An Army Swallowed Up at al-Bayda
In brief
An army will march to attack someone who has taken refuge at the Ka'bah. When it reaches al-Bayda, a flat stretch of land between Makkah and Madinah, the earth will swallow it, from the first of them to the last.
Aishah asked about those who were forced to march against their will. The Prophet ﷺ said they would be swallowed with the rest, but raised on the Day of Resurrection according to their intentions. Several narrations tie this event to the era of the Mahdi; scholars give no date.
This is different from the three great sinkings that are major signs: here one specific army is swallowed at a named place. Al-Nawawi draws out the lesson of intention: those who were driven along unwillingly are judged by what was in their hearts, not just by where they stood.
Guard your intentions and the company you march with; a person is gathered on the Day of Resurrection according to what was in the heart.
Where it sits in the sequence
Mu'adh ibn Jabal's narration gives this order: Jerusalem flourishes, Yathrib is in ruins, the great battle, the conquest of Constantinople, then the Dajjal (Sunan Abi Dawud 4294, graded hasan by al-Albani). Sahih Muslim 2897 places the battle at al-A'maq or Dabiq, then Constantinople, then the Dajjal. Sunan Abi Dawud 4292 puts a truce with the Romans before the battle. The narrations on the Mahdi do not state his place in this order.
Strongest narrations
Read all in the archive →Tags are automatic and unreviewed.
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، الْحُدَّانِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ عَبِثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي مَنَامِهِ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَنَعْتَ شَيْئًا فِي مَنَامِكَ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَفْعَلُهُ . فَقَالَ " الْعَجَبُ إِنَّ نَاسًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي يَؤُمُّونَ بِالْبَيْتِ بِرَجُلٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ قَدْ لَجَأَ بِالْبَيْتِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِالْبَيْدَاءِ خُسِفَ بِهِمْ " . فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الطَّرِيقَ قَدْ يَجْمَعُ النَّاسَ . قَالَ " نَعَمْ فِيهِمُ الْمُسْتَبْصِرُ وَالْمَجْبُورُ وَابْنُ السَّبِيلِ يَهْلِكُونَ مَهْلَكًا وَاحِدًا وَيَصْدُرُونَ مَصَادِرَ شَتَّى يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهُ عَلَى نِيَّاتِهِمْ " .
A'isha reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was startled in the state of sleep. We said:Allah's Messenger, you have done something in the state of your sleep which you never did before, Thereupon he said: Strange it is that some people of my Ummah would attack the House (Ka'ba) (for killing) a person who would belong to the tribe of the Quraish and he would try to seek protection in the House. And when they would reach the plain ground they would be sunk. We said: Allah's Messenger, all sorts of people throng the path. Thereupon he said: Yes, there would be amongst them people who would come with definite designs and those who would come under duress and there would be travellers also, but they would all be destroyed through one (stroke) of destruction. though they would be raised in different states (on the Day of Resurrection). Allah would, however, raise them according to their intention
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي إِدْرِيسَ الْمَرْهَبِيِّ، عَنْ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ صَفْوَانَ، عَنْ صَفِيَّةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَنْتَهِي النَّاسُ عَنْ غَزْوِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ حَتَّى يَغْزُوَ جَيْشٌ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِالْبَيْدَاءِ أَوْ بِبَيْدَاءَ مِنَ الأَرْضِ خُسِفَ بِأَوَّلِهِمْ وَآخِرِهِمْ وَلَمْ يَنْجُ أَوْسَطُهُمْ " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ كَرِهَ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ " يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Safiyyah narrated "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:'The people will not finish attacking this House until it is attacked by an army which, when they are at Al-Baida', or a Baida' in the land, it will swallow from the first of them to the last of them, and the middle of them shall not be saved.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah(s.a.w)! What about those among them who are averse to it?' He said: 'Allah will resurrect them upon what was in their souls(intentions)
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ دُكَيْنٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي إِدْرِيسَ الْمُرْهِبِيِّ، عَنْ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ صَفْوَانَ، عَنْ صَفِيَّةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لاَ يَنْتَهِي النَّاسُ عَنْ غَزْوِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ حَتَّى يَغْزُوَ جَيْشٌ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِالْبَيْدَاءِ - أَوْ بَيْدَاءَ مِنَ الأَرْضِ - خُسِفَ بِأَوَّلِهِمْ وَآخِرِهِمْ وَلَمْ يَنْجُ أَوْسَطُهُمْ " . قُلْتُ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِيهِمْ مَنْ يُكْرَهُ قَالَ " يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ " .
It was narrated from Safiyyah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:“People will not stop attacking this House until an army attacks, until when they are in Baida’, the first and the last of them will be swallowed by the earth, and the middle of them will not be saved.’” I said: “What if there are those among them who were forced (to join the army)?” He said: “Allah will resurrect them according to what is in the hearts.”
Weak and ungraded reports on this sign
9
Shown for study, not as established. Includes Kitab al-Fitan of Nu'aym ibn Hammad, which is ungraded and weak overall.
Weak report. Shown for study, not as established.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ صَالِحٍ أَبِي الْخَلِيلِ، عَنْ صَاحِبٍ، لَهُ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " يَكُونُ اخْتِلاَفٌ عِنْدَ مَوْتِ خَلِيفَةٍ فَيَخْرُجُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ هَارِبًا إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَيَأْتِيهِ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ فَيُخْرِجُونَهُ وَهُوَ كَارِهٌ فَيُبَايِعُونَهُ بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ وَالْمَقَامِ وَيُبْعَثُ إِلَيْهِ بَعْثٌ مِنَ الشَّامِ فَيُخْسَفُ بِهِمْ بِالْبَيْدَاءِ بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَالْمَدِينَةِ فَإِذَا رَأَى النَّاسُ ذَلِكَ أَتَاهُ أَبْدَالُ الشَّامِ وَعَصَائِبُ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَيُبَايِعُونَهُ بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ وَالْمَقَامِ ثُمَّ يَنْشَأُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ أَخْوَالُهُ كَلْبٌ فَيَبْعَثُ إِلَيْهِمْ بَعْثًا فَيَظْهَرُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَذَلِكَ بَعْثُ كَلْبٍ وَالْخَيْبَةُ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَشْهَدْ غَنِيمَةَ كَلْبٍ فَيَقْسِمُ الْمَالَ وَيَعْمَلُ فِي النَّاسِ بِسُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَيُلْقِي الإِسْلاَمُ بِجِرَانِهِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ فَيَلْبَثُ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ يُتَوَفَّى وَيُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِ الْمُسْلِمُونَ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَنْ هِشَامٍ " تِسْعَ سِنِينَ " . وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ " سَبْعَ سِنِينَ " .
Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Disagreement will occur at the death of a caliph and a man of the people of Medina will come flying forth to Mecca. Some of the people of Mecca will come to him, bring him out against his will and swear allegiance to him between the Corner and the Maqam. An expeditionary force will then be sent against him from Syria but will be swallowed up in the desert between Mecca and Medina. When the people see that, the eminent saints of Syria and the best people of Iraq will come to him and swear allegiance to him between the Corner and the Maqam. Then there will arise a man of Quraysh whose maternal uncles belong to Kalb and send against them an expeditionary force which will be overcome by them, and that is the expedition of Kalb. Disappointed will be the one who does not receive the booty of Kalb. He will divide the property, and will govern the people by the Sunnah of their Prophet (ﷺ) and establish Islam on Earth. He will remain seven years, then die, and the Muslims will pray over him. Abu Dawud said: Some transmitted from Hisham "nine years" and some "seven years
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثني أبو محمد عبد الرحمن بن حمدان الجلاب، بهمدان وأنا سألته، ثنا أبو حاتم محمد بن إدريس، ثنا عمر بن حفص بن غياث النخعي، ثنا أبي، عن مسعر، عن طلحة بن مصرف، عن أبي مسلم الأغر، عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: «لا تنتهي البعوث عن غزو بيت الله تعالى حتى يخسف بجيش منهم» هذا حديث غريب صحيح ولم يخرجاه، لا أعلم أحدا حدث به غير عمر بن حفص بن غياث يرويه عنه الإمام أبو حاتم "
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا علي بن حمشاذ العدل، ثنا إبراهيم بن الحسين الهمداني، ثنا عمر بن عاصم الكلابي، ثنا أبو العوام القطان، ثنا قتادة، عن أبي الخليل، عن عبد الله بن الحارث، عن أم سلمة رضي الله عنها، قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «يبايع لرجل من أمتي بين الركن والمقام، كعدة أهل بدر، فيأتيه عصب العراق، وأبدال الشام، فيأتيهم جيش من الشام حتى إذا كانوا بالبيداء خسف بهم، ثم يسير إليه رجل من قريش أخواله كلب فيهزمهم الله» قال: " وكان يقال: إن الخائب يومئذ من خاب من غنيمة كلب "
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Kitab al-Fitan of Nu'aym ibn Hammad: ungraded, and weak overall. Never established on its own.
علامة خروج المهدي خسف يكون بالبيداء بجيش، فهو علامة خروجه
The sign of the Mahdi’s emergence will be an eclipse in Al-Bayda with an army, which is a sign of his emergence
What scholars have said
No scholar here cites it as having appeared
Imam Yahya An-Nawawid. 676 AH (631-676 AH)
Explains that an army will set out to attack one who takes refuge at the Sacred House, and when it reaches al-Bayda, the open land between Mecca and Medina, the earth will swallow its first and last; the one driven to it who had no wish for its aim is raised by his intention. He treats it as a future event near the end of time.
Sharh Sahih Muslim, on Hadith 2884
Meaning and context
The Prophet ﷺ foretold that an army marching against one who takes refuge at the Kaaba would be swallowed at al-Bayda, each judged by his intention. Scholars read it as a future event near the end of time; there is nothing to count.
Narrations behind this panel: Sahih Muslim 2884 · Sunan Abi Dawud 4286
What the commentators said it means
- Distinct from the three great sinkings (major signs): here a specific army is swallowed at a named place between Mecca and Medina: al-Nawawi.
- Those driven along unwillingly are swallowed with the army but raised on the Day of Resurrection according to their intentions.
Read with care
- The reports describe a sequence foretold, not a campaign to join or incite, and name no present-day army.
Draft: figures and wording await a researcher's check and the scholar board.