English
Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Before the Hour, there will be trials like patches 1 of dark night. A man will be a believer in the morning and a disbeliever by evening, and 2 a believer in the evening and a disbeliever by morning. The one sitting during it is better than the one standing, the one walking is better than the one running. Break your bows, cut your strings, and strike your swords against stones. If someone enters upon you, be like the better of Adam’s two sons.” [Narrated by Abu Dawud]
In another narration by him: Up to “better than the one running,” then they said: “What do you command us?” He said: “Be like the carpets of your homes.”
In a narration by At-Tirmidhi: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said regarding the trial: “Break your bows in it, cut your strings in it, stay in the depths of your homes, and be like Adam’s son.” He said: This is a sound, unique Hadith.
Possible references (unverified, pending editorial review)
- Candidate: Sunan Abi Dawud 4259 (unverified) 96% confidence
- Candidate: Jami al-Tirmidhi 2204 (unverified) 90% confidence
Confidence and text similarity are not editorial verification.
Commentary and footnotes (4)
Note 1
(1) His statement: “like patches of dark night” – meaning each trial is like a patch of dark night in its severity, darkness, and inability to discern its matter. (As stated in Al-Mirqat)
Note 2
(2) His statement: “a believer in the evening and a disbeliever by morning” – the apparent meaning is that it refers to people’s shifting states at times, not specific to these times, as a metaphor for their fluctuating conditions, wavering statements, and varied actions between keeping and breaking promises, trustworthiness and betrayal, good and evil, Sunnah and innovation, faith and disbelief. (As stated in Al-Mirqat)
Note 1
(۱) قوله: كقطع الليل المظلم : أي كل فتنة كقطعة من الليل المظلم في شدتها وظلمتها وعدم تبين أمرها. كذا في «المرقاة».
Note 2
(۲) قوله يمسي مؤمنا ويصبح كافرا والظاهر أن المراد بالإصباح والإمساء تقلب الناس فيها وقتا دون وقت لا بخصوص الزمانين، فكأنه كناية عن تردد أحوالهم وتذبذب أقوالهم وتنوع أفعالهم من عهد ونقض وأمانة وخيانة ومعروف ومنكر وسنة وبدعة وإيمان وكفر. كذا في «المرقاة».