The people used to ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ about good, but I used to ask him about evil for fear that it might overtake me. Once I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We were in ignorance and in evil and Allah has bestowed upon us the present good; will there by any evil after this good?" He said, "Yes." I asked, "Will there be good after that evil?" He said, "Yes, but it would be tained with Dakhan (i.e. Little evil)." I asked, "What will its Dakhan be?" He said, "There will be some people who will lead (people) according to principles other than my tradition. You will see their actions and disapprove of them." I said, "Will there by any evil after that good?" He said, "Yes, there will be some people who will invite others to the doors of Hell, and whoever accepts their invitation to it will be thrown in it (by them)." I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Describe those people to us." He said, "They will belong to us and speak our language" I asked, "What do you order me to do if such a thing should take place in my life?" He said, "Adhere to the group of Muslims and their Chief." I asked, "If there is neither a group (of Muslims) nor a chief (what shall I do)?" He said, "Keep away from all those different sects, even if you had to bite (i.e. eat) the root of a tree, till you meet Allah while you are still in that state."

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنَ الْيَمَانِ يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنِ الْخَيْرِ وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا فِي جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَشَرٍّ فَجَاءَنَا اللَّهُ بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ وَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ قُلْتُ وَمَا دَخَنُهُ قَالَ قَوْمٌ يَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْيِي تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُ قُلْتُ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ نَعَمْ دُعَاةٌ إِلَى أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ مَنْ أَجَابَهُمْ إِلَيْهَا قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا فَقَالَ هُمْ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا وَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا قُلْتُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي إِنْ أَدْرَكَنِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلاَ إِمَامٌ قَالَ فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ بِأَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ

The people used to ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the good but I used to ask him about the evil lest I should be overtaken by them. So I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We were living in ignorance and in an (extremely) worst atmosphere, then Allah brought to us this good (i.e., Islam); will there be any evil after this good?" He said, "Yes." I said, 'Will there be any good after that evil?" He replied, "Yes, but it will be tainted (not pure.)'' I asked, "What will be its taint?" He replied, "(There will be) some people who will guide others not according to my tradition? You will approve of some of their deeds and disapprove of some others." I asked, "Will there be any evil after that good?" He replied, "Yes, (there will be) some people calling at the gates of the (Hell) Fire, and whoever will respond to their call, will be thrown by them into the (Hell) Fire." I said, "O Allah s Apostle! Will you describe them to us?" He said, "They will be from our own people and will speak our language." I said, "What do you order me to do if such a state should take place in my life?" He said, "Stick to the group of Muslims and their Imam (ruler)." I said, "If there is neither a group of Muslims nor an Imam (ruler)?" He said, "Then turn away from all those sects even if you were to bite (eat) the roots of a tree till death overtakes you while you are in that state."

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنَ الْيَمَانِ يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنِ الْخَيْرِ وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا فِي جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَشَرٍّ فَجَاءَنَا اللَّهُ بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ وَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ قُلْتُ وَمَا دَخَنُهُ قَالَ قَوْمٌ يَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْىٍ تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُ قُلْتُ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ نَعَمْ دُعَاةٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ مَنْ أَجَابَهُمْ إِلَيْهَا قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا قَالَ هُمْ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا وَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا قُلْتُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي إِنْ أَدْرَكَنِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلاَ إِمَامٌ قَالَ فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ بِأَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ

People used to ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the good times, but I used to ask him about bad times fearing lest they overtake me. I said: Messenger of Allah, we were in the midst of ignorance and evil, and then God brought us this good (time through Islam). Is there any bad time after this good one? He said: Yes. I asked: Will there be a good time again after that bad time? He said: Yes, but therein will be a hidden evil. I asked: What will be the evil hidden therein? He said: (That time will witness the rise of) the people who will adopt ways other than mine and seek guidance other than mine. You will know good points as well as bad points. I asked: Will there be a bad time after this good one? He said: Yes. (A time will come) when there will be people standing and inviting at the gates of Hell. Whoso responds to their call they will throw them into the fire. I said: Messenger of Allah, describe them for us. He said: All right. They will be a people having the same complexion as ours and speaking our language. I said: Messenger of Allah, what do you suggest if I happen to live in that time? He said: You should stick to the main body of the Muslims and their leader. I said: If they have no (such thing as the) main body and have no leader? He said: Separate yourself from all these factions, though you may have to eat the roots of trees (in a jungle) until death comes to you and you are in this state.

سَمِعْتُ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنَ الْيَمَانِ يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنِ الْخَيْرِ وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا فِي جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَشَرٍّ فَجَاءَنَا اللَّهُ بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ شَرٌّ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ قُلْتُ وَمَا دَخَنُهُ قَالَ قَوْمٌ يَسْتَنُّونَ بِغَيْرِ سُنَّتِي وَيَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْيِي تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُ فَقُلْتُ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ نَعَمْ دُعَاةٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ مَنْ أَجَابَهُمْ إِلَيْهَا قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا قَالَ نَعَمْ قَوْمٌ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا وَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَا تَرَى إِنْ أَدْرَكَنِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ فَقُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلاَ إِمَامٌ قَالَ فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ عَلَى أَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ

“There will be callers at the gates of Hell; whoever responds to them they throw them into it.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, describe them to us.” He said: “They will be from our people, speaking our language.” I said: “What do you command me to do, if I live to see that?” He said: “Adhere to the main body of the Muslims and their leader. If there is no such body and no leader, then withdraw from all their groups, even if you bite onto the trunk of a tree until death finds you in that state.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَكُونُ دُعَاةٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ مَنْ أَجَابَهُمْ إِلَيْهَا قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا قَالَ هُمْ قَوْمٌ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا قُلْتُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي إِنْ أَدْرَكَنِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَالْزَمْ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلاَ إِمَامٌ فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ بِأَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ وَأَنْتَ كَذَلِكَ

The people used to ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ about good, but I used to ask him about evil for fear that it might overtake me. Once I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We were in ignorance and in evil and Allah has bestowed upon us the present good; will there by any evil after this good?" He said, "Yes." I asked, "Will there be good after that evil?" He said, "Yes, but it would be tained with Dakhan (i.e. Little evil)." I asked, "What will its Dakhan be?" He said, "There will be some people who will lead (people) according to principles other than my tradition. You will see their actions and disapprove of them." I said, "Will there by any evil after that good?" He said, "Yes, there will be some people who will invite others to the doors of Hell, and whoever accepts their invitation to it will be thrown in it (by them)." I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Describe those people to us." He said, "They will belong to us and speak our language" I asked, "What do you order me to do if such a thing should take place in my life?" He said, "Adhere to the group of Muslims and their Chief." I asked, "If there is neither a group (of Muslims) nor a chief (what shall I do)?" He said, "Keep away from all those different sects, even if you had to bite (i.e. eat) the root of a tree, till you meet Allah while you are still in that state." (Using translation from Bukhārī 3606)

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنَ الْيَمَانِ يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنِ الْخَيْرِ وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا فِي جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَشَرٍّ فَجَاءَ اللَّهُ بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ؟ قَالَ «نَعَمْ وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ» قُلْتُ وَمَا دَخَنُهُ؟ قَالَ «قَوْمٌ يَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْيِي يُعْرَفُ مِنْهُمْ وَيُنْكَرُ» قُلْتُ وَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ؟ قَالَ «نَعَمْ دُعَاةٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ مَنْ أَجَابَهُمْ إِلَيْهِ قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا قَالَ «هُمْ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا وَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا» قُلْتُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي إِنْ أَدْرَكْتُ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ «تَلْزَمْ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ» قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ إِمَامٌ وَلَا جَمَاعَةٌ؟ قَالَ «فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ بِأَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ وَأَنْتَ كَذَلِكَ»

[AI] "I entered the mosque and found a group of people sitting together, it seemed as if their heads had been cut off. Among them, there was a man speaking. When Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) entered, he said, 'They used to ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about good things, while I used to ask him about evil things in order to protect myself from them. I have learned that good will never cease coming to me.' Hudhayfah continued, 'O Messenger of Allah, after the good that we are experiencing, will there be any evil?' The Prophet ﷺ replied, 'O Hudhayfah, learn the Book of Allah and act upon what is in it.' I repeated my question two more times, and each time the Prophet ﷺ gave the same response. Then, I asked, 'Will there be any good after that evil?' The Prophet ﷺ replied, 'There will be trials and disputes.' I asked again, 'Will there be any good after that evil?' The Prophet ﷺ replied, 'There will be trials that will lead people to the gates of Hell, and there will be callers inviting people to enter it. It is better for you to die while holding onto the roots of a tree than to follow any of them.'"

دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا حَلْقَةٌ كَأَنَّمَا قُطِعَتْ رُءُوسُهُمْ وَإِذَا فِيهِمْ رَجُلٌ يُحَدِّثُ فَإِذَا حُذَيْفَةُ قَالَ كَانُوا يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنِ الْخَيْرِ وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ كَيْمَا أَعْرِفَهُ فَأَتَّقِيَهُ وَعَلِمْتُ أَنَّ الْخَيْرَ لَا يَفُوتَنِي قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ الَّذِي نَحْنُ فِيهِ مِنْ شَرٍّ؟ قَالَ «يَا حُذَيْفَةُ تَعَلَّمْ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَاعْمَلْ بِمَا فِيهِ» فَأَعَدْتُ قُولِي عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ «فِتْنَةٌ وَاخْتِلَافٌ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ؟ قَالَ «يَا حُذَيْفَةُ تَعَلَّمْ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَاعْمَلْ بِمَا فِيهِ» فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ؟ قَالَ «فِتَنٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِهَا دُعَاةٌ إِلَى النَّارِ فَلَأَنْ تَمُوتَ وَأَنْتَ عَاضٌّ عَلَى جِذْلِ شَجَرَةٍ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ تَتَّبِعَ أَحَدًا مِنْهُمْ»

[AI] "People used to ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about good, while I used to ask him about evil so that I may avoid it. I came to know that good does not pass me by." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, is there any evil after good?" He replied, "O Hudhayfah, learn the Book of Allah and act upon its teachings." I repeated this question three times, and on the third time he said, "There will be trials and conflicts." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, is there any good after that evil?" He replied, "O Hudhayfah, learn the Book of Allah and act upon its teachings." Then he said on the third time, "There will be a truce on a smoky battlefield and a group on burning embers." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, is there any good after that evil?" He replied, "O Hudhayfah, learn the Book of Allah and act upon its teachings." Then he said on the third time, "There will be trials at its doors, with callers inviting people to Hell. It is better for you to die while holding onto a stump than to follow any one of them."

«كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنِ الْخَيْرِ وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ كَيْمَا أَعْرِفَهُ فَأَتَّقِيَهُ وَعَلِمْتُ أَنَّ الْخَيْرَ لَا يَفُوتَنِي» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ هَلْ بَعْدَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ؟ قَالَ يَا حُذَيْفَةُ «تَعَلَّمْ كِتَابَ اللهِ وَاعْمَلْ بِمَا فِيهِ فَأَعَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلَ ثَلَاثًا» فَقَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ «فِتْنَةٌ وَاخْتِلَافٌ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ؟ قَالَ يَا حُذَيْفَةُ «تَعَلَّمْ كِتَابَ اللهِ وَاعْمَلْ بِمَا فِيهِ ثَلَاثًا» ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ «هُدْنَةٌ عَلَى دَخَنٍ وَجَمَاعَةٌ عَلَى قَذًى فِيهَا» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ؟ قَالَ يَا حُذَيْفَةُ «تَعَلَّمْ كِتَابَ اللهِ وَاعْمَلْ بِمَا فِيهِ ثَلَاثًا» ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ «فِتَنٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِهَا دُعَاةٌ إِلَى النَّارِ فَلَأَنْ تَمُوتَ وَأَنْتَ عَاضٌّ عَلَى جِذْلٍ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ تَتَّبِعَ أَحَدًا مِنْهُمْ»

The people used to ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ about good, but I used to ask him about evil for fear that it might overtake me. Once I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We were in ignorance and in evil and Allah has bestowed upon us the present good; will there by any evil after this good?" He said, "Yes." I asked, "Will there be good after that evil?" He said, "Yes, but it would be tained with Dakhan (i.e. Little evil)." I asked, "What will its Dakhan be?" He said, "There will be some people who will lead (people) according to principles other than my tradition. You will see their actions and disapprove of them." I said, "Will there by any evil after that good?" He said, "Yes, there will be some people who will invite others to the doors of Hell, and whoever accepts their invitation to it will be thrown in it (by them)." I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Describe those people to us." He said, "They will belong to us and speak our language" I asked, "What do you order me to do if such a thing should take place in my life?" He said, "Adhere to the group of Muslims and their Chief." I asked, "If there is neither a group (of Muslims) nor a chief (what shall I do)?" He said, "Keep away from all those different sects, even if you had to bite (i.e. eat) the root of a tree, till you meet Allah while you are still in that state." (Using translation from Bukhārī 3606)

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنَ الْيَمَانِ يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنِ الْخَيْرِ وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا فِي جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَشَرٍّ فَجَاءَنَا اللهُ بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ قُلْتُ وَمَا دَخَنُهُ؟ قَالَ قَوْمٌ يَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْيِي تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُ قُلْتُ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ دُعَاةٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ مَنْ أَجَابَهُمْ إِلَيْهِا قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا قَالَ هُمْ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا وَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا قُلْتُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي إِنْ أَدْرَكَنِي ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلَا إِمَامٌ؟ قَالَ فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ بِأَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ وَأَنْتَ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ أَبُو عَمَّارٍ فِي حَدِيثِهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا قَالَ هُمْ مِنْ كَذَا وَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا لَفْظُ حَدِيثِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ

The people used to ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ about good, but I used to ask him about evil for fear that it might overtake me. Once I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We were in ignorance and in evil and Allah has bestowed upon us the present good; will there by any evil after this good?" He said, "Yes." I asked, "Will there be good after that evil?" He said, "Yes, but it would be tained with Dakhan (i.e. Little evil)." I asked, "What will its Dakhan be?" He said, "There will be some people who will lead (people) according to principles other than my tradition. You will see their actions and disapprove of them." I said, "Will there by any evil after that good?" He said, "Yes, there will be some people who will invite others to the doors of Hell, and whoever accepts their invitation to it will be thrown in it (by them)." I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Describe those people to us." He said, "They will belong to us and speak our language" I asked, "What do you order me to do if such a thing should take place in my life?" He said, "Adhere to the group of Muslims and their Chief." I asked, "If there is neither a group (of Muslims) nor a chief (what shall I do)?" He said, "Keep away from all those different sects, even if you had to bite (i.e. eat) the root of a tree, till you meet Allah while you are still in that state." (Using translation from Bukhārī 3606)

سَمِعْتُ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنَ الْيَمَانِ يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنِ الْخَيْرِ وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا فِي جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَشَرٍّ فَجَاءَنَا اللهُ بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ شَرٌّ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ قُلْتُ وَمَا دَخَنُهُ؟ قَالَ قَوْمٌ يَسْتَنُّونَ بِغَيْرِ سُنَّتِي وَيَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْيِي تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُ فَقُلْتُ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ دُعَاةٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ مَنْ أَجَابَهُمْ إِلَيْهَا قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا قَالَ نَعَمْ هُمْ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي إِنْ أَدْرَكَنِي ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلَا إِمَامٌ؟ قَالَ فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ عَلَى أَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ

"كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ الله ﷺ عَن الْخَيْرِ، وأَسْأَلُهُ عَن الشَّرِّ؛ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِى، فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ الله إنَّا كُنَّا أَهْلَ جَاهِليَّةٍ وشَرٍّ، فَقَدْ جَاءَ الله بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ، فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قُلْتُ: فَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ (*)، قُلْتُ: وَمَا دَخَنُهُ؟ قَالَ: قَوْمٌ يَسْتَنُّونَ بِغَيْرِ سُنَّتِى، وَيَهْتَدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْيِى تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُم وَتُنْكِرُ، قُلْتُ: فَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، دُعَاةٌ إِلَى أَبْوابِ جَهَنَّمَ، مَنْ أَجَابَهُم إِلَيْهَا قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا، قُلْتُ: صِفْهُمْ لِى يَا رَسُولَ الله، قَالَ: هُمْ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا وَيَتَكلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنتِنَا".

"عَنْ نَصْرِ بن عَاصِمٍ اللّيْثِىِّ قال: سَمِعْتُ حُذَيْفَةَ يَقُولُ: كانَ رسولُ الله ﷺ يَسْأَلْهُ الناسُ عَنِ الخيرِ، وَكُنْتُ أَسَأَلُهُ عن الشرِّ، وَعَرفْتُ أنَّ الخيرَ لَنْ يَسْبِقَنِى، قلتُ: يا رسولَ الله هلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الخَيرِ من شَرٍّ؟ ، قالَ: يا حُذَيْفَةُ! تَعَلَّم كتابَ الله، واتَّبِعْ مَا فِيهِ، - ثَلَاثًا - قلتُ: يا رسولَ الله! هَلْ بَعْدَ هَذا الخيرِ من شَرٍّ؟ قالَ: فِتْنَةٌ وشَرٌّ. قلتُ: يَا رسُولَ الله! هلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الشرِّ خَيرٌ؟ قَالَ: يا حُذَيفَةُ تَعلَّم كتابَ الله، واتبِعْ مَا فِيهِ، - ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ - قلتُ: يا رسولَ الله! هل بَعْدَ هَذا الخيرِ شرٌّ؟ قالَ: فِتْنَةٌ عَمْيَاء صَمَّاء عَلَيْهَا دُعَاةٌ وعلى أَبْوابِ النَّارِ، فإنْ مِتَّ يا حُذَيْفَةُ وأَنْتَ عاضٌّ على جِذْلٍ خَيرٌ لكَ مِنْ أَنْ تَتَّبعَ أَحَدًا مِنْهُم". ش .