- The Emergence of Tribulations
The Arabic word fitan (tribulations) is the plural of fitna, which originally means trial, examination, and testing. It then came to be widely used for the objectionable consequences brought to light by a test, and was subsequently applied to anything objectionable or leading to it, such as sin, disbelief, killing, burning, and other such evils. (1)
The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—informed us that among the signs of the Hour would be the emergence of great tribulations in which truth would become confused with falsehood and faith would be shaken. A man would be a believer in the morning and a disbeliever by evening, or a believer in the evening and a disbeliever by morning. Whenever a tribulation appeared, the believer would say, “This will be my ruin.” It would then pass, only for another to appear, whereupon he would say, “This is it! This is it!” Tribulations will continue to arise among the people until the Hour begins.
Abū Mūsā al-Asharī—may Allah be pleased with him—reported that the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said:
“Before the Hour there will be tribulations like pieces of a dark night. During them, a man will be a believer in the morning and a disbeliever by evening, or a believer in the evening and a disbeliever by morning. The one sitting during them will be better than the one standing, the one standing will be better than the one walking, and the one walking will be better than the one hastening. So break your bows, cut your bowstrings, and strike your swords against stones. If someone breaks in upon any of you, let him be like the better of Adam’s two sons.”
It was narrated by Imam Ahmad, Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Mājah, and al-Hākim in al-Mustadrak. (2)