that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) explicitly mentioned, such as the Battle of Siffīn and the emergence of the Kharijites. I shall briefly discuss some of the great tribulations that caused division among the Muslims and led to the emergence of grave evil.

B — The Killing of Uthmān ibn Affān (may Allah be pleased with him):

Tribulations began to appear during the era of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) after the killing of the Commander of the Faithful, Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him), for he had been a closed gate barring them. When he was killed (may Allah be pleased with him), great tribulations arose, and their advocates emerged from among those in whose hearts faith had not taken firm root and those hypocrites who outwardly displayed goodness to the people while concealing evil and schemes against this religion.

It is related in the two Sahih collections from Hudhayfa (may Allah be pleased with him) that Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, “Which of you remembers what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said concerning tribulation?” Hudhayfa replied, “I remember it exactly as he said it.” Umar said, “Relate it, for you are indeed bold.” He said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A man’s trials concerning his family, wealth, and neighbor are expiated by prayer, charity, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong.” Umar said, “That is not what I mean, but rather the tribulation that will surge like the waves of the sea.” Hudhayfa said, “O Commander of the Faithful, you have nothing to fear from it, for between you and it stands a closed gate.” Umar asked, “Will the gate be opened or broken?” He replied, “No, it will be broken.” Umar said, “Then it is all the more likely never to be closed again.” We asked, “Was the identity of the gate known?” He replied, “Yes—as surely as night precedes tomorrow. I related to him a report containing no falsehoods.” We were reluctant to question him ourselves, so we instructed Masrūq to ask him. He asked, “Who was the gate?” Hudhayfa replied, “Umar.” (1).