Just A Query on The Army of Black Banners

[Shadower]

I was thinking on this issue of the army under black banners that will come from the East. And come to think of it, the hadeeth is not 100% clear on how long it will take the army, or if it is the same army if not simply a chain reaction possibly moving across from East to West and finally liberating al-Quds.

Because when you look at this hadeeth from the perspective of Current Events, you notice an army of black banners in Afghanistan, and how another has risen in Iraq (started in the East and is moving West) then you have unrest in Saudi Arabia (after liberating al-Quds the hadeeth or another hadeeth similar speaks about Saudi Arabia coming under a Khalifa's control before the coming of the Mahdi). And also the potential of this Iraqi conflict to destabalise the Middle East which would cause the governments there to weaken hence weaken their arm against the Islamic movements in their countries, which would only create a ripe situation for the emergence of a Khalifah.

Also the fact that the Ummah reached its lowest point in the mid 20th century and with the current revival has been on the rise alhumdulilah in the past few decades. Once more the lesson of the time of Salahuddin would be relevant. But one thing is for certain I doubt anyone will be expecting it when it occurs, otherwise the kuffar will make moves to remove the Khalifah, but by the will of Allah His deen will be successful.

The duty of each individual Muslim is to look to their own selves only once the Ummah has improved to a point will Allah reward us with a Khalifah, but we cannot deny the mass improvments in the past 50 years, but still a long way to go.

[Ibn Yusuf]

Assalaamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

May Allah reward you for your efforts akhi!

On the topic of the army with the black flags... this is a fatwa from www.islamtoday.com answered by Sheikh Salman Al-Oadah.

Hope this is helpful!

Wassalaamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

PS: Anyone know how to use "bold" and "italics" on this new forum?
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- - - Army with black flags advancing from Khorasan - - -


QUESTION: Are the hadīth about an army coming from Khorasan with black flags and entering Jerusalem authentic?


Answered by Sheikh Salman al-Oadah

The hadīth about the army with black banners coming out of Khorasan has two chains of transmission, but both are weak and cannot be authenticated. If a Muslim believes in this hadīth, he believes in something false. Anyone who cares about his religion and belief should avoid heading towards falsehood.

The hadīth is related on the authority of Thawbān that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If you see the black banners coming from the direction of Khurasān, then go to them, even if you have to crawl, because among them will be Allah’s Caliph the Mahdī.” [Related by al-Hākim (8572) and Ahmad (22387)]

All the chains of transmission for this hadīth are weak and inauthentic, though some people have been overly lenient about it and declared it authentic by virtue of the many chains of transmission that it has.

Some people have used this hadīth to support their claim that the Mahdī is from the family of al-Abbās and that the Mahdī is from of the Abbasid dynasty. There were Abbasid Caliphs who went by the name al-Mahdī.

The banners of the Abbasid State were black. It is not hard to see how this weak hadīth might have been fabricated or at least tampered with to support the Abbasid cause.

[Ibn Yusuf]

Assalaamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

Subhanallah, I just came across this at www.islamweb.net

A bit different to the last fatwa. I think I might do some research into the classification of these hadith.

Also, Shadower... forgive me for kinda dragging your topic off track. My apologies.

And Allah Know Best!

Wassalaamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
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www.islamweb.net - Fatwa Centre
Fatwa No. : 3846
Fatwa Title : Khurasan in Hadith
Fatwa Date : 30 Rajab 1423

QUESTION
Where is Khurasan (country) situated? Is this Pakistan? There is a Hadith about army of Khurasan bearing the flag when Imam Mahdi will come to the world.

FATWA
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

According to Mu'jam al-Buldan of Yaqoot al-Hamwi, Khurasan is a vast land that comprises Naisaboor, Haraa, Maru, Balkh, Talqaan, Nasa, Aburd, Sarkhas and all other cities and town before the river Bactrus (Jihon).
Ibn Qutaibah said: 'The people of Khurasan are the people of Da'wah and helpers of the state of Islam' .
They will continue to be the strongest among kings of non-Arabs (Persians …) and do not pay any tribute or royalty.
Khurasan is mentioned in many Hadith.
al-Hakim in his book al-Mustadrak reported from Thauban (Radiya Allahu Anhu) who said that Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "There will be a war between three persons about your treasure, all of them are sons of rulers; none of them will hold authority. Then, the bearers of black flags will come out from the east, who will fight you fiercely. He added saying: If you see him, you have to pay homage to him even if you creep on snow since he is the Khalifa (vice regent) of Allah, al-Mahdi (the well-guided one)" . al-Hakim said: 'This Hadith is sound' .
Another narration in al-Mustadrak and al-Musnad from Thauban (Radiya Allahu Anhu) who said that Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "If you see the black flags coming out from the direction of Khurasan, you have to report this, even creeping, since al-Mahdi Khalifah of Allah will be among them" [ al-Hakim said: 'This Hadith is sound according to Bukhari and Muslim conditions and terms' .
A third Hadith recorded by al-Tirmizi , Ibn Majah , Ahmad , al-Hakim and Abu Ya'lah reads: "al-Dajjal (Anti-Christ) will come out from a land called Khurasan and he will be followed by some nations whose people's faces are like a shield due to being round, large and thick, because of the several layers of leather that cover shield.
Allah knows best.

Answerer: Fatwa center supervised by Dr. Abdullah Al-faqih

[Shadower]

Yes exactly I do know that some scholars have said it is weak. But others have said it is sound. But the wording of the hadeeth does not say that the army will just appear and conquer the lands over night.

And they have been the bearers of Islaam amongst the non-Arabs, they have been strengthened by the Arabs yet have done the work by themselves, Pakistan is a great Muslim country with a corrupt leadership. The Muslims from Khurasaan are great Mujahideen and protectors of the faith, as they proved in the Afghan-Russo War.

I personally beleive this army of the black banners is arriving and is pulling together at the moment across the Middle East. What is causing it to appear now is the US attacks in that region and the US is not finished, it still wishes to deal with Iran and Syria, possibly even Bayt Saud. The thing is we need to look at the bigger picture and not just Iraq by itself, or Syria alone, we need to look at everything that is occuring collectively in the Middle East and Khurasaan, and it is just obvious.

An excellent book on the issue is Day of Wrath by Shaikh Safar al-Hawaali

[Ibn El-Sheikh]

Yes exactly I do know that some scholars have said it is weak. But others have said it is sound.

Basically there are many variant ahadith which have given mention to "black flags" from Khurasaan (or the general direction of the east, depending on how you interprete the ahadith).

So Sheikh Salman is absolutely right in that the narrations he mentioned are weak. And yet here is a hadith which, according to al-hakim, is authentic according to the conditions of Bukhari and Muslim.

[Shadower]

Check this out and tell me what you think: Islamic Fundamentalism on the Rise http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/...=4684#post4684

[Ibn El-Sheikh]

Check this out and tell me what you think: Islamic Fundamentalism on the Rise http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/...=4684#post4684

Though I personally consider the ahadith regarding the Black Flags legitimate, its important not to lose focus. I've noticed that many people become immersed in various prophecies to the extent that it caused them to become complacent. This is similiar to the historic shia's who had contended that everything from Prayer to Jihad was not obligatory until the appearance of al-Mahdi.

Regardless of whether or not the Black Flags appear in the next 25 years, or the next 1000 years, insha'allah Islamic movements are on the rise will continue to rise until Islamic tenets are firmly established on earth once again. But the important thing for us to realize is that it will be because of - after the grace of Allah - the sincere effort Muslims put into changing current circumstances into better ones.

[Shadower]

The Mahdi obviously will not come until the Ummah itself has established a Khalifa, and to establish a Khalifa the Ummah must individually fix ourselves.

Because from the hadeeths we do see that a Khalifah is already on earth when the Mahdi comes and the Amir-ul-Mumineen gives Bai`a to the Mahdi, and followed by the scholars of Syria and Irak.

So I doubt there will be a Mahdi appearing until the Ummah fixes itself up, and waiting for the Mahdi to come until we fix ourselves is foolish, because the Mahdi is followed by the Dajjal. And Muslims will follow the Dajjal.

[aussiemu]

assalamu 'alaikum,

I agree that its important not to lose focus. The point is that whether the Mahdi comes tomorrow or comes in 100 years - we could die tomorrow. We are meant to work with 'now' and the present and try our best. I'm not saying to disregard the signs - but if there is more focus on the signs than there is on fixing ourselves and our environment around us within our capability then there is an issue.

It is similiar to some of the people who wish to go for Jihad but cannot due to whatever the cirucmstance - yet forget that they still need to work on themselves. If you look at the stories of the Mujahideen you can see the types of people they were before they went out - some used to clean the toilets of the masjid, others used to be up at night in Tahajjud etc.

Allah doesn't give something of a high level for nothing.

The reason I mention this is because I've noticed it commonplace that people lose focus when they are focussing too much on signs or on waiting for the moment that they forget to work on what they are living in at that present moment.

wassalamu 'alaikum

[Shadower]

The problem is that the Muslims are very short sighted in one aspect and they also find it difficult to look at the bigger picture. Whenever the Mahdi comes does not concern me, but it gives me hope that the Ummah will be great and strong again, that is all. Knowing that I am happy, whether it occurs in my lifetime or not does not bother me.
As for the injustices committed against the Muslims, well we have an appointment before Allah.