Najd1 and Wahhabi fitna as mentioned in the ahadith (traditions) of Prophet Muhammad (S)

Following are selected few ahadith (traditions) from authentic sources of hadith books about the sedition predicted by Prophet Muhammad (S) that will emerge from Najd.

Hadith 1

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَزْهَرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ ذَكَرَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي شَأْمِنَا، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي يَمَنِنَا‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا وَفِي نَجْدِنَا‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي شَأْمِنَا، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي يَمَنِنَا"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَفِي نَجْدِنَا فَأَظُنُّهُ قَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةَ ‏"‏هُنَاكَ الزَّلاَزِلُ وَالْفِتَنُ، وَبِهَا يَطْلُعُ قَرْنُ الشَّيْطَانِ‏"‏‏.

Narrated Ibn `Umar:

The Prophet (S) said, "O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Sham! O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Yemen." The People said, "And also on our Najd." He said, "O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Sham (north)! O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Yemen." The people said, "O Allah's Apostle! And also on our Najd." I think the third time the Prophet (S) said, "There (in Najd) is the place of earthquakes and afflictions and from there comes out the side of the head of Satan."

Hadith 2

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي شَامِنَا وَفِي يَمَنِنَا‏.‏ قَالَ قَالُوا وَفِي نَجْدِنَا قَالَ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي شَامِنَا وَفِي يَمَنِنَا‏.‏ قَالَ قَالُوا وَفِي نَجْدِنَا قَالَ قَالَ هُنَاكَ الزَّلاَزِلُ وَالْفِتَنُ، وَبِهَا يَطْلُعُ قَرْنُ الشَّيْطَانِ‏.

Narrated Ibn `Umar:

(The Prophet) said, "O Allah! Bless our Sham and our Yemen." People said, "Our Najd as well." The Prophet again said, "O Allah! Bless our Sham and Yemen." They said again, "Our Najd as well." On that the Prophet (S) said, "There will appear earthquakes and afflictions, and from there will come out the side of the head of Satan."

Hadith 3

قَالَ وَقَالَ ابْنُ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نُعْمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ بَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِذُهَيْبَةٍ فَقَسَمَهَا بَيْنَ الأَرْبَعَةِ الأَقْرَعِ بْنِ حَابِسٍ الْحَنْظَلِيِّ ثُمَّ الْمُجَاشِعِيِّ، وَعُيَيْنَةَ بْنِ بَدْرٍ الْفَزَارِيِّ، وَزَيْدٍ الطَّائِيِّ ثُمَّ أَحَدِ بَنِي نَبْهَانَ، وَعَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ عُلاَثَةَ الْعَامِرِيِّ ثُمَّ أَحَدِ بَنِي كِلاَبٍ، فَغَضِبَتْ قُرَيْشٌ وَالأَنْصَارُ، قَالُوا يُعْطِي صَنَادِيدَ أَهْلِ نَجْدٍ وَيَدَعُنَا‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّمَا أَتَأَلَّفُهُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَأَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ غَائِرُ الْعَيْنَيْنِ مُشْرِفُ الْوَجْنَتَيْنِ، نَاتِئُ الْجَبِينِ، كَثُّ اللِّحْيَةِ، مَحْلُوقٌ فَقَالَ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ إِذَا عَصَيْتُ، أَيَأْمَنُنِي اللَّهُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ فَلاَ تَأْمَنُونِي ‏"‏‏.‏ فَسَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ قَتْلَهُ ـ أَحْسِبُهُ خَالِدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ ـ فَمَنَعَهُ، فَلَمَّا وَلَّى قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ مِنْ ضِئْضِئِ هَذَا ـ أَوْ فِي عَقِبِ هَذَا ـ قَوْمٌ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ، لاَ يُجَاوِزُ حَنَاجِرَهُمْ، يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الدِّينِ مُرُوقَ السَّهْمِ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ، يَقْتُلُونَ أَهْلَ الإِسْلاَمِ، وَيَدَعُونَ أَهْلَ الأَوْثَانِ، لَئِنْ أَنَا أَدْرَكْتُهُمْ لأَقْتُلَنَّهُمْ قَتْلَ عَادٍ"‏‏.

Narrated Abu Sa`eed:

`Ali sent a piece of gold to the Prophet (S) who distributed it among four persons: Al-Aqra' bin Habis Al-Hanzali from the tribe of Mujashi, 'Uyaina bin Badr Al-Fazari, Zaid Al-Ta'i who belonged to (the tribe of) Bani Nahban, and 'Alqama bin Ulatha Al-`Amir who belonged to (the tribe of) Bani Kilab. So the Quraish and the Ansar became angry and said, "He (i.e. the Prophet) gives the chief of Najd and does not give us." The Prophet (S) said, "I give them) so as to attract their hearts (to Islam)." Then a man with sunken eyes, prominent checks, a raised forehead, a thick beard and a shaven head, came (in front of the Prophet (S) and said, "Be afraid of Allah, O Muhammad!" The Prophet (S) said "Who would obey Allah if I disobeyed Him? (Is it fair that) Allah has trusted all the people of the earth to me while, you do not trust me?" Somebody who, I think was Khalid bin Al-Walid, requested the Prophet (S) to let him chop that man's head off, but he prevented him. When the man left, the Prophet (S) said, "Among the off-spring of this man will be some who will recite the Qur'an but the Qur'an will not reach beyond their throats (i.e. they will recite like parrots and will not understand it nor act on it), and they will renegade from the religion as an arrow goes through the game's body. They will kill the Muslims but will not disturb the idolaters. If I should live up to their time' I will kill them as the people of 'Ad were killed (i.e. I will kill all of them)."

[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 4, Book 55, Chapter: “Prophets”, Hadith 558 ]

Hadith 4

حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، بْنِ أَبِي نُعْمٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ بَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ - رضى الله عنه - وَهُوَ بِالْيَمَنِ بِذَهَبَةٍ فِي تُرْبَتِهَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَسَمَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَ أَرْبَعَةِ نَفَرٍ الأَقْرَعُ بْنُ حَابِسٍ الْحَنْظَلِيُّ وَعُيَيْنَةُ بْنُ بَدْرٍ الْفَزَارِيُّ وَعَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ عُلاَثَةَ الْعَامِرِيُّ ثُمَّ أَحَدُ بَنِي كِلاَبٍ وَزَيْدُ الْخَيْرِ الطَّائِيُّ ثُمَّ أَحَدُ بَنِي نَبْهَانَ - قَالَ - فَغَضِبَتْ قُرَيْشٌ فَقَالُوا أَتُعْطِي صَنَادِيدَ نَجْدٍ وَتَدَعُنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنِّي إِنَّمَا فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ لأَتَأَلَّفَهُمْ ‏"‏ فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ كَثُّ اللِّحْيَةِ مُشْرِفُ الْوَجْنَتَيْنِ غَائِرُ الْعَيْنَيْنِ نَاتِئُ الْجَبِينِ مَحْلُوقُ الرَّأْسِ فَقَالَ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ ‏.‏ - قَالَ - فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ فَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ إِنْ عَصَيْتُهُ أَيَأْمَنُنِي عَلَى أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ تَأْمَنُونِي ‏"‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ الرَّجُلُ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ فِي قَتْلِهِ - يُرَوْنَ أَنَّهُ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ - فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنَّ مِنْ ضِئْضِئِ هَذَا قَوْمًا يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لاَ يُجَاوِزُ حَنَاجِرَهُمْ يَقْتُلُونَ أَهْلَ الإِسْلاَمِ وَيَدَعُونَ أَهْلَ الأَوْثَانِ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الإِسْلاَمِ كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ لَئِنْ أَدْرَكْتُهُمْ لأَقْتُلَنَّهُمْ قَتْلَ عَادٍ"‏.

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri reported that 'Ali (Allah be pleased with him) sent some gold alloyed with dust to the Messenger of Allah (S), and the Messenger of Allah (S) distributed that among four men, Al-Aqra bin Habis Hanzali and Uyaina bin Badr Al-Fazari and 'Alqama bin 'Ulatha Al-'Amiri, then to one person of the tribe of Kilab and to Zaid Al-Khair Al-Ta'i, and then to one person of the tribe of Nabhan. Upon this the people of Quraish felt angry and said:

He (the Holy Prophet) gave to the chiefs of Najd and ignored us. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (S) said: “I have done it with a view to conciliating between them.” Then there came a person with thick beard, prominent cheeks, deep sunken eyes and protruding forehead and shaven head. He said: Muhammad, fear Allah. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (S) said: "If I disobey Allah, who would then obey Him? Have I not been (sent as the) most trustworthy among the people of the world? But you do not repose trust in me." That person then went back. A person among the people then sought permission (from the Holy Prophet) for his murder. According to some, it was Khalid bin Al-Walid who sought the permission. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (S), said: “From this very person's posterity there would arise people who would recite the Qur'an, but it would not go beyond their throat; they would kill the followers of Islam and would spare the idol-worshippers. They would glance through the teachings of Islam so hurriedly just as the arrow passes through the pray. If I were to ever find them I would kill them like 'Ad.”

[Sahih Muslim, Book 5, “The Book of Zakat”, Hadith 2318]

Hadith 5

أَخْبَرَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا الثَّوْرِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نُعْمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ بَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ بِالْيَمَنِ بِذُهَيْبَةٍ فِي تُرْبَتِهَا فَقَسَمَهَا بَيْنَ الأَقْرَعِ بْنِ حَابِسٍ الْحَنْظَلِيِّ ثُمَّ أَحَدِ بَنِي مُجَاشِعٍ وَبَيْنَ عُيَيْنَةَ بْنِ بَدْرٍ الْفَزَارِيِّ وَبَيْنَ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ عُلاَثَةَ الْعَامِرِيِّ ثُمَّ أَحَدِ بَنِي كِلاَبٍ وَبَيْنَ زَيْدِ الْخَيْلِ الطَّائِيِّ ثُمَّ أَحَدَ بَنِي نَبْهَانَ - قَالَ - فَغَضِبَتْ قُرَيْشٌ وَالأَنْصَارُ وَقَالُوا يُعْطِي صَنَادِيدَ أَهْلِ نَجْدٍ وَيَدَعُنَا فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّمَا أَتَأَلَّفُهُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَأَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ غَائِرَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ نَاتِئَ الْوَجْنَتَيْنِ كَثَّ اللِّحْيَةِ مَحْلُوقَ الرَّأْسِ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ إِذَا عَصَيْتُهُ أَيَأْمَنُنِي عَلَى أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ تَأْمَنُونِي ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَسَأَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ قَتْلَهُ فَمَنَعَهُ فَلَمَّا وَلَّى قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ مِنْ ضِئْضِئِ هَذَا قَوْمًا يَخْرُجُونَ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لاَ يُجَاوِزُ حَنَاجِرَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الدِّينِ مُرُوقَ السَّهْمِ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ يَقْتُلُونَ أَهْلَ الإِسْلاَمِ وَيَدَعُونَ أَهْلَ الأَوْثَانِ لَئِنْ أَنَا أَدْرَكْتُهُمْ لأَقْتُلَنَّهُمْ قَتْلَ عَادٍ‏"‏‏.‏

It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri said:

"When 'Ali was in Yemen, he sent some gold that was still enclosed in rock to the Prophet (S), who distributed it among Al-Aqra' bin Habis Al-Hanzali, who belonged to Banu Mujashi', 'Uyaynah bin Badr Al-Fazari, 'Alqamah bin 'Ulathah Al-'Amiri, who belonged to Banu Kilab and Zaid Al-Khail Al-Ta'i, who belonged to Banu Nabhan. The Quraish and the Ansar became angry and said: 'He gives to the chiefs of Najd and ignores us!' He said: 'I am seeking to win them over (firmly to Islam).' Then a man with sunken eyes, a bulging forehead, a thick beard and a shaven head came and said: 'O Muhammad, fear Allah!' He said: 'Who will obey Allah if I do not? He trusts me with the people of this Earth but you do not trust me.' A man among the people asked for permission to kill him, but he did not let him do that. When (the man) went away, he (the Prophet (S) said: 'Among the offspring of this man there will be people who will recite the Qur'an but it will not go beyond their throats, and they will go out of Islam as an arrow goes through the target. They will kill the Muslims and leave the idol-worshippers alone. If I live to see them, I will kill them as the killing of 'Ad"'.

[Sunan Al-Nasa'i, Vol. 5, Book 37, “The Book of Fighting [The Prohibition of Bloodshed)” Hadith 4106]

Hadith 6

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نُعْمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ ‏:‏ بَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِذُهَيْبَةٍ فِي تُرْبَتِهَا، فَقَسَّمَهَا بَيْنَ أَرْبَعَةٍ بَيْنَ ‏:‏ الأَقْرَعِ بْنِ حَابِسٍ الْحَنْظَلِيِّ ثُمَّ الْمُجَاشِعِيِّ، وَبَيْنَ عُيَيْنَةَ بْنِ بَدْرٍ الْفَزَارِيِّ وَبَيْنَ زَيْدِ الْخَيْلِ الطَّائِيِّ ثُمَّ أَحَدِ بَنِي نَبْهَانَ وَبَيْنَ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ عُلاَثَةَ الْعَامِرِيِّ ثُمَّ أَحَدِ بَنِي كِلاَبٍ قَالَ فَغَضِبَتْ قُرَيْشٌ وَالأَنْصَارُ وَقَالَتْ ‏:‏ يُعْطِي صَنَادِيدَ أَهْلِ نَجْدٍ وَيَدَعُنَا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏:‏ ‏"‏ إِنَّمَا أَتَأَلَّفُهُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏:‏ فَأَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ غَائِرُ الْعَيْنَيْنِ مُشْرِفُ الْوَجْنَتَيْنِ نَاتِئُ الْجَبِينِ كَثُّ اللِّحْيَةِ مَحْلُوقٌ قَالَ ‏:‏ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏:‏ ‏"‏ مَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ إِذَا عَصَيْتُهُ أَيَأْمَنُنِي اللَّهُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ تَأْمَنُونِي ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏:‏ فَسَأَلَ رَجُلٌ قَتْلَهُ أَحْسِبُهُ خَالِدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ - قَالَ - فَمَنَعَهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏:‏ فَلَمَّا وَلَّى قَالَ ‏:‏ ‏"‏ إِنَّ مِنْ ضِئْضِئِ هَذَا أَوْ فِي عَقِبِ هَذَا قَوْمًا يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لاَ يُجَاوِزُ حَنَاجِرَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الإِسْلاَمِ مُرُوقَ السَّهْمِ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ، يَقْتُلُونَ أَهْلَ الإِسْلاَمِ وَيَدَعُونَ أَهْلَ الأَوْثَانِ لَئِنْ أَنَا أَدْرَكْتُهُمْ قَتَلْتُهُمْ قَتْلَ عَادٍ‏"‏‏.

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri said:

‘Ali sent some gold-mixed dust to the prophet (May peace be upon him). He divided it among the four: Al-Aqra b. Habis Al-Hanzall and then Al-Mujashi, Uyainah bin Badr Al-Fazari, Zaid Al-Khail Al-Ta’i, next to one of Banu Nabhan, and ‘Alqamah b. ‘Ulathat Al-Amiri (in general), next to one of Banu Kulaib. The Quraish and the ansar became angry and said: He is giving to the chiefs of the people of Najd and leaving us. He said: I am giving them for reconciliation of their hearts. Then a man with deep-seated eyes, high cheek-bones, a projecting brow, a thick beard and a shaven head came forward and said: For Allah, Muhammad! He said: “Who will obey Allah if I disobey Him? Allah entrusts me with power over the inhabitants of the earth, but you do not.” A man asked to be allowed to kill him and I think he was Khalid bin Al-Walid but he prevented him. Then when the man turned away, he said: “From this one’s stock there will be people who recite the Quran, but it will not pass down their throats. They will sever from Islam and leave the worshippers of Idols alone; but if I live up to their time, I shall certainly kill them as 'Ad were killed.”

[Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 41, “Chapter: Fighting Against The Khawarij” Hadith 4746]

• 1. Najd is the geographically central region of present Saudi Arabia that has about a third of the population of the country. Najd consists of the modern administrative regions of Riyadh, Al-Qassim, and Ha'il. Najd was a part of Hijaz in the time of Prophet Muhammad (S).