the Muslims will select a contingent pledged to fight to the death and not return unless victorious. They will fight until evening. Both sides will withdraw, neither victorious, and the contingent will be wiped out. On the fourth day, the remaining Muslims will advance against them, and Allah will bring defeat upon the enemy. There will be such slaughter in the fighting—he said either, ‘the like of which will not be seen,’ or, ‘the like of which has never been seen’—that a bird flying along their ranks will fall dead before passing beyond them. The members of a single family, who had numbered a hundred, will count themselves and find that only one man remains. What spoils, then, could bring any joy? What inheritance could be divided?

While they are in this state, they will hear of an even greater calamity. A crier will come to them with news that the Dajjāl has come among the children they left behind. They will drop whatever is in their hands and turn back, sending ten horsemen ahead as scouts. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘Indeed, I know their names, their fathers’ names and the colours of their horses. They will be the finest horsemen on the face of the earth that day.’”

It was recorded by Ahmad (1/ 435) and Muslim (8/ 177 - 178).

A tenth chain from Abū Hurayrah traces the following back to the Prophet:

“Jesus son of Mary will descend, shatter the cross, kill the swine and abolish the jizyah tax. In his time, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, will destroy the Dajjāl, and the word of Allah, Lord of the worlds, will prevail.”

It was recorded by al-Dānī (143/ 2) and Ibn Mandah (41/ 2), and its chain of transmission is good.

These, then, are ten chains for the hadith of Abū Hurayrah alone. It is therefore mass-transmitted from him in its overall substance, though not in its details.