as narrated by Ahmad and others. I have traced its sources in this volume under no. 2995, and in abridged form in the second volume, no. 840.

2739 — Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “The people used to ask the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about good, whereas I used to ask him about evil, fearing that it might overtake me. So I said: ‘Messenger of Allah, we had been in a state of pre-Islamic ignorance and evil; then Allah brought us this good [which we are now living in], [and He brought you]. Will there be evil after this good [as there was before it]?’ [He said: ‘O Hudhayfah, learn the Book of Allah and follow what it contains’—three times. I said: ‘Messenger of Allah, will there be any good after this evil?’] He said: ‘Yes.’ [I said: ‘What protection is there from it?’ He said: ‘The sword.’] I said: ‘Will there be any good after that evil?’ (In another route: I said: ‘Will anything remain after the sword?’) He said: ‘Yes, but there will be a rule—in another wording, a community—marked by blemishes, and a truce marred by rancour.’”