5. The Black Flags From Khurasan
In the last chapter, we analyzed the sahih Sunni hadith of Thawban which establishes that the army of the Mahdi, ‘alaihi al-salam, will march from “the Eastern towns” (as explained by Ibn Kathir), and will fight and kill other Muslims in a way no nation had ever done to them. So, what are these Eastern towns? Dr. al-Bastawi copies a hadith that gives their name:
Narrated ‘Abd Allah (b. Mas’ud):
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “When the black flags come from Khurasan, go to them, for among them is the khalifah of Allah, the Mahdi.”1
After thoroughly examining the narrators of its isnad, he concludes:
Based upon this, then this chain is fit to be used as a shahid (support), especially since its text has been narrated through another chain from Thawban, may Allah be pleased with him, with a hasan chain. With that, this hadith becomes hasan li ghayrihi.2
The Sahabi, Thawban, also confirmed this exact identity of the Eastern towns in one of his personal statements. Imam al-Hakim (d. 403 H) documents:
Al-Hasan b. Ya’qub b. Yusuf – Yahya b. Abi Talib – ‘Abd al-Wahhab b. ‘Aṭa – Khalid al-Hadha – Abu Qilabah – Abu Asma – Thawban, may Allah be pleased with him:
“When you see the black flags coming out from the direction of Khurasan, then go to them even if you have to crawl, for verily among them is the khalifah of Allah, the Mahdi.”3
Al-Hakim then says:
This hadith is sahih upon the standard of the two Shaykhs.4
Imam al-Dhahabi (d. 748 H), on his part, keeps silent on the riwayah. This hadith, although mawquf, has the status (hukm) of a marfu’ report. This is because it mentions a matter of the unseen (al-ghayb), which the Sahabi could have gotten only from the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alaihi wa alihi.
Imam al-Maruzi (d. 229 H) has recorded the same narration:
Abu Nasr al-Khaffaf – Khalid – Abu Qilabah – Thawban:
“When you see the black flags coming out from the direction of Khurasan, then go to them even if you have to crawl on snow, for verily among them is the khalifah of Allah, the Mahdi.”5
We already know about Khalid, Abu Qilabah and Thawban from the last chapter. Their isnad is sahih. The only new name here is Abu Nasr al-Khaffaf. His name is ‘Abd al-Wahhab b. ‘Aṭa. We see al-Hakim above declaring his hadith to be sahih too. Meanwhile, this is what al-Hafiz (d. 852 H) also says about him:
‘Abd al-Wahhab b. ‘Aṭa al-Khaffaf, Abu Nasr al-‘Ijli, their freed slave, al-Basri, a resident of Baghdad: Saduq (very truthful), maybe he made mistakes.6
Moreover, we also know, from the riwayah of al-Hakim, that there actually was a link between Abu Qilabah and Thawban, and he was Abu Asma. As such, the sanad is hasan. Therefore, “the East” and “the Eastern towns” in the ahadith on the black flags are, again, only references to Khurasan.
5. The Black Flags From Khurasan
In the last chapter, we analyzed the sahih Sunni hadith of Thawban which establishes that the army of the Mahdi, ‘alaihi al-salam, will march from “the Eastern towns” (as explained by Ibn Kathir), and will fight and kill other Muslims in a way no nation had ever done to them. So, what are these...www.al-islam.org
..............................................................................
www.islamweb.net
Mahdi is not referenced in Sahih Bukhari compilation, and mentioned only once in Sahih Muslim compilation. I have these copies and I will recheck them to be sure.
The link you cited does not delve into this theme in clear manner.
The black flags appearance from Khorasan
1- There is a Hadith that says that if we see a black flag from Khorasan then we should go to it even if we had to crawl on icesnow because Imam Mahdi is with them Is this Hadith Sahih or Hasan2- Can we sit with a group of people making Bidah What does our Prophet SAWand our pious predecessors...
1. There is a Hadith that says that if we see a black flag from Khorasan then we should go to it even if we had to crawl on ice/snow because Imam Mahdi is with them. Is this Hadith Sahih or Hasan?
Answer:
1. As for the Hadith asking about the Mahdi it is narrated by Ibn Majah and Al Hakem from Thowban that the Prophet said: "Three men, all of them sons of Caliphs (rulers), will fight over your treasure and none of them will take it. Then black flags will appear in the Orient, they will kill you in a manner in which no one had been killed before. Thowban added the Prophet said something else that I do not remember very well, then the Prophet said: "When you see this (man) pledge allegiance to him even if this requires you to crawl on snow as he is the Caliph of Allah, Al Mahdi". Ibn Katheer described this Hadith as sound.
Al Albani said the meaning of this Hadith is sound except this last expression: "as he is the Caliph of Allah, Al Mahdi".
The "treasure" mentioned in this Hadith is the treasure of Al Kaaba. Three Caliphs will fight one another to get this treasure. When the last Day approaches, Al Mahdi will appear in the Orient not from Samurra's tunnel as claimed by some ignorants who even think that he is now there. Al Mahdi will be supported by some people from the Orient. They will appoint him Sultan (Muslim ruler). Their flags will be black and this colour is worth respect as it is the colour of the Prophet's flag, which was called: Al Iqab". (Al Nihaya) Ibn Katheer.
Notice the problem?
This is why you should double-check your sources.
Emphasis: I respect all hadith in person as a Muslim but I am also mindful of which are Shahih and which are not. Holy Prophet (PBUH) also cautioned that people will attribute statements to him which he never made. Most hadith were documented after the death of Holy Prophet (PBUH). Holy Quran is well-documented on the other hand.
1. This war will take place in Syria.
Your claim of an 80 banners force coming for Medina is FALSE.
2. Let us recheck the statement:
"They will then fight and a third (part) of the army would run away, whom Allah will never forgive. A third (part of the army) which would be constituted of excellent martyrs in Allah's eye, would be killed and the third who would never be put to trial would win and they would be conquerors of Constantinople."
Two battles are hinted. 1st battle will compel a part of the Islamic army to retreat. 2nd battle will lead to destruction of another part of the Islamic army (these will be martyrs). The remainder of the Islamic army will not have to fight Romans - they will proceed to retake Constantinople.
From where did you get the idea of fall of Rome in any war?
This is becoming tiresome now.
No further discussion on this theme will be allowed in this thread. PDF Rules will be respected in this thread.
