Warning Against The Callers to Misguidance And Encouragement To Adhere To The Main Body (Al-Jamaa’ah) Of Muslims And Their Ruler In Times of Tribulation

On the authority of Hudhayfah bin Al-Yaman, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said: The people used to ask the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) about the good matters and I used to ask him regarding the evil matters out of fear that I would fall into it.

So I asked: “O Messenger of Allaah, indeed we were in a state of pre-Islamic ignorance and misguidance (Jaahiliyyah) and evil, then Allaah brought up this goodness, so is there evil after this good?”

He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Yes.”

I said: “And is there any good after that evil?”

He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Yes, but it will be tainted.”

I said: “And what is it’s taint?”

He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “A people who are upon other than my guidance. You will approve of some of them and disapprove of others.”

I said: “Is there after this good any evil?”

He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Yes, callers to the Gates of Hellfire, whomsoever answers their call, they will cast them into it.”

So I said: “O Allaah’s Messenger, described them to us.”

So he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “They are from ourselves and they speak our language.”

I said: “So what do you command me with if that reaches me?”

He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Cling to the United Body (Jamaa’ah) of the Muslims and their Leader (Imaam).”

I said: “So what if there is no United Body (Jamaa’ah) and no Leader?”

So he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Then abandon all of those sects [and factions], even if you have to bite on the roots of a tree until death comes to you whilst you are in that condition.”

Narrated by Al-Bukhaaree (3/1319 No. 3411) and Muslim (3/1475 No. 51).

Source: The Book of Forty Hadeeth Regarding The Madhhab of the Salaf by Shaykh ‘Alee bin Yahyah al-Haddaadee, Translated by Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Waahid, Minhaaj As-Sunnah Publications, hadith no. 14.