Messenger of Allah, no doubt, we had an evil time (i. e. the days of Jahiliyya or ignorance) and God brought us a good time (i. e. Islamic period) through which we are now living Will there be a bad time after this good time? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes. I said: Will there be a good time after this bad time? He said: Yes. I said: Will there be a bad time after good time? He said: Yes. I said: How? Whereupon he said: There will be leaders who will not be led by my guidance and who will not adopt my ways? There will be among them men who will have the hearts of devils in the bodies of human beings. I said: What should I do. Messenger of Allah, if I (happen) to live in that time? He replied: You will listen to the Amir and carry out his orders; even if your back is flogged and your wealth is snatched, you should listen and obey.
Narrated by It his been narrated through a different chain of transmitters, on the authority of Hudhaifa b. al-Yaman who said:
Context
Hudhaifa b. al-Yaman narrates a conversation with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ regarding the cyclical nature of good and evil times. The Prophet ﷺ warns that after periods of goodness, there will be times of hardship led by misguided leaders. This hadith serves as a cautionary reminder of the challenges that can arise in leadership and the importance of adhering to the Prophet's guidance.
Modern Application
In contemporary society, this hadith encourages individuals to remain vigilant and discerning about their leaders. It reminds us to uphold values of justice and righteousness, even when faced with challenging leadership, and to prioritize obedience to ethical principles.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Leadership and Authority and Obedience to Allah because it addresses the dynamics of leadership and the necessity of obedience to rightful authority, even amidst challenges.
What comes to you of good is from Allah, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself. And We have sent you, [O Muhammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allah as Witness.
And know that among you is the Messenger of Allah. If he were to obey you in much of the matter, you would be in difficulty, but Allah has endeared to you the faith and has made it pleasing in your hearts and has made hateful to you disbelief, defiance and disobedience. Those are the [rightly] guided.
Allah would not leave the believers in that [state] you are in [presently] until He separates the evil from the good. Nor would Allah reveal to you the unseen. But [instead], Allah chooses of His messengers whom He wills, so believe in Allah and His messengers. And if you believe and fear Him, then for you is a great reward.
And, [O Muhammad], warn the people of a Day when the punishment will come to them and those who did wrong will say, "Our Lord, delay us for a short term; we will answer Your call and follow the messengers." [But it will be said], "Had you not sworn, before, that for you there would be no cessation?
Say, "Shall we invoke instead of Allah that which neither benefits us nor harms us and be turned back on our heels after Allah has guided us? [We would then be] like one whom the devils enticed [to wander] upon the earth confused, [while] he has companions inviting him to guidance, [calling], 'Come to us.' " Say, "Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the [only] guidance; and we have been commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds.
This hadith is #4651 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book on Government. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It his been narrated through a different chain of transmitters, on the authority of Hudhaifa b. al-Yaman who said:.