Inauthentic Ahaadeeth about the End of Time

22-9-2020 | IslamWeb

Question:

Can you mention the hadiths that are dhaif or maudhu about the end of time, because I am confused about which one is strong and which is dhaif or maudhu?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

A Muslim is required to assign care to learning about the authentic Ahaadeeth, such as those narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari and Saheeh Muslim, and next to them the ones compiled in the approved Hadeeth collections such as the four Sunan books (penned by Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa’i, At-Tirmithi, and Ibn Maajah) and the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad.

One of the methodological errors made during the acquisition of religious knowledge is indulging in pursuing inauthentic and fabricated Ahaadeeth before learning the authentic ones.

Many of the Ahaadeeth about the times of Fitnah (tribulations) and Malaahim (great battles at the end of time) are inauthentic, so much so that Imam Ahmad may Allaah have mercy upon him said: “Three books have no basis (i.e. the Ahaadeeth cited in them often have no authentic and connected chains of narration): the Maghaazi (the Prophet’s military campaigns), the Malaahim, and Tafseer.” Ibn Hajar may Allaah have mercy upon him said in the introduction to his book Lisaan Al-Meezaan: “I believe that the writings on the Fadhaa’il (virtues) should be added to this list; as they abound in inauthentic and fabricated Ahaadeeth.” [End of quote]

Al-Khateeb may Allaah have mercy upon him said in his book Al-Jaami' (Li-Akhlaaq Ar-Raawi): “Only a few Ahaadeeth about the future battles and times of Fitnah have connected chains of narration leading back to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and reached us through acceptable and clear chains of transmission.” [End of quote]

It is difficult to list the inauthentic Ahaadeeth about the end of time in a single Fatwa. Therefore, we advise you to refer to the following books: the chapter of Al-Fitan wa Al-Malaahim in Al-Bidaaya wa An-Nihaayah by Ibn Katheer, the version revised by Bashshaar ‘Awwaad and Al-Arnaa’oot; As-Saheeh Al-Musnad min Ahaadeeth Al-Fitan wa Al-Malaahim wa Ashraat As-Saa‘ah by Mustafa Al-‘Adawi, and Mawsoo‘at Ahaadeeth Al-Fitan wa Ashraat As-Saa‘ah by Hammaam ‘Abdur-Raheem Sa‘eed.

Allah Knows best.

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