Hadith on Prophetic Duty and Future Tribulations

📖Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1844
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Verily, no prophet came before me except that it was a duty upon him to guide his nation to what he knew was good for them and to warn them of what he knew was evil for them. This nation of yours has been granted well-being in its beginning, but the latter generations will be afflicted with trials and affairs you will recognize as evil. Tribulations will come one after another, and a tribulation will come in which the believer says: This will destroy me! Then it will pass, and another tribulation will come in which the believer says: This one, this one! Thus, whoever would love to be delivered from Hellfire and admitted into Paradise, let him meet his end with faith in Allah and the Last Day, and let him treat people as he would love to be treated. Whoever pledges allegiance to a leader should give him the contract of his hand and sincerity of his heart, so let him obey as much as he can. If another leader comes to start rebellion, strike the neck of the other.

Explanation & Context

• Role of Prophets: Every prophet warned their people about future evils and guided them to good.
• Blessed Beginning of the Ummah: The early generations (Sahaba and Tabi‘in) enjoyed unity and guidance.
• Escalating Tribulations: Later generations will face continuous fitan (trials), each appearing worse than the last.
• Key for Survival:
  • Hold firmly to faith in Allah and the Last Day.
  • Golden rule: Treat others as you would love to be treated.
  • Obey lawful authority to maintain unity.

Major Tribulations Mentioned in Other Hadith (Signs of the Hour)

1. Loss of Trust & Corrupt Leadership – Leadership given to the unworthy. 
2. Ignorance Prevailing & Knowledge Removed – Scholars will die, ignorance will spread.
3. Open Immorality – Zina, alcohol, and music widespread.
4. Mass Killing – People killing each other without cause.
5. Extreme Materialism – Competing for wealth and dunya.
6. Appearance of Dajjāl – The greatest tribulation ever. 
7. Wars Among Muslims – Internal conflicts over power. 
8. Women Outnumbering Men – 50 women for one man.
9. Imitating Disbelievers – Following non-Islamic customs.
10. Mass Apostasy Before the Hour – People abandoning Islam easily or Abandoning Islamic rules for fame or relationships. Sahih Muslim 118 | Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2219 If they repent and change, Allah will raise them again; if not, He will replace them with others who obey Him Surah An-Nisa 4:137

Allah Will Replace Those Who Leave Islam

If some Muslims leave the religion, Allah promises to bring others who are better in faith.

📖Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:54
“O you who have believed, whoever among you should revert from his religion – Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him; [they will be] humble toward the believers, stern toward the disbelievers, striving in the cause of Allah and not fearing the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allah; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing and Knowing.”

📖Surah Muhammad (47:38)
“If you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be like you.

• There will be mass apostasy before the Day of Judgment.
• Islam will never disappear because Allah will replace apostates with stronger believers.

Qur’an Verses as Context

📖Surah Al-Ankabut (29:2)
“Do people think they will be left to say, ‘We believe,’ and they will not be tested?”
Faith will always be tested with trials.

Islam ruled different regions for centuries – 300, 400, even 700 years in some places – but whenever people disobeyed Allah and neglected His commands, trials and calamities came upon them. These tests were not because Allah wanted harm for them, but because they chose disobedience and corruption. This verse reminds us: Do you think by saying “we believe” you will be left untested? No – trials reveal who remains firm and who turns away, even though Allah already knows everything. It is to make the truth clear among the believers and expose those causing corruption.

• 📖Surah Ar-Ra’d (13:11)
  “Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.”
  When believers abandon Allah’s commands, His favor and blessings are withdrawn, and hardship replaces prosperity.

• 📖Surah Ash-Shura (42:30)
  “Whatever misfortune befalls you is because of what your own hands have earned. And He pardons much.”
  Disasters and hardships occur due to our own deeds, though Allah forgives much of what we deserve, This ties perfectly with point: trials and decline in Muslim power came because people disobeyed Allah, not because Allah wanted oppression for them.

📖Surah Al-Baqarah (2:155)
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.”

This verse from Surah Al-Baqarah (2:155) explains that tests – fear, hunger, loss of wealth, and lives – are inevitable, even for true believers. The purpose is:

• To expose hypocrites (those who only claimed faith for benefit).
• To purify and elevate true believers, showing their patience and trust in Allah.
• To make clear who stands firm and who abandons faith when hardship comes.

So, these trials affect believers by default, but for them, it becomes a test of patience and reward, while for hypocrites, it becomes a sign of failure and disbelief.

📖Surah Aal-Imran (3:200)
“O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.”
Patience and steadfastness are keys to salvation.

📖Surah Al-Tawbah (9:119)
“O you who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are truthful.”
Stick to truthful, righteous company during fitan.

---

If Another Leader Comes to Start Rebellion, End His Fitnah

The last part of the hadith means:

• When Muslims are united under a legitimate leader (Caliph or ruler), and
• Someone tries to divide the unity by rebellion or armed conflict,
• Then that person is a threat to peace and should be stopped – first by advice and justice, and if they persist with violence, then by force, even execution under law.

📖Sahih Muslim 1852
“If someone comes to you when you are united under one man and tries to divide you, kill him.”

This is about lawful punishment, not personal revenge.

📖Qur’an 17:33
“And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right.”
Except by right means through justice, such as execution for murder, rebellion, or major crimes, under Islamic law.

Example in Today’s Context

Imagine a situation in India:

• The majority elected a Prime Minister lawfully through elections.
• Then a group, without elections or majority support, tries to overthrow the government by violence.
• This creates anarchy, killings, and civil war.

In such a case, the law of the land allows the army or security forces to stop the rebels, even by killing them if they refuse to surrender, Similarly in Islam, if someone rebels against the leader after the Ummah is united, and he causes violence, then the government can use force – even execution – because the goal is to protect the unity and safety of the people.