It may seem strange that Allah would extend the life of the Muslim Ummah, but in many well-known Ahadith recorded in a number of famous collections He has promised to do this very thing until He raise’s up the Mahdi (ra) to spread justice on earth.

We can ask why will Allah need to prepare for the Mahdi (ra), corruption on earth occurred over a long period of time and when Allah fixes something He does it through people and the events they live in life, those events would have to have the significance and meaning behind them to purify the world of the most amount of corruption it has ever witnessed, through the life of a single person.

Abdullah ibn Masud narrated from the Prophet (saws) who said: “If only one day (1000 years) of this world remained. Allah would lengthen that day till He raised up in it a man who belongs to me or to my family whose father’s name is the same as my father’s, who will fill the earth with equity and justice as it has been filled with oppression and tyranny.”

حَدَّثَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ فِطْرٍ، – الْمَعْنَى وَاحِدٌ – كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ زِرٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ لَوْ لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ يَوْمٌ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ زَائِدَةُ فِي حَدِيثِهِ ‏”‏ لَطَوَّلَ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ اتَّفَقُوا ‏”‏ حَتَّى يَبْعَثَ فِيهِ رَجُلاً مِنِّي ‏”‏ ‏.‏ أَوْ ‏”‏ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي يُوَاطِئُ اسْمُهُ اسْمِي وَاسْمُ أَبِيهِ اسْمَ أَبِي ‏”‏ ‏.‏ زَادَ فِي حَدِيثِ فِطْرٍ ‏”‏ يَمْلأُ الأَرْضَ قِسْطًا وَعَدْلاً كَمَا مُلِئَتْ ظُلْمًا وَجَوْرًا ‏”‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ فِي حَدِيثِ سُفْيَانَ ‏”‏ لاَ تَذْهَبُ أَوْ لاَ تَنْقَضِي الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَمْلِكَ الْعَرَبَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي يُوَاطِئُ اسْمُهُ اسْمِي ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ لَفْظُ عُمَرَ وَأَبِي بَكْرٍ بِمَعْنَى سُفْيَانَ ‏.‏

(Abu Dawud, in his Sunan book 36, Hasan Sahih ~ Also by Ibn Majah and Abu Nai’m, Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadharr, 27; Ash-Sharani, Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 437)

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Even if but a single day (1000 years) remains in this world, Allah will certainly prolong that day so that one from my family (the Mahdi (as)) can take possession of Mount Daylam (in Iran) and the city of Constantinople (Istanbul).” (Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p. 74 and Death-Doomsday-The Hereafter and the Portents of the End Times, p. 440)

Both Iran and Turkey will refuse to recognise the Mahdi (ra) and support Him, so He (ra) will need to conquer them both, the prophet (saws) said “Al-Mahdi (as) will conquer Constantinople and Mount Daylam (in Iran)”. (Al-Haythami’s Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi Alamat al-Mahdi al- Muntazar, p. 27)

Imam Tirmidhi (ra) narrates in his Jamii from Asim who narrated from Zirr who narrated from ‘Abdullah who narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) who said: “A man is coming from the people of my family whose name agrees with my name.” ‘Asim said: “Abu Salih narrated to us from Abu Hurairah, who said: ‘If there did not remain in the world but one day (1000 years), then Allah would extend that day until he comes.'” (Hasan, Vol. 4, Book 7, Hadith 2231)

1400 years ago the Prophet Muhammad (saws) said, if there remained One day left in this world, meaning 1000 years, Allah will extend the time remaining on earth (that day) by another half a day or 500 years so a man from His Ummah can rule over us.

This essentially says what the Ahadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sunnan Abu Dawud have said combined, that when the Ummah reached its 1000th year Allah would grant it another 500 years on this earth, and this occurred when Constantinople was conquered.

Most people have read this hadith before “If only one day of this world remained. Allah would lengthen that day till He raised up in it a man who belongs to me or to my family”, in our time it was commonly understood that the one day was a figure of speech or it literally meant 1 single normal day.

As we can see this is completely out of context to what 1 day actually meant in the Quran, which the companions and the prophet (saws) himself explained. It is an interpretation based on idioms in modern english, it is not part of the prophet’s (saws) speech to say if 1 (24 hour day) remained in the world Allah will extend this 24 hour period by stopping the sun from setting until Imam Mahdi (ra) was prepared to rule over the muslims. This is because the saying is frivolous exaggeration and has no meaning behind it, it’s like saying if pigs fly Allah will stop the sun from setting until the Mahdi rules, while Allah says in the Quran about the prophet (saws) “He doesn’t speak from his own desire”, meaning every word He (saws) says is the truth or based on it if it is an analogy, and there is no room for meaningless speech which is from exaggeration and desire.

The Prophet (saws) reiterated His understanding that Islam had a predefined, destined and decreed length of time on earth in the six Ahadith found in the Sahih of Bukhari, all in the form of an analogy based on the truth because you could literally calculate the length of time from it, it wasn’t a form of exaggeration, so the matter is very clear and beyond doubt.

The picture is clear then, Allah originaly gave Islam 1000 years on earth, He later lengthened our time and kept the Ummah alive for a further 500 years. We can see from the chronology of these Ahadith when Allah first told Him (saws) the life span of Islam and then when He later informed Him (saws) He would extend it.

So then Why do the Ahadith say “because of the Mahdi (ra)”, this is more than likely because the matter was originally a choice between 2000 years for Islam if they remained strong or 1500 years if they declined at the 1000 year mark. So because the Ummah could not maintain their position and Allah shortened it to a Half day, of all people alive in the last 500 years Imam Mahdi (ra) was a person who could regain their position with Allah so the last 500 years were said to be for Him. Allah had to send someone to rectify the situation on earth before the end, so He raised up the Mahdi (ra) for the Ummah and sent Isa (as) for the entire world.

The Prophet (saws) said of Abu Bakr (ra), if the Iman (faith) of my entire Ummah was placed on one side of a scale and Abu Bakr’s on the other, his Iman would outweigh that of the entire Ummah, we can only imagine what the Mahdi (r.a) deserves in Allah’s sight, but we can get a glimpse of this from His achievements, the Mahdi (ra) is a single man but He will spread justice on this earth just like it took an entire world of people to spread corruption on it, He will fulfil the rights of his Muslim brothers like no person alive today and reverse the downward spiral that the entire world is in.

Ibn Kathir records in his al Bidaya wa Nihaya a hadith with a chain that is Hasan Sahih that Abu Hurairah related that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Where there to be a single day left in this world, Allah would prolong that day until a man from the people of my household would rule; his name is the same as my name”

Abdullah ibn Mas’ood reported from the Prophet (pbuh), who said: “The world will not come to pass until a man from among my family, whose name will be my name, rules over the Arabs.” (Tirmidhi Sahih, Abu Dawud, Sahih, also narrated by Ali b. Abi Talib, Abu Sa’id, Umm Salma, Abu Hurayra)

Abu Hurayrah said the Prophet said: “If there only remains but one day left in the world, Allah will prolong it until a man from my house governs. He will open Constantinople (Istanbul) and the Mountain of Al-Daylam (in Iran).” (Ibn Hibban, At-Tirmizi, Abuya’li, At-Tabarani, Al Bazaar, Abu Nuaym and Al Hakim.)

The following two Ahadith speak specifically about Allah shortening time not just prolonging it, but they are not a reference to a 24 hour day becoming shorter like some took to thinking Allah would lengthen a 24 hour day for the Mahdi (ra).

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudree reported that the Prophet said, “In my nation there will be the Mahdi. If his period is shortened, then (his rule is) for seven (years); otherwise, it is for nine (years). (Ibn Maajah, Ibn Katheer in his al Bidaya wa Nihaya)

In the following hadith the prophet talks about the possibility of Islam’s period being prolonged on earth, before Allah actually decreed it. Abu Hurairah related that he heard the Messenger of Allah say, “If your period is prolonged, the time is near when a people will advance, going forth in the morning with Allah’s anger (upon them) and going forth (in the early day) in the Trial. In their hands will be that which is similar to the tails of cows.” (Ahmad)

These people came out in the twentieth century as the scholars mentioned, this hadith establishes that rasul allah (saws) knew before it actually occurred there was a likelihood Allah would lengthen our time on earth.

In another version Muslim narrated that Abu Hurairah said the messenger of Allah said there are two types, amongst the denizens of hell, I have yet not seen them. One possessing whips like the tail of an ox and they flog people with them, the second are women who would be naked in spite of being dressed, who are seduced (to wrong paths) and seduce others (to the same). This was a reference to the feminist movement that corrupted women around the world and the police used to subdue people.

Ibn Masood reported that the Prophet said, “Even if there remains only a day (1000 years) before the World ends, the almighty Allah will greatly prolong that day to send a man from me (my progeny), from members of my House (family). His name will be similar to my name and his father’s name similar to my father’s name.” (Abu Dawud)

Huzaifa narrated that the Prophet said: ” If there is not left in this World except one day (1000 years), Allah will lengthen it until He (Allah) sends a man from my children (or descendants), his name is (like) mine.” So, Salman Al-Farsi stood up and said: O Messenger of Allah: From which of your children (or descendants)?  He said: ” From my Child, this one and he tapped with his hand on Al-Hussein .”  (Ibn Majjah, Ibn Hajar Al-Haitami, Tabarani.), (other narrations report al Hassan).

In the following version of the Hadith the Prophet (pbuh) mentions the time left for this Ummah is 1000 years, and He (saws) thought in that 1000 years Allah would send the Mahdi (ra).

The Messenger of Allah said, “Even if there remains from this world a single day (1000 years), Allah will send a man from us who will fill it with justice, just as it was filled with oppression.” (Ahmad)

It is a rule in hadith interpretation that the literal meaning of the Hadith is first understood before attempting to apply any analogical or allegorical meaning to it.

This understanding between the Ahadith of Sahih Bukhari and Sunnan of Abu Dawud is in line with Ibn Hajar’s Tafsir of the Ahadith in Sahih Bukhari regarding the lifespan of the Ummah being One Thousand Years, and Allah latter extending it by another five hundred years, as Imam Suyuti, al Tabarani, Ibn Arabi, al-Munawi and Abu Hasan Al-Barzanji mentioned.

Imam Al-Bukhari narrates 6 Ahadith in his Sahih about the Analogy the prophet (saws) gave regarding the lifespan of Islam on Earth.

Abu Musa (ra) said, the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “The example of Muslims, Jews and Christians is like the example of a man who employed labourers to work for him from morning till night for specific wages. They worked till midday and then said, ‘We do not need your money which you have fixed for us and let whatever we have done be annulled.’ The man said to them, ‘Don’t quit the work, but complete the rest of it and take your full wages.’ But they refused and went away. The man employed another batch after them and said to them, ‘Complete the rest of the day and yours will be the wages I had fixed for the first batch.’ So, they worked till the time of `Asr prayer. Then they said, “Let what we have done be annulled and keep the wages you have promised us for yourself.’ The man said to them, ‘Complete the rest of the work, as only a little of the day remains,’ but they refused. Thereafter he employed another batch to work for the rest of the day and they worked for the rest of the day till the sunset, and they received the wages of the two former batches. So, that was the example of those people (Muslims) and the example of this light (guidance) which they have accepted willingly.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ مَثَلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ قَوْمًا يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ عَمَلاً يَوْمًا إِلَى اللَّيْلِ عَلَى أَجْرٍ مَعْلُومٍ، فَعَمِلُوا لَهُ إِلَى نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ فَقَالُوا لاَ حَاجَةَ لَنَا إِلَى أَجْرِكَ الَّذِي شَرَطْتَ لَنَا، وَمَا عَمِلْنَا بَاطِلٌ، فَقَالَ لَهُمْ لاَ تَفْعَلُوا أَكْمِلُوا بَقِيَّةَ عَمَلِكُمْ، وَخُذُوا أَجْرَكُمْ كَامِلاً، فَأَبَوْا وَتَرَكُوا، وَاسْتَأْجَرَ أَجِيرَيْنِ بَعْدَهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا أَكْمِلاَ بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِكُمَا هَذَا، وَلَكُمَا الَّذِي شَرَطْتُ لَهُمْ مِنَ الأَجْرِ‏.‏ فَعَمِلُوا حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ حِينُ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ قَالاَ لَكَ مَا عَمِلْنَا بَاطِلٌ، وَلَكَ الأَجْرُ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَ لَنَا فِيهِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا أَكْمِلاَ بَقِيَّةَ عَمَلِكُمَا، فَإِنَّ مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ النَّهَارِ شَىْءٌ يَسِيرٌ‏.‏ فَأَبَيَا، وَاسْتَأْجَرَ قَوْمًا أَنْ يَعْمَلُوا لَهُ بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِمْ، فَعَمِلُوا بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِمْ حَتَّى غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ، وَاسْتَكْمَلُوا أَجْرَ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ كِلَيْهِمَا، فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ وَمَثَلُ مَا قَبِلُوا مِنْ هَذَا النُّورِ ‏”‏‏.‏

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 37, Hadith 11)

In another variation Imam Bukhari reports in his Sahih from Ibn `Umar: The Prophet said, “Your life in comparison to the lifetime of the past nations is like the period between the time of `Asr prayer and sunset. Your example and the example of the Jews and Christians is that of a person who employed laborers and said to them, “Who will work for me till the middle of the day for one Qirat (a special weight)?’ The Jews did. He then said, “Who will work for me from the middle of the day till the `Asr prayer for one Qirat each?” The Christians worked accordingly. Then you (Muslims) are working from the `Asr prayer till the Maghrib prayer for two Qirats each. They (the Jews and the Christians) said, ‘We did more labor but took less wages.’ He (Allah) said, ‘Have I wronged you in your rights?’ They replied, ‘No.’ Then He said, ‘This is My Blessing which I give to whom I wish.”

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دِينَارٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنَّمَا أَجَلُكُمْ فِي أَجَلِ مَنْ خَلاَ مِنَ الأُمَمِ كَمَا بَيْنَ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ وَمَغْرِبِ الشَّمْسِ، وَمَثَلُكُمْ وَمَثَلُ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسْتَعْمَلَ عُمَّالاً، فَقَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي إِلَى نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ فَعَمِلَتِ الْيَهُودُ فَقَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي مِنْ نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ إِلَى الْعَصْرِ فَعَمِلَتِ النَّصَارَى، ثُمَّ أَنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ مِنَ الْعَصْرِ إِلَى الْمَغْرِبِ بِقِيرَاطَيْنِ قِيرَاطَيْنِ، قَالُوا نَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ عَمَلاً وَأَقَلُّ عَطَاءً، قَالَ هَلْ ظَلَمْتُكُمْ مِنْ حَقِّكُمْ قَالُوا لاَ قَالَ فَذَاكَ فَضْلِي أُوتِيهِ مَنْ شِئْتُ ‏”‏‏.‏

(Book 66, Hadith 43)

Imam Bukhari recorded different variations of this Analogy six times in his Sahih under various chapters.

• Book 9:  Hadith 35
• Book 37:  Hadith 8,9,11
• Book 60:  Hadith 126
• Book 66:  Hadith 43

Two of the Ahadith begin with the words “Your Example” , two begin with the words “The Example of” and two Begin with the explicit words “Your Period” and “Your Life” in comparison to past nations.

• “The example of Muslims, Jews and Christians is like the example”
• “Your example and the example of the people of the two Scriptures”
• “Your example and the example of Jews and Christians is like the example”
• “The example of Muslims, Jews and Christians is like the example of “
• “Your period (i.e. Islam’s period) in comparison to the periods of the previous nations, is like the period”
• “Your life (on earth) in comparison to the lifetime of the past nations is like the period between”

Hafiz Ibn al-Hajar al-Asqalani (a prominent Islamic scholar who died in 852 Hijra calendar) writes in his Fath al Bari, which is the most widely accepted tafsir to Sahih Bukhari, in vol.4, book of hire/ijara, page 448-449, commenting on these two narrations said:

“and it is evident (from these stated narrations) that the lasting of this Islamic nation is somewhat a thousand years, this is because the age of the Jewish nation is equivalent to that of the time periods of the Christian and Muslim ages combined, and the people of transmission (ahl an naql) have agreed that the period of the Jews till the advent of Allah’s final Apostle Muhammad was more than 2000 years, and the span of the age of the Christians was 600 years from them. And also this narration points to the fact about how little of the age of this world has remained.”

واستدل به على أن بقاء هذه الأمة يزيد على الألف ؛ لأنه يقتضي أن مدة اليهود نظير مدتي النصارى والمسلمين ، وقد اتفق أهل النقل على أن مدة اليهود إلى بعثة النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم – كانت أكثر من ألفي سنة ، ومدة النصارى من ذلك ستمائة ، وقيل : أقل ، فتكون مدة المسلمين أكثر من ألف قطع

(Tafsir of Sahih al-Bukhari, Fath al Bari for Hadith 11, Book 37)

It may seem confusing that the prophet (saws) said in one place Islam would have 1500 years and in another place 1000 years, but as Imam Suyuti explained it was initially 1000 years but Allah extended it, He gave the Ummah a choice between another 1000 years or 500 years depending on whether they could maintain their religion in front of Allah, but since Islam began to decline after the first 1000 years Allah only granted them another 500 years.

Imam Suyuti wrote a Fatwa on the lifespan of the muslim Ummah, a Scholar explained it’s relevance and context: “When Muslims reached the 1,000th year Hijri they thought they were nearing the end of this Ummah, in the same way we thought about the year 2000, because of these Sahih Ahadith in Bukhari which indicated we will have half the time the Jewish nation had, but Imam as-Suyuti (One of the Mujadids (Revivers) of Islam), who was born in the 10th century and lived into the 11th century, was alive during these times, he wrote a fatwa (legal ruling) to reassure the Muslims, in which he said it was supposed to be 1000 years but there are narrations of Rasul Allah (pbuh) in which He supplicates to Allah to give his Ummah more time so Allah granted them another half a day and the companions asked the Prophet how long is half a day, He answered 500 years. So the Imam said the life of this Ummah is 1,500 years according to these narrations.”

Imam as Suyuti mentions in his Fatwa “Risalah Al-Kashf ‘An Mujawazt Hadehel Ummah Al Alf”, or “Treatise on Revealing of the Proceeding of this Nation Beyond the Thousand,” page 206 about the advent of the Mahdi that:

“From what the narrations reveal is that the age of this Ummah extends beyond a thousand but it doesn’t exceed in increase another 500 in actuality beyond this thousand.”

The Scholar then mentions that The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) said:

1) “I hope my community will not fail to maintain their position in the sight of their Lord if He delays them half a day. Sa’d was asked: How long is half a day? He said: It is five hundred years”. (Sahih)

حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْمُغِيرَةِ، حَدَّثَنِي صَفْوَانُ، عَنْ شُرَيْحِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنِّي لأَرْجُو أَنْ لاَ تُعْجِزَ أُمَّتِي عِنْدَ رَبِّهَا أَنْ يُؤَخِّرَهُمْ نِصْفَ يَوْمٍ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قِيلَ لِسَعْدٍ وَكَمْ نِصْفُ يَوْمٍ قَالَ خَمْسُمِائَةِ سَنَةٍ ‏.‏

(Related by Abu Dawud, Al-Hakim, Imam Ahmad and Abu Nai’m in their respective works, who reported from Sa’d ibn Abi Waqas)

2) The Prophet (saws) said, “Allah will not fail to detain this community for less than half a day (500 years)”.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ سَهْلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي ثَعْلَبَةَ الْخُشَنِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ لَنْ يَعْجِزَ اللَّهُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةَ مِنْ نِصْفِ يَوْمٍ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

(Abu-Dawud, Sahih)

Here are examples of this understanding from Ahadith:

Mohammed bin Hanafiyya Narrated: “We were sitting with Ali (ra), One person questioned him about (Imam) Mahdi, he said it is far and he made nine (900) with his hand and said he will appear at the end of times (900 years into the future is the year 1000 Hijhra). (Nayeem bin Hammad, Al Salami – Iqdud Durar Fi Alamat Al Mahdi Al Muntazar)

“For sure the Prophet (saws) does not stay in his grave for One Thousand (1000) Years”. (Jalal Uddin Suyuti – AlKashf)

Abu Hurayrah (ra) Narrated: “From the Prophet (saws) the things which I know that is that, The Prophet (saws) said: Allah will raise for this community at the end of every hundred years the one who will renovate its religion for it and the tenth {901-910} century renovator will be Mahdi”. (Jalal Uddin Suyuti – Mirqat Al Saud)

Since it is mentioned in a few Ahadith in explicit terms that Allah would delay the muslims by half a day after the first day, we know the Prophet (saws) often spoke about periods of time in terms such as “a Day” and “Half a Day” like it is mentioned in the Quran.

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: “The poor Muslims are admitted into Paradise before the rich by half a day. And that is five hundred years.”

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُحَارِبِيُّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ يَدْخُلُ فُقَرَاءُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الْجَنَّةَ قَبْلَ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ بِنِصْفِ يَوْمٍ وَهُوَ خَمْسُمِائَةِ عَامٍ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

(Tirmidhi, Sahih: Vol. 4, Book 10, Hadith 2354)

The Chief Mufti of the Shafii Madhhab in Madina in 1103 AH, Abu Hasan Al-Barzanji said regarding this matter: “The life of this community will exceed 1000 years, yet be limited to 1500 years” (Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha’ah li-ashrat al-sa’ah, p. 299).

Abu Hasan Al-Barzanji was born in Iraq and studied in Baghdad after which the Shaykh travelled to many cities seeking knowledge, he studied in Aleppo, Damascus, Yemen, Egypt and finally settled in Madina. Many of his descendants became prominent Ullumah and many held the post of the Chief Mufti of the Shafii Madhhab in Madina.

Abu Thalaba al Khashny the companion of Rasul Allah (saws) said: “I heard in the era of Mu’awiyah when he was trying to open Constantine, I hope my community will not fail to maintain their position in the sight of their Lord if He delays them half a day, when you see Sham is a bounty for a man and his oligarchy family members then at this time Constantine will be opened.  (Majmu’ al Zawa’id, 6/222, Abu Dawud similarly reported a version in his Sunan)

Hafiz Ibn Hajar al Haythami recorded it in his Majmu’ al Zawa’id, its narrators are Sahih, a scholar said this hadith establishes how the sahaba understood the Ahadith referring to half a day. Saad ibn abi Waqas who reported the first Hadith in the Sunnan of Abu Dawud lived until 55h and his Son was a leader in the bani Umayyah Army. The sahaba literally thought when Constantinople is opened that is the time Allah would grant them another half a day or 500 years after the first day, so they quoted the words of the prophet at the time the Khalifah Muawiyah was attempting to open it for the first time.

But it was the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II who opened Constantinople in 1452 AD, so this is the time because of it Allah decided to grant Islam another half day instead of a full day because of the state of the Muslims, “when you see Sham is a bounty” means when Syria is conquered just for the sake of having a jewel, the prophet (saws) was criticising the reasons behind Ottoman expansion, they viewed the muslim world like a prize they should possess.

The hadith itself gives two qualities about the man who would open it and the time this would occur in, the Prophet (saws) said  “when you see Sham is a bounty for a man and his oligarchy family members then at this time Constantine will be opened”.

The Prophet (saws) in other ahadith referred to the Ummayid Khalifah (the first islamic dynasty) as the rule of princes, he then referred to the Ottomans as the rule of Kings. Sham was first taken in the time of the companions so this cant be the time when Sham would be seen like a bounty or prize or a jewel, this was not their character. When Constantinople was taken it established the Ottoman Khalifah as a world Empire and when they first took Sham it was a prize for them from among the lands of Islam.

The Ottomans first established themselves in 1299 in North Western Anatolia by Othman Bey, they defeated the Mamluk Sultanate in 1517 AD and ended the Abbasid khalifah in 1519AD, they ended both Khalifahs just before the 1000th year hijra. The Ottomans wanted control of all muslim lands so they could become the dominant Dynasty in the world.

Their rule lasted for 624 years which is one of the longest lasting single family Dynasties in History and the prophet criticised them for it calling their family an oligarchy. Rasul Allah (saws) summed up their situation very clearly with his words, “when you see Sham is a bounty for a man and his oligarchy family members then at this time Constantine will be opened”, the word Oligarchy means when power is being hoarded by a small group of people, in this case the Ottoman family.

The signs of the hour are usually divided into two categories, the minor and major signs, the minor signs have to do with the moral corruption of the world and slowly turning away from religion, while the major signs have to do with calamities, the end of world civilisations and the world itself.

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah said: “My nation will pass through five stages. For forty years (they will be) people of righteousness and piety. Then those who follow them, for the next one hundred and twenty years, will be people who show mercy to one another and uphold ties with one another. Then those who follow them for the next one hundred and sixty years will be people who will turn their backs on one another and sever ties with one another. Then there will be Harj after Harj (killing). Seek deliverance, seek deliverance.” (Ibn Maaja, Vol. 1, Book 36, Hadith 4058)

This is a total of five stages in 320 years, ending in the year 952 A.D, to put that into perspective in 928 AD. The Umayyad Abd ar-Rahman III declared himself Khalif in Cordoba, this was the hight of Islam in Spain, but Islamic rule in Spain became largely decadent despite it’s many advances in science and culture, after his rule the empire began to decline until it was finally lost.

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that Abu Qatadah said: “The Messenger of Allah said: “The (lesser) signs (will come) after two hundred (years).’”‏ (Ibn Maaja, Vol. 1, Book 36, Hadith 4057)

That is the Year 815 AD, this is around the time when the Mutazilite controversy over whether the Qur’an is created or uncreated and eternal, began, it was a major controversy that lead to the persecution of many scholars due to the Mutazilite extremism.

670AD: The first forty years of righteousness and piety was under the Khalifa al Rashideen, this period ended 10 years after the death of Ali (ra) in 661 AD and before the death of Husayn (ra) in 680 AD.

792AD: “Then those who follow them, for the next one hundred and twenty years, will be people who show mercy to one another and uphold ties with one another.” This period ended during the reign of Harun al Rashid (786-809), He was the last of the rulers who showed mercy and upheld the ties of kinship, this was at the height of Islam Golden Age.

952AD: “Then those who follow them for the next one hundred and sixty years will be people who will turn their backs on one another and sever ties with one another.” During this period the minor signs of the hour began in 815 AD, in 929 AD the Shia Qarmatians sack Makkah and carry away the Black Stone from the Kaaba to Persia, the Abbasid rulers pay a large ransom for it’s return in 951 AD.

952AD Onwards: “Then there will be Harj after Harj (killing after killing)” in 969 AD the Fatimids gain power in Egypt and attack Palestine, Syria, and Arabia, by the 1000s Reconquista Christians take more of Islamic Spain, Islamic Sicily falls to the Normans, Crusader kingdoms are briefly established in Palestine and Syria and by 1030 AD the Umayyad caliphate in Cordoba Spain is defeated. 1055AD Seljuk Turks take Baghdad and the Abbasid Khalifa is now only nominal rulers. In 1090 AD Hasan Sabbah takes Alamut in the Persian mountains, the Assassin sect forms around him and in 1099 AD Christian Crusaders take Jerusalem beginning the Crusades.

Within 150 years of the prophets (saws) last prophecy the entire Islamic landscape is changed forever, the crusades and the expulsion of muslims from Spain ending with the Spanish inquisition were among the bloodiest events in Islamic History, prior to this Islam was experiencing the hight of it’s golden age under the Khalif Harun al Rashid.

We see from these Ahadith that the prophet (saws) wasn’t afraid of mentioning very specific numbers for when events would occur, in fact this is very common in the hadith collections:

The Messenger of Allah said, “Even if there remains from this world a single day (and 1 day = 1000 years according to the Quran), Allah will send a man from us who will fill it with justice, just as it was filled with oppression.” (Ahmad)

Abu Huraira narrated: The Prophet (peace and blessing upon him) said: There is no Prophet (pbuh) between me and him, that is, Isa (peace and blessing upon him). He will descent (to the earth). When you see him, recognise him: a man of medium height, reddish fair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet. He will fight the people for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill the swine, and abolish jizyah. Allah will perish all religions except Islam. He will destroy the Antichrist and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die. The Muslims will pray over him. (Abu Dawud, Ahmad)

From the Quran we know Allah gave us signs to tell us how close the Hour is and commanded us to study their meaning. One of the signs of the Hour is the end of Islam on earth, when the Hour will occur and when the life of every Muslim will be taken from earth are separate events, no one can know the hour but we can know everything before it.

Here in the following hadith Isa (a.s) and all the Prophets affirm none can know the hour but all agree we should look for it’s signs.

Ibn Mas’ood related that the Messenger of Allah said, “During my night journey, I met Ibraaheem, Moosa, and ‘Eesa They were discussing the matter of the Hour, and they referred the matter to Ibraaheem, who said, ‘I have no knowledge regarding it (i.e. its time).’ Next, they referred the matter to Moosa, who said, ‘I have no knowledge regarding it (i.e. its time).’ Then they referred the matter to ‘Eesa, who said, ‘As for its time, no one has knowledge thereof except Allah. But from what my Lord ‘Azza wa-Jal (to Him belongs Might and Majesty) inspired to me is that the Dajjaal will come out, and with him he will have two rods. When he sees me, he will melt like lead melts. Allah will destroy him when he sees me. (of his miracles is) Even a rock and a tree will say, ‘O Muslim, underneath me is a Kaafir (disbeliever), so come and kill him.’ He said, ‘Then Allah ‘Azza wa-Jal (to Him belongs Might and Majesty) will destroy them (the followers of the Dajjal).

Then the people will return to their countries and homelands. At that juncture, (Yajooj and Majooj (Gog and Magog)) will come out, racing quickly from every land that is elevated; they will lay foot on their countries, eating everything they come across and drinking all water that they come across. Then people will come, complaining. I will invoke Allah against them (Yajooj and Majooj), and He will destroy them and cause them to die until the earth is filled with their putrid odour. Allah will send rain down, drown their corpses, and throw them into the sea. And from what my Lord inspired to me is that when that will happen, the Hour will be like a pregnant woman whose term is due – the people remaining will not know when it will take them by surprise.”‘ (Ahmad, Ibn Majah related the same narration through a different chain. Ibn Katheer in Al Bidaya wa Nihaya)

Among the Ahadith of the hour is the disappearance of Islam from earth, in Many Ahadith we are given a specific year of when this will occur, just like the prophet (saws) mentioned very literally what year the minor signs would begin in. These Ahadith are found in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari the Sunnan of Abu Dawud, the Jamii of Tirmidhi and other Hadith collections.

There are a number of Ahadith which talk about the length of the Muslim community’s period on Earth, when you compare these Ahadith with the signs of the hour we are now seeing you will see the time we are living in and these events are on the same time frame. All Ullumah in the Muslim world agree that the minor signs of the hour have been fulfilled and we are living in the final phase of this world waiting for the Major Signs, as Ibn Kathir stated the first Major sign is the coming of Imam Mahdi (ra).

The Prophet (may Allah bless him) said “When my Community keeps on the right, it is going to enjoy an age of one day (1000 years), and when it does not keep on the right, it will have an age of (a further) half a day” (500 years). (Jami al-Bayan by al-Tabari, Tafsir of Surat al-Asr. This is possibly also in reference to the Ahadith in Bukhari about the age of this Umma that mention the Asr Prayer, quoted later in this work).

In another version the Prophet (saws) said, “If my Community keeps on the right, it is going to enjoy an age of one day (1000 years), and if it becomes corrupt, it will have an age of half a day” (After that, meaning rather than having two days the second day will be cut in half) (Shaykh al-Islam al-Munawi cites it in Fayd al-Qadir from Shaykh Muhyi al-Din Ibn ‘Arabi.)

Allah said in the Holy Quran: “And one day according to Allah’s estimation is 1,000 years according to yours”. (Quran, 22:47), therefor one and half days is 1500 years, we are currently in the year 1437 Hijra.

A Scholar said regarding these Ahadith: “Thus the Islamic community of the right way would flourish for one thousand years and the community in decline would last for another five hundred years. For the first millennium of Islamic civilization, the Muslims were favoured by Allah with an advancement unparalleled before or after. Muslims were at the forefront of not only religious development but also were the world’s leading researchers, physicians, chemists, astronomers, botanists, philosophers, and architects. Muslims were the shining lights that illuminated Europe and touched off the Renaissance. After its first millennium a gradual yet definite decline began within the Ummah which has continued until our present time.

As the Muslims have wandered away from the way of the Prophet (pbuh) and Allah’s heavenly message of Islam, the divine blessings and support have similarly diminished. Miraculously, the Prophet (pbuh) predicted that this process would take one thousand years and it came to pass. The second prediction in this hadith is that the Ummah will continue further for five hundred more years in decline.

Thus, according to this understanding of the hadith Allah has granted the Ummah a lifespan of fifteen hundred years, and Allah knows best. This prediction of a fifteen hundred year lifespan is also in keeping with the recent appearance of the Signs of the Last Days. These signs have not appeared in their totality until lately. Even a cursory examination of these signs shows their present-day fulfilment as foretold by the Prophet Muhammad over fourteen hundred years ago. (End of quote)

Ibn ‘Umar related that the Messenger of Allah said, “When my nation walks in an arrogant and haughty manner (vain manner), and the sons of Kings, the Princes of Persia and Byzantine will serve them, Allah will give reign to its evil ones over its good ones.” (At-Tirmidhee, Ibn Kathir in his Bidaya wa Nihaya,)

Constantinople, the last fortress of the Byzantine Empire was not conquered until the time of the Ottoman Khalifah, and derives its name from Constantinople’s (also new Rome) after the Byzantine emperor Constantine the Great in 330 CE, he was the first Roman Emperor to adopt Christianity. In 1422 AD the Ottoman Sultan, Murad II, laid siege to it but failed, then 30 years later in 1452 another Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed II, proceeded to blockade the Bosporus (a waterway used for trade) by the erection of a strong fortress at its narrowest point, beginning the siege and assault on the City in April which finally ended by May 29th 1452, this was the final defeat of the Byzantine Empire and Rome.

The Scholar goes on to say: The 1000th year of the Islamic Hijri calendar (Roughly 1591 AD) was marked by the rule of Ottoman sultan Murad III 1546–95 (ruled 1574–95), son and successor of Selim II. He was dominated by his family, and although his generals were successful against Persia (the Safavid Khalifah), his reign marked the beginning of the decay of the Ottoman Empire and the Islamic Khalifate as a whole.

The Hadith of Ibn Umar is entirely about the arrogance of the Ottoman Empire, when they came to power they warred against the other Khlaifah’s ending them, these are the sons of Kings mentioned in the Hadith, they then fought a massive war against the Safavid Persian Khalifah, these are the Princes of Persia, and finally they conquered and ended the Byzantine empire with the conquest of it’s last city Constantinople, all out of conquest and love for wealth.

The Muslim Ummah under the Ottomans began to walk in a Haughty (vein) Manner and roughly 140 years after the hadith, in the 1000th year of Islam, Allah allowed the evil ones in the community to dominate those who are good among this Ummah, these are the events that marked and began the decline of the Muslim Ummah for it’s last 500 years.

If we recall the different Islamic Dynasties, the Prophet of Allah said “After me will come caliphs, and after the caliphs will come princes, and after princes there will be kings and after the kings, there will be tyrants” (Tabarani), the princes eventually became kings, this relates to the prophets (saws) statement that eventually the Ummah will walk in a Haughty vein manner as Kings walk upon this earth.

The prophet (saws) saw how Islam would spread on earth and the Islamic nations that would be created after his time, He (saws) saw both their rise and fall.

Thawban narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Indeed Allah gathered the earth for me so that I saw its east and its west. And surely my Ummah’s authority shall reach over all that was shown to me of it. And I have been granted the two treasures; the red (Romans) and the white (Persians). I asked my Lord that my Ummah not to be destroyed by a universal drought, and that He does not overcome them by enemies outside of them, reaching to their heart of power (makkah, madina). My Lord said: ‘O Muhammad! When I issue a decree it is not reversed. I have granted for your Ummah that they shall not be destroyed by universal drought. And that they not be overcome by enemies outside of themselves reaching to their heart of power- even if they gather against them from all the regions.”‘ Or he said: “Among the regions. But some of them will destroy others, and some will capture others.”‘ (Tirmidhi, Vol. 4, Book 7, Hadith 2176)

The Prophet said “The affair of this nation will continue to remain upright and it will continue to be victorious over its enemy until it goes through twelve Khaleefahs (rulers), all of whom are from Quraish” (Tribe of the Prophet) The Companions asked, “Then what will happen?” He, said, “Then there will be Faraj (holes and gaps through which seep factors that lead to division and weakness in the ranks and in souls).” (Abu Dawud – Ibn Katheer Bidaya Wa Nihaya)

The Last of these Islamic rulers will be the Mahdi (ra) so they are not the first twelve rulers of Islam. We can ask that if Islam is losing today shouldn’t all the twelve be in the past then, the fact is we are loosing exactly as Allah mentioned “But some of them will destroy others, and some will capture others”, from within ourselves, Islam won’t loose to it’s heart of power in total war until the Last Khalifah comes as all the ahadith indicate, because after Imam Mahdi (ra) it will be the Dajjal (Antichrist) an enemy from outside Islam who will reach to the Umma’s heart of power, marching armies to both Makkah and Madina,  before Him (Allah’s curse be upon him) Allah promised this will not occur “And that they not be overcome by enemies outside of themselves reaching to their heart of power”.

The prophet (saws) then described the different dynasties that would come after his time and the forms of government they would use to rule, ending with the Mahdi (ra) himself, one after the other we have seen these come and go and these ahadith alone tell us how much time we have left and where we are along the timeline of events, before Allah takes Islam from the earth.

The messenger of Allah (saws) said the Khalifah of Islam will be followed by kingdoms and then this will eventually end, He (saws) said “Indeed Allah has commenced this matter upon Prophet hood and mercy; it will become Khilaafah and mercy; it will become honor and sanctity; it will become kingdoms, great oppression, and corruption in the nation – people will deem private parts, alcohol, and silk to be lawful. They will be supported upon that and they will be given provision continuously until they meet Allah ‘Azza Wa jall (to Him belongs Might and Majesty).” (Abu Dawud – Ibn Katheer Al Bidaya Wa Nihaya)

The Messenger of Allah said, “The Prophets will be followed by the Khaleefahs, who will apply Allah’s Book and who will be just with Allah’s slaves. The Khaleefahs will be followed by kings, who will take their revenge, kill men, and choose wealth (for themselves). (At that time) one can change (evil) with his hand, with his tongue, and with his heart; and there is no Eemaan beyond that.” (Al Baihaqee – Ibn Katheer Al Bidaya Wa Nihaya)

These Kingdoms came after the first four Khalifah’s of Islam, Abu Bakr, Umar (ra), Uthman (ra) and Ali (ra). They are the Umayyad’s, 7th –8th centuries, the Abbasid’s, 8th –13th centuries, the Fatimid’s, 10th – 12th centuries, the Mamluk’s, 13th –16th centuries, the Safavid’s, 14th – 16th century, the Ottoman’s, 16th -20th century and the Sokoto, 19th century (this list is not conclusive).

He then said after the kingdoms the muslim world will be ruled by tyrants, but when this ends that is when the Mahdi (ra) will appear, the last of the old tyrants in the world today is the one in Syria over which the Civil war is being fought.

The Prophet (saws) said: The Prophethood will remain amongst you for as long as Allah wills it to be. Then Allah will raise it when He wills to raise it (meaning the Prophet will die). Then there will be the Khalifah upon the Prophetic methodology. And it will last for as long as Allah wills it to last. Then Allah will raise it when He wills to raise it. Then there will be biting kingship, and it will remain for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then Allah will raise it when He wills to raise it. Then there will be tyrannical (forceful) kingship and it will remain for as long as Allaah wills it to remain. Then He will raise it when He wills to raise it. Then there will be a Khalifah upon the Prophetic methodology. Then he (the Prophet) was silent. (Musnad Imam Ahmad (v/273)

The Prophet of Allah said: After me will come caliphs, and after the caliphs will come princes, and after princes there will be kings and after the kings, there will be tyrants. And after the tyrants a man from My House will fill the earth with justice and after him is al-Qahtani (a ruler in the time of Isa, a.s), By the One who sent me with the Truth! Not a word less. (Tabarani, Ibn Mandah, Ibn Asakir and Na‘im bin Hammad)

A scholar said regarding the different dynasties found in these narrations: We see that the caliphs spoken of in this hadith are “the Rightly- Guided Ones”: Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman and ‘Ali, may Allah the Exalted be pleased with them all. The princes are the Umayyad Caliphs of Damascus and the Abbasid Caliphs of Baghdad. As for the kings, they are the Ottoman Sultans of Istanbul. Following the kings, according to the hadith, are tyrants and that is what is commonly seen today. Finally, what for us is a prediction: the appearance of a man from the family of the Prophet who will rule with justice.

Sa’eed bin Jumhan narrated, “Safinah narrated to me, “The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Al-Khalifah will be in my Ummah for thirty years, then there will be monarchy after that.”‘ Then Safinah said to me: ‘Count the Khalifah of Abu Bakr,’ then he said: ‘Count the Khalifah of ‘Umar and the Khalifah of ‘Uthman.’ Then he said to me: ‘Count the Khalifah of ‘Ali.”‘ He said: “So we found that they add up to thirty years.” Sa’eed said: “I said to him: ‘Banu Umaiyyah claim that the Khalifah is among them.’ He said: ‘Banu Az-Zarqa’ lie, rather they are a monarchy, among the worst of monarchies.”‘ (Tirmidhi, Hasan, Vol. 4, Book 7, Hadith 2226).