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Fatwa CenterHadeeth (narration) on trials at the end of time
Question
In Al-Bukhaari, there is a Hadeeth narrated by Ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with them both, that one day the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, supplicated Allaah The Almighty to bless the Levant (Ash-Shaam) and Yemen for Muslims. The Companions asked him to pray for Najd to be blessed as well. However, he did not, and told them that this would be the land where trials and instability begin, and where the horn of the Satan would rise.
Would you please explain the meaning of this Hadeeth?
May Allaah reward you well.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
This is an authentic Hadeeth, and we find its text in Saheeh Al-Bukhari and a part of it is narrated in Saheeh Muslim.
This Hadeeth indicates the excellence of the Levant (Ash-Shaam) and Yemen, and that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, supplicated Allaah The Almighty to bless these places. Other narrations refer to the advantages of these two regions, and the merits of living there, especially at the end of time when trials increase.
One of these narrations was reported by Abu Daawood, Ibn Hibbaan, and Al-Haakim. They report that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that, at the end of time there would be three brigades of the Muslim army: one of them in the Levant, another in Yemen and a third in Iraq. Ibn Hawaalah 
asked the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to recommend the best place to be if he was alive at that time. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, recommended the Levant (Ash-Shaam) and advised the Companions to inhabit Yemen, if the Levant did not appeal to them. This is because Allaah The Almighty guaranteed that anyone who lived in Yemen would not be wiped out by trials.
For further information, read the chapters on the merits and encouragement in books of Hadeeth.
The Hadeeth draws our attention to the fact that trials, disputes and Satanic temptation towards disbelief, unlawful desires and religious innovations will rise in Najd. Scholars maintained different opinions as to the interpretation of “Najd”, and the predominant opinion is that it refers to the area east of Al-Madeenah. Quoting Al-Khattaabi
Imaam Ibn Hajar says that Najd is in the direction of the East; and that according to the inhabitants of Al-Madeenah, Najd is the desert of Iraq and its surrounding areas. Quoting other scholars, Ibn Hajar mentioned that the people of the east were disbelievers at the time of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Therefore, he mentioned that trials and disputes would originate there. We witness today that what the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said has come true. The first of the trials and disputes appeared in the east and this has led to the disunity of Muslims, which has been a success for Satan. Besides, many Bid‘ahs (religious innovations) originated in the east. Examining all the narrations of the Hadeeth and those similar to it, prove that the desert of Iraq and the surrounding areas east of Al-Madeenah is the Najd referred to in this Hadeeth. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was reported to have been facing the east when he said that trials would arise there and that this is where Satan’s horn would appear. [Muslim]
Moreover, in another narration of the same Hadeeth by At-Tabaraani in his Al-Kabeer, the name of Iraq is explicitly mentioned instead of Najd. The Hadeeth at hand, which mentions the advantages of the Levant and Yemen, advises Muslims to join their armies. This Hadeeth does not recommend joining Iraq’s army; it clarified that the characteristics of this area were discouraging from the viewpoint of Sharee‘ah (Islamic law). The region of Iraq has actually been a place of dispute, instability, and trials for Muslims throughout history.
In conclusion, Najd is in the direction of Iraq. It is important to note, however, that this does not mean that the entire region and its inhabitants are absolutely dispraised. Rather, its inhabitants who remain patient with the afflictions and trials which occur there and who remain steadfast amidst the temptations that Allaah The Almighty saves them from are good people.
Also, all Praise to Allaah The Almighty, that there have been countless leading Qur'an reciters, scholars of Hadeeth and Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), ascetics, and Imaams, all from that region.
Allaah Knows best.
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