to al-Shām and Egypt, both of which lie to the west, as has repeatedly been witnessed since the time of Genghis Khan and those who came after him.
As for the fire mentioned in the hadiths of Hudhayfa ibn Asīd and Ibn Umar, it is a real fire (1). And Allah knows best.
How It Will Gather the People:
When this great fire emerges from Yemen, it will spread throughout the earth and drive the people to the Land of Gathering. Those gathered will fall into three groups:
The first: a group who go willingly, well-fed, clothed, and mounted.
The second: a group who sometimes walk and sometimes ride, taking turns riding a single camel. This is described in the forthcoming hadith: “Two on one camel and three on one camel ...” until he said, “and ten on one camel, taking turns riding it.” This will be due to the scarcity of mounts on that day.
The third group will be gathered by the fire, which will close in behind them and drive them from every direction toward the Land of Gathering. Anyone who lags behind will be consumed by the fire (2).
Among the hadiths describing how this fire will gather the people is the following:
- Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayra—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “The people will be gathered in three ways: in hope and fear; two on one camel, three on one camel, four on one camel, and ten on one camel; and the fire will gather the rest of them;