the proliferation of police, the ascendancy of immature rulers, rampant blood-shedding, the severing of kinship ties, and a generation that will appear at the end of time who will turn the Quran into mere flutes. (1)

Al-Ṭabarānī also narrated—through ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Zayd ibn Aslam, from Abū Ḥāzim, from Sahl ibn Saʿd—that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“At the end of time there will be a swallowing of the earth, pelting with stones, and metamorphosis.”

It was asked, “When will that be, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied:

“When musical instruments and female singers become widespread and wine is declared lawful.”

This report has a corroborating narration in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī from Abū Mālik—or Abū ʿĀmir—as al-Bukhārī himself affirms. (2)

Imam Aḥmad said: Yaḥyā ibn Abī Bukayr narrated to us; ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Iyād ibn Laqiṭ narrated to us; I heard my father relate from Ḥudhayfah who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the Hour. He replied:

“Its knowledge is with my Lord; none will disclose it at its appointed time but He. Yet I shall inform you of its portents and what will precede it: before it there will be tribulations and al-harj.”

They said, “O Messenger of Allah, we understand tribulation, but what is al-harj?” He answered, “In the Abyssinian tongue it means killing.” He then added:

“Estrangement will be cast among the people so that scarcely will anyone know anyone else.”

Aḥmad alone transmitted this report. (3)

Aḥmad also said: Abū al-Mughīrah narrated to us; Ṣafwān narrated to us; al-Safr ibn Nusayr al-Azdī and others related to me, from Ḥudhayfah ibn al-Yamān, that he said: “O Messenger of Allah, we once lived in evil; then Allah removed that evil through you and brought good in its place—will there be evil after this good?” He replied, “Yes.” I asked, “What will it be?” He said:

“Trials like segments of a pitch-black night, each following hard upon the other, confronting you (4) like the mottled hides of cattle—you will not know which one from which.” (5)

Aḥmad further reported: Sulaymān narrated to us; Ismāʿīl narrated to us; ʿAmr related to me, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Ashhalī, from Ḥudhayfah, that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“The Hour will not be established until you kill your leader, strike one another with your swords, and the vilest among you take possession of your worldly affairs.” (6)(7)