[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Evils That Will Occur At The End Of Times, Of Which Some Are Taking Place In Our Age (2/2)

Imam Ibn Kathir

Abu Hurairah (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) related that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "Poor Muslims will enter Paradise before rich (Muslims) by a period of half a day (of the Hereafter), and that is 500 years (from this world)." (Reported by Ahmad)
At-Tirmidhee related it in another narration and ruled it to be Hasan Saheeh. Through another chain narrated by Ath-Thauree, Abu Hurairah (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) related that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "Indeed, the poor believers will enter Paradise half a day before the rich (believers), and that is 500 years (from this world)."
'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) related that he heard the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) say, "On the Day of Resurrection, the Poor Muhaajiroon will precede the rich ones - i.e., to Paradise - by forty autumns (i.e., 40 years)." (Reported by Ahmad)
Ibn 'Abbaas (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) related that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "Two believers met at the door of Paradise, a rich believer and a poor believer - (such were) they in the world. The poor believer was made to enter Paradise while the rich believer was held back for a period that Allah willed him to be restrained. He was then made to enter Paradise; the poor man met him and said, 'O my brother, what has held you back? By Allah, you were restrained until I began to fear for you.' He said, 'My brother, after you (entered Paradise), my detainment was severe and unpleasant. I have only reached you after so much sweat poured from me that, were 1000 camels to come (to that sweat as a place of drinking) after each one of them ate something sour (to make them thirsty), they would have been quenched by it.” (Reported by Ahmad)
Usaamah ibn Zaid (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) related that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "I stood at the gate of Paradise, and (I saw that) most of those who entered it were Masaakeen (the poor). And I stood at the gate of Hell, and (I saw that) most of those who entered it were women."(Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)
And 'Umraan ibn Husain (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) related that he heard the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) say, "I looked into Paradise and I saw that most of its inhabitants are the poor. And I looked into the Hellfire and saw that most of its inhabitants are women." (Reported by Bukhari)
Ibn 'Abbaas (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) related that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) looked into the Hellfire and saw that most of its dwellers are women, and he looked into Paradise and saw that most of its dwellers are the poor. (Reported by Muslim)
Abu Hurairah related that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "If your leaders are the best among you, if your chiefs and people of status are the most generous among you, and if your affairs are conducted through mutual consultation among you, then the face of the earth is better for you. But if your rulers are the most evil among you, if the rich among you are also the most miserly of you, and if your affairs are trusted to your women, then beneath the earth (i.e. in your graves) is better for you than being on the face of it." (Reported by Maalik in a Mursal Hadeeth)
Maalik said that it is a Ghareeb narration, known only through the narration of Saaleh Al-Mizzee...and he is a righteous man.
Anas ibn Maalik .ti, related that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "The Hour will not come until people view with one another regarding mosques (perhaps meaning that they will view with another in building beautiful mosques of extravagant designs — and Allah knows best)." (Reported by Ahmad)
We will mention other signs in the Hadeeth of Ibn Mas'ood (radhyAllahu ‘anhu), a portion of which contains this statement: "Mihraabs will be embellished and hearts will decay." In another narration 'Aleem said, "We were seated on a roof and with us was a man from the Prophet's Companions." Yazeed said, "I do not know him except as 'Ans Al-Ghaffaaree. People were deep in a discussion on the plague, and 'Ans said, 'O plague, take me.' He said it three times. Aleem said, 'Why do you say that? Did not the Messenger of Allah', say, 'None of you should hope for death, for with death one's deeds come to an end, and even if one asks for it to be delayed (when its time comes) it will not be prevented' Aleem said, 'Verily, I heard the Messenger of Allah, say,
'Hasten to death before the following: the coming of foolish rulers; an increase in the number of special guards (for the ruler); the selling of judgments (i.e. judgments are purchased through bribery); blood being deemed insignificant (i.e. much killing, without people considering there to be value to life); the breaking off of family ties; and the presence of a group that takes the Qur'an as a flute (i.e. saying it in a melodious but affected and extravagant manner), gives it to the people, and diverts them with it (from the true purpose of the Qur'an), though they have the least understanding among them.'”