Land collapses
In brief
Among the ten great signs are three great collapses of the earth, called khusuf in Arabic: one in the east, one in the west and one in the Arabian Peninsula. In each, whole areas of land will sink into the ground.
The hadith names them as three of the ten great signs and gives no further detail, and it does not say where exactly they will happen. A separate sahih hadith describes an army that marches to attack the Ka'bah and is swallowed by the earth in a desert plain called al-Bayda'.
Sinkholes and landslides happen in every age, and they are not what the hadith means. Scholars describe these three as vast events that no one could mistake, coming close together with the other great signs near the end.
When the Prophet ﷺ saw a strong wind or dark cloud, his face changed and he turned to Allah in dua until it passed.
Where it sits in the sequence
The sun rising from the west and the Beast come close together, whichever is first (Sahih Muslim 2941). One version of Sahih Muslim 2901 ends its list with a fire that drives people to their gathering. The narrations here do not fix the places of the Smoke or the destruction of the Ka'bah.
Strongest narrations
Read all in the archive →Tags are automatic and unreviewed.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سَلاَّمٍ الْجُمَحِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الرَّبِيعُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُسْلِمٍ - عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي قَدْ أَعْجَبَتْهُ جُمَّتُهُ وَبُرْدَاهُ إِذْ خُسِفَ بِهِ الأَرْضُ فَهُوَ يَتَجَلْجَلُ فِي الأَرْضِ حَتَّى تَقُومَ السَّاعَةُ " .
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said that there was a person who used to walk with pride because of his thick hair and fine mantles. He was made to sink in the earth and he would go on sinking in the earth until the Last Hour would come
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ - وَاللَّفْظُ لِقُتَيْبَةَ - قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ رُفَيْعٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ ابْنِ الْقِبْطِيَّةِ، قَالَ دَخَلَ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ صَفْوَانَ وَأَنَا مَعَهُمَا، عَلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَسَأَلاَهَا عَنِ الْجَيْشِ الَّذِي يُخْسَفُ بِهِ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ فِي أَيَّامِ ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ فَقَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَعُوذُ عَائِذٌ بِالْبَيْتِ فَيُبْعَثُ إِلَيْهِ بَعْثٌ فَإِذَا كَانُوا بِبَيْدَاءَ مِنَ الأَرْضِ خُسِفَ بِهِمْ " . فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَكَيْفَ بِمَنْ كَانَ كَارِهًا قَالَ " يُخْسَفُ بِهِ مَعَهُمْ وَلَكِنَّهُ يُبْعَثُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى نِيَّتِهِ " . وَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ هِيَ بَيْدَاءُ الْمَدِينَةِ .
Harith b Abi Rabi'a and 'Abdullah b. Safwan both went to Umm Salama, the Mother of the Faithful, and they asked her about the army which would be sunk in the earth, and this relates to the time when Ibn Zubair (was the governor of Mecca). She reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had said that a seeker of refuge would seek refuge in the Sacred House and an army would be sent to him (in order to kill him) and when it would enter a plain ground, it would be made to sink. I said:Allah's Messenger, what about him who would be made to accompany this army willy nilly? Thereupon he said: He would be made to sink along with them but he would be raised on the Day of Resurrection on the basis of his intention. Abu Ja'far said. ' This plain, ground means the plain ground of Medina
حَدَّثَنَاهُ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ رُفَيْعٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَفِي حَدِيثِهِ قَالَ فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّهَا إِنَّمَا قَالَتْ بِبَيْدَاءَ مِنَ الأَرْضِ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ كَلاَّ وَاللَّهِ إِنَّهَا لَبَيْدَاءُ الْمَدِينَةِ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Rufai, with the same chain of transmitters (but with the addition of these words):" When I met Abu Ja'far I told him that she (simply) meant the plain ground. Thereupon Abu Ja'far said: No, by God, she meant the plain ground of Medina
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِعَمْرٍو - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ، عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ أُمَيَّةَ بْنِ صَفْوَانَ، سَمِعَ جَدَّهُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ صَفْوَانَ، يَقُولُ أَخْبَرَتْنِي حَفْصَةُ، أَنَّهَا سَمِعَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لَيَؤُمَّنَّ هَذَا الْبَيْتَ جَيْشٌ يَغْزُونَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِبَيْدَاءَ مِنَ الأَرْضِ يُخْسَفُ بِأَوْسَطِهِمْ وَيُنَادِي أَوَّلُهُمْ آخِرَهُمْ ثُمَّ يُخْسَفُ بِهِمْ فَلاَ يَبْقَى إِلاَّ الشَّرِيدُ الَّذِي يُخْبِرُ عَنْهُمْ " . فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ أَشْهَدُ عَلَيْكَ أَنَّكَ لَمْ تَكْذِبْ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ وَأَشْهَدُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ أَنَّهَا لَمْ تَكْذِبْ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم
Abdullah b. Safwan reported that Hafsa told him that she had heard Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:An army would attack this House in order to fight against the inhabitants of this House and when it would be at the plain ground the ranks in the centre of the army would be sunk and the vanguard would call the rear flanks of the army and they would also be sunk and no flank would be left except some people who would go to inform them (their kith and kin). A person (who had been listening to this hadith from Abdullah b. Safwan) said: I bear testimony in regard to you that you are not imputing a lie to Hafsa. And I bear testimony to the fact that Hafsa is not telling a lie about Allah's Apostle (ﷺ)
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمِ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ، عَمْرٍو حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ الْعَامِرِيِّ، عَنْ يُوسُفَ بْنِ مَاهَكَ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ صَفْوَانَ، عَنْ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " سَيَعُوذُ بِهَذَا الْبَيْتِ - يَعْنِي الْكَعْبَةَ - قَوْمٌ لَيْسَتْ لَهُمْ مَنَعَةٌ وَلاَ عَدَدٌ وَلاَ عُدَّةٌ يُبْعَثُ إِلَيْهِمْ جَيْشٌ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِبَيْدَاءَ مِنَ الأَرْضِ خُسِفَ بِهِمْ " . قَالَ يُوسُفُ وَأَهْلُ الشَّأْمِ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَسِيرُونَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ صَفْوَانَ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ مَا هُوَ بِهَذَا الْجَيْشِ . قَالَ زَيْدٌ وَحَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ الْعَامِرِيُّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَابِطٍ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ، بْنِ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ عَنْ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، . بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ يُوسُفَ بْنِ مَاهَكٍ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِيهِ الْجَيْشَ الَّذِي ذَكَرَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ صَفْوَانَ .
Abdullah b. Safwan reported the Mother of the Faithful as saying that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:They would soon seek protection in this House, viz. Ka'ba (the defenceless), people who would have nothing to protect themselves in the shape of weapons or the strength of the people. An army would be sent to fight (and kill) them and when they would enter a plain ground the army would be sunk in it. Yusuf (one of the narrators) said: It was a people of Syria (hordes of Hajjaj) who had been on that day coming towards Mecca for an attack (on 'Abdulllah b. Zubair) and Abdullah b. Safwan said: By God, it does not imply this army
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
Weak and ungraded reports on this sign
85
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.
حدثنا أبو بكر أحمد بن كامل بن خلف القاضي ببغداد، ثنا أبو إسماعيل السلمي، ثنا سليمان بن عبد الله الدمشقي، ثنا الوليد بن مسلم، ثنا يزيد بن سعيد بن ذي عصوان، عن يزيد بن عطاء، عن معاذ بن سعد السكسكي، عن جنادة بن أبي أمية، عن عبادة بن الصامت رضي الله عنه، قال: بينما نحن مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وقوف إذ أقبل رجل، فقال: يا رسول الله ما مدة رجاء أمتك؟ قال: فسكت عنه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، حتى سأله ثلاث مرات ثم ولى الرجل، فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «لقد سألتني عن شيء ما سألني عنه أحد من أمتي، رجاء أمتي مائة سنة» قال: فقال: يا رسول الله فهل لتلك من أمارة أو آية أو علامة، قال: «نعم القذف والخسف والرجف، وإرسال الشياطين الملجمة عن الناس» هذا حديث صحيح الإسناد، ولم يخرجاه "
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.
أخبرني أبو زكريا يحيى بن محمد العنبري، ثنا أبو عبد الله محمد بن إبراهيم العبدي، ثنا عمران بن أبي عمران الصوفي، ثنا صدقة بن المنتصر، حدثني يحيى بن أبي عمرو السيباني، عن عمرو بن عبد الله الحضرمي، حدثني واثلة بن الأسقع رضي الله عنه، قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، يقول: " لا تقوم الساعة حتى تكون عشر آيات: خسف بالمشرق، وخسف بالمغرب، وخسف في جزيرة العرب، والدجال، والدخان، ونزول عيسى ابن مريم، فيأجوج ومأجوج، والدابة، وطلوع الشمس من مغربها، ونار تخرج من قعر عدن تسوق الناس إلى المحشر، تحشر الذر والنمل «هذا حديث صحيح الإسناد، ولم يخرجاه»
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.
حدثني علي بن عيسى، ثنا مسدد بن قطن القشيري، ثنا عثمان بن أبي شيبة، ثنا جرير، عن عبد العزيز بن رفيع، عن عبيد الله بن القبطية، قال: دخل الحارث بن أبي ربيعة، وعبد الله بن صفوان وأنا معهما على أم سلمة رضي الله عنها، فسألاها عن الجيش الذي يخسف به وكان ذلك في أيام ابن الزبير، فقالت أم سلمة رضي الله عنها: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، يقول: «يعوذ عائذ بالحرم، فيبعث إليه بجيش فإذا كانوا ببيداء من الأرض يخسف بهم» فقلت: يا رسول الله كيف بمن يخرج كارها؟ قال: «يخسف به معهم، ولكنه يبعث على نيته يوم القيامة» ثم قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «يعوذ عائذ بالبيت» هذا حديث صحيح الإسناد على شرط الشيخين، ولم يخرجاه "
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Places named
What scholars have said
No scholar here cites it as having appeared
No attributed view has been entered yet. Each view will name its scholar and source.
Meaning and context
Among the ten great signs are three collapses of the earth: one in the east, one in the west and one in the Arabian Peninsula (Sahih Muslim 2901). They lie ahead and come in sequence with the other great signs; this panel gives the readings.
Narrations behind this panel: Sahih Muslim 2901a · Sahih Muslim 2882a
What the commentators said it means
- These are great collapses, larger than the sinkings that have happened in every age; some scholars counted the army swallowed at al-Bayda' (Sahih Muslim 2882) as the one in Arabia: Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari.
Read with care
- Earthquakes and sinkholes of today are not labelled as these collapses; no data is shown (rule 1).
Draft: figures and wording await a researcher's check and the scholar board.