Refuting the Hadith of Najd Argument Against Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab

[Bassam Zawadi]

Assalamu Alaykum

The enemies of the salafis try to use the hadith of najd to show that it was prophesisying Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab.

However, this could be refuted.


Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadith_of_Najd...


Ibn Hajar Asqalani said after quoting the words of al-Khattaabee explaining the meaning of Qarn (horn):

"and others have said that the People of the East were disbelievers at that time and the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, informed us that the trials and tribulations would arise from that direction and it was as he said. And the first of the trials that arose, arose from the direction of the east and they were the reason for the splitting of the Muslim ranks, and this is what Satan loves and delights in. Likewise the innovations appeared from that direction." [Fath al-Baaree 13/58 in commentary to the hadeeth of Najd]


Imam Nawawi makes a claim against the idea that the hadith is relating to Wahabis or the House of Saud. In his Sharh Saheeh Muslim 2/29 he said that it had to with Dajjal coming from the East. Furthermore, it is shown in Najd Qarnu ash-Shaytaan that there is 13 places that have been labeled as Najd depending a lot on one's own location, and from Madina, Najd would be Iraq.

Ibn Hajr said: "al-Khattaabee said:

"the najd in the direction of the east, and for the one who is in Madeenah then his Najd would be the desert of Iraaq and it's regions [baadiya al-Iraaq wa Nawaaheehaa] for this is to the east of the People of Madeenah. The basic meaning of Najd is that which is raised/elevated from the earth in contravention to al-Gawr for that is what is lower than it. Tihaamah [the coastal plain along the south-western and southern shores of the Arabian Peninsula] is entirely al-Gawr and Mecca is in Tihaamah.'[...] by this [saying of al-Khattaabee] the weakness of the saying of ad-Daawodee is understood that 'Najd is in the direction of Iraaq' [min Naahiya al-Iraaq] for he suggests that Najd is a specific place. This is not the case, rather everything that is elevated with respect to what adjoins it is called Najd and the lower area called Gawr." Fath al-Baaree 13/58-59


Other people have appealed to the definition of Najd, which is "elevated place", argueing that the the others are merely interpreting it out of hatred to the Salafi movement.

Furthermore, the interpretation of Najd favored by many anti-Wahabi, anti-Saudis is in rejection to a number of ahadeeth which praise the inhabitants of Saudi as a beneficial people, is found in Sahih Bukhari:

"I have loved the people of the tribe of Banu Tamim, ever since I heard three things the Messenger of Allaah , sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said about them. I heard him saying, 'these people (of the tribe of Banu Tamim) would stand firm against the Dajjaal.' When the Saddaqat from that tribe came, the Messenger of Allaah , sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "these are the Saddaqat (charitable gifts) of our folk." Aa'ishah had a slave girl from that tribe, and the Prophet , sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said to Aa'ishah, 'manumit her as she is a descendant of Ismaa'eel, alayhis salaam.'"
ahadith 2543 and 4366 of al-Fath

Also from Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal:

"do not say of Bani Tameem anything but good, for indeed they are the severest of people in attacking the Dajjaal."
Banu Tamim are the majority of people of the so-called Najd (Saudi Arabia). To label Najd as that area of Saudi Arabia would be in contradiction of the many hadeeth relating to Bani Tameem especially those in which they fight the Dajjal, who comes from the Najd that is to the East.

[Bassam Zawadi]

Taken from http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?...icle&artid=101...

The Hadith of Najd

by Brother Abû Rumaysah

http://www.islaam.net

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said,

"O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Shaam. O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Yemen." The people said, "O Messenger of Allaah, and our Najd." I think the third time the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "There (in Najd) will occur earthquakes, trials and tribulations, and from their appears the Horn of Satan."

Reported in al-Bukhaaree [Book of Trials, Chpt. 'The afflictions will come from the East' 9/166 no. 214 Eng. Trans]

A hadeeth which has some controversy surrounding it due to obvious sectarian reasons. A hadeeth which has been (deliberately) misunderstood by certain groups of people in order that they may spread their misguidance and deceive ignorant Muslims.

This because upon research and investigation and looking to the words of our early scholars we find that this hadeeth does not refer to the Najd that is famously known in Saudi today, but rather it refers to Iraaq.

About two years ago I read a book entirely devoted to this hadeeth entitled, "an-Najd Qarnu ash-Shaytaan" [I cannot remember the author as I do not have the book on me anymore.] I will quote in general from what I remember from this book, and refrain from mentioning precise quotes except from those references that I have on me.

Amongst the scholars that are mentioned who referred this hadeeth to Iraaq were: al-Khattaabee, al-Kirmaanee, al-Aynee, an-Nawawee, ibn Hajr and others. The reasons behind this are numerous and clear:


The Generality of the Hadeeth Pertaining to the Fitna Coming from the East.

Al-Bukhaaree includes this hadeeth in the chapter: "The affliction will appear from the East"

212) From the father of Saalim: The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, stood up besides the pulpit (and pointed towards the east) and said: "Afflictions are there! Afflictions are there! From where appears the horn of Satan" or he said, "the horn of the Sun"

213) From ibn Umar that he said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alyahi wa sallam, saying while facing the east: "Indeed Afflictions are there, from where appears the Horn of Satan."

214) The hadeeth of Najd under discussion.

Similar hadeeth can be found in Saheeh Muslim (volume 4 no.'s. 6938+). Hadeeth that give the same meaning can be found in Saheeh Muslim (volume 1 no.'s 83+)

That the Generality of the Early Trials and Tribulations arose from the East, many of them actually in Iraaq itself.

Ibn Hajr al-Asqalaanee said after quoting the words of al-Khattaabee explaining the meaning of Qarn (horn), "and others have said that the People of the East were disbelievers at that time and the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, informed us that the trials and tribulations would arise from that direction and it was as he said. And the first of the trials that arose, arose from the direction of the east and they were the reason for the splitting of the Muslim ranks, and this is what Satan loves and delights in. Likewise the innovations appeared from that direction." [Fath al-Baaree 13/58 in commentary to the hadeeth of Najd]

Amongst the trials that arose in Iraaq and the east was the martyrdom of Alee, the martyrdom of the grandson of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, the first battle between the Muslims occurred in Iraaq, and many more.

Imaam Nawawee mentions that one of the greatest trials to appear from the East will be the appearance of the Dajjaal. [Sharh Saheeh Muslim 2/29]

From the innovations that appeared in the east and specifically Iraaq, was many of the early deviant sects amongst them the Qadariyyah (as the first hadeeth in Muslim shows), the Jahmiyyah and their offshoots etc...

That at the time of the Prophet, sallaahu alayhis wa sallaam, there were 13 places known as Najd [according to 'Najd Qarnu ash-Shaytaan'] depending on where one was. This because Najd linguistically means a raised/elevated land. Therefore the Arabs referred to lands that were elevated with respect to them as Najd. One of the most commonly referred to areas at that time as Najd was Iraaq.


The Najd for those people living in Madeenah in the direction of the East would be Iraaq.

Ibn Hajr said: "al-Khattaabee said: 'the najd in the direction of the east, and for the one who is in Madeenah then his Najd would be the desert of Iraaq and it's regions [baadiya al-Iraaq wa Nawaaheehaa] for this is to the east of the People of Madeenah. The basic meaning of Najd is that which is raised/elevated from the earth in contravention to al-Gawr for that is what is lower than it. Tihaamah [the coastal plain along the south-western and southern shores of the Arabian Peninsula] is entirely al-Gawr and Mecca is in Tihaamah.'"

Ibn Hajr continues, "by this [saying of al-Khattaabee] the weakness of the saying of ad-Daawodee is understood that 'Najd is in the direction of Iraaq' [min Naahiya al-Iraaq] for he suggests that Najd is a specific place. This is not the case, rather everything that is elevated with respect to what adjoins it is called Najd and the lower area called Gawr." [Fath al-Baaree 13/58-59]

Al-Mubaarakfooree endorses these words in his commentary to Sunan at-Tirmidhee (10/314 no.4212)


The Hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim [4/1505 no.6943]

Saalim bin Abdullaah bin Umar said: O people of Iraaq, how strange is it that you ask about the minor sins but commit the major sins? [The killing of al-Husayn] I heard my father, Abdullaah bin Umar narrating that he heard the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, saying while pointing his hand to the east: "Indeed the turmoil would come from this side, from where appear the horns of Satan and you would strike the necks of one another..."


The Variations in Wording of the Hadeeth of Najd that Leave no Doubt Whatsoever as to what it refers to.

The hadeeth of ibn Umar Reported by Abu Nu'aym in al-Hilya (6/133), "O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Madeenah, and bestow your blessings on our Mecca, and bestow your blessings on our Shaam, and bestow your blessings on our Yemen, and bestow your blessings in our measuring (fee saa'inaa wa muddinaa)." A person said, " O Messenger of Allaah and in our Iraaq" and so he turned away from him and said, "there will occur earthquakes, trials and tribulations and there will appear the horn of Satan."

Shu'ayb al-Arna'ut declares it's isnaad to be saheeh as in his footnotes to 'Sharh as-Sunnah' (14/206-207 fn. 2) and he too endorses the words of al-Khattaabee quoted above.

The hadeeth of ibn Umar reported in at-Tabaraanee in 'al-Awsat' that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam prayed Fajr and then faced the people and said, "O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Madeenah, O Allaah bestow your blessings in our measuring, O Allaah bestow your blessings in our Shaam and our Yemen." A person said, "And Iraaq O Messenger of Allaah?" He said, "from there arises the horn of Satan and the trials and tribulations would come like mounting waves."

Ibn Hajr al-Haythamee says in his 'Mujma az-Zawaa'id' (3/305 - chapter 'collection of du'aas made for (Madeenah)'): 'its narrators are trustworthy and precise.'

[This hadeeth could possibly considered to be the same as b) above, but I have included it separately due to the slight difference in wording. Allaah knows best.]

The hadeeth of ibn Abbaas reported by at-Tabaraanee in 'al-Kabeer' that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, supplicated and said, "O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Shaam and Yemen." A person from amongst the people said, "O Prophet of Allaah and Iraaq?" He said, "indeed there is the Horn of Satan, and the trials and tribulations will come like mounting waves, and indeed harshness/coarseness is in the east."

Al-Haythamee says: "it's narrators are trustworthy and precise." (ibid.)


The Virtues of Bani Tameem

Bani Tameem constitute the majority of the inhabitants of the Najd that is in Saudi Arabia.

The hadeeth of Saheeh Bukhaaree reported by Abu Hurayra (RA): "I have loved the people of the tribe of Bani Tameem, ever since I heard three things the Messenger of Allaah , sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said about them. I heard him saying, 'these people (of the tribe of Bani Tameem) would stand firm against the Dajjaal.' When the Saddaqat from that tribe came, the Messenger of Allaah , sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "these are the Saddaqat (charitable gifts) of our folk." Aa'ishah had a slave girl from that tribe, and the Prophet , sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said to Aa'ishah, 'manumit her as she is a descendant of Ismaa'eel, alayhis salaam.'"
[Hadeeth no. 2543, 4366 of al-Fath]


Ibn Hajr al-Asqalaanee said, "this hadeeth also contains a clear mention of the excellence and superiority of Bani Tameem." [Fath 5/217]

The hadeeth of Ikrimah from one of the Companions reported in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad and in it occurs, "do not say of Bani Tameem anything but good, for indeed they are the severest of people in attacking the Dajjaal."

Al-Haythamee says: "its narrators are those of the Saheeh." [Mujma 10/48 chpt: What is reported concerning Bani Tameem]
It is not strange that Bani Tameem would be the most severe against the Dajjaal, because the tools required to combat him are none but a correct and firm belief and proper beneficial knowledge. Alhumdolillaah many of the scholars of Saudi are from the most noble and skilled scholars on the face of this earth today, firmly upon the way of our noble Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.

This is what Allaah has allowed me to very quickly put together. And our Lord Most High Knows best.

[Bassam Zawadi]

Assalamu Alaykum

I found an interesting hadith. Its funny that no salafi has used this argument before.

Saheeh Muslim

Book 005, Hadith Number 2318.
------------------------------
Chapter : Exhortation to kill the Khwarij.

Abu Said Khudri reported that 'Ali (Allah be pleased with him) sent some gold alloyed with dust to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) distributed that among four men, al-Aqra b. Habis Hanzali and Uyaina b. Badr al-Fazari and 'Alqama b. 'Ulatha al-'Amiri, then to one person of the tribe of Kilab and to Zaid al-Khair al-Ta'l, 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 (may peace be upon him) said: I have done it with a view to conciliating 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 (may peace be upon him) 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 b. Walid who sought the permission. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him),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.



Here we see that the characteristics of those coming from Najd are that they will kill the followers of Islam and spare the idol worshippers.

Now the anti salafis might argue that the 'wahhabis' killed innocent Muslims but they can in no way argue that they spared the idol worshippers. I mean, the whole Sufi argument is assuming that the 'wahabis' were extreme in fighting against idol worshippers. But the hadith says that they spared them. So it cannot be referring to the 'wahhabis'.

This hadith completely destroys them because the criteria does not match the 'wahhabis' at all.


Jazakum Allah Khayr

[Haitham Hamdan]

Originally Posted by Bassam Zawadi

Now the anti salafis might argue that the 'wahhabis' killed innocent Muslims but they can in no way argue that they spared the idol worshippers. I mean, the whole Sufi argument is assuming that the 'wahabis' were extreme in fighting against idol worshippers. But the hadith says that they spared them. So it cannot be referring to the 'wahhabis'.

This hadith completely destroys them because the criteria does not match the 'wahhabis' at all.

Good thought, Jazakallhu khairan.
Even if Najd in the Hadeeth is that of the Arabian Peninsula, this does not mean that everything which comes out of it will be evil.
The same is true for holy lands. Not everything coming out of Mecca is necessarily good.
One of the Sahabah said: "The land does not make anyone holy". Meaning: it is your actions, not where you are from that matters.

[al-boriqee]

yeah

you know, another matter whcih I used as an arguement against these people was the REALITY that while these hadeeth are accepted and whoever denies them is deviant

the prblem is they are not to be implemented in absolution. It does not mean that everyone that comes out fo najd is evil

if that is the case, then if we were to take this hadeeth, and use it the way the companions and the salaf and all the hufaadh of the religion understood it (to be Iraaq khurasaan) yet at the same time we do not condemn Ahmad, or Hasan al-Basri, Bukharee, Muslim, Abu Zur'ah or any of the greatets pillars of this religion, all of whom came from the area of najd in the way the salaf understood it

[Hamza Shadmani]

Originally Posted by Haitham Hamdan

One of the Sahabah said: "The land does not make anyone holy". Meaning: it is your actions, not where you are from that matters.

I believe Salmaan al-Farsi said that when people asked him to move to Shaam. Allahu Alam

[Hamzah ibn Ali]

Originally Posted by Bassam Zawadi

Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I have done it with a view to conciliating 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 (may peace be upon him),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.

Here we see that the characteristics of those coming from Najd are that they will kill the followers of Islam and spare the idol worshippers.

Asswrwb
Jzk kheir for this excellent reading.
I have one question. Maybe i missed it.
Is the man described above from Najd? I dont see where they have stated this. I can see is that the Messenger of Allah (saw) distributed to the people of Najd. Was this man one of them who he (saw) was distributing to?

Jzk kheir

[Bassam Zawadi]

First it is obvious because of the way that the Prophet peace be upon him describes those people...

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.


in another hadith it says...

A people that recite Qur'an will come out of the East, but it will not go past their throats. They will pass through the religion (of Islam) like the arrow passes through its quarry.

and another hadith says...

There will be in my Community a dissent and a faction, a people with excellent words and vile deeds. They will read Qur'an, but their faith does not go past their throats. They will pass through religion the way an arrow passes through its quarry.


and another hadith says...

A people will come out at the end of times, immature, foolish and corrupt. They will hold the discourse of the best of creation and recite Qur'an, but it will not go past their throats. They will passes through religion the way an arrow passes through its quarry.


and another...

There will be people in my Community whose mark is that they shave (their heads). They will recite Qur'an, but it will not go past their throats. They will pass through religion the way an arrow passes through its target.

and another...

A people that recite the Qur'an will come out of the East, but it will not go past their throats. Every time a generation of them is cut down another one will come until the last one finds itself on the side of the Antichrist."

and another...

On the authority of Abu Sa`id al-Khudri: "Verily in the wake of this time of mine comes a people who will recite Qur'an but it will not go past their throats. will pass through religion the way an arrow passes through its quarry.


And the anti Salafis will use all these narrations to try to make it seem like they are referring to the salafis. So that hadith I put forth which has that description of the people obviously shows that the Prophet peace be upon him is speaking about the same people.

This hadith is part of a whole chapter in Saheeh Muslim that describes the Khawarij to come http://hadith.al-islam.com/Display/h...p?Doc=1&n=2312 and these are referring to the same khawarij to come that the sufis argue are referring to the salafis.

So its very likely that the posterity of that individual whom the Prophet peace be upon him was referring to was the one coming out of najd.

Allah knows best.

[Bassam Zawadi]

Assalamu Alaykum

Here is another sign that the Prophet peace be upon him informed us of the Khawarij to come...


Saheeh Muslim

Book 005, Number 2323

Abu Sai'd al-Khudri reported: When we were in the company of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and he was distributing the spoils of war, there came to him Dhul-Khuwasira, one of Banu Tamim. He said: Messenger of Allah, do justice. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Woe be upon thee I Who would do justice, if I do not do justice? You would be unsuccessful and incurring a loss, if I do not do justice. Upon this Umar b. Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) said: Messenger of Allah, permit me to strike off his neck. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Leave him, for he has friends (who would outwardly look to be so religious and pious) that everyone among you would consider his prayer insignificant as compared with their prayer, and his fast as com- pared with their fasts. They would recite the Qur'an but it would not go beyond their collar-bones. They would pass through (the teachings of Islam so hurriedly) just as the arrow passes through the prey. He would look at its Iron head, but would not find anything ticking) there. He would then see at the lowest end, but would not find anything sticking there. He would then see at its grip but would not find anything sticking to it. He would then see at its feathers and he would find nothing sticking to them (as the arrow would pass so quickly that nothing would stick to it) neither excre- ment nor blood. They would be recognised by the presence of a black man among them whose upper arms would be like a woman's breast, or like a piece of meat as it quivers, and they would come forth at the time when there is dissension among the people. Abu Sai'd said: I testify to the fact that I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and I testify to the fact that 'Ali b. Abu Talib fought against them and I was with him. He gave orders about that man who was sought for, and when he was brought in, and when I looked at him, he was exactly as the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had described him.


Can anyone point out this black man for us?

[Haitham Hamdan]

In Sunan Abi Dawood 4770: His name was Nafi’, nickname: ‘Harqooss.

[Bassam Zawadi]

Assalamu Alaykum

Are you sure? I checked the reference and did not see that.

Plus the point I am trying to make is that this is another criteria that the Prophet peace be upon him laid down and doesn't apply to the 'wahhabis'.

[nasirmuzaffar]

Here's the rebuttal by Jamaal Zarabozo