’t accept that the Qa’im of Aali Muhammad, the Imam of the Age is alive. And that he will rise with the sword, eliminate

the enemies of Allah make the religion of Allah dominant while there are authentic traditions of the Prophet and Imams in this regard, which mention his name, lineage, his long occultation and which also state that the practice of the previous nations with regard to long life spans has been decreed for this Imam. This denial is only due to malice, bigotry and obstinacy against acceptance of truth. [We seek Allah’s refuge from humiliation].

Signs Of The Uprising Of The Qa’im Of Aali Muhammad (‘A)

28- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us my father: Narrated to us Abdullah Ibn Ja’far Himyari from Ahmad Ibn Hilal from Hasan Ibn Mahbub from Abi Ayyub Khazzaz and Alaa Ibn Razeen from Muhammad Ibn Muslim that he said: I heard Abi Abdullah (‘a) say:

“Before the rising of the Qa’im, Allah will appoint signs for the believers. I asked: What are those, may I be sacrificed on you? He replied: They are mentioned in the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ

That is before the advent of the Qa’im the believers will be tested through fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient.

بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ

“And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient…” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:155).

He said: The believers will be tested through the fear of the last ruler of Bani so-and-so. Hunger through rise in prices. Loss of property and lives and fruits means loss in business and agriculture. And give good news to the patient means those who await for the reappearance.”

After that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said to Muhammad Ibn Muslim: O Muhammad this is the interpretation of the verse:

وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلاَّ اللّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ

“…but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge…” (Surah Aali-’Imran, 3:7).

This traditional report is also mentioned in Ghaybah an-Nu’mani through another chain of narrators from Muhammad Ibn Muslim from the Holy Imam (‘a).

29- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq has narrated from his father from Himyari from Ibrahim Ibn Mahziyar from his brother ‘Ali, from Ahwazi from Safwan from Muhammad Ibn Hakim from Maimoon Laban that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said:

“Five signs will be seen before the uprising of the Qa’im: Arrival of the Yemenite man, Sufiyani, Call from the sky, Sinking of the ground in Baidha desert and Killing of the Pure Soul (Nafs az-Zakiyyah).”

30- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Hasan Ibn Ahmad Ibn Walid (r.a.): Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Hasan Saffar from Abbas Ibn Maruf from ‘Ali Ibn Mahziyar from Abdullah Ibn Muhammad Hajjal from Thalaba Ibn Maimoon from Shuaib Hadhdha from Salih, freed slave of Bani Azra that he said: I heard Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) say:

“There will be only a gap of fifteen days between the rising of the Qa’im of Aali Muhammad and the killing of the Pure Soul (Nafs az-Zakiyyah).”

This traditional report is also mentioned in Ghaybah Shaykh and Irshad Mufid.

31- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Hasan Ibn Ahmad Ibn Walid (r.a.) that he said: Narrated to us Husayn Ibn Hasan Ibn Aban from Husayn Ibn Saeed from Nadhr Ibn Suwaid from Yahya Halabi from Harith Ibn Mughaira Basri from Maimoon Alban that he said:

“I was with Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) in his tent. He lifted the opening of the tent and said: ‘Our Wilayat is clearer than this sun.’ Then he said: ‘A caller will call out from the sky that so-and-so, son of so-and-so is Imam. And he would call out his name. While Iblis, may Allah curse him, would call out from the earth, in the same way as he had called the Holy Prophet (S) on the night of Uqbah.’”

32- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Hasan Ibn Ahmad Ibn Walid (r.a.) that he said: Narrated to us Husayn Ibn Hasan Ibn Aban from Husayn Ibn Saeed from Safwan Ibn Yahya from ‘Isa Ibn Ayyan from Mualla Ibn Khunais from Abi Abdullah (‘a) that he said:

“Indeed, the advent of Sufiyani is a certain matter and it shall take place in the month of Rajab.”

33- Ikmal ad-Din: And through the same chain of narrators from Husayn Ibn Saeed from Hammad Ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim Ibn ‘Umar from Abi Ayyub from Harith Ibn Mughaira from Abi Abdullah (‘a) that he said:

“The call from the sky shall be raised on the 23rd eve of Friday of the month of Ramadhan.”

34- Ikmal ad-Din: And through the same chain of narrators from Husayn Ibn Saeed from Muhammad Ibn Abi Umair from ‘Umar Ibn Hanzala that he said: I heard Abi Abdullah (‘a) say:

“Five signs will become manifest before the reappearance of the Qa’im: Advent of Yamani and Sufiyani, call from the sky, the killing of the Pure Soul (Nafs az-Zakiyyah) and the sinking of Baidha land.”

35- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us my father: Narrated to us Saad Ibn Abdullah: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Husayn Ibn Abil Khattab from Ja’far Ibn Bashir from Hisham Ibn Saalim from Zurarah from Abi Abdullah (‘a) that he said:

“A caller will call out in the name of the Qa’im.” I asked: “Will it be for some people or for all?” He replied: “It would be for all. And every community will hear it in its own language.” I asked: “Would the opponents of Qa’im be also called in his name?” “No,” he said: “For them Iblis will call out at the end of the night and put suspicion in the hearts of the people.”

The author says: Apparently it should be the last part of the day instead of night as will be mentioned in the coming reports. It seems to be a mistake of the calligrapher, because in some copies there is no mention of last part of the night.

Sufiyani

36- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Majiluwayh (r.a.) that he said: Narrated to us my uncle, Muhammad Ibn Abil Qasim from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Kufi from Muhammad Ibn Abi Umair from ‘Umar Ibn Uzaina that he said: Abi Abdullah (‘a) said to me: Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said:

“The son of Hind, the liver-eater will come out from the valley of Yabis. He shall be of medium height. His face will be horrible. He will be fat. His face will be pockmarked. He will be one-eyed. His name will be ‘Uthman and his father’s name will be Anbasa. He will be from the progeny of Abu Sufiyan. He will camp in the land of stability, where he will sit on the pulpit.”

The author says: The ‘land of stability’ has been interpreted as Kufa or Najaf in reports.

37- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Ahmad Ibn Ziyad Ibn Ja’far Hamadani: Narrated to us ‘Ali Ibn Ibrahim Ibn Hashim from his father Ibrahim Ibn Hashim from Muhammad Ibn Abi Umair from Hammad Ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Umar Ibn Yazid that he said: Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said to me:

“If you have seen Sufiyani, you have seen the most horrible man. He is red, blond and blue. He will say: My Lord, I will take revenge even if I have to go to Hell. The extent of his evil is that he would bury alive his slave mother so that she may not reveal his true ancestry.”

38- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us my father and Muhammad Ibn Hasan - May Allah be pleased with them - they said: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Abil Qasim Majiluwayh from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Kufi: Narrated to us Husayn Ibn Sufiyan from Qutaibah Ibn Muhammad from Abdullah Ibn Abi Mansur Bajali that he said:

I asked Abi Abdullah (‘a) about the name of Sufiyani. He replied: “Why do you want to know his name? When he conquers the districts of Shaam, Hams, Palestine, Jordan and Qanassireen, you wait for the reappearance.” I asked: “Would he rule for nine months?” He replied: “No, only for eight months and not a day more.”

39- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Majiluwayh (r.a.) from his uncle Muhammad Ibn Abil Qasim from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Kufi from his father from Abi Maghra from Mualla Ibn Khunais from Abi Abdullah (‘a) that he said:

“First the call of Jibra’il will come from the sky and the voice of Iblis will come from the earth. So you must obey the first call and do not pay attention to the second, since it would be to spread mischief.”

40- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Musa Ibn Mutawakkil: Narrated to us Abdullah Ibn Ja’far Himyari from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn ‘Isa from Hasan Ibn Mahbub from Abu Hamza Thumali that he said: I asked His Eminence, Abu Abdullah Sadiq (‘a):

Abu Ja’far (Imam Baqir ‘a) says: Is the advent of Sufiyani inevitable? He replied: “Yes, and the conflict of Bani Abbas, the killing of the Pure Soul (Nafs az-Zakiyyah), the advent of Qa’im (‘a) are among the inevitable occurrences. I asked: How would the call be? He said: On the first day, the caller will call out from the sky: Indeed, the truth is with ‘Ali and his Shi’a. After that Iblis, may Allah curse him, will call at the end of the day that: Indeed, the truth is with Sufiyani and his followers. Thus, at that time those who are inclined to falsehood will fall into doubt.”

41- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Hasan (r.a.): Narrated to us Husayn Ibn Hasan Aban from Husayn Ibn Saeed from Nadhr Ibn Suwaid from Yahya Halabi from Hakam Hannat from Muhammad Ibn Hammam from Ward from Abi Ja’far (‘a) that he said:

“Two signs will be seen before the reappearance: there will be a lunar eclipse for five days and there will be solar eclipse for fifteen days. Such a phenomenon has not taken place since the arrival of Adam (‘a) on the earth. At that time the calculations of the astrologers will fail.”

42- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: And through the same chain of narrators from Husayn Ibn Saeed from Safwan Ibn Yahya from Abdur Rahman Ibn Hajjaj from Sulayman Ibn Khalid that he said: I heard Abi Abdullah (‘a) say:

“The reappearance of the Qa’im will be preceded by two types of death: the red death and the white death. Five out of seven people will perish through this. The red death is killing by the sword and the white death is plague.”

43- Ikmal ad-Din: Shaykh as-Saduq says: Narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Musa Ibn Mutawakkil: Narrated to us ‘Ali Ibn Husayn Sadabadi from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Khalid from his father from Muhammad Ibn Abi Umair from Abi Ayyub from Abi Basir from Abi Abdullah (‘a) that he said:

“There will be a solar eclipse on the 5th of Ramadhan preceding the reappearance of the Qa’im.”

44- Ikmal ad-Din: And through the same chain of narrators from Abi Ayyub from Abi Basir and Muhammad Ibn Muslim that they said: We heard Abi Abdullah (‘a) say:

“It will not take place till two-third of human population does not perish.” He was asked: “If two-third perish, who will remain?” He replied: “Are you not satisfied that one-third will remain?”

45- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Qirqara from Nazr Ibn Laith Maruzi from Ibn Talha Juddari that he said: Narrated to us: Abdullah Ibn Lahiya from Abi Zaraa from Abdullah Ibn Razeen from Ammar Ibn Yasir that he said:

“The rule of the Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a) of your Prophet shall be there in the last period of time and there are some signs for it; you should sit tight and keep quiet until you see them.

When Rome and Turks attack you; when armies are prepared and that Caliph of yours who hoards wealth passes away. He is succeeded by an honest person, but within a few years of his allegiance, he is dismissed from where he was appointed (from Khorasan). Turks and Rome confront each other and battles rage everywhere. A caller will call out from the war shelters of Damascus: Perdition is near for humans. The western portion of the Masjid of Damascus caves in and its boundary walls collapse. Three groups will set out from Damascus to seize power. One would be led by a person on a piebald horse, another on a red horse and a man from the descendants of Abu Sufiyan who would bring all the people to Damascus and expel the people of the west to Egypt.

When they enter Damascus, it would be the sign for the uprising of Sufiyani and before that a person would stage an uprising and call the people to Aali Muhammad (‘a). The Turks would camp in Hira and the Romans would camp at Palestine and Abdullah would march forward till both the armies come face to face at Qurqisa river and a severe battle would ensue. When the king of the west marches, he would kill the men and captivate the women. Then he would return to Qubs till Sufiyani enters the peninsula. Then Yamani would move and take over whatever the people had gathered.

Then he would come to Kufa and slay the followers and supporters of Aali Muhammad (‘a); on the contrary, he would also slay the one who is named after them. After that Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) would arise and his standard would be held by Shuaib Ibn Salih. When Syrians realize that their country has come under the rule of the descendant of Abu Sufiyan they would go to Mecca. Nafs az-Zakiyyah and his brother would be killed at that time. A call would be raised from the sky: Your Amir is so-and-so (that is Imam al-Mahdi ‘a) who would fill up the earth with justice and equity as it would be fraught with injustice and oppression.”

46- Ghaybah at-Tusi: A group has narrated from Talakbari from Ahmad Ibn ‘Ali Raazi from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali from ‘Uthman Ibn Ahmad Sammak from Ibrahim Ibn Abdullah Hashmi from Yahya Ibn Abi Talib from ‘Ali Ibn Asim from Ataa Ibn Saib from his father from Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar that he said: The Messenger of Allah (S) said:

“The hour will not arise until the Mahdi from my descendants comes forth. The Mahdi will not come forth until sixty liars come forward, all of them declaring: I am a prophet.”

47- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl Ibn Shazan from Washa from Ahmad Ibn Ayez from Abu Khadija that he said: Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said:

“The Qa’im will not come forth until twelve of the Bani Hashim come forth before him, all of them summoning men to themselves.”

48- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Ibn Fadhdhal from Hammad from Husayn Ibn Mukhtar from Abu Nasr from Aamir Ibn Wathila from Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (S) said:

“Ten things are inevitable before Judgment Day: Sufiyani, Dajjal, Smoke, Dabba, advent of the Qa’im, rising of the sun from the west, splitting of the earth in the east, descent of ‘Isa (‘a), splitting of the earth in the Arabian Gulf, rising of a fire from the sea of Adn which will herd the people towards the field of gathering (Mahshar).”

49- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Ibn Fadhdhal from Hammad from Ibrahim Ibn ‘Umar from ‘Umar Ibn Hanzala from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“Five signs will become visible before the reappearance of the Qa’im: Call from the sky, advent of Sufiyani, splitting of the earth in the desert, advent of Yamani and killing of Nafs az-Zakiyyah (the pure soul).”

50- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl Ibn Shazan from Nasr Ibn Muzahim from Amr Ibn Shimr from Jabir that he said:

“I said to Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a): When will this event occur? He replied: Jabir, that will occur at a time when the killing between Hira and Kufa is considerable.”

51- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Ibn Abi Najran from Muhammad Ibn Sinan from Husayn Ibn Mukhtar from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“When the wall of the mosque of Kufa, which adjoins the house of Abdullah Ibn Masud is destroyed, at that time the ruler of the people will disappear. At his disappearance, the Qa’im will come forth.”

52- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Saif Ibn Umaira from Bakr Ibn Muhammad Azdi from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“There will be three appearances in one year, one month and one day - the Sufiyani, the Khurasani and the Yamani. The standard of guidance will not be among them, except the standard of the Yamani, because he will summon (people) to the truth.”

53- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Ibn Fadhdhal from Ibn Bukair from Muhammad Ibn Muslim that he said:

“Misri and Yamani will appear before Sufiyani.”

54- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Isa from Darast from Ammar Ibn Marwan from Abu Basir that he said: I heard Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) say:

“I am prepared to guarantee Imam al-Qa’im to one who guarantees the death of Abdullah; because after the death of Abdullah, the Muslims will not have consensus on any one person and this matter will not end except with your Imam. If Allah wills, the kingdom running into years will end and the kingdom running into days and months will begin.”

I (the narrator) asked: “Would this matter be prolonged?”

He replied: “Definitely not.”

55- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali from Salam Ibn Abdullah from Abu Basir from Bakr Ibn Harb from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“The kingdom of Bani so-and-so cannot decline till the two swords of so-and-so do not clash. When they clash, their kingdom will begin to decline.”

56- Irshad & Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Bazanti from Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) that he said:

“Among the signs of the relief is an event, which will occur between the two mosques (of Mecca and Medina). So-and-so from the descendants of so- and-so will kill fifteen leaders of the Arabs.”

57- Irshad & Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Ibn Fadhdhal and Ibn Abi Najran from Hammad Ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim Ibn ‘Umar Yamani from Abu Basir from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“The kingdom of these men will not disappear until they slaughter people in Kufa on Friday. It is as if I was looking at heads falling between the Gate of al-Feel and (the place of) the soap-sellers.

58- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Abdullah Ibn Jabla from Abu Ammar from ‘Ali Ibn Abu Mughira from Abdullah Ibn Shareek Aamiri from Umaira Bint Nufail that she said: I heard Bint Hasan Ibn ‘Ali (‘a) say:

“The matter for which you are waiting for, will not occur till you do not get fed up of each other, till you don’t curse each other, till you don’t spit at each other’s face and call each other disbelievers.”

I (the narrator) said: “There is nothing positive about it!”

He said: “There is indeed, because at that time our Qa’im will reappear and all that will end.”

59- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from ‘Ali Ibn Asbat from Muhammad Ibn Abi Bilad from ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad Awdi from his father from his grandfather that Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said:

“Before the Qa’im, there will be red death and white death; there will be locusts at their usual time and at their unusual time like the colours of blood. As for red death it is (from) the sword, while the white death is (from) plague.”

60- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Nasr Ibn Muzahim from Abu Lahiya from Abu Zaraa from Abdullah Ibn Razeen from Ammar Ibn Yasir (r.a.) that he said:

“The call from the Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a) of your Prophet will come during the last period of time. Thus till you don’t see the leader of this call, hold on to the earth and keep quiet till the Turks confront the Romans; battles rage all over the world; a caller calls out from Damascus: Mischief is near, and the wall of the mosque of Damascus does not collapse.”

61- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Ibn Abi Najran from Muhammad Ibn Sinan from Abul Jarud from Muhammad Ibn Bashar that he asked Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyyah about the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) and he said:

“How is it possible so soon? The cruel time has not yet arrived. How is it possible so soon? As yet brothers have not started oppressing brothers. How is it possible so soon? The ruler of the time has not started oppressing. How is it possible so soon? The atheists have not staged an uprising from Qazwin. That they may halt their progress; who may change their town shelters, who destroys their joys, who apprehends those who try to flee from them, who kills those who come out to fight them, those who recede to solitude become needful, one who obeys them becomes a denier; so much so that there will finally be two kinds of mourners: One who will mourn for their religion and another who will mourn for their world.”

62- Irshad & Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Hasan Ibn Mahbub from Amr Ibn Abil Miqdam from Jabir Ju’fi from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“Stay close to the ground. Don’t move an arm or a leg until you see the signs, which I will mention to you - I don’t think that you will live until that time. The Abbasides will dispute; a voice will call from the sky; one of the villages of Syria called Jazira; the Byzantines will attack Ramla; at that time there will be much conflict throughout the land until Syria is destroyed. The cause of its destruction will be the meeting of three standards there; the standard of the Red, the standard of the Spotted and the standard of the Sufiyani.”

63- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Ahmad Ibn ‘Ali Raazi from Maqani from Bukkar Ibn Ahmad from Hasan Ibn Husayn from Abdullah Ibn Bukair from Abdul Malik Ibn Isma’il Asadi from his father that he said: Narrated to me Saeed Ibn Jubair that:

“It will rain twenty-four times in the year in which Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) will reappear; and its effects and bounties would be clear.”

64- It is narrated from Ka’b al-Ahbar that he said:

“When the one whose name begins with Ain [A’] from Bani Abbas comes to the throne; that is Abdullah, then this rule will begin with a person named Abdullah and end with a person named Abdullah. He will be the key to calamities and the sword of annihilation. When his announcement will be read in the evening, that: From the slave of Allah, Abdullah, the chief of believers, to the people of Syria: Know that you will immediately come to know it is being announced from the pulpit of Egypt: From the slave of Allah, Abdullah, the chief of believers, to the people of Egypt…”

It is mentioned in another tradition that the rule of Bani Abbas will continue till you will get information that this announcement had been read out in Egypt that: From the slave of Allah, Abdullah, the chief of believers, to the people of Egypt…When this happens, it will be the time of the decline of the kingdom of Bani Abbas. When this announcement is made by Bani Abbas in the morning, in the name of Abdullah you should wait till this announcement is made in the evening, in the name of Abdur Rahman and the latter will attack Abdullah in the most cruel way.”

65- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Hazlam Ibn Bashir that he said:

“I said to ‘Ali Ibn Husayn (‘a): Describe to me the rise of Mahdi and tell me about his proofs and signs. He said: Before his advent, a man will appear whose name is Auf Salmi, in the land of Jazira, who will stay in Tikrit and will be killed in the Masjid of Damascus; after that will appear Shuaib Ibn Salih from Samarqand; at that time will appear the accursed Sufiyani from the valley of Yabis, and he would be from the progeny of Utbah Ibn Abu Sufiyan; and when Sufiyani appears, the Mahdi will go into concealment, after that he will appear again.”

66- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from the Messenger of Allah (S) that he said:

“A man will rise up from Qazwin, whose name will be same as the name of a Prophet. People will make haste in accepting his authority; but the mountains will be full of disbelievers and believers due to his fear.”

67- Irshad & Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl Ibn Shazan from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Abi Nasr from Thalaba from Badr Ibn Khalil Azdi that he said: Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) said:

“Two signs will come before the Qa’im (‘a); there will be a solar eclipse in the middle of Ramadhan and a lunar eclipse at the end of it.”

“Son of Allah’s Messenger,” I said, “usually a solar eclipse occurs at the end of the month and lunar eclipse occurs in the middle of it?”

“I know what I have said,” replied Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a), “They are signs, which have not occurred since Adam came down.”

68- Irshad & Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Ibn Asbat from Hasan Ibn Jaham that he said:

A man asked Imam Musa al-Kazim (‘a) about the reappearance and he asked in return: “Do you want most of it or shall I give you a summary?”

“Would you give me a summary?” he said.

“(It will be) when the standards of Qays are carried in Egypt and the standards of Kinda in Khurasan,” he replied.

69- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Ibn Mahbub from Bataini from Abu Basir from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“The year preceding the reappearance of Imam al-Qa’im (‘a) will be so verdant that dates will rot on the trees and there will be no one to pick them. Have no doubt about it.”

70- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Ahmad Ibn ‘Umar Ibn Saalim from Yahya Ibn ‘Ali from Rabi from Abi Lubaid that he said:

“The people of Abyssinia will demolish the Ka’ba; the Black Stone will be taken away and fixed in the Kufa Masjid.”

71- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is from Fazl from Ibn Abi Umair from Ibn Uziyana from Muhammad Ibn Muslim that he said: I heard His Eminence, Abu Abdullah Sadiq (‘a) say:

“After the Sufiyani gets control over five provinces he would rule equal to the duration of pregnancy of a woman.” Then he said: “I seek forgiveness of Allah, he would rule for the duration of pregnancy of a camel. And his matter is inevitable.”

72- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Isma’il Ibn Mahran from ‘Uthman Ibn Jabla from ‘Umar Ibn Aban Kalbi from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“As if I can see the Sufiyani or a representative of Sufiyani camped outside Kufa and his statements are being announced to the people: Anyone who brings a severed head of a Shi’a of ‘Ali (‘a) would be rewarded a thousand Dirhams. Then a neighbour would attack his neighbour and say: ‘he is from them’, and he would cut off his head and collect a thousand Dirhams.

And indeed, the rulership and kingdom at that time would not be in the control of anyone except the illegitimate born. As if I can see the veiled one. I asked: ‘Who is the veiled one?’ He replied: ‘He is a man from you who would be talking just like you. He would be veiled and he would identify each of you so that you may be captured, he is not, but a bastard.”

73- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from a group from Abu Mufaddal Shaibani from Abu Naeem Nasr Ibn Isaam Ibn Mughira Amri from Abu Yusuf Yaqub Ibn Naeem Ibn Amr Qarqara Katib from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Asadi from Muhammad Ibn Ahmad from Isma’il Ibn Abbas from Muhajir Ibn Hakim from Muawiyah Ibn Saeed from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said: Imam ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) said:

“After that there will be a terrible earthquake in Shaam, which will be a blessing for the believers but a punishment for disbelievers. A hundred thousand will die because of it. When this happens, you will see an army mounted on red horses coming from the west, waving a yellow flag and entering Shaam. When this happens, you will see a village of Shaam, named Kharashna sink into the earth. When this also happens, you will witness the rising of (Sufiyani) the son of Hind, the liver-eater from the Yabis Valley.”

74- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Qarqara from Muhammad Ibn Halaf from Hasan Ibn Salih Ibn Aswad from Abdul Jabbar Ibn Abbas Hamadani from Ammar Dahni that he said: Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) said:

“For how long will the rule of Sufiyani last?”

I replied: “For the duration of a normal human pregnancy (nine months).”

Imam (‘a) said: “O people of Kufa, how knowledgeable is this man among you!”

75- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Qarqara from Isma’il Ibn Abdullah Ibn Maimoon from Muhammad Ibn Abdur Rahman from Ja’far Ibn Saad Kahili from Amash from Bashir Ibn Ghalib that he said:

“Sufiyani will come from the Roman area in the disguise of a Christian. A cross will hang from his neck and he will be leading a group.”

76- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Ahmad Ibn ‘Ali Raazi from Muhammad Ibn Ishaq Muqri from Maqani from Bukkar from Ibrahim Ibn Muhammad from Ja’far Ibn Saad Asadi from his father from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“In the year of the reappearance, there will be such a terrible flood in the Euphrates that even the lanes of Kufa will be inundated.”

77- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Fazl from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali from ‘Uthman Ibn Ahmad Sammak from Ibrahim Ibn Abdullah Hashmi from Ibrahim Ibn Hani from Naeem Ibn Hammad from Saeed from Abu ‘Uthman from Jabir from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“Those black flags will emerge from Khorasan and come up to Kufa. When Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) reappears, they will be sent to give allegiance to him.”

78- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Qarqara from Muhammad Ibn Halaf Hammad from Isma’il Ibn Aban Azdi from Sufiyan Ibn Ibrahim Jurairi that he heard his father say:

“Nafs az-Zakiyyah (the Pure Soul) is a young man from the Progeny of Muhammad (S), his name is Muhammad Ibn Hasan, who would be killed without any crime and sin and when they slay, him they shall neither have any excuse in the heavens nor would they have any friend in the earth. At that time the Almighty Allah will send the Qa’im of Aali Muhammad with a group that in the view of the people would be softer than antimony. When they come out, the people will weep at their condition as they would think that they would very soon be eliminated at the hands of the enemies. However, the Almighty Allah will conquer the easts and the wests of the earth for them. Know that they are the true believers. Know that the best of the Jihads shall be in the last period of time.”

79- Ghaybah at-Tusi: It is narrated from Qarqara from Abbas Ibn Yazid Bahrani from Abdur Razzaq Ibn Hammam from Muammar from Ibn Tawus from ‘Ali Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abbas that he said:

“The Mahdi will not reappear till a sign appears with the Sun.”

80- Kashf al-Yaqin: I found in the writing of Muhaddith Akhbari Muhammad Ibn Mashhadi through his chains from Muhammad Ibn Qasim from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad from his teachers from Sulayman Amash from

Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari that he said: Narrated to me Anas Ibn Malik, servant of the Messenger of Allah (S), that:

“When Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) returned after routing the people of Nahrawan he camped at Barasa where Habbab, a hermit lived in his monastery. When he hard the clamor of the army outside his recluse, he looked out to see a displeasing scene. He came down immediately and asked: What army is this and who is the commander? He was told that it was commanded by Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) who has returned from the Battle of Nahrawan. He came pushing against the crowd and stood before Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) and said: O genuine Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), peace be on you.

He asked: “How did you conclude that I am the genuine?”

He replied: “Our religious leaders have told us about it.”

He said: “O Habbab.”

He asked: “How did you know what my name was?”

Imam (‘a) said: “My beloved, the Messenger of Allah (S) had informed me about it.”

Habbab said: “Give me your hand. I testify that there is no god except Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and you ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib, are his successor.”

Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) asked: “Where do you live?”

He replied: “I live in a monastery over here.”

He said: “Now you should leave it. On the contrary you should construct a Masjid, which you should name on the name of its founder.”

Thus, a man named Barasa had a Masjid constructed over there and the Masjid was named as Masjid Barasa.

Then the Imam asked: “From where do you get drinking water?”

He said: “From the Tigris.”

Imam (‘a) asked: “Why don’t you dig a well over here?”

He replied: “O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), wells are salty in this area.”

Imam ‘Ali (‘a) said: “All right, dig a well at this spot.”

When it was dug out, they came upon a huge rock, which they could not extract. So Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) removed it with a gesture of his hand and the water of that well proved to me extremely sweet and delicious.

Then he said: O Habbab, you may continue to use this well, but you should know that in a short while a town would come up near this Masjid of yours. And in that place, there would be many sinners and oppressors. Every Thursday they would commit seventy thousand evil deeds and horses; donkeys and camels would be tied up in your Masjid and a disbeliever would demolish it. Hajj would be prohibited for three years. Crops would be reduced to ashes. Then an evil person would get power on them. He would destroy every area that he goes to and would eliminate all the inhabitants. Then he would come to Basra and raze every pillar and make all the inhabitants of that place restless. Then those ruins would be inhabited once more and a Jame Masjid would be constructed there.

After that Basra would be destroyed once again; after that the evildoer would move to Wasit, which would have been established by Hajjaj; and would deal with that town in a similar way. Then he will come to Baghdad and plunder it. People would flee to Kufa from there. Then he and the one who had invited him to Baghdad would set out to dig up my tomb. They would confront Sufiyani who would defeat them. Sufiyani’s army will march to Kufa and kill anyone it comes across, including children. At that time, O Habbab, it’s a pity that you must expect many oppressions and mischiefs and remember what I have said.”

81- Ikhtisas: It is narrated from Saad from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad from Abdullah Ibn Aamir Saad from Muhammad Ibn Khalid from Abu Hamza Thumali that he said: Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) said: Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said:

“One who desires to fight against the followers of Dajjal should fight those who mourn the killing of ‘Uthman and those who mourn the people of Nahrawan. One who meets Allah with belief that ‘Uthman was killed unjustly, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime will meet Him while He is angry with him and he will not live till the time of Dajjal.”

A man asked: “O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), what if he dies before that?”

He replied: “Allah will raise him from the grave till he brings faith in him.”

82- Irshad: Traditions have been reported mentioning the signs for the time of the appearance of Imam al-Qa’im (‘a) and the events, which will take place before his appearance, together with the indications and features of it. Among them are: The Sufiyani will come out in revolt; the Hasanid will be killed; the Abbasids will dispute over worldly kingdom; there will be a solar eclipse in the middle of Ramadhan; a lunar eclipse at the end of the month in contrast to ordinary happenings; the land will be swallowed up at Baidha; it will be swallowed in the east; it will be swallowed up in the west; the sun will stay still from the time of its decline to the middle of the time from the afternoon prayer; it will rise from the west; a pure soul (Nafs az-Zakiyyah) will be killed on the outskirts of Kufa with seventy righteous men; a Hashemite will be slaughtered between the corner of the Ka’ba and the Place of Ibrahim (‘a); the wall of the Kufa mosque will be destroyed; black standards will advance from Khurasan; Yamani will come out in revolt; Maghribi will appear in Egypt and take possession of it from Syria; the Turk will occupy the region of Jazira; the Byzantines (Romans) will occupy Ramla; the star will appear in the east giving light just like the moon; then (the new moon) will bend until its two tips almost meet; a colour will appear in the sky and spread to its horizons; a fire will appear for a long time in the east remaining in the air for three or seven days.

The Arabs will throw off the reins and take possession of their land, throwing out the foreign authority; the people of Egypt will kill their ruler and destroy Syria; and three standards will dispute over it (Syria); the standards of Qays and the Arabs will come among the people of Egypt; the standards of Kinda (will go) to Khurasan; horses will come from the west until they are stabled in Hira; the black standards will advance towards them from the east; the Euphrates will flood so much that the alleys of Kufa will be inundated; sixty liars will come forward; all of them claiming prophethood, and twelve will come forward from the family of Abu Talib, all of them claiming the Imamate; a man of important rank of the supporters of the Abbasides will be burnt between Jalula and Khaniqin; the bridge next to Karkh in the city of Baghdad will be established.

A black wind will raise it at the beginning of the day and then an earthquake will occur so that much of it will be swallowed up; fear will cover the people of Iraq and Baghdad; swift death (will occur) there and there will be a loss of property, lives and harvests; locusts will appear at their usual times and at times not usual so that they attack agricultural land and crops and there will be little harvest for what the people planted; two kinds of foreigners will dispute and much blood will be shed in their dispute; slaves will rebel against obedience to their masters and kill their masters; a group of heretics will be transformed until they become monkeys and pigs; slaves will conquer the land of their masters; a cry (will come) from the sky (in such a way) that all hear it in their own languages; a face and a chest will appear in the sky before the people in the centre of the sun; the dead will arise from their graves so that they will return to the world and they will recognize one another and visit one another; that will come to an end with twenty-four continuous rain storms and the land will be revived by them after being dead and it will recognize its blessings; after that every disease will be taken away from the Shi’a of the Mahdi (‘a), who believe in the truth; at that time they will know of his appearance in Mecca and they will go to him to support him.

(These signs) are as the reports have mentioned. Among the total of these events are some, which are inevitable and others which are conditional. God knows best what will take place. We have only mentioned them on the basis of what is recounted in basic sources of traditions, because of their inclusion in traditions, which have been handed down. From God we seek help and Him do we ask for success.

83- Irshad: ‘Ali Ibn Abi Hamza has narrated from Imam Musa al-Kazim (‘a) that he said with regard to the following verse:

سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ

“We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and in their own souls…” (Surah Fussilat, 41:53).

That there will be a disturbance on the horizons and the enemies of truth will be changed in form.

84- Irshad: It is narrated from Wuhaib Ibn Hafas from Abu Basir that he said: I heard Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) say about the following verse:

إِن نَّشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِم مِّن السَّمَاء آيَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْنَاقُهُمْ لَهَا خَاضِعِينَ

“If We please, We should send down upon them a sign from the heaven so that their necks should stoop to it.” (Surah Ash-Shu’ara, 26:4).

He said: “God will do that to them.”

“Who are they?” I asked.

“The Umayyads and their supporters,” he answered.

“What is the sign?” I asked.

“Between the decline of the sun (at noon) and the time of the afternoon prayer, the sun will remain still,” he said. “The chest and face of a man will appear in the centre of the sun, who will be recognized by his standing and genealogy. That will occur during the time of the Sufiyani. At that moment his destruction will occur as well as the destruction of his people.”

85- Irshad: It is narrated from Husayn Ibn Zaid from Mundhir Jauzi from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“Before the coming of the Qa’im (‘a), the people will be chided for their acts of disobedience by a fire, which will appear in the sky and a redness, which will cover the sky. It will swallow up Baghdad, it will swallow up Kufa. There blood will be shed and houses destroyed. Death will occur amid their people and a fear will come over the people of Iraq from which they shall have no respite.”

86- Tafsir Ayyashi: It is quoted from Ayyashi from Ajlan Abu Salih that he said: I heard His Eminence, Abu Abdullah Sadiq (‘a) say:

“The days and the nights will not end till the caller announces from the sky: O people of truth come away, O people of falsehood come away. Thus the former would separate from the latter and the latter would separate from the former.” The narrator says: I asked: “May Allah bless you, after this announcement would they again mix together?” He replied: “No, the Almighty Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:

مَّا كَانَ اللّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّىَ يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ

“On no account will Allah leave the believers in the condition which you are in until He separates the evil from the good…” (Surah Aali-’Imran, 3:179).

87- Tafsir Ayyashi: It is narrated from Jabir Ju’fi from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“Sit tight, and do not move your hands and feet till you don’t see the signs that I tell you of. One year you will see a caller announcing in Damascus and a village of Syria will sink into the ground and a part of the Masjid will collapse. Then you will see Turks march forward and land in the peninsula and the Romans would also move forward and camp at Ramla.

That year will be full of events everywhere from the direction of the west. The first country that will be ruined is Shaam. Then people will disagree and divide into three armies; the red army, the piebald army and the army of Sufiyani. Bani Kalab will accompany Sufiyani as they will be related to him from the maternal side. Sufiyani and his companions will subjugate Bani Zambul Himar and slay them in the most terrible manner and whoever from Bani Zambul Himar enters Damascus, will be slain along with his companions.

Thus the Almighty Allah has said in the Holy Qur’an:

فَاخْتَلَفَ الْأَحْزَابُ مِن بَيْنِهِمْ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن مَّشْهَدِ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

“But parties from among them disagreed with each other, so woe to those who disbelieve, because of presence on a great day.” (Surah Maryam, 19:37).

Sufiyani and his men will set out from there and they will only target Aali Muhammad (‘a) and their Shi’a. Thus he will send an army to Kufa, where a large number of Shi’a will be killed or impaled. An army will come from Khurasan, which will disembark at the banks of Tigris. He will send a battalion towards Medina where a man will be killed; then Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) and Mansur will leave Medina and all the followers of Aali Muhammad (‘a) will be arrested and imprisoned. Then the army will come out in search for them. Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) will flee from there in fear like Prophet Musa (‘a) and set out for Mecca.

The army of Sufiyani will sink in the desert and none of them will escape death except one who will convey the news. Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) will pray between Rukn and Maqam and his assistant will be with him. Then he will address the crowd:

On that day the Qa’im will be in Mecca leaning his back against the Ka’ba. He will announce: “O people, we resort to Allah to make us succeed. Whoever of you wants to support us, let him join us. We are the progeny of your Prophet Muhammad (S). We are worthier of Allah and Muhammad than other people. Whoever argues with me about Adam, I am the worthiest of Adam. Whoever argues with me about Nuh, I am the worthiest of Nuh. Whoever argues with me about Ibrahim, I am the worthiest of Ibrahim. Whoever argues with me about Muhammad (S), I am the worthiest of Muhammad (S). Whoever argues with me about the prophets, I am the worthiest of the prophets. Whoever argues with me about the Book of the Almighty Allah, I am the worthiest of the Book of Allah.

Indeed, we all testify and all Muslims will testify that we had been oppressed and our rights were trespassed and we were betrayed. We have been wronged, offended, expelled from our homes, separated from our families, deprived of our rights and our honour and virtues have been distorted by the evil people. For the sake of Allah, do not fail us. Support us that may Allah supports you!”

Allah will make his (the Mahdi’s) three hundred and thirteen persons join him including fifty women and all will gather at Mecca like shreds of clouds gather in rainy season and it is with regard to this that the Almighty Allah has said in the Holy Qur’an:

أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُواْ يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللّهُ جَمِيعًا إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

“Wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together; surely Allah has power over all things.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:148).

At that time a man from the family of the Holy Prophet (S) would say: This is the town whose people are oppressors. Then he would leave Mecca with those who accompany him numbering three hundred and odd persons who would pledge allegiance to him between the Rukn and Maqam after seeing the pledge of the Holy Prophet (S) and the flag and the weapon of His Eminence and his deputy would be accompanying him. After that the announcer will call out from the sky under his name and command in Mecca till all the people of the world would hear (his name). His name will be the name of the Prophet. If you have any doubt about it, you should not have any doubt about the relics of the Prophet and his weapons etc. and if you are still in doubt, you will not doubt when his name is called out from the sky. Beware of some particular persons of Aali Muhammad (‘a) because the flag of Muhammad and ‘Ali will be the same and others will have other standards. Thus, it is necessary to sit tight and not to follow any of them as long as you don’t confirm that that person is from the descendants of Imam Husayn (‘a) and he has the flag, relics and weapons of the Holy Prophet (S). Because the relics of the Messenger of Allah (S) will remain with ‘Ali Ibn Husayn (‘a) and then pass on to Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali (‘a) and the Almighty Allah will do what He likes.

Then you should remain attached to him and keep away from those I have mentioned. And when one of them arises with three hundred and thirteen men and along with the relics of the Messenger of Allah (S) and he sets out in the direction of Medina and passes through the desert and says: This is the location where an army will sink. Thus the Almighty Allah says:

أَفَأَمِنَ الَّذِينَ مَكَرُواْ السَّيِّئَاتِ أَن يَخْسِفَ اللّهُ بِهِمُ الأَرْضَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ

“Do they then who plan evil (deeds) feel secure (of this) that Allah will not cause the earth to swallow them or that punishment may not overtake them from whence they do not perceive?” (Surah An-Nahl, 16:45).

أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ فِي تَقَلُّبِهِمْ فَمَا هُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ

“Or that He may not seize them in the course of their journeys, then shall they not escape.” (Surah An-Nahl, 16:46).

When he reaches Medina, Muhammad Ibn Shajari will come out according the practice of Prophet Yusuf (‘a) and that he would proceed to Kufa and stay there for a long time. After that he will set out from there and reach Azra, where Muawiyah had killed Hujr Ibn Adi in Damascus. A large number of people will join the Imam. Sufiyani will be in the Ramla valley at that time. When the two armies meet, it would be a day of exchange. That is those Shi’a who are in the army of Sufiyani will come out and join the forces of Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) and those Sufiyanis who are there in the army of Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) will come out and join Sufiyani. That is the day of exchange.

Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said: On that day Sufiyani and all his followers will be slain and no one will survive to even convey the information of their death. That day from the booty of Bani Kalab whoever remained deprived was really deprived. After that the Qa’im would return to Kufa and set his residence there.

He would not leave a single Muslim slave, but that he would purchase him and set him free and he would repay the debts of every debtor. He would also free everyone from any liability they might be having upon their necks. If any slave has been killed, he would have his heirs paid his blood money. If any free man has been killed, he would repay his debts and would give much monetary help to his family members. Till the earth would be full of justice and equity as it would have been fraught with injustice and oppression. After that he and the people of his house (Ahl Al-Bayt) would settle down in Rahba, which is a pure and clean place; it is also the place of residence of Prophet Nuh (‘a).”

88- Majalis: It is narrated from Jaabi from Muhammad Ibn Musa Hadhrami from Malik Ibn Ubaidullah from ‘Ali Ibn Mabad from Ishaq Ibn Abi Yahya Kaabi from Sufiyan Thawri from Mansur Rabi from Kharrash from Huzaifah Ibn Yaman that he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (S) say:

“The Almighty Allah will separate His friends and chosen servants from the hypocrites and deviated persons and their descendants. So much so that fifty women will approach a man and say: Sir, please purchase me. Another one will say: Please take me under your protection.”

89- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Dinawari from ‘Ali Ibn Hasan Kufi from Umrah Bint Aws that she said: Narrated to me my grandfather, Khizr Ibn Abdur Rahman from Abdullah Ibn Hamza from Ka’b al-Ahbar that he said:

“On the Day of Resurrection, the human beings will be resurrected in four categories; riders, walking people, groveling people and deaf, dumb and blind people, who do not understand, are not spoken to and not permitted to apologize.

تَلْفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ وَهُمْ فِيهَا كَالِحُونَ

“These are whom (the fire shall scorch their faces, and they therein shall be in severe affliction).” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:104).

It was said to him: “O Kaab, who are these people, whose condition will be so?”

He said: “It is those, who have kept on deviation, apostasy and breaking the allegiance. Evil is that which their souls have sent before for them when they will meet Allah with the sin of fighting, the caliph and the guardian of their prophet, their most aware jurisprudent, their most virtuous master, the bearer of the banner, the guard of the pond, the hope and the hoped one out of all this world, the knowledge that is never ignored, the straight path, from which whoever deviates will perish and fall in Fire. It is ‘Ali, by the Lord of the Ka’ba, who is the most aware of them, the senior in peace (Islam) and the most discerned of all of them. I wonder at those, who prefer others to ‘Ali.

From among the descendants of ‘Ali is al-Qa’im al-Mahdi, who will change the world into another one and by whom ‘Isa (‘a) will argue against the Christians of Rome and China. Al-Qa’im al-Mahdi is the most similar one to ‘Isa (‘a) in form, character, nobility and dignity. Allah will give him all what He has given to the prophets and more than that and He will prefer him to all. The Qa’im, the descendant of ‘Ali (‘a), will disappear like the disappearance of Prophet Yusuf (‘a) and will reappear like the reappearance of ‘Isa the son of Maryam (‘a). He will reappear after his disappearance, with the appearance of the red star, the destruction of az-Zawra’ (Rayy), the sinking of Muzawarra (Baghdad), the rising of Sufiyani, the war of Bani Abbas against the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan, in which thousands and thousands will be killed. Each one of the warriors will seize on an adorned sword, over which black banners will flutter. It will be a war full of red death and terrible plague.”

Amir Al-Mu’minin (‘A) And ‘Umar Ibn Saad

90- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from the same chains as above from Khizr Ibn Abdur Rahman from his father from his grandfather that Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said:

“The Day of Resurrection will not come until the eye of the world is gouged out and redness appears in the sky, and this redness is the tears of the bearers of the Throne weeping for the people of the earth, and until a bad gang appears propagandizing for my progeny whereas in fact, they are free from my progeny. It is a gang with no morals, prevailing over the evils, deceiving the tyrants and destroying the kings (rulers). It is a gang that appears in Kufa headed by a black-faced and black-hearted man, who is weak in faith, with no morals, hybrid, mean and rude. He is circulated among prostitute mothers from the worst progenies. May Allah have no mercy upon them. They will appear in the same year, in which my disappearing son with the red banner and the green flag will reappear.

What a terrible day for the deviants between Anbar and Heet it will be! A day, on which a great misfortune will occur to the Kurds and the (Kharijites), on which there will be the destruction of the house (city) of the Pharaohs (tyrants), the abode of the arrogants, the shelter of the unjust rulers, the mother of calamities and the sister of shame!

O ‘Umar Ibn Saad, by the God of ‘Ali, it is Baghdad! May Allah damn the mutineers of the Umayyads and the Abbasids; the traitors, who will kill my virtuous descendants, who will never regard my sanctity when killing them and who will not fear Allah when doing anything to my progeny.

Woe unto the followers of the Abbasids from a war that will break out between Nahawand and Daynour. It will be the war of the paupers of ‘Ali’s Shi’a headed by a man from Hamadan, whose name will be like the name of the Prophet (S).”

91- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Hamam from Hamid Ibn Ziyad from Hasan Ibn Muhammad Ibn Samaa-a from Ahmad Ibn Hasan from Zaidah Ibn Qudamah from Abdul Karim that he said:

Imam al-Qa’im (‘a) was mentioned in the presence of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) and he asked: “How will that be and yet the orbit has not turned nor has it been said: Has he died, perished or in which valley has he gone?”

I (Abdul Karim) asked him: “What is the turning of the orbit?”

He said: “It is the disagreement of the Shi’a among themselves.”

92- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Hamid Ibn Ziyad from ‘Ali Ibn Sabbah from Abu ‘Ali Hasan Ibn Muhammad from Ja’far Ibn Muhammad from Ibrahim Ibn Abdul Hamid from Ibn Tarif from Asbagh Ibn Nubatah that Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said:

“After one hundred- and fifty-years unbeliever rulers, unreliable treasurers and dissolute officials will control the rule. Then the merchants increase but the profits decrease. Usury spreads, illegitimate sons will be everywhere, adultery increase, relatives deny each other, the crescent is regarded as greater than it is, a woman is satisfied with a woman (in lesbianism) and a man is satisfied with a man.”

A man said to him: “What will we do when such a time comes?”

Imam ‘Ali said: “Escape! Escape! The justice of Allah will still spread among this Ummah as long as the scholars do not incline to the rulers and as long as the pious still forbid the dissolute from committing sins. If they do not do so and then they are alerted and say: There is no god but Allah, Allah will say from on His Throne: You say it falsely. You are not truthful.”

93- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Ahmad Ibn Yusuf from Ibn Mahran from Ibn Bataini from his father from Abu Basir that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said:

“There must be a sedition before the appearance of the Qa’im, during which people become hungry, terrified by killing and they lose their properties and lives. This has been clarified by the Book of Allah. Allah has said:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ

“And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:155).

94- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Ahmad from Ubaidullah Ibn Musa Alawi from ‘Ali Ibn Ibrahim Hashim from his father from Muhammad Ibn Hafas from Amr Ibn Shimr from Jabir Ju’fi that he said:

“Once I asked Abu Ja’far Baqir (‘a) about the meaning of this saying of Allah:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ

“And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:155).

…and he said: “O Jabir, it has a general meaning and a special meaning. The special meaning is that hunger will afflict Kufa and especially the opponents of Muhammad’s progeny and will destroy them. As for the general meaning, there will be terror and hunger in Shaam that has never been faced before. Hunger will be before the rising of the Qa’im (‘a) but terror will be there after his rising.” This report is also mentioned in Tafsir Ayyashi through another chain of narrators.

95- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Muhammad Ibn Mufaddal from Ibn Fadhdhal from Thalaba from Muammar Ibn Yahya from Dawood Dajjaji from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“Once Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) was asked about (the meaning of) this Quranic verse:

فَاخْتَلَفَ الْأَحْزَابُ مِن بَيْنِهِمْ

“But parties from among them disagreed with each other…” (Surah Maryam, 19:37).

He said: “Expect deliverance when three signs appear.”

He was asked: “What are they?”

He said: “Disagreement among the people of Shaam, the black banners coming from Khurasan and terror in the month of Ramadan.”

He was asked: “What is terror in Ramadan?”

He said: “Have you not heard the saying of Allah in the Qur’an:

إِن نَّشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِم مِّن السَّمَاء آيَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْنَاقُهُمْ لَهَا خَاضِعِينَ

“If We please, We should send down upon them a sign from the heaven so that their necks should stoop to it.” (Surah Ash-Shu’ara, 26:4).

It is a sign that will bring the girls out of their veils, awaken the sleepers and terrify the awake.”

Report Of Abu Basir About Other Signs Of Reappearance

96- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Ahmad Ibn Yusuf from Ibn Mahran from Ibn Bataini from his father from Wuhaib from Abu Basir from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“If you see a great fire burning in the east for three days or seven days, then wait for the deliverance of Muhammad’s progeny inshallah. Allah is Mighty, Wise!”

Then he said: “The cry will not occur except in the month of Ramadan, because Ramadan is the month of Allah and the cry is the cry of Jibra’il to the people.”

Then he added: “A call will come from the heavens with the name of the Qa’im. It will be heard by everyone in the east and everyone in the west. The cry will make every sleeper awake, every stander sit and every sitter stand because of fright. Allah will have mercy upon whoever submits to the cry and obeys the caller, because the first cry will be the cry of Jibra’il (‘a)”

Then he said: “The cry will be in the month of Ramadan, in a night of a Friday, which will be the twenty-third of the month. Do never doubt that. Listen, and obey! At the end of the day there will be the voice of Iblis the cursed calling out: “So-and-so (‘Uthman) is killed unjustly” just to make people doubt and become confused. On that day much many people will doubt and become confused and then go to Hell.

If you hear the call in Ramadan, do not doubt it. It will be the voice of Jibra’il. The evidence is that he will call out the name of the Qa’im and the name of his father. The call will be heard by everyone until the virgins in their veils persuade their fathers and brothers to rise (to join the Qa’im).

These two calls must occur before the appearance of the Qa’im. One will be from the heavens calling out the name of the Qa’im and the name of his father. It will be the call of Jibra’il. The other will be from the earth and it will be the call of Iblis calling out the name of someone claiming that he has been killed unjustly just to create sedition among people. Obey the first call and beware of being deceived by the second one!”

He also said: “The Qa’im will not appear except after a great terror among people, earthquakes, seditions, calamities, plague, terrible killing among the Arabs, great disagreements among people, separation in the religion and bad living until one will wish to die in the morning or in the evening, because of the oppression of people and their striving to eat each other. The Qa’im will disappear after the people will have become so desperate and hopeless to get any deliverance. How blessed is he, who lives until the appearance of the Qa’im and becomes one of his assistants and woe unto whoever opposes him, objects to his orders and becomes one of his opponents.”

He said: “When he (the Qa’im) rises, he will rule with a new method, new principles, new Sunnah and new judgments. He will be severe with the Arabs. He will kill a large number of people without forgiving anyone and without caring for any blame, because he will act according to the will of Allah.”

He said: “If the people of the family of so-and-so disagree among themselves, then you wait for deliverance to come soon, because your deliverance will not come except after their disagreement. If they disagree, then expect the cry in Ramadan and the appearance of the Qa’im. Allah does what He wills! The Qa’im will not appear and you will not get what you look forward to unless those people disagree among themselves. If that occurs, people will seize the opportunity against them, separation will occur and then Sufiyani will rise.”

He said: “The family of so-and-so must rule. When they rule and disagree among themselves, their state will be separated and lost. Khurasani and Sufiyani will rise against them; this from the east and that from the west. They will compete towards Kufa as two racehorses until that family will be destroyed by them.”

He said: “The risings of Sufiyani, Yamani and Khurasani will be in the same year, in the same month and on the same day. They will be like the beads of a rosary; one following the other. Sufferings will be from every side. Miserable will be whoever resists them. From among the three banners, only the banner of Yamani will be a banner of guidance, because he will invite to the mission of your man (the Qa’im). When Yamani rises, he will forbid selling weapons for all of the people and for the Muslims as well. When Yamani rises, you are to join him, because his banner will be a banner of guidance. It is not permissible for any Muslim to turn away from him and whoever does so, will be in Hell, because Yamani will invite to the truth and to the straight path.”

He said: “The loss of the rule of the family of so-and-so will be like the breaking of pottery or like a man, who has a piece of pottery in his hand while he is walking. It falls from his hand while he is inattentive, but immediately he becomes attentive to find that it is broken. So is the loss of their rule. They will be so inattentive when their state will be lost.

One day Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said from on the pulpit of Kufa: “Allah has determined that it is inevitable for the Umayyads to be killed by the sword openly and for the family of so-and-so to be defeated unexpectedly.”

He said: “There must be mill stones. When they begin to turn around their axis, Allah will send a severe man, whose mention is obscure against them. Victory will be always with him. His companions will have long hair and moustaches. They would be dressed in black and their banners will also be black.

Woe unto whoever opposes them. They will kill their opponents excitedly. By Allah, as if I see them, their actions and what distresses the dissolute and the rude nomads will get from them! Allah will make them defeat those rude people with no mercy. They will kill them in their city at the shore of the Euphrates as a reward of what they have committed...and Allah is not in the least unjust to the servants!”

97- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Hamam from Fazari from Musa Ibn Ja’far Ibn Wahab from Washa from Abbas Ibn Ubaidullah from Dawood Ibn Sarhan from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“Before the year of the cry (from the heavens), there will be a sign in the month of Rajab.”

He was asked: “What is it?”

He said: “A face will appear on the moon and a protruding hand.”

98- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Ahmad from Ubaidullah Ibn Musa from Yaqub Ibn Yazid from Ziyad Ibn Marwan from Abdullah Ibn Sinan from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“The cry (from the heavens), the rising of Sufiyani, the rising of Yamani, killing the pure innocent man and a hand appearing in the sky will be inevitable. There will be also a fright in Ramadan, which will awaken the sleepers, terrify the awake and bring the girls out of their veils.

99- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Hamam from Fazari from ‘Ali Ibn Asim from Bazanti from Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) that he said:

“Before the appearance of the Qa’im, there will be the risings of Sufiyani, Marwani, Yamani and Shuaib Ibn Salih. Then how does this one (Muhammad Ibn Ibrahim Ibn Isma’il known as Ibn Tabatabai) claim such a thing (to be the Qa’im)?”

100- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from ‘Ali Ibn Husayn from ‘Ali Ibn Mahziyar from Hammad Ibn ‘Isa from Husayn Ibn Mukhtar from Abdullah Ibn Abi Yafur that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) told him:

“Keep in mind the destruction of so-and-so (he mentioned a name of a man from the Abbasids), the rising of Sufiyani, killing the pure innocent man, the ‘sinking and the call, by which the man of this matter (the Qa’im) will be known, entire deliverance will be after the destruction of that of man the Abbasids.”

Report Of Abaya Rabi

“Once we came to Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a). We were five persons and I was the youngest. I heard him say: “My brother, the messenger of Allah, has said to me: “I am the last of a thousand prophets and you are the last of a thousand guardians. I have been entrusted with what they have not been entrusted with.”

I said: “People were not just to you.”

He said: “It is not as you think, my nephew. By Allah, I know a thousand words (facts, data, information...etc.) that no one other than me and other than Muhammad (S) knows. People recite a verse from the Qur’an, which is:

وَإِذَا وَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَخْرَجْنَا لَهُمْ دَابَّةً مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ تُكَلِّمُهُمْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ كَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا لَا يُوقِنُونَ

“And when the word shall come to pass against them, We shall bring forth for them a creature from the earth that shall speak unto them, because people did not believe in Our communications…” (Surah An-Naml, 27:82).

…but they do not ponder on it deeply. Should I tell you about the end of the rule of the family of so-and-so?”

We said: “Yes please, O Amir al-Mu’minin!”

He said: “(when) killing of an innocent sacred man on a sacred day and in a sacred place will occur. I swear by Him, Who has split the seed and created man, they will not rule after that except for fifteen nights.”

We asked: “Would something occur before or after that?”

He said: “A cry in Ramadan, that will terrify the awake; awaken the sleepers and bring the girls out of their veils.”

101- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Yahya Ibn Zakariya Ibn Shaiban from Abu Sulayman Ibn Kalib from Bataini from Ibn Amira from Hadhrami that he heard Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) say:

“The Abbasids must rule. When they rule, they will disagree and their state will separate. Khurasani and Sufiyani will rise against them. One will come from the east and the other from the west. They will hurry towards Kufa as two racehorses. The decline of the Abbasids will be caused by these two leaders. None of them (the Abbasids) will remain alive.”

102- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Qasim from Ubais Ibn Hisham from Ibn Jabla from his father from Muhammad Ibn Samit that Imam Abu Abdullah Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) was asked:

“Will there be certain signs for his matter (the appearance of the Qa’im)?”

“Yes, there will be.”

“What are they?”

“The destruction of the Abbasids, the rising of Sufiyani, killing the pure innocent man, the sinking of the desert and the call from the heavens.”

“May I be your ransom! I am afraid that these things may take time! “

“No. They will be like the beads of a rosary; one following the other.”

103- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Ahmad Ibn Yusuf from Isma’il Ibn Mahran from Ibn Bataini from Wuhaib from Abu Basir from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“The Qa’im (‘a) will rise in an odd year; one, three, five, seven or nine.

When the Umayyads rule and disagree among themselves, their state will decline and then the Abbasids will rule. Their state remains strong and they live at ease and wealth until they disagree among themselves. Then their state will decline and the people of the east and of the west will disagree. People will face difficult times full of terror. They will remain so until a caller calls out from the heavens. When you hear the call, you are to hurry up (to join the Qa’im). By Allah, as if I see him (the Qa’im) between the corner (of the Ka’ba) and the Place of Ibrahim. He will be paid allegiance to rule over the people with a new method, new principles and a new rule determined by the heavens. None of his armies will be defeated until he dies.”

104- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Ahmad from Ubaidullah Ibn Musa from Abdullah Ibn Hammad from Ibrahim Ibn Abdullah Ibn Alaa from his father from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) informed of some things that would happen after him until the appearance of the Qa’im.

Imam Husayn (‘a) asked him: “O Amir al-Mu’minin, when does Allah clear the world from the unjust people?”

Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said: “Allah does not clear the world from the unjust until the sacred blood is shed.” He mentioned the story of the Umayyads and the Abbasids in a long tradition then he said: “When the Qa’im rises in Khurasan, defeats Kufa and the two nations, passes the island of Bani Kawan, and another revolter from us rises in Jeelan, who will be supported by the people of Aabir and Daylaman, then the banners of the Turks will rise in different countries to support my son (the Qa’im). Then some things will happen here and there. Basra will be destroyed and the emir of the emirs will rule in Egypt.”

He told a long story and then said: “When armies get ready, different leaders rise, revolters rebel and unbelievers perish then the expected Qa’im and the unknown Imam will appear with honour and virtue.

O Husayn, he is your descendant, who has no like at all. He will appear between the two corners (of the Ka’ba) in ragged cloths. He will rule over all the peoples and will clear the world of every evil. Blessed is he, who lives until his (the Qa’im’s) age and enjoys his rule.”

Report Of Jabir Ju’fi And General Conditions In The Last Period Of Time

105- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Muhammad Ibn Mufaddal and Saadan Ibn Ishaq and Ahmad Ibn Husayn Ibn Abdul Malik and Muhammad Ibn Ahmad together from Ibn Mahbub that Kulayni said: ‘Ali Ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad Ibn Yahya from Ibn ‘Isa and ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad etc. from Sahl together from Ibn Mahbub that he said: Narrated to us Abdul Wahid Ibn Abdullah from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Abi Yasir from Ahmad Ibn Halil from Amr Ibn Abul Miqdam from Jabir that he said: Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) said:

“O Jabir, keep quiet until you see some signs that I will mention to you - if you remain alive until then: The first is the disagreement of the Abbasids. I do not think that you live until then, but narrate this from me after my death. Other signs are a call from the heavens, a cry comes from the direction of Damascus, one of the villages of Shaam called Jabiya sinks, a part of the mosque of Damascus falls down, a group of Turk apostates and then there will be commotion in Rome. The Turks come and occupy the island whereas the Romans come to settle at Ramla.

O Jabir, that year will be full of events everywhere from the direction of the west. The first country that will be ruined is Shaam. Then people will disagree and divide into three armies; the army of the red one, the army of the spotted one and the army of Sufiyani. Sufiyani will fight the spotted one and he will kill him with his followers and then he will fight the red one and he will kill him too.

Then he will move towards Iraq. He will pass by Qarqeesiya. A fight will break out. Sufiyani will kill about one hundred thousands of the arrogants. Then he will send an army of seventy thousand warriors towards Kufa. They will kill, crucify and capture many of the people of Kufa. While they are doing so, an army will come from the direction of Khurasan. With this army there will be some companions of the Qa’im.

A faithful man from Kufa with weak followers will revolt, but he will be killed by the leader of Sufiyani’s army between Kufa and Heera. Sufiyani will send a troop to Medina. The Mahdi will flee from Medina to Mecca. The leader of the army will be informed that the Mahdi has gone to Mecca so he will send a troop to follow him, but with no use. The Mahdi will enter Mecca frightfully and cautiously like Prophet Musa (‘a).

The army of Sufiyani will stop in the desert. A caller from the heavens will call out: “O desert, destroy these people!” The desert will sink with the army and none of them will escape death, except three persons whom Allah will turn their faces towards their backs. It is about them that this verse has been revealed:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ آمِنُواْ بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّطْمِسَ وُجُوهًا فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَى أَدْبَارِهَا

“O you who have been given the Book! believe that which We have revealed, verifying what you have, before We alter faces then turn them on their backs.” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:47).

On that day the Qa’im will be in Mecca leaning against the Ka’ba. He will announce: “O people, we resort to Allah to make us succeed. Whoever of you wants to support us, let him join us. We are the progeny of your Prophet Muhammad (S). We are worthier of Allah and Muhammad than other people. Whoever argues with me about Adam, I am the worthiest of Adam. Whoever argues with me about Nuh, I am the worthiest of Nuh. Whoever argues with me about Ibrahim, I am the worthiest of Ibrahim. Whoever argues with me about Muhammad (S), I am the worthiest of Muhammad (S). Whoever argues with me about the prophets, I am the worthiest of the prophets.

Has Allah not said in his Book:

إِنَّ اللّهَ اصْطَفَى آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ

“Surely Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the descendants of Ibrahim and the descendants of ‘Imran above the nations;” (Surah Aali-’Imran, 3:33).

ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُهَا مِن بَعْضٍ وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“Offspring one of the other; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing?” (Surah Aali-’Imran, 3:34).

I am a remainder of Adam, a relic of Nuh, elite of Ibrahim and a choice of Muhammad, peace be upon them all. Whoever argues with me about the Book of Allah, I am the worthiest of the book of Allah. Whoever argues with me about the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, I am the worthiest of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.

I adjure everyone, who hears my speech today, to inform the absent of it. I ask you with the right of Allah, the right of His Messenger and with my right, for I have a right of kinship to the Messenger of Allah, to support us and to protect us from those who have wronged us. We have been wronged, offended, expelled from our homes, separated from our families, deprived of our rights and our honour and virtues have been distorted by the evil people. For the sake of Allah, do not fail us. Support us that may Allah support you!”

Allah will make his (the Mahdi’s) three hundred and thirteen companions join him without any previous appointment. O Jabir, it is the verse that Allah has revealed in His Book:

أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُواْ يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللّهُ جَمِيعًا إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

“Wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together; surely Allah has power over all things.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:148).

People will pay allegiance to him between the corner (of the Ka’ba) and the Place (of Ibrahim). With him there will be a covenant from the Prophet (S) that has been inherited by the descendants; one after the other. O Jabir, the Qa’im is one of Husayn’s descendants; Allah will reform his affair overnight. O Jabir, if people doubt all that, let them not doubt his descending from the Prophet (S) and his inheriting knowledge from the Scholars (the infallible Imams) one after the other. If all these things become confusing to them, then the call that will come from the heavens and will call out his name and his parents’ names certainly will not be confusing to them at all.”

This report is narrated from Shaykh al-Mufid in Ikhtisas from another chains of narrators.

In Tafsir Ayyashi it is narrated from Jabir Ju’fi that he said: Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) told me in a lengthy tradition: O Jabir, the first country to be destroyed in the west is the land of Shaam. Three groups with three different flags will clash there. This report is also like the previous detailed narration and it ends at the verse of:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ آمِنُواْ بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّطْمِسَ وُجُوهًا فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَى أَدْبَارِهَا

“O you who have been given the Book! believe that which We have revealed, verifying what you have, before We alter faces then turn them on their backs.” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:47).

106- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Qasim Ibn Muhammad from Ubais Ibn Hisham from Ibn Jabla from Muhammad Ibn Sulayman from Alaa from Muhammad (Ibn Muslim) from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that the Imam (‘a) said:

“The advent of the Sufiyani and the uprising of Qa’im will occur in the same year.”

107- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Ahmad Ibn Yusuf from Isma’il Ibn Mahran from Ibn Bataini from his father and Wuhaib from Abu Basir from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“While people are standing on Arafat, a rider on a swift she-camel will come to inform them of the death of a caliph, after whose death the deliverance of Muhammad’s progeny and the deliverance of all the people will come.” He also said: “When you see a sign in the sky; a great fire burning for some nights in the east, then deliverance will come. It will occur a little before the appearance of the Qa’im (‘a).”

108- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Ahmad from Ubaidullah Ibn Musa Ibn Muhammad Ibn Musa from Ahmad Ibn Abu Ahmad from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali from ‘Ali Ibn Hakam from Amr Ibn Shimr from Jabir from Abu Tufayl that he said: Abdullah Kawwa asked Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) about divine anger. Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said:

“How far anger is! A death after a death! The rider of the quick she-camel and what the rider of the quick she-camel is! He will inform people of something and they will kill him. Then the Almighty Allah will send anger on the people!”

109- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ahmad Ibn Hawza from Ibrahim Ibn Ishaq from Abdullah Ibn Hammad from Ibn Abu Malik from Muhammad Ibn Abil Hakam from Abdullah Ibn ‘Uthman from Hasin Makki from Abu Tufayl from Huzaifah Ibn Yaman that he said:

“A caliph, whom no one in the heavens will forgive nor will he have any supporter on the earth, will be killed and another caliph, who will have no chance of getting forgiveness in the afterlife, will be deposed and then the son of the bondmaid will become the caliph.”

Abu Tufayl said (to Aslam): “O my nephew, I wish we would live in his time!”

Aslam said: “O uncle, why do you wish so?”

Abu Tufayl said: “Because Hudhayfa has told me that the rule will return to the Prophet’s family.”

110- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Ahmad Ibn Yusuf from Ibn Mahran from Ibn Bataini from his father and Wuhaib from Abu Basir that he said:

Once Abu Ja’far Baqir (‘a) was asked about the interpretation of the Quranic verse:

سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ

“We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and in their own souls, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth.” (Surah Fussilat, 41:53).

…and he said:

“Allah will show them His signs in the skies and in their selves. The saying, ‘until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth,’ means the appearance of the Qa’im, who is the truth that Allah will make His people see inevitably.”

111- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from ‘Ali Ibn Husayn from ‘Ali Ibn Mahziyar from Hammad Ibn ‘Isa from Husayn Ibn Mukhtar from Abu Basir that he said:

I asked Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) what is the implication of the saying of Allah:

عَذَابَ الخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا

“...the chastisement of disgrace in this world’s life…” (Surah Yunus, 10:98).

‘What is the chastisement of disgrace in this life?”

He said: “O Abu Basir, is there a disgrace worse than that when a man is in his house and among his family and then his family begins to cry and weep and people ask what the matter is to be said to them that that man is transmogrified?”

I asked: “Will that happen before or after the appearance of the Qa’im (‘a)?”

He replied: “Before it.”

112- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Ahmad from Ubaidullah Ibn Musa from Muhammad Ibn Musa from Ahmad Ibn Abu Ahmad from Yaqub Ibn Sarraj that he said:

I asked Abu Abdullah Imam as-Sadiq (‘a): “When will the deliverance of your Shi’a come?”

He said: “When the Abbasids disagree, their rule will become weak, those, who have never thought of the rule, will seize the opportunity to gain their (the Abbasids’) rule, the Arabs will become uncontrolled, Sufiyani will rise, Yamani will come with his army, Hasani will move with his troops and then the Qa’im will appear in Medina and move towards Mecca with the heritage of the Prophet (S).”

I said: “What is the heritage of the Prophet (S)?”

He said: “The heritage of the Prophet (S) is his sword, armour, turban, garment, banner, stick, horse and saddle.”

113- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Hammam from Fazari from Muawiyah Ibn Jabir from Bazanti that he said: I heard Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) say:

“Before this matter (the appearance of the Mahdi) there will be (bayooh).” I did not know the meaning of (bayooh). When I went to offer the Hajj, I heard a nomad say: “This is a (bayooh) day.” I asked him: “What does (bayooh) mean?” He said: “It means very hot.”

114- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Bataini from Abu Basir from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“One of the signs that precede the appearance of the Mahdi will be the solar eclipse in the middle of Ramadan on the thirteen and fourteenth of the month.”

115- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Hamam from Fazari from Ibn Abil Khattab from Husayn Ibn ‘Ali from Salih Ibn Sahl that he said that Abu Abdullah Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) had said when talking about the verse:

سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ

“One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall…” (Surah Al-Maarij, 70:1).

“It is a fire that will flame in Thawiyya and then it will move to the tribe of Asad and then to the tribe of Thaqif. It will burn the enemies of Muhammad’s progeny. This will be before the appearance of the Qa’im (‘a).”

This report is also quoted from Jabir Ju’fi on the authority of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) in the same book.

116- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from ‘Ali Ibn Husayn from his father from Ahmad Ibn ‘Umar from Husayn Ibn Musa from Muammar Ibn Yahya Ibn Saam from Abu Khalid Kabuli from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“As if I see some people rising in the east. They will ask for the truth but they will not be given it. They will ask for it again and they will not be given it. Then they will unsheathe their swords and they will be given what they will ask for, but they will not accept it. They will revolt and deliver their victory to your man (the Mahdi). Their killed ones will be martyrs. If I live until that time, I will sacrifice myself to the man of this matter.”

117- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from ‘Ali Ibn Husayn from Yaqub from Ziyad Qandi from Ibn Uzniyah from Maruf Ibn Kharbudh that he said:

“Whenever we go to Abu Ja’far Baqir (‘a), he says: “Khurasan! Khurasan! Sajistan! Sajistan!” As if he wants to tell us good news (about deliverance).”

118- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from ‘Ali from Hasan and Muhammad sons of ‘Ali Ibn Yusuf from their father from Ahmad Ibn ‘Umar Halabi from Salih Ibn Abul Aswad from Abul Jarud that he said: Abu Ja’far Baqir (‘a) had said:

“When people pay allegiance to the young boy, every young boy will try to rise.

119- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from ‘Ali from Muhammad Ibn Abdullah from Ibn Abi Umair from Hisham Ibn Saalim from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“The Qa’im will not appear except after that every class of people will have ruled over people so that no one may say: ‘If we had ruled, we would have spread justice;’ then the Qa’im will rise to rule with truth and justice.”

120- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from the same chains from Hisham from Zurarah that he said:

“Once I asked Abu Abdullah Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) if the call (from the heavens) is inevitable.

He said: “Yes, by Allah, until every nation will hear it in its own language.” He also said: “The Qa’im will not appear unless nine tenths of people perish.”

121- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Abdul Wahid from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad from Ahmad Ibn ‘Ali Himyari from Hasan Ibn Ayyub from Abdul Karim from a man from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“The Qa’im will appear after twelve men will have agreed upon that they have seen him, but they will be considered as liars.”

122- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Hamam Ibn Hamid Ibn Ziyad from Hasan Ibn Muhammad Ibn Samaa from Ahmad Ibn Hasan Maithami from Abul Hasan ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad from Maaz Ibn Matar from a man from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“Before the appearance of the Qa’im, the war of (tribe of) Qays2 will break out.”

123- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Husayn from Muhammad Ibn Yahya from Muhammad Ibn Hasan from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Kufi from Muhammad Ibn Sinan from Ubaid Ibn Zurarah that he said:

“Once Sufiyani was mentioned before Abu Abdullah Imam as-Sadiq (‘a). He said: “He (Sufiyani) will not rise except after the rising of the one in Sana’a.”

124- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from ‘Ali Ibn Hasan Timli from Muhammad Ibn ‘Umar Ibn Yazid from Muhammad Ibn Walid from Khalid together from Hammad Ibn ‘Uthman from Abdullah Ibn Sinan from Muhammad Ibn Ibrahim Ibn Abil Balad from his father from Asbagh Ibn Nubatah that Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said:

“Before the appearance of the Qa’im there will be deceitful years, in which a truthful one will be considered as a liar, a liar will be considered as truthful and a cheater will be respected.”

125- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Abdul Wahid from Muhammad Ibn Ja’far Qarashi from Ibn Abil Khattab from Muhammad Ibn Sinan from Hudhayfa Ibn Mansur that Abu Abdullah Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) had said:

“Allah will have a banquet. A caller from the heavens will call out: O birds of the sky and beasts of the earth, come to eat and be satiated of the flesh of the tyrants.”

126- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ahmad Ibn Hawza Ibn Ibrahim Ibn Ishaq from Abdullah Ibn Hammad from Abu Basir that Abu Abdullah Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) had said:

“A caller (from the heavens) will call out the name of the Qa’im: O you, son of so-and-so, get up!”

127- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Ahmad from Ubaidullah Ibn Musa from Abdur Rahman Ibn Qasim from Muhammad Ibn ‘Umar Ibn Yunus [Ibrahim Ibn Harasa from his father] from ‘Ali Ibn Hazawwar from Muhammad Ibn Bashir that he said:

“I heard Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) say: “Before our banner (the banner of the Qa’im), there will be a banner (rule or state) of the family of Ja’far and another one of the family of Mardas. As for the banner of Aali Ja’far, it will begin with nothing (important) and will end to nothing.”

I became angry at this and said: “May I be your ransom! Will there be banners before yours?”

He said: “Yes, there will be. By Allah, Aali Mardas will have a strong rule, but with no goodness. Their state will be full of difficulties but with no ease. They will bring the foreigners closer and will remove the near. When they feel that they are safe from the punishment of Allah and think that their state would never decline, a cry will come upon them and then no ruler will remain to gather them, no one to listen to them and no people to support them. Allah has given an example in His Book, when saying:

حَتَّىَ إِذَا أَخَذَتِ الأَرْضُ زُخْرُفَهَا وَازَّيَّنَتْ وَظَنَّ أَهْلُهَا أَنَّهُمْ قَادِرُونَ عَلَيْهَآ أَتَاهَا أَمْرُنَا لَيْلاً أَوْ نَهَارًا

“…until when the earth puts on its golden raiment and it becomes garnished, and its people think that they have power over it, Our command comes to it, by night or by day…” (Surah Yunus, 10:24).

Then Muhammad Ibn Hanafiya swore by Allah that this verse had been revealed concerning those people.

I said to him: “May I be your ransom! You have told us about a great thing concerning those people, but when will they perish?”

He said: “O Muhammad (Ibn Bishr), Allah reverses the timing of the diviners. Prophet Musa (‘a) promised his people (that Allah would do away with their enemy) after thirty days but Allah had determined further ten days and He had not told Prophet Musa (‘a) of that. When the time of the promise passed, the people of Musa disbelieved and began to worship the calf. Prophet Yunus (‘a) warned his people that they would be tortured but Allah had willed to forgive them, but without informing Prophet Yunus (‘a) of that and then happened what had happened to them.

When you see neediness spread and one says that he has spent his night without eating anything and when one receives you in a manner and the other day, he receives you in a different manner then you expect it!”

I said: “I know what neediness is. What is the other thing?”

He said: “It is when one meets you smilingly, but when you go to borrow something from him, he will meet you in a different manner. Then the cry (from the heavens) will occur somehow soon.

The author says: Bani Mardas is an allusion to Bani Abbas, because there was a man among the companions named Abbas Ibn Mardas.

128- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Hamam Ibn Hamid Ibn Ziyad from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Ghalib from Yahya Ibn Sulaym from Abu Jamila from Jabir that he said: Narrated to me the one who saw Musayab Ibn Najba that:

“One day a man came to Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) with another man called Ibn Sawda and said: “O Amir al-Mu’minin, this man ascribes lies to Allah and His messenger and he mentions you to be the source of that.”

Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said: “What does he say?”

The man said: “He mentions an army of anger.”

Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said: “Set the man free! The army of anger will come at the end of time. They will gather like the cloudlets of autumn. A man, two or three will come from every tribe until they become nine (from each tribe). By Allah, I know their emir and his name and I know the place where their mounts stay.”

Then he got up saying: “Baqir! Baqir! Baqir! He is from my descendants. He will split open traditions so extensively.”

129- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Husayn Masudi from Muhammad Attar from Muhammad Ibn Hasan Raazi from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Kufi from Abdur Rahman Ibn Abu Hammad from Yaqub Ibn Abdullah Ashari from Atiba Ibn Saad [aan] Ibn Yazid from Ahnaf Ibn Qais that he said:

“Once I went to Imam ‘Ali (‘a) for some business. Then Ibn al-Kawwa and Shabth Ibn Rabiy came and asked permission to meet him. Imam ‘Ali (‘a) said to me: “If you like to permit them, you can do that, because you are the first to have your business achieved.”

I said: “O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), permit them to come in.” When they came in, he said to them: “What made you secede from me in Haroora?” They said: “We wanted to be with the army of anger.” He said: “Woe unto you! Is there any kind of anger in my guardianship? Anger comes after many kinds of calamities and distresses occur. Then they (the army) gather like cloudlets of autumn; one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten from every tribe.

Rise Of The Sufiyani Is Inevitable

130- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Muhammad Ibn Mufaddal Ibn Ibrahim from Ibn Fadhdhal from Thalaba from ‘Isa Ibn Ayyan that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said:

“The rising of Sufiyani is an inevitable matter. He will rise in the month of Rajab. It will take, since his rising until his end, fifteen months. He will fight for six months. When he conquers the five districts, he will rule for nine months; no more no less.”

131- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Qasim Ibn Muhammad Husayn from Ubais Ibn Hisham from Muhammad Ibn Bashir from Ahwal from Ibn Jabla from ‘Isa Ibn Ayyan from Mualla Ibn Khunais that he said: I heard Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) say:

“Some things are inevitable and others are not. From among the inevitable things is the rising of Sufiyani in Rajab.”

132- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from ‘Ali Ibn Hasan from Abbas Ibn Aamir from Abdullah Ibn Bukair from Zurarah from his brother, Abdul Malik Ibn Ayyan that he said:

“Once I was with Abu Ja’far Baqir (‘a) when the Qa’im (‘a) was mentioned before him. I said to him: “I hope that he (the Qa’im) appears sooner without being preceded by the rising of Sufiyani.”

He said: “By Allah, that will not be! It is an inevitable thing.”

133- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from ‘Ali Ibn Husayn from Muhammad Ibn Khalid Isaam from Ibn Bukair from Ibn Thalaba from Zurarah from his brother, Humran Ibn Ayyan that he said: that Abu Ja’far Baqir (‘a) had said when talking about this verse:

ثُمَّ قَضَى أَجَلاً وَأَجَلٌ مُّسمًّى عِندَهُ

“Then He decreed a term; and there is a term named with Him…” (Surah Al-Anam, 6:2).

…said: “They are two terms; one is inevitable and one is pending.” Humran asked him: “What is the inevitable one?” He said: “It is a thing that has been determined by the will of Allah.” Humran said: “I hope that the term of Sufiyani is of the pending ones.” Abu Ja’far Baqir (‘a) said: “No, it is not. By Allah, it is of the inevitable ones.

134- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Muhammad Ibn Salim from Abdur Rahman Azdi from ‘Uthman Ibn Saeed Tawil from Ahmad Ibn Muslim from Musa Ibn Bakr from Fudhayl Ibn Yasar that Abu Ja’far Baqir (‘a) had said:

“Matters are of two kinds; pending and inevitable. The rising of Sufiyani is inevitable that must occur.”

135- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Hamam from Fazari from Ibad Ibn Yaqub from Khallad Saigh that Abu Abdullah Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said:

“The rising of Sufiyani is inevitable. He will rise in Rajab.” A man asked: “O Abu Abdullah, when he rises, what shall we do?” He said: “When he rises, you are to keep to us (Ahl Al-Bayt).”

136- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ahmad Ibn Hawza from Ibrahim Ibn Ishaq from Abdullah Ibn Hammad Ansari from Amr Ibn Shimr from Jabir Ju’fi that he said:

“Once I asked Abu Ja’far Baqir (‘a) about Sufiyani and he said: “Sufiyani does not rise until Shaysabani rises before him. He (Shaysabani) will rise from Kufa. He will flow like water. He will kill your delegation. After that you expect the rising of Sufiyani and then the Qa’im (‘a).”

137- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Hamam from Fazari from Hasan Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Yasar from Khalil Ibn Rashid from Bataini that he said:

“One day I accompanied Imam Musa al-Kazim (‘a) from Mecca to Medina. He said to me: “O ‘Ali, if the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth revolt against the Abbasids, the earth will be watered with their bloods (without defeating the Abbasids) until Sufiyani rises.” I asked: “O my master, is his rising inevitable?” He said: “Yes, it is.” He pondered for a while then he raised his head and said: “The rule of the Abbasids is based on cunning and deceit. It will go until it will be said that nothing of it has remained and then it will return as if nothing has happened.”

138- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Hamam from Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Abdullah Khalanji from Dawood Ibn Abul Qasim that he said:

“Once we were with Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Jawad (‘a) when Sufiyani was mentioned and that his matter was inevitable. I asked Abu Ja’far Jawad (‘a): “Does Allah change His determination concerning the inevitable matters?”

He said: “Yes, He does.”

We said to him: “We fear that He may change his determination concerning the matter of the Qa’im!”

He said: “The matter of the Qa’im is a part of the promise of Allah and Allah does not fail to perform His promise.”

139- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Ahmad from Ubaidullah Ibn Musa from Muhammad Ibn Musa from Ahmad Ibn Abu Ahmad from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Qarashi from Hasan Ibn Ibrahim that he said:

“Once I said to Imam Reza (‘a): “May Allah make you succeed! People narrate that Sufiyani will rise after the rule of the Abbasids declines.”

140- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ahmad Ibn Hawza from Ibrahim Ibn Ishaq from Abdullah Ibn Hammad from Husayn Ibn Abul Alaa from Abdullah Ibn Abi Yafur that he said: Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) narrated to us:

“The Abbasids and Marwanids will meet in Qarqeessiya in a terrible battle that causes a young boy to age. Allah will preclude them from gaining victory and will reveal to the birds in the sky and the beasts on the ground to satiate themselves with the flesh of the tyrants. After that Sufiyani will rise.

141- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from ‘Ali Ibn Hasan Taimili from Abbas Ibn Aamir Ibn Rabah from Muhammad Ibn Rabi Aqra from Hisham Ibn Abi Salim from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“When Sufiyani conquers the five districts, then you count to him nine months (the period of his rule)” Hisham claimed that the five districts were Damascus, Palestine, Jordan, Hims and Halab.

142- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Ahmad from Ubaidullah Ibn Musa from Abdullah Ibn Muhammad from Muhammad Ibn Khalid from Hasan Ibn Mubarak from Abu Ishaq Hamadani from Harith that Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said:

“The Mahdi (‘a) will have prominent eyes, curly hair and there will be a mole on his cheek. He will appear from the east, but before that Sufiyani will rise in Shaam. He (Sufiyani) will rule for nine months only. All the people of Shaam will submit to him, except a very few believers, who will still keep to the truth and whom Allah preserves from following him.

He will move towards Medina with a great army, but when they reach the desert of Medina, Allah will make the desert sink with them. It is the saying of Allah in His holy Book:

وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ فَزِعُوا فَلَا فَوْتَ وَأُخِذُوا مِن مَّكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ

“And could you see when they shall become terrified, but (then) there shall be no escape and they shall be seized upon from a near place.” (Surah Saba, 34:51).

Advent Of Sufiyani

143- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Ahmad from Ubaidullah Ibn Musa from Ibrahim Ibn Hashim from Ibn Abu Umair from Hisham Ibn Salim from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“Yamani and Sufiyani will rise like two racehorses.”

144- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Ahmad from Ubaidullah Ibn Musa from Muhammad Ibn Musa from Ahmad Ibn Abu Ahmad from Isma’il Ibn Ayyash from Mohajir Ibn Halim from Mughira Ibn Saad from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said: “When the two spears (two armies) disagree in Shaam, it will not come to an end except with a sign of Allah.” He was asked: “What is it, O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a)?” He said: “It is an earthquake in Shaam, by which more than a hundred thousand people will perish. Allah will make it as mercy to the believers and torment upon the disbelievers. When that occurs, you will see the riders of grey horses with yellow banners coming from the west until they stop at Shaam. There will be great terror and red death. Then you will see the sinking of one of the villages of Damascus called Harasta. Then the son of the livers-eater will come out of the Yabis valley to sit on the pulpit of Damascus. After that you expect the appearance of the Mahdi (‘a).”

145- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Hamam from Fazari from Hasan Ibn Wahab from Isma’il Ibn Aban from Yunus Ibn Yaqub that Abu Abdullah Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) said:

“When Sufiyani rises, he will send an army to fight us (the Hashemites) and an army to fight you (the Shi’a). If that takes place, hurry to us by any means!”

146- Ghaybah an-Nu’mani: It is narrated from Ibn Uqdah from Hamid Ibn Ziyad from ‘Ali Ibn Sabah from Abu ‘Ali Hasan Ibn Muhammad from Ja’far Ibn Muhammad from Ibrahim Ibn Abdul Hamid from Abu Ayyub Khazzaz from Muhammad Ibn Muslim from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“Sufiyani is red, blond and blue. He has never worshipped Allah at all. He has seen neither Mecca nor Medina. He says: O my God, I take revenge even if I go to hell! O my God, I take revenge even if I go to Hell!”

147- Al-Kafi: In Rawdha it is narrated from Muhammad Ibn Yahya from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad from some companions and ‘Ali Ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ibn Abu Umair together from Muhammad Ibn Abu Hamza from Humran that he said: When in the presence Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) the pitiable plight of Shi’a was mentioned, he explained his own condition:

“Once Abu Ja’far Mansur Dawaniqi was going somewhere with his battalion and preceded and followed by riders and he was also riding. I was astride a donkey besides him. He asked me, ‘O Aba Abdullah! Indeed, it is a fact that the Almighty Allah has given us kingdom and security and an honour, which He made easy for us. Be happy with it and do not say to the people you and your Ahl Al-Bayt are more eligible than us for this rulership, because if you utter such a thing it would be as if you have instigated yourself and the people against me.’”

He says, “I said, ‘Who has told you such a thing. Whoever has said it has lied.’” Mansur asked, “Can you swear that you have not said anything like it?”

He says, “I replied, ‘People are magicians. They like to instigate you against me. It is up to you to keep your ears protected and not to accept all they say, because our caution regarding you is more than your caution about us.’

At that time, he said to me, ‘Do you remember that day when I asked you whether I would reach your throne? You said: Yes! A rule of long duration widespread and secure, which will not decline. In your kingdom, you will be given respite and comfort. And in your world would be increase and excess till the time that in the Holy month and the Holy city their hands shall be smeared in our blood.’”

The Imam says, “I understood that I remembered that incident. I said, ‘Yes! I hope Allah, the Mighty and the Sublime would keep you safe and I also on that day by those words did not mean you by that person. Rather it was a tradition I had quoted for you. Although it is possible that person who would smear his hands with our blood may be a person from your family.’

When I told him this, he fell silent and did not say anything else. After we reached our destination one of our supporters came to me with some people and said to me, ‘May I be sacrificed on you! I saw you in the caravan of Abu Ja’far (Mansur). You were on an ass while he rode a horse. His head was bowed towards you and he was speaking to you. As if he wanted to control you. I said to myself: O flatterer! This is the proof of God on the creatures and is the real owner of this kingdom and grandeur. And he is the one whom all the rulers of the world should follow. And this other person is an oppressor, a tyrant and the slayer of the children of the prophets and a blood-shedder who spills innocent blood and whom Allah does not like. At that time, he was riding a horse while you rode an ass. That thought worried me so much and I got such a doubt that I began to doubt about my life and my religion.’

Imam (‘a) said, “I told you that if you had seen the honour and the service of the angels who were moving ahead of me and behind me, Mansur’s kingdom would have become worthless in your view.”

When my follower heard this, he said, “Now my heart is satiated.”

And then he asked, “For how long would these people remain in power? And in which time would Islam become safe from their mischief?”

I replied to him, “But you don’t know that there is a limit to everything.”

He said, “Why not! (I know it)”

I said, “If you know when this would occur, before the blink of the eye. At that time your knowledge would be beneficial to you. Yes! You knew the position these people have near Allah at that time your hatred to them will increase. If you and all the people of the earth endeavour to make more severe the condition in which they are, you are not at all capable of it. Then Shaitan would not touch you. That honour is for Allah, the Messenger and the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.”

Do you not know that those who are in anticipation of our affair and are patient on difficulties they face, tomorrow they shall be in our army? Thus, whenever you see that truth is extinct and inhabitants of the earth are destroyed and injustice and oppression have surrounded from all sides and Qur’an has become old-fashioned and those things become apparent in it that are not in it and you see Qur’an interpreted by selfish motives and see that religion is inverted like a bowl. (Another version says: Like water is inverted).

And you see people of falsehood dominating over people of truth and see mischief becoming common, but no one restraining it. Rather the mischief-makers shall be defended and you will see that transgression is openly committed. Men shall satisfy their lust with men and women shall satisfy theirs with women. You will see that the believer assumes silence as his advice will not be accepted. You will see the transgressor lying and also see that his lies are being accepted and no one is refuting and falsifying his words. You will see the young insulting the elders. You will see that dissociating with relatives has become common. You will see that when a person praises sin he would do it laughingly and one who says it will not be refuted. You will see boys will be given to those whom they give women. You will see women marrying women. You will see that praise and extolling would increase. You will see people spending their wealth on the way of other that God and there would be none to restrain them and hold back their hands.

You will see that when people see a believer making effort and searching, they would seek the refuge of Allah that they may not become like him. You will see a neighbour harassing other neighbour and no one would stop him. You will see that when a disbeliever sees the poor condition of the believer, he would be elated by his own condition and when he sees corruption widespread on the earth, he would be happy. And you will see that wine is openly imbibed and people who are gathered around tables do not care about Allah, the Mighty and the Sublime. You will see that enjoining good has become extinct. You will see that the transgressor is powerful and is being defended and praised in deeds disliked by Allah. You will see that those having the signs (Another version: Those having the relics) would also face humiliation. You will see that the path of good is closed and the path of mischief is open and full of people who walk upon it. You will see that the Holy Ka’ba is rendered empty and people shall be prevented from its visitation and encouraged to leave it. You will see each one advising others what he himself hasn’t done. You will see men dressing up for men and women shall dress up for women (and show off themselves as they are not). You will see men earning their living through service and women through their private parts.

You will see women arranging for themselves assemblies like men do. You will see descendants of Bani Abbas openly committing sodomy and women becoming men. That is why they dye and comb their hair like ladies make up their hair for their husbands. Men would spend their wealth for their private parts. Many people would fight for one man and each of them would try to put to shame the other.

You will see that one possessing wealth is more respected than a believer. Usury would be openly practiced and none shall be chastised about it. You will see a woman praised for her adulterous exploits. The wife would help and support her husband in committing sodomy with another man. You will see people helping their ladies in sensual deeds and they shall be considered the best family men.

You will see the believer always in sorrow, degradation and humiliation. You will see innovations and adultery common. You will see people competing with each other in testifying falsely. You will see that the prohibited has become permissible, the permissible has become prohibited. You will see people justifying their religion on the basis of their personal views and opinions and the Book of God and its commands are rendered useless.

You will see that no one is committing sins in the darkness of the night. Rather you will see them committing sins in broad daylight. You will see the believer, except by his heart, cannot refute the evils. You will see unprecedented wealth being squandered on activities hated by God. You will see wealthier people more deserving of leadership of the people. You will see relatives of prohibited degree satisfying each other and marrying each other. You will see people killed merely on allegations and doubts. You will see men dropping their shame in competing for the love of a boy. So much so, that they would sacrifice their life and wealth on this love.

You will see people denouncing men who go to women to satisfy their lusts. You will see people living off the adulterous earnings of their wives knowingly. You will see wives dominating and suppressing their husbands. They act contrary to their desires and spend money on it. You will see people hiring out their wife, daughter, and maid for sex and be satisfied to eat and drink things purchased by such money. And you will see that false oath is common, chess is played openly and wine is sold openly and no one is prohibiting it. And you will see Muslim women giving their kinswomen to disbelievers.

And you will see music and singing very open and common. Muslims would go beyond that and none shall refrain the other and none shall dare to prevent him. You will see respectable people humiliated by those whose power they dread. You will see that the closest people to their leaders shall be those who speak ill of us, Ahl Al-Bayt and praise those leaders. You will see that people would find it very difficult to listen to Quranic recitation while on the other hand, it would be easy and acceptable for them to listen to impermissible sounds.

You will see people respecting a neighbour for fear of his sharp tongue. You will see the most truthful people lying. You will see that mischief is open and tale telling is common. You will see that rebellion and injustice have come out in open. You will see backbiting has become a sort of good and jovial manner and people would give glad-tidings to each other through it. You will see that the aspect of other than Allah would be found in Hajj and Jihad. You will see the ruler humiliating a believer because of a disbeliever. You will see destructions dominating their lives. You will see that human life would become a saleable commodity. You will see that bloodshed would become an easy and very common matter.

You will see that someone is standing up for leadership while his sole aim will be the world and he would introduce himself to be a harsh-tongued person so that none may dare to oppose him and through it he may have his purpose solved. You will see that carelessness is exercised with the Prayer. You will see that the rich have much wealth collected with him and since he has started hoarding it, he has not paid Zakat on it. You will see that they would take out the corpse out of the grave, hurt it and sell off its shroud. You will see that there is too much of topsy-turvy. You will see that people are intoxicated in the morning and late afternoon without any care for anyone or anything. You will see them having sexual intercourse with animals. You will see animals fighting and killing each other.

You will see people going to places of worship and coming back in condition of having their garments looted. You will see that the hearts of the people have become hard and their eyes have no shame and the remembrance of Allah is hard on them and consumption of prohibited would become open and they would compete with each other in this. You will see that if a worshipper goes to the worship house, he does so with the intention of showing off. If you see a jurisprudent is contemplating something other than religious aim, it is that he intends to obtain material gains and worldly power. You will see that people are supporting only those who are powerful and those who are victorious without any thought of whether they had been on the right or wrong.

You will see that those who try to earn through lawful means are denounced and criticized and those who seek through unlawful means are respected and praised. You will see such activities in the two holy sanctuaries of Ka’ba and Medina, that the Almighty Allah does not like and none would be there to stop it. Rather there would be no obstacle between them and their ignorance. You will see music being played openly in the two sanctuaries. You will see a person issuing good exhortation, but someone would stand up and say that Allah does not want him to say these things; while he would be considered a well-wisher of this man. You will see people united in following the people of mischief. You will see that paths of good are deserted and no one walks upon them.

You will see that they shake up the dead body and no one would be disturbed by it. You will see that every year there is increase in innovations and mischief would increase. You will see that people and groups do not follow anyone except the rich. You will see that the needs of the needy are fulfilled laughingly and mockingly and their kindness shall be for ulterior motives. You will see that the heavenly signs shall become apparent, but none would be afraid of them. You will see people clinging to each other like animals and none would consider it bad. Even if they consider it bad, they would not say anything against it due to the fear of the people. You will see people spending most of their wealth in ways other than Allah’s and they would be unwilling to spend even a little on the way of Allah. And you will see that hurting parents, being disowned by them or insulting the parents would be common. Parents would be considered the worst of the people in view of their children. So much so, children will be pleased when allegations are made against their parents. You will see women dominating rulership and they would be having power on everything that fulfils their sensual desires.

You will see children making allegations against their parents and criticizing them. They would be elated on hearing the news of their demise. You will see that the conditions reach to such a stage that if a day passes for a man without having committed any sin, short-selling, misappropriation, usurpation and wine-drinking he would think that a day of his life is wasted. You will see the ruler hoarding essential commodities and the property of the near kindred of the Prophet (S) being distributed unjustly. And he will spend it in gambling and drinking.

You will see him seeking cure through wine, and he would praise and recommend it for those who are sick. He would say: Such and such wine is beneficial for you. He would seek cure from alcohol. You will see people united in leaving off the enjoining of good and restraining from evil. You will see that the flag of hypocrites is flying high and the flag of people of truth missing. You will see callers to Prayer and worshippers calling Azaan and performing prayers for money.

You will see the mosques full of people who do not fear God. They have gathered to backbite and consume the flesh of the people of truth. They shall discuss about wine-drinkers. You will see the prayer-leader leading prayer in a state of intoxication. Such that he would not understand what he is reciting and none would denounce him. Rather if he is intoxicated, people would respect him due to fear and leave him alone. They would not pursue him; rather they would consider him worthy of being excused. You will see people who usurp the property of orphans praised. You will see judges issuing judgments against divine commands. You will see rulers, because of greed, seeking refuge of those who misappropriate.

You will see the guardians giving off the wealth to transgressors and sinners against Allah rather than pay the inheritance according to religious law. They would accept their bribes as fees. And they shall leave him free, so that inheritors may do whatever they like. You will see people advising good from the pulpit, but themselves not acting upon it. You will see that Prayer is not recited on time and preference will not be accorded for praying at the earliest hour. You will see charity (Sadaqah) and alms are being paid on the basis of recommendation. And in it there would be no intention of seeing Allah’s pleasure, but it would be only because people are petitioning. You will see that people are free in satisfying carnal desires and they do not care what they eat and where they fulfil their lust. You will see that the world is moving towards the people.

You will see that the signs of religion have become outdated, antiquated and old. Then beware of such a day for the sake of Allah and beseech the Almighty for salvation. Know that in such days, people shall be deep in divine chastisement. And if the Almighty Allah has given them respite, it is because you must wait for the time Allah has appointed for a matter. You must try to be such that you are opposed to these types of people so that if chastisement descends upon them, you may soon reach the mercy of Allah. If their chastisement is delayed and they fall into it, you may be out of their midst; you must not be the one who has dared to disobey Allah. You should know that the Almighty Allah does not waste the rewards of the good doers. And the mercy of Allah is near to the righteous ones.”

148- Jami’ al-Akhbar: It is narrated from Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari that he said:

“I performed the Farewell with the Messenger of Allah (S) and when he completed the rituals of Hajj, he came to the Ka’ba to say farewell to it. He held the ring of the door of the Ka’ba and said: O people…

Upon hearing his voice, all the people in the Masjid as well as outside gathered there. He said:

“Listen, I will tell about that which will happen after me. Thus, all of you who are present here should convey it to those who are absent.”

After saying this he began to weep and seeing him the whole gathering began to weep. After the weeping stopped, he said:

“May Allah have mercy on you. You should know that today you are like that plant, which has only leaves and no thorns and this will continue till 140 A.H. After that, both leaves as well as thorns will appear in it and this will continue till 200 A.H. After that this plant will get only thorns and not a single leaf will appear. That is at that time, none except tyrant rulers, stingy rich, greedy scholars, lying beggars, sinful old men, bad character boys and wantons will be visible.”

After saying this he began to weep again.

Salman al-Farsi arose and asked: “When will this come about?”

He replied: “O Salman, it will be at a time when there will be a shortage of scholars among you, the reciters of Qur’an will pass away, when you stop giving Zakat, when you commit sins openly, when you make noise in the Masjids, when you honour material wealth and disregard knowledge, when your statements will be based on falsehood, when backbiting will be considered a pastime, when unlawful earning will be considered booty, when your elders will not be kind to your youngsters and when your youngsters will not respect the elders. At that time curses will fall on you.

There will be mutual conflicts among you and religion will remain only in name.

When these things appear, you should expect red storms; faces will become distorted, stones will rain down from the sky and it is mentioned by the Almighty Allah in His Book as follows:

قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ

“Say: He has the power that He should send on you a chastisement from above you or from beneath your feet, or that He should throw you into confusion, (making you) of different parties; and make some of you taste the fighting of others. See how We repeat the communications that they may understand.” (Surah Al-Anam, 6:65).

Some people arose and asked: O Messenger of Allah (S), when will this happen?

He replied: When you start delaying prayer inordinately and follow your selfish desires, when you take to wine and you start abusing your parents.

So much so that unlawful wealth will be considered as profit and Zakat will be considered loss. The husband will be under the control of his wife. Neighbours will harass each other. Cruelty will be done to relatives. Elders will have no kindness, youngsters will lack shame and modesty. Strong edifices will be constructed. Servants will be oppressed. False testimonies will be common. Judgments will be given on the basis of injustice. The son will abuse the father. The brother will be jealous of his brother. Partners will cheat each other. Disloyalty will increase. Fornication will become common. Men will dress like women and women will become shameless. Arrogance will permeate the people like poison spreads in the body. Good deeds will decrease. There will be increase in crimes. Recognition will be purchased through wealth. Money will be spent on songs and music. Leaving the hereafter, people will be busy in the world. There will be decrease in piety. Greed will increase. The believer will be degraded and the hypocrite will be exalted. Azaan will echo in the Masjids but the hearts of the people will be without faith. The Holy Qur’an will be considered light and unimportant. The believer will be degraded in every way.

At that time, you will see that human beings are there but their heart will be satanic; their words will be sweeter than honey, but the hearts will be more bitter than poison ivy. They will be wolves in the dress of humans. Every day the Almighty Allah will say: Are you deceiving Me or you have in fact become disrespectful to me?

أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ

“What! did you then think that We had created you in vain and that you shall not be returned to Us?” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:115).

I swear by My majesty and honour, if there had not been among you some of Our sincere servants who worship us with sincerity, I would not have given respite to those criminals even for a moment. If there had been no pious ones, I would not have sent a drop of rain and neither would I have grown a single leaf from the earth. Thus, amazing is the case of people who have taken wealth as their deity. Their hopes are long, but lives are short. They wish to gain the proximity of their Lord, but it is not possible through good acts and good deeds are incomplete without intellect.”

149- Al-Kafi: It is narrated from ‘Ali from his father from Ibn Mahbub from Ishaq Ibn Ammar from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“That which you hope for will not happen till strife develops among Bani so-and-so. When people see their mutual discord, they would try to snatch the power away from them. And till the time there is no conflict in the word and the Sufiyani does not appear.”

150- Al-Kafi: It is narrated from some persons from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi Najran from Muhammad Ibn Sinan from Abul Jarud from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“That which you are awaiting for will not occur till you don’t become like those lifeless goats who can be attacked by any lion who wants to attack them. Till there remains some skill and excellence through which you can progress. Till you don’t have a point of reference whom you can refer.”

151- Al-Kafi: It is narrated from some scholars from Sahal from Musa Ibn ‘Umar Saiqal from Abu Shuaib Mahamili from Abdullah Ibn Sulayman from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said: Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said:

“A time will come on the people when the sinners will gain respect, the shame will be loved and the equitable will be considered weak.”

He was asked: “When will this happen, O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a)?”

He replied: “When a trust will be considered booty, when Zakat will be seen as a loss, when worship will be considered useless, when good behaviour with close relatives will be considered as a favour on them.”

It was asked: “When will this happen, O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a)?”

“When women and slave girls will be in power and young children will be appointed as leaders and rulers.”

152- Al-Kafi: It is narrated from some scholars from Sahal from Isma’il Ibn Mahran from Muhammad Ibn Mansur Khuzai from ‘Ali Ibn Suwaid and Muhammad Ibn Yahya from Muhammad Ibn Husayn from Ibn Bazi from his uncle, Hamza from ‘Ali Ibn Suwaid and Hasan Ibn Muhammad from Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Nahdi from Isma’il Ibn Mahran from Muhammad Ibn Mansur from ‘Ali Ibn Suwaid that:

“I wrote to Imam Musa al-Kazim (‘a) and asked some questions when he was in the prison; he replied to me and also wrote as follows:

When you see an ugly Bedouin in a ferocious army, you must expect victory for yourself and your Shi’a believers. When the sun is eclipsed, you must look on the sky to see what Allah, the Mighty and Sublime has done with the believers. I have mentioned this in a gist. May Allah bless Muhammad and his chosen progeny.”

153- Al-Kafi: It is narrated from Hamid Ibn Ziyad from Ubaidullah Dahqan from Tatari from Muhammad Ibn Ziyad from Aban from Sabbah Ibn Siyabah from Ibn Khunais that he said:

“Once I came to Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) with many letters of Abdus Salam Ibn Naeem and Sudair etc. It was when the black clad army of Abu Muslim Khurasani had staged an uprising before the Abbaside rule. The Imam threw away those letters in which was stated: We refer to you in this matter.

Then he said: It’s a pity that I am not their Imam; do they not know that the master of this affair will eliminate Sufiyani?”

154- Kifayat al-Athar: It is narrated from the same chains from Jabir Ansari from the Messenger of Allah (S) that he said:

“The Mahdi of this Ummah will be from us, Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a). When confusion and mischief will reign all over the world. Everywhere there will be mischief and plunder and large-scale looting. Neither the elder will have mercy on the young nor the young respect the elders. Thus, the Almighty Allah will send a Mahdi from us, who will be the ninth descendant of Husayn. He will conquer the forts of misguidance and the unaware hearts. He will establish religion during the last period of time just as it was established at the beginning and he will fill up the earth with justice and equity just as it would have been fraught with injustice and oppression.”

155- Kifayat al-Athar: It is narrated from the same chains from Al-Qaam Ibn Qais that he said: Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) delivered a sermon to us from the pulpit of Kufa and said:

“Know that I am about to depart and go into occultation. Now you must expect mischiefs of Bani Umayyah and a kingdom like that of Kisra. That which Allah has revived will be killed and that which Allah has killed will be revived. You must pray at your house and maintain absolute patience and remember Allah more, because the remembrance of Allah is a great thing, if you can understand.

Then he said: You will see a city being established at Zora, which is between Tigris and Euphrates.

If only you could have seen that it would have solid buildings of bricks and mortar and which would be embellished with gold, silver, lapis lazuli and marbles; it have doors of ivory, tents, domes and different types of curtains. It will have teak, cypress and pine trees. There would be many palaces in it and twenty-four kings of Bani Shethan (Shaitan) will rule over it one after another. They are as follows: Saffah, Maqlas, Jamuh, Khadu, Muzaffar, Muannas, Nizar, Kabash, Mahtur, Athaar, Mustalam, Mustasid, Allaam, Rahbani, Khali, Sayyar, Mutraf, Kadid, Aktub, Masraf, Aklab, Dasim, Seelaam and Einuq.

A grey dome will be constructed in the red desert, behind which will be the Qa’im bil Haqq, whose face will be shinning like a moon amongst the stars.

And beware that there are ten signs of his reappearance. The first will be the appearance of a comet; after that strange events will unfold till ten signs will have passed; then the brilliant moon (Imam al-Qa’im) will appear and word of the unity of the Almighty Allah will reach to perfection.”

156- At-Tahdhib: It is narrated through his chains from Salim Abu Khadija from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that a person was asking some questions and the Imam was explaining to him: that man asked:

“After the Morning Prayers, I recite the obligatory devotions and then I like to go sleep before sunrise, although it not something that I should do.”

“Why is that?” asked the Imam.

He replied: “Perhaps the sun might rise from another direction.”

Imam (‘a) said: “There is no problem. The sun always rises from the same direction. Once you have recited the devotions, there is no problem if you go to sleep.”

157- Imamah wa at-Tabsira: It is narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Babawayh from Muhammad Ibn Yahya from Muhammad Ibn Ahmad from one who mentioned to him from Safwan Ibn Yahya from Muawiyah Ibn Ammar from Abu Ubaidah Hazaa that he said: I asked Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) about the advent of the master of the affair, that when it would occur. The Imam said:

“When you are certain that he will definitely reappear, what is the worry about?”

It is narrated from Harun Ibn Musa from Muhammad Ibn Musa from Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Khalaf from Musa Ibn Ibrahim from Imam Musa al-Kazim (‘a) from his father from his forefathers from the Messenger of Allah (S) that he said:

“The disease of piles, sudden deaths and leprosy will increase when the Hour is near.”

158- Iqbal al-‘Amal: I found in the book of Malahim by Bataini that Abu Basir has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“It does not befit the Almighty Allah that He should leave the earth without a just Imam.”

I (Abu Basir) asked: “Maula, may I be your ransom, tell us something that may give us peace.”

Imam (‘a) said: “O Abu Muhammad, the Ummah of Muhammad will not see good times till the kingdom of Bani so-and-so does not end. When their rule ends, the Almighty Allah will give to the Ummah of Muhammad a person from us, Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a) who will be pious, righteous and who will not take bribes.

And by Allah, I know his name and the name of his father. After that will come a person of medium height with a mole on his cheek and long hair. He will guard the heritage of all the prophets and he would fill up the earth with justice and equity like it would have been fraught with injustice and oppression.”

159- The author says: And it is mentioned in Suroor Ahl al-Iman from Sayyid ‘Ali Ibn Abdul Hamid through his chains from Jabir from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“Sit tight and don’t move till the signs I have mentioned do not appear. Although I cannot see it but you might live till that time: Conflict in people, call from the sky, sinking of the Syrian village, Jabia in the ground, arrival of the Turks in the peninsula, arrival of the Romans in Ramla; at that time there will discord all over the world. And the destruction of Shaam will take place as three standards will converge over there. Standard of Ashab, standard of Baqa and the standard of Sufiyani.”

160- And through his chains, it is narrated from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ayyadi directly from Buraid from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“O Buraid, beware of the gathering of Ashab.”

“What is Ashab?”

“Abqa.”

“I don’t even know what Abqa is.”

“Beware of Abras and Sufiyani as well. Beware of the two descendants of so-and-so who have come out of their house. They will come to Mecca and distribute money to imitate Imam al-Qa’im (‘a). Also beware of the man who would, from Aali Muhammad (‘a) but will be aloof from them.”3

161- And through his chains, it is narrated from Ahmad Ibn Umair Ibn Muslim from Muhammad Ibn Sinan from Abul Jarud from Muhammad Ibn Bashr Hamadani that he said:

I said to Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyyah: May I be your ransom, I have heard that the progeny of Ja’far will also have a standard and the progeny of so-and-so will also have a standard. Do you know anything about it?

He replied: The standard of the progeny of Ja’far is not of any importance. As for the standard of the progeny so-and-so, it will gain power; in its rule, the proximate ones will be removed and the distant ones will be given proximity. They will be absolutely harsh. They will also have to face lightning and thunder but they all would disperse like clouds. And when they are comfortable in every way and they become sure that their kingdom will not decline, a voice will be raised among them, due to which no will remain among them who can unite them and one around who all gather and it is with regard to this that the Almighty Allah has said:

حَتَّىَ إِذَا أَخَذَتِ الأَرْضُ زُخْرُفَهَا وَازَّيَّنَتْ وَظَنَّ أَهْلُهَا أَنَّهُمْ قَادِرُونَ عَلَيْهَآ أَتَاهَا أَمْرُنَا لَيْلاً أَوْ نَهَارًا فَجَعَلْنَاهَا حَصِيدًا كَأَن لَّمْ تَغْنَ بِالأَمْسِ كَذَلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُون

“…until when the earth puts on its golden raiment and it becomes garnished, and its people think that they have power over it, Our command comes to it, by night or by day, so We render it as reaped seed- produce, as though it had not been in existence yesterday; thus do We make clear the communications for a people who reflect.” (Surah Yunus, 10:24).

I said: May I be your ransom, is there a fixed time for it?

He said: No, because the knowledge of Allah dominates the knowledge of those who fix the time. The Almighty Allah promised thirty nights to Prophet Musa (‘a) and then increased ten nights; but neither Prophet Musa (‘a) was aware of it nor Bani Isra’il. Thus, when the time expired, they said that Musa has deceived us. And they began to worship the calf. Hence when famine and deprivation increase and people begin to deny each other, you should expect the arrival of the divine command day and night.

I said: May I be your ransom, I have understood famine, but what is the meaning of denying each other?

He replied: A person approaches his friend for something and the latter will not meet as he used to meet before. Now his tenor will be changed.”

Sufiyani Will Cut Them Off Like Grass

Through the same chains, it is narrated from ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Isa from Bakr Ibn Muhammad Azdi from Sudair that he said: Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said:

“O Sudair, remain in your house and remain quiet like this earth and the sky are silent. And when you learn of the advent of Sufiyani, you should come to us at once even if you have to come walking.

I said: May I be your ransom, would it be preceded by some event?

He replied: Yes. Then he pointed three fingers to Shaam and said: There will be three standards, Hasanide standard, Umayyad standard and the Qaisiya standard; they will be in such, when Sufiyani arrives and cuts them off like grass.”

162- And through his chains, it is narrated from Ibn Mahbub directly from Jabir from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said:

“O Jabir, the advent of Imam al-Qa’im (‘a) will take place when the people of the areas between Hira and Kufa will be surrounded by calamities and would be trying to find a way out of them. Their dead would be lying by the river banks, when a call would be heard from the sky.”

163- And through his chains, it is narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) in a lengthy report that he said:

“The reappearance of Imam az-Zaman (‘a) will occur after a person from the progeny of Abu Sufiyan will arise and rule for nine months, equal to the duration of a human pregnancy. And it will be at a time when a descendant of the Shaykh will arise and he will be killed in the centre of Najaf. By Allah, as if I can see their weapons and belongings in an orchard of Najaf. It will be a Monday and he will be killed on a Wednesday.”

164- And through his chains, it is narrated from Ibn Mahbub from Ibn Asim Hafiz from Abu Hamza Thumali that he said: I heard Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) say:

“When you learn that mutual discord has developed among the Syrians, you should flee from there, because there will be mischief and bloodshed there.

I asked: Where do I flee to?

He replied: You should go to Mecca as it is the best place and people will take refuge there only.

I asked: And Kufa?

He replied: Do you know what would befall Kufa? All males, except the Syrians will be killed there and as for those who live in the outskirts, they will have to bear untold calamities. Men and women will be taken prisoners, but the best will be those who cross the Euphrates to the other side and do not witness what goes on there.

I asked: What is your opinion about those who inhabit the suburbs of Kufa?

He replied: It is better to leave that place.

I asked: How long would it to take for all this to happen?

He replied: Only an hour.

I asked: And what would be the fate of those who are arrested?

He replied: They will be safe, because they will be rescued by those who would be valueless in the view of Kufians at that time and they will not be taken out of Kufa.”

165- And through his chains, it is narrated from Hasan Ibn Alaa from Abu Basir from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that when he was asked about Rajab he said:

“It is the month that was sacred even during the period of Jahiliyya and the Arabs referred to it as the deaf month.

I asked: And Sha’ban?

He replied: In it all the affairs are reformed and there is blossom during it.

I asked: And Ramadhan?

He replied: It is the month of the Almighty Allah. It is in this month that there will an announcement from the sky in the name of your Sahib al-’Amr (master of affair) and his father.

I asked: And Shawwal?

He replied: In this month, the affairs related to the Muslims are concluded.

I asked: And Dhu ‘l-Qa’dah?

He replied: In this month, the Muslims are at rest.

I asked: And Dhu ‘l-Hijjah?

He replied: It is the month of blood (sacrifice).

I asked: And Muharram?

He replied: In this month that which is unlawful becomes lawful and that which is lawful becomes unlawful.

I asked: And Safar, Rabi’ l-Awwal and Rabi’ ath-Thani?

He replied: In these months there is shame and troubles and a great event will occur.

I asked: And Jamadi?

He replied: There is victory in its first as well as in its second.”

166- And through his chains it is narrated from Isma’il Ibn Mahran from Ibn Amira from Hadhrami that he said: I asked Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a):

“What should we do when the Sufiyani appears?

He replied: Your men should go underground and no harm will come to the women and children. When he has conquered all the five areas of Shaam, you must go to the master of affair (Sahib al-’Amr).”

167- And through his chains, it is narrated from Ishaq directly from Asbagh Ibn Nubatah that he said: I heard Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) say:

“Ask me before you are deprived of me. Because I am more knowledgeable about the paths of the heavens than about the paths of the earth. I am the leader of religion and the chief of believers and the Imam of the pious. And on Judgment Day I will take account of the people. I and the distributor of Paradise and Hell. I am the owner of the heights. And from us each Imam will know his followers. That is why the Almighty Allah has said:

إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُنذِرٌ وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ

“You are only a warner and (there is) a guide for every people.” (Surah Ar-Raad, 13:7).

Know that you may ask me whatever you want, before you lose me, because in my heart there are hoards of knowledge. So ask me before a mischief arises from the east and like a ferocious dog, tears up its own leg. And a fire arises from the west that will burn up large logs of wood and you may continue to yell: Alas, where is the Sahib al-’Amr? You will say that perhaps he is dead or has gone into some valley and at that time the following verse will actualize:

ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ الْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَاكُم بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا

“Then We gave you back the turn to prevail against them, and aided you with wealth and children and made you a numerous band.” (Surah Al-Bani Isra’il, 17:6).

And many signs will appear before his reappearance. The first being the surrounding of Kufa with a moat. Bursting of water skins in the lanes of Kufa. The Masjids remaining inaccessible for prayers for forty day. Invention of figures and statues. Waving of different flags at the largest Masjid, in which both the killer and the victim will go to Hell. Deaths by murder and hanging will be quick. On the back of Kufa the killing of Nafs az-Zakiyyah will occur. A man will be killed between the Rukn and Maqam. A white-headed man will be confined in a temple and then he will be executed.

The arrival of Sufiyani with a red flag. It would be led by a man of Bani Kalab and another army of 12000 riders will set out to Mecca and Medina and it will be in charge of a man named Hazima. He will be blind in one eye. He will have clear scar in the eye. His flag will not be halted by anyone and he will camp in a house in Medina, named Darul Abul Hasan Amawi. Then he will send a battalion in search of a man of Aali Muhammad (‘a). A group of Shi’a will gather around him and force him to turn to Mecca. This group will be led by a man from Bani Ghitfan. When he reaches into the middle of the white desert, the earth will sink and all will sink into it and none except one man will survive. His face will turn to his back so that people may be shocked how the Almighty Allah has punished him and gain lesson from it. On that day will be known the interpretation of the following verse:

وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ فَزِعُوا فَلَا فَوْتَ وَأُخِذُوا مِن مَّكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ

“And could you see when they shall become terrified, but (then) there shall be no escape and they shall be seized upon from a near place.” (Surah Saba, 34:51).

And Sufiyani will send a 130000 strong army to Kufa which will camp at Rauha and Faraq. Sixty thousand army men will camp near the grave of Prophet Hud (‘a) in Nakhila. Then they will be attacked on a festive day and their chief will be a man of nasty disposition who will named soothsayer. And he will rise against them from city of Zora accompanied by 5000 soothsayers. He will slay 70000 on the bridge and the Euphrates will be dyed in blood for three days. Corpses will rot in it. 70000 girls will be arrested from Kufa and they will be loaded on camel backs and taken to Thawiya Gharra.

After that a hundred thousand will come out from Kufa including polytheists and hypocrites and they will reach Damascus and no one will stop them. This is in fact the Iram Zatul Imad. Some flags will come from the east whose banner will neither be of cotton or silk; the mark of the great chief will be imprinted on it and it will be led by a man of Aali Muhammad (‘a). He will appear from the east and the fragrance of that flag will reach to the west. It will be like musk. It will be preceded by awe up to a distance of a month’s journey. And he will come to Kufa to take revenge for his holy ancestors.

They will be such when the group of Khurasani and Yamani will move forward and try to take precedence over each other and when one of them sees this, he will remark: After today there is no good in sitting idle. O Lord, we repent and they are the same chiefs that the Almighty Allah has mentioned in His Book:

إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

“Surely Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:222).

They will be expecting the person from Aali Muhammad (‘a).

Then a man will come out from the people of Najran, who would hark at the call of the Imam and he will be the first to harken from among the Christians and he will demolish his chapel and break the cross and will come out with his supporters from the downtrodden. He will finally reach Nakhila and all the people of the world will gather at Farooq and they will slay each other and that day 300000 people will be killed. That day the interpretation of the following verse would be known:

فَمَا زَالَت تِّلْكَ دَعْوَاهُمْ حَتَّى جَعَلْنَاهُمْ حَصِيدًا خَامِدِينَ

“And this ceased not to be their cry till We made them cut off, extinct.” (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:15).

And a caller will call out in the month of Ramadan from the east at dawn: O people of guidance, come together: and a caller will announce from the west after the disappearance of the glow from the horizon: O people of falsehood, come together. And the next day at the time of reappearance, the colour of the Sun will be changed from red to yellow, after that it will become black and dark. On the third day, the Almighty Allah will separate truth and falsehood from each other and the walker of the earth (Dabbat al-Ardh) will emerge. And Rome will extend till the shore and reach the land where the people of the cave sleep. So the Almighty Allah will bring them out of their cave along with their dog. One of them is named Maleekha and another is named Hamlaha and they shall be the two Muslim witnesses for Qa’im (‘a).”

168- Adad: Salman al-Farsi says:

“Once I came to Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) when he was all alone. I asked: O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), when will the Qa’im appear from your descendants? He sighed deeply and said:

He will reappear when children will become rulers and the rights of the Almighty Allah will be trespassed; the Holy Qur’an will be recited like songs; when the Bani Abbas rulers will be assassinated one after the other; when Basra will be destroyed; at that time will Imam al-Qa’im rise up from the descendants of (Imam) Husayn (‘a).”

169- Adad: It is mentioned in this book that:

“Most of the signs of reappearance of Imam az-Zaman (‘a) have already occurred; for example the collapsing of the wall of the Kufa Mosque; killing of the Egyptian ruler at the hands of his people; the downfall of the Abbaside kingdom at the hands of one who rose up against them; death of the last Abbaside ruler; destruction of some Syrian territories; collapse of the bridge in Karkh locality of Baghdad; all this will occur within a short time and the split in Euphrates has already occurred, if Allah wills, its water will reach up to the lanes of Kufa.”

170- Al-Amali at-Tusi: It is narrated from Husayn Ibn Ibrahim Qazwini from Muhammad Ibn Wahban from Ahmad Ibn Ibrahim from Hasan Ibn ‘Ali Zafrani from Barqi from his father from Ibn Abi Umair from Hisham Ibn Saalim that he said: Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said when Sufiyani was mentioned in his presence:

“At that time men will go into hiding and the women will have no problem.”

From the same chains of narrators, it is narrated from Hisham Ibn Salim that when the one who demanded his rights staged an uprising, Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) was told that it was hoped that he might be the Yamani.

He said: “No, Yamani will be in favour of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) whereas this once is inimical to and aloof from him.”

From the same chains of narrators, it is narrated from Hisham Ibn Salim that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: “The advent of Sufiyani and Yamani will be simultaneous; like the running of two race horses.”

171- The Author says: Shaykh Ahmad Ibn Fahd has narrated in his Muhazzab, from Mualla Ibn Khunais etc. that it is narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said:

“The day of Navroz is the day when the Qa’im and Wali Amr of us, Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a) will reappear and the Almighty Allah will make him victorious over Dajjal and he will impale Dajjal at Kinasa in Kufa.”

172- Kitab al-Muhtazar: Hasan Ibn Sulayman has narrated from Kitab al-Mi’raj of Shaykh Salih Abu Muhammad Hasan through his chains from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) from Ibn Idris from his father from Sahal from Muhammad Ibn Adam Nasai from his father Adam Ibn Abi Ayyas from Mubarak Ibn Fadhdhala from Wahab Ibn Munabbah directly from Ibn Abbas that he said: The Messenger of Allah (S) said:

“When My Lord took me up in ascension, I was called and I responded: Here I am my Lord.

The Almighty Allah revealed to me: O Muhammad, do you know what controversy had developed at the heavenly kingdom.

I replied that I was unaware of it.

Allah said: O Muhammad, have you appointed anyone as your deputy and brother from the human beings after you?

I asked: My Lord, whom should I appoint?

So He revealed: O Muhammad, I select ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) from the men for you.

I asked: Is it my cousin?

It was revealed to me: O Muhammad, indeed, after you only ‘Ali is your successor, the successor of your knowledge and the carrier of your standard (Liwa’ al-Hamd) on Judgment Day, and the server of drinks at the Pool of Kawthar. From your Ummah whoever brings faith on you, ‘Ali would give to him a drink from the water of Kawthar.

And it was also revealed: O Muhammad, by My self and being, your enemies, enemies of Ahl Al-Bayt and your purified progeny would not be allowed to drink from this pool. And O Muhammad, I am true in what I say, that I would admit all your followers to Paradise, except those who refuse to enter Paradise.

I asked: O my Lord, can anyone refuse to enter Paradise?

It was revealed to me: Yes, they would refuse.

I asked: How anyone can refuse?

It was revealed to me: O Muhammad, I have selected you from all My creatures and after you appointed a successor as well and he is having the same relation to you as Harun had to Musa, except that there will be no prophet after you. And I have imbued your heart with his love. I made him the father of your sons. Thus, after you he would have the same right on your Ummah as you have on them in your lifetime. Now whoever denies his rights, has in fact denied your right, and whoever has denied his Wilayat has in fact refused to enter Paradise.

I fell down in prostration of thanks to the Almighty Allah. Just then a call came asking me to raise my head and said that I would be given whatever I asked for.

I said: O my Lord, unite my whole Ummah on the Wilayat of ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) so that all may come to me on Judgment Day at Hauze Kawthar.

It was revealed to me: O Muhammad, I have decided about the people before I created them and My decision would be effected in them. That I would destroy anyone I like because of this ‘Ali and would guide whomsoever I like through this ‘Ali and I have given him your knowledge after you and appointed him as your legatee. After you, he is your caliph on your family and Ummah. And I have decided that whoever harbours hatred him and denies his authority would never enter Paradise.

And you should know that whoever is inimical to ‘Ali, is inimical to you and whoever is inimical to you is in fact inimical to me and whoever loved him has loved you and whoever has loved you has in fact loved Me.

And I made it an excellence of that ‘Ali that I would create eleven Mahdis from his loins and all would be from your descendants from the sons of Fatima. The last Mahdi would be one behind whom ‘Isa (‘a) would pray and he would fill the earth with justice and equity just as it would be fraught with injustice and oppression. Through him, I would save the people from destruction and bring them out from misguidance to guidance. And through him would I cure the blind and the sick.

I asked: O my Lord, when would this happen?

It was revealed to me: When knowledge would be taken away from the world, when ignorance would become common. When there would many reciters of Qur’an and practical deeds would increase, when killings would increase; sincere jurisprudents would decrease and dishonest scholars would increase. Poets would increase in number.

All this would happen when your Ummah would construct Masjids over graves and copies of Qur’an will be embellished, Masjids would be richly decorated. Oppressions would increase and sins would be committed openly and your Ummah would be ordered to commit sin and evil and they would be restrained from deeds of virtue. Homosexuality and lesbianism would become common. Rulers would be infidels, their associates would be sinners, their helpers would be oppressors and their advisors would be transgressors.

At that time the earth would sink in three places: one in the east, one in the west and third in the Arabian Peninsula. And Basra would be destroyed at the hands of one of your descendants. Negroes would follow him and a person from the descendants of Hasan would stage an uprising and Dajjal would appear; who would come out from Sajistan in the east and Sufiyani would appear.

I asked: My Lord, what mischiefs would appear after me? It was revealed to me and I was told about the mischief of Bani Umayyah and Bani Abbas. I was informed about all that was to occur till Judgment Day. Thus when I returned from Mi’raj, I made a bequest to ‘Ali, my cousin and I conveyed to him the message of Allah; and I praise Allah like the previous prophets have praised and like the past people have praised Him and like He would be praised by everything till Judgment Day.”

173- Nahj al-Balagha: Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said:

“Your society will pass through a period when cunning and crafty intriguers will be favoured by status, when profligates will be considered as well-bred, well-behaved and elegant elites of the society, when just and honest persons will be considered as weaklings, when charity will be considered as a loss to wealth and property, when support and help to each other will be considered as favour and benevolence and when prayers and worship to Allah will be taken up for the sake of show off to gain popularity and higher status, at such times, regimes will be run under the advice of women and the youngsters will be the rulers and counsellors of the State.”

• 1. Muhammad Ibn Abdul Hamid and Abdus Samad Ibn Muhammad.
• 2. Qays is an area of Egypt.
• 3. Perhaps it denotes the Zaidiyyah who are considered to be from Aali Muhammad (‘a) since they are descendants of Lady Fatimah (‘a).