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The Signs Before The Day Of Judgement

Author: Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer

Published: Thursday 14th January, 2016


The destruction of the Ka'bah

At the end of time, Dhu'l-Suwayqatayn, who will come from Abyssinia (al-Habash), will destroy the Ka'bah in order to steal its treasure and Kiswah (cloth covering). The Ka'bah is the ancient building which was built by Abraham, and whose foundations were laid by Adam.

As Tafseer (interpretation) of the Aayah "Until the Gog and Magog (people) are let through (their barrier)" [al-Anbiyaa' (21):96], it was reported from Ka'b al-Ahbar that Dhu'l-Suwayqatayn will first emerge at the time of Jesus, son of Mary. Allaah will send Jesus at the head of a vanguard of between seven and eight hundred. While they are marching towards Dhu'l-Suwayqatayn, Allaah will send a breeze from the direction of Yemen, which will take the soul of every believer. Only the worst of people will be left, and they will begin to copulate like animals. Ka'b said:

"At that time, the Hour will be close at hand." [1]


'Abd Allaah ibn 'Amr said,

"I heard the Prophet (صلى الله علیه وسلم) say, 'Dhu'l-Suwayqatayn from Abyssinia will destroy the Ka'bah and steal its treasure and Kiswah. It is as if I could see him now: he is bald-headed and has a distortion in his wrists. He will strike the Ka'bah with his spade and pick-axe.' " [Ahmad] [2]


It was reported from 'Abd Allaah ibn 'Umar that the Prophet (صلى الله علیه وسلم) said,

"Leave the Abyssinians alone so long as they do not disturb you, for no-one will recover the treasure of the Ka'bah except Dhu'l-Suwayqatayn from Abyssinia." [Abu Daawood, in the chapter on the prohibition of provoking the Abyssinians] [33]


Ibn 'Abbaas narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله علیه وسلم) said,

"It is as if I can see him now: he is black and his legs are widely spaced. He will destroy the Ka'bah stone by stone." [Ahmad] [4]


The Prophet (صلى الله علیه وسلم) said,

"The Hour will not come until a man from Qahtaan appears and rules the people." [Muslim; similar Hadeeth in Bukhaaree]


This man could be Dhu'l-Suwayqatayn, or someone else, because this man comes from Qahtaan, while other reports say that Dhu'l-Suwayqatayn comes from Abyssinia; and Allaah knows best.

Abu Hurairah said,

"The Prophet (صلى الله علیه وسلم) said, 'Day and night will not come to an end until a freed man called Jahjaah holds sway.' " [Ahmad] [5]


This could be the name of Dhul-Suwayqatayn from Abyssinia; and Allaah knows best.

'Umar ibn al-Khattab reported that he heard the Prophet (صلى الله علیه وسلم) say:

"The people of Makkah will leave, and only a few people will pass through it. Then it will be resettled and rebuilt; then the people will leave it again, and no-one will ever return." [66]


Footnotes

[1] Concerning Dhu'l-Suwayqatayn, see: Bukhaaree: Kitaab al-Hajj, Baab Hadam al-Ka'bah (The Book of Pilgrimage, Chapter of the Destruction of the Ka'bah), 2/183. Muslim, Kitaab al-Fitan wa Ashraat al-Saa'ah, 8/183.

Dhu'l-Suwayqatayn: al-Suwayqatayn is the dimunitive of al-Saaqayn (legs); his legs are described as being "small" because they are thin. Thin legs are, in general, a characteristic of the Sudanese and people of the Horn of Africa.

[2] Ahmad, Musnad, 2/220.

Checker's Note: Da`eef isnaad. It contains the `an`anah of Abu Zubair. The first part, up to 'treasure' is hasan, Silsilatul Ahadeeth as-Saheehah: 771.

[3] Abu Daawood, Kitaab al-Malaahim, (Hadeeth 4287), 11/423.

Checker's Note: Hasan, Saheeh Abee Daawood.

[4] Ahmad, Musnad, 1/227.

Checker's Note: Saheeh, also reported in al-Bukhaaree.

[5] Checker's Note:[/b[/href] Saheeh, Ahmad, Muslim and at-Tirmidhee. Silsilatul Ahadeeth as-Saheehah: 7684.

[6] Ahmad, Musnad, 1/23.

Checker's Note: Da`eef, Da`eef al-Jami as-Sagheer: 3298. Da`eef due to Ibn Lahi'ah and `an`anah of Abu Zubair.