The following Ahadith state that an army from the East (from Khorasan) carrying black banners will lay the foundation for the Mahdi’s future dominion, six years before He (ra) appears. The name “Khorasan” is derived from Persian and means “land where the sun rises”. Khorasan is a region that includes Afghanistan, Taijikstan, Northwestern Pakistan, Northeastern Iran, but the prophet specified that the Mahdi’s Army will be people from Bani Israil, of Jewish lineage, and these are the Pashtun and people of Afghanistan who in the time of the Prophet (saws) converted to Islam at the hands of Khalid Ibn Walid (ra).
The fact they converted to Islam through Khalid Ibn Walid (ra), one of histories greatest Generals responsible for the end of two of the world’s greatest empires, the Romans and Persians, is very significant.
This is because what ever the Prophet (saws) and the companions did lay the spiritual foundation for that matter to take root in future generations of Muslims, this is something well known among the scholars. For example, the companion Abu Musa al-Ashari (ra) the Prophet (saws) taught him the depths of Aqeedah and Allah mentioned Him in the Quran, His descendant Abu Hasan al Ashari (as) would found the famous Ashari Madhhab of Aqeedah that most Islamic scholars adopted.
So, the fact Imam Mahdi’s army accepted Islam at the hands of Khalid Ibn Walid (ra) means his spiritual qualities will be found in them; This is seen in ahadith about them both, the Prophet (saws) called Khalid ibn Walid (ra) the drawn sword of Allah, and one of Allah’s many swords, and the Umma said that Allah’s sword never breaks. Likewise, the Prophet (saws) about Imam Mahdi’s Army when they march to set up the Mahdi’s dominion, they will keep on coming generation after generation, until the matter is settled, at their hands Islam is saved.
It’s enough to know about them that they held back the U.S.S.R invasion of their country in 1979 (when Russia was still a superpower that rivalled America) until the U.S.S.R finally admitted defeat in 1989.
Al Zuhari said ” The black flags will come from the East, led by mighty men, with long hair and beards, their last names are taken from the names of their home towns and their first names are from a Kunya (nick name, usually starts with ‘Abu’, which means ‘father of”).” (Nuaim bin Hammad’s Kitab Al-Fitan)
Abdullah bin Masood narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “A group of people will come from the East with Black Flags and they will ask for some “Khair” (assistance, leadership, stability), but they will not be given what they ask for (the Arabs won’t respond to them). So, they will fight and win against those people (the Arabs causing fitnah). Now, they will be given them what they asked for (leadership and responsibility), but they will not accept it until they hand it over to a person from my Ahl Bayt (Imam Mahdi) who will fill it (the Earth) with justice just as they filled it (the Earth) with oppression. So, whoever of you will be alive at that time should come to them (the Mahdi & People from the East with black flags) even by crawling over snow”. (Ibn Maja, Muhammad Al-Barzanji’s Isha’ah li Ashrat Al-Sa’a)
Ali bin AbuTalib narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“A man called Al-Harith bin Harrath (Farmer son of a farmer, this is his description) will come forth from Ma Wara an-Nahr (“the place behind the river”. Transoxiana, meaning the region, between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, which includes Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, bordering Afghanistan ). His army (the black banners) will be led by a man called Mansur (His General) who will make matters ready and enabled (Shape the Middle East) for Muhammad’s family as Quraish enabled matters for the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Every believer must help him, or he (the Prophet) said: ‘respond to him (to his calls)’.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan AnNisa-ee, and Al-Buhaiqi)Abdullah bin Al-Harith bin Jiz Al-Zubaidi said that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “People from the East will come to assist the Mahdi in laying the foundation for his dominion (before He emerges).” (Ibn Maja, Tabarani)
Abu Hurairah said that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “(Armies carrying) black flags will come from Khorasan. No power will be able to stop them and they will finally reach إيلياء Eelya (Jerusalem) where they will erect their flags” (they will conquer Israel, America is no longer around to defend them). (Tirmizi)
Amr Bin Marra Al-Jamli said that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ” ‘Surely, Black Flags will appear from the Khorasan until a group (of them) will tie their horse leashes to the Olive Trees between Beit-Lahia (in Gaza district, Palestine) and Harasta (near Damascus, Syria).’ We asked: ‘Are there any Olive trees between these places?’ He said, ‘If there isn’t any, then, soon (Olive trees) will grow so that those people (of Khorasan) will come and tie their horses there’.” (Nuaim Ibn Hammad’s Kitab Al-Fitan p. 215)
Buraida said that Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “After me, there will be many expeditions (armies). You should be in the expeditions (armies) of Khorasan.” ( Jalal-uddine AsSuyuti’s Al-Urf Al-Wardi fi Akhbar Al-Mahdi, a part of Al-Hawi li Al-Fatawa)
The next hadith tells us there will be six years from when the black banners head towards Israel and when Imam Mahdi (ra) emerges.
تخرج راية سوداء لبني العباس,ثم تخرج من خراسان أخرى سوادء, قلانسهم سود و ثيابهم بيض, على مقدمتهم رجل يقال له : شعيب بن صالح [ بن شعيب ], من تميم, يهزمون أصحاب السفياني حتى ينزل ببيت المقدس , و يوطئ للمهدي سلطانه, ويمد إليه ثلاثمائة من الشام , يكون بين خروجه وبين أن يسلم الأمر للمهدي اثنان وسبعون شهرا
Muhammad bin Al-Hanafia, said: ” A black banner (Army battalion) of Bani Al-Abbas ( family of Prophet Mohammad’s صلى الله عليه وسلم uncle, Al-Abbas) will come out (this was the Abbasid Khalifah in the past). Then, another black banner (Army battalion) will come from Khorasan (in the Future). Their turbans are black and their clothes are white. At their front end will be a man named Shuayb bin Salih (this is the name of al-Harith Ibn Harrath), from Tamim (tribe). They will defeat the supporters of the Sufyani (and proceed further) until he (Shuayb bin Salih) arrives in Jerusalem (where) he will lay the foundation for the Mahdi’s (future) dominion. He will be supplied with three hundred (men) from AshSham (Syria). From the time, he comes out (from Khorasan) until he hands over the matter (rule) to the Mahdi, there will be seventy-two months (six years).” (Nuaim Ibn Hammad’s Kitab Al-Fitan)Saeed (or Sayyid) bin Al-Musayyab reported: “Black Banners will come from the East from the descendants of Al-Abbas. They will remain for whatsoever Allah wishes (this is the Abbasid Khalifah). Then, small Black Banners from the East will come to fight a man from the descendants of Abu Sufyan (Assad and his tribe in Syria and the Banu Ummayah in Saudi Arabia). They will give their allegiance to the Mahdi.” (Nuaim bin Hammad’s book Kitab Al-Fitan)
إذا اختلف أهل الرايات السود افترقوا ثلاث فرق فرقة تدعوا لبني فاطمة وفرقة تدعوا لبني العباس وفرقة تدعوا لأنفسها
عن علي قال إذا إختلفت أصحاب الرايات السود يخسف بقرية من قرى أرم ويسقط جانب مسجدها الغربي ثم تخرج بالشام ثلاث رايات الأصهب والأبقع والسفياني فيخرج السفياني من الشام والأبقع من مصر فيظهر السفياني عليهم
Abi Ja’far said: “A young man from Bani Hashem (Prophet Mohammad’s صلى الله عليه وسلم family clan) with a mark in the palm of his right hand comes out from Khorasan with black banners (this is Mansur their General). Between his hands (meaning assisting him) will be Shuayb bin Salih (their leader). He fights the followers of the (1st) Sufyani and defeats them.” (Nuaim bin Hammad’s Kitab Al-Fitan)The next Hadith tells why the people of Afghanistan and the surrounding area will first come out;
Ali bin Abi Taleb (r.a.) said: “If (the 1st) Sufyani’s Cavalry marsh to Kufa (in Iraq), the people of Khorasan will be requested to come to aid. The people of Khorasan will come out seeking the Mahdi (wishing for him to appear, they know the prophecies and what will occur after they go to war). So, the Hashimi (Mansur, the General of the Army) with an army carrying black banners, at its front end is Shuayb bin Salih, He will meet the followers of the Sufyani at Istakhar Gate and a great battle will occur between them. The black banners will be victorious. Sufyani’s Cavalry will run away. At that time, people will wish for the Mahdi (to appear) and ask for him.” (Nuaim bin Hammad’s Kitab Al-Fitan)The Prophet (saws) said, “At the end of time there will be a trial in which people will be sorted (fitnatul Duhaima, sep-11) in a similar way to that in which gold is sorted from (scrap) metal. Therefore do not rebuke the people of Syria (During this time, between 2001 and 2011 Syria instigated a number of events) rather, rebuke the evil people among them (their leaders, Asad and his tribe), because amongst them are the Abdals (Awliya). Allah will send a flood from Heaven (the Arab spring) that will disperse their groups in a way (cause the civil war) that if foxes were to attack them (ISIS, al Qaeda) they would be victorious (their called foxes because they are Occultists pretending to be Muslims, calling naive Muslims, anyone who is susceptible to their Sihr, to take part in their fake Jihad). Then Allah will send a man (a leader to the people of Syria) from the perfumed musked children of the Messenger amongst approximately 12-15,000 under three banners (3 battalions) and their password is ‘Die, die!’ (you can’t be with them unless your dedicated like them) And they will be fought by the people of 7 banners (7 different armies) under each is a man (Leader) seeking the kingdom (Syria for himself). They will be killed, defeated, then the Hashimite (Mansur leader of the black flags) will appear, so Allah will restore unity and favors to the people and this will be the case until the Dajjaal (the lying, false messiah) comes.”
Ammar binYasir said: “When the Sufyani reaches Kufa (in Iraq) and kills the supporters of the family of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم , the Mahdi will come (his path will begin) and the bearer of his Banner will be Shuayb, the son of Salih (Al Harith ibn Harrath).” (Nuaim bin Hammad’s Kitab Al-Fitan)
عن ابن مسعود قال يخرج رجل من الموالي يمر ويدعو إلى بني هاشم يدعى عبد الله يلي أربع سنين ثم يهلك
Ibn Masud said: ” A man from Mawali appears and calls for Bani Hashem (Prophet Mohammad’s صلى الله عليه وسلم family clan, He calls for them to possibly to take charge. They may for a while before Bani Ummaya kill them in the civil war). He is called Abdullah. He will rule for 4 years and then die.” (Nuaim bin Hammad’s Kitab Al-Fitan)Thawban reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Three men will be killed at the place where your treasure is (the Ka’ba). Each of them will be the son of a Caliph (Saudi ruler), but none of them will get hold of the treasure (the Kingdom). Then, the Black Banners will come out of the East, and they will slaughter you, in a way that has never been seen before. If you see him (the Mahdi), give him your allegiance, even by crawling over snow, because he is the Khaliph, the Mahdi.” (Ibn Maja, Musnad Ahmad, Al-Haakim’s Sahiha, Al-Zahabi, Ibn Kathir’s Niyaha fi Al-Fitan wa Al-Malahim, Abu Nuaim bin Hammad’s Kitab Al-Fitan, Muhammad Al-Barzanji’s Isha’ah li Ashrat Al-Sa’a)
Because the Hadith starts with the Saudi civil war, this hadith may seem to contradict Ahadith about when Imam Mahdi will first appear or cast doubt on when the Saudi civil war will occur, or when the Black Banners will appear, but the fact the Prophet (saws) said Imam Mahdi may be with them at this point in time means the black banners mentioned in this hadith is a latter battalion from those people that will march on Arabia after they see the Arab nations fighting over the Euphrates treasure, most likely to stabilise the region.