he reaches the Levant, where Allah, Mighty and Majestic, will destroy him at the pass of Afīq.”

Recorded by Ahmad (5/221–222), Hanbal in al-Fitan (Tribulations) (49/1), and Ibn ʿAsākir (1/617).

I say: Its chain of transmission is fair for corroborative purposes. Ibn Kathīr said in al-Nihāyah (The End) (1/124): “Its chain of transmission is acceptable.”

The fifth: From Abū Hurayrah. Its wording and source references have already been given (p. 61).

14 – This passage appears in two hadiths, but without the appeal for help:

The first: From al-Nawwās ibn Samʿān, already cited (pp. 56–58).

The second: From Nufayr, the father of Jubayr, already cited (p. 59).

15 – At present, I have found nothing to corroborate this passage. If it were established, it would clearly indicate that the Dajjāl’s fire is real fire, not a deception on his part—may Allah curse him.

Al-Dānī did, however, relate in al-Fitan (134/2), through al-Asbagh ibn Nubātah, the following passage from a report attributed to ʿAlī himself:

“Whoever is put to trial by his fire should recite the end of Sūrat al-Kahf (The Cave); the fire will become cool and safe for him . . . His followers on that day will be those who practise usury—ten in exchange for twelve—and those born of unlawful intercourse.”

But this al-Asbagh is a rejected, extremely weak narrator, so his reports cannot be used as corroborating evidence.