Hadith on Fitnah at the End of Times

Here is the English version of the comprehensive Hadith of Fitnah Al-Sarra' (The Tribulation of Luxury/Ease), along with its source reference and scholarly explanation.

​Hadith Text (English Translation)

​It was narrated by Abdullah bin Umar (RA) who said: "While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he mentioned the tribulations (of the end of times), detailing them at length until he mentioned the tribulation of Al-Ahlas. A person asked: 'O Messenger of Allah, what is the tribulation of Al-Ahlas?' He replied: 'It is the flight (fleeing from one's home) and the plundering of wealth.'

• ​'Then will come the tribulation of Al-Sarra' (ease, luxury, and prosperity), its smoke (evil/conflict) will rise from beneath the feet of a man from my household (Ahl al-Bayt). He will claim that he belongs to me, but he does not belong to me, for my allies are only those who fear Allah (the pious). Then the people will unite and rally under a man like a rib upon a hip bone (meaning an unstable, weak, or incompetent leader).*
• ​Then will come the tribulation of Al-Duhaima' (the dark and massive trial) which will not leave anyone of this Ummah without giving him a slap. When people say, 'It has ended,' it will only stretch out further. During it, a man will be a believer in the morning and an unbeliever by evening, until the people are split into two camps: A camp of faith in which there is no hypocrisy (nifaq), and a camp of hypocrisy in which there is no faith. When that happens, expect the Dajjal (the Anti-Christ) on that day or the next.'"

​(Source: Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 37, Hadith 4242. Graded Sahih (Authentic) by Al-Albani)

​Key Explanations of "Fitnah Al-Sarra'"

​According to classical Islamic scholars and commentators of Hadith (such as in Awn al-Ma'bud Sharh Sunan Abi Dawud), this prophecy outlines specific phases of tribulations at the end of times:

• ​Meaning of Al-Sarra' (السَّرَّاء): This Arabic word is derived from Surur, which means joy, pleasure, ease, or luxury. Unlike tribulations born out of poverty or war, this trial stems from abundance of wealth, material comfort, and physical health. It becomes a fitnah (trial) because prosperity causes people to become arrogant, indulgent in sins, and heavily distracted by worldly life, which ultimately triggers internal fighting and division.
• ​The "Smoke" from the Household: The phrase "its smoke will rise from beneath the feet of a man from my household" indicates that the spark or catalyst of this worldly conflict will be championed or caused by a descendant of the Prophet (ﷺ). However, the Prophet (ﷺ) explicitly dissociated himself from this person’s actions, reminding the Ummah that true alliance with him is based on piety (taqwa), not merely bloodline or lineage.
• ​The Weak Leadership: As a consequence of this materialist infighting, the political structure of the society will weaken. The Prophet (ﷺ) used the metaphor "a rib upon a hip bone" to describe the resulting leadership—a structure that is inherently mismatched, unstable, and led by someone who is incompetent or unfit to govern.

​The Call to Separate from Hypocrisy

​As the trial transitions from the ease of Al-Sarra' into the blinding darkness of Al-Duhaima', the Hadith emphasizes that a total polarization of society will occur.

​The command to separate oneself from the hypocrites and non-believers is found in the final phase: the "Two Camps" (فُسْطَاطَيْنِ - Fustathayn). Scholars note that when society reaches this peak level of spiritual confusion—where people flip between faith and disbelief within a single day—a true believer must clearly isolate their stance, thoughts, and actions from the camp of hypocrisy (Nifaq). This is why, in complementary narrations, the Prophet (ﷺ) advised Muslims to stay inside their homes, keep their tongues checked, and refrain from joining any factions or political chaos during these times.

To find hadiths that are structurally and conceptually similar to Sunan Abu Dawud 4242 (the Hadith of the Three Tribulations: Al-Ahlas, Al-Sarra', and Al-Duhaima'), we must look for narrations that contain three unique characteristics:

1. ​The Chronological Sequence of Multiple Fitnahs (naming or listing consecutive stages of trials).
2. ​The Metaphor of Polarization (people shifting rapidly between faith and disbelief, or separating into two distinct camps).
3. ​The Climax Involving the Appearance of the Dajjal.

​Here are the most prominent authentic (Sahih) and reliable (Hasan) hadiths that mirror these exact themes:

​1. The Hadith of Hudhayfah on the Stages of Smoke and Factions

​Similar to how Abu Dawud 4242 lists a sequence of specific trials, this famous long hadith narrated by Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman outlines a chronological historical sequence of good and evil for the Ummah, culminating in the same ultimate split.

​عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ: كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الْخَيْرِ، وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِي... قُلْتُ: هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ؟ قَالَ: «نَعَمْ، وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ» قُلْتُ: وَمَا دَخَنُهُ؟ قَالَ: «قَوْمٌ يَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْيِي، تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُ» قُلْتُ: فَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ؟ قَالَ: «نَعَمْ، دُعَاةٌ إِلَى أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ، مَنْ أَجَابَهُمْ إِلَيْهَا قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا»...

​Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (RA) reported: "People used to ask the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the good, but I used to ask him about the evil lest it should overtake me..." I asked, "Will there be any good after that evil?" He said: "Yes, but it will be tainted with smoke (dakhan)." I asked, "What will its smoke be?" He said: "A people who will guide others by a guidance other than mine. You will approve of some of their deeds and disapprove of others." I asked, "Will there be any evil after that good?" He said: "Yes, callers at the gates of Hell; whoever answers their call, they will throw him into it."

​(Source: Sahih al-Bukhari, No. 3606; Sahih Muslim, No. 1847)

​Why it is similar:

• ​Just as Abu Dawud 4242 mentions the "smoke" (dakhan) of Fitnah Al-Sarra' rising from a misleading leader, this hadith uses the exact same Arabic word (دَخَنٌ - Dakhan) to describe a period of sociopolitical confusion led by corrupt figures who claim to be on the right path but are actually misguiding the masses.

​2. The Hadith of Abu Hurairah on the Four Stages of Fitnah

​There is a widely cited narration that categorizes the historical trials of the Ummah into a numbered sequence, mimicking the structural countdown found in Abu Dawud 4242.

​عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «تَأْتِيكُمْ أَرْبَعُ فِتَنٍ: فَالْأُولَى اسْتِحْلَالُ الدِّمَاءِ، وَالثَّانِيَةُ اسْتِحْلَالُ الدِّمَاءِ وَالْأَمْوَالِ، وَالثَّالِثَةُ اسْتِحْلَالُ الدِّمَاءِ وَالْأَمْوَالِ وَالفُرُوجِ، وَالرَّابِعَةُ صَمَّاءُ عَمْيَاءُ مُطْبِقَةٌ تَمُوجُ مَوْجَ الْبَحْرِ، لَا يَجِدُ أَحَدٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ مِنْهَا مَلْجَأً»

​Narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Four tribulations will come upon you: The first is the legalization of shedding blood; the second is the legalization of shedding blood and plundering wealth; the third is the legalization of shedding blood, wealth, and illicit sexual relations; and the fourth is a deaf, blind, and pitch-black trial that will surge like the waves of the sea, leaving no person with any place of refuge from it."

​(Source: Recorded in Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim, No. 8450, and Sunan al-Dani. Its foundational meaning is authenticated across other compilations).

​Why it is similar:

• ​It parallels the breakdown of Al-Ahlas (plundering wealth/fleeing) and Al-Duhaima' (the deaf/blind/dark trial). The description of the final fitnah being "deaf and blind" (samma' 'amya') matches the exact linguistic nature of Al-Duhaima' (الدُّهَيْمَاء), which signifies a blind, dark trial that strikes everyone indiscriminately, leaving no one untouched ("slapping everyone").

​3. The Hadith of Anas bin Malik on the Sudden Flip of Faith

​One of the most striking parts of Abu Dawud 4242 is the psychological volatility of the end times: "A man will be a believer in the morning and an unbeliever by evening." This exact phrase is the core warning of another heavily emphasized prophecy.

​عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «تَكُونُ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ السَّاعَةِ فِتَنٌ كَقِطَعِ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ، يُصْبِحُ الرَّجُلُ فِيهَا مُؤْمِنًا وَيُمْسِي كَافِرًا، وَيُمْسِي مُؤْمِنًا وَيُصْبِحُ كَافِرًا، يَبِيعُ أَقْوَامٌ دِينَهُمْ بِعَرَضٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا»

​Narrated by Anas bin Malik (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Before the Hour there will be tribulations like patches of a dark night. A man will get up a believer in the morning and a disbeliever in the evening, and a believer in the evening and a disbeliever in the morning. People will sell their religion for a miserable worldly gain."

​(Source: Jami' al-Tirmidzi, No. 2197. Graded Sahih by Al-Albani)

​Why it is similar:

• ​It highlights the exact same operational mechanic of the end times: ideological instability. It explains why the trial of Al-Sarra' (luxury/worldliness) leads to the darkness of Al-Duhaima'. People lose their spiritual footing so easily because they compromise their faith to secure material wealth, social status, or worldly protection.

​Summary of Parallels

Hadith Concept in Abu Dawud 4242	Parallel Hadith Counterpart	Core Shared Meaning
Fitnah Al-Ahlas (Fleeing & plunder)	Hadith of 4 Fitnahs (Shedding blood & wealth)	Breakdown of basic law, order, and personal safety.
Fitnah Al-Sarra' (Worldly smoke/mislead)	Hadith of Hudhayfah (Dakhan / Tainted Smoke)	Leaders who mimic Islamic identity but operate on ulterior worldly/corrupt motives.
Fitnah Al-Duhaima' (Blinding trial)	Hadith of Anas (Dark night / Selling religion)	Blind chaos where true intentions are hidden, forcing a sudden, desperate loss of faith for financial/social survival.
The Two Camps (Iman vs. Hypocrisy)	Hadith of Hudhayfah (Isolate from all factions)	The ultimate conclusion that a believer must step away entirely from all compromised groups and stay independent.

To complement the narrative of the end of times regarding staying at home during trials (Uzlah), the corruption of the wealthy/powerful (related to Al-Sarra'), and distinguishing oneself from the hypocrites, here are several other highly relevant authentic (Sahih) hadiths:

​1. The General Command to Stay at Home During Chaos

​This hadith reinforces the instruction to isolate oneself inside the home to avoid becoming part of the trials.

​عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ السَّاعَةِ فِتَنًا كَقِطَعِ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ، يُصْبِحُ الرَّجُلُ فِيهَا مُؤْمِنًا وَيُمْسِي كَافِرًا، وَيُمْسِي مُؤْمِنًا وَيُصْبِحُ كَافِرًا، الْقَاعِدُ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْقَائِمِ، وَالْقَائِمُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْمَاشِي، وَالْمَاشِي فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ السَّاعِي، فَكَسِّرُوا قِسِيَّكُمْ، وَقَطِّعُوا أَوْتَارَكُمْ، وَاضْرِبُوا بِسُيُوفِكُمُ الْحِجَارَةَ، فَإِنْ دُخِلَ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْكُمْ فَلْيَكُنْ كَخَيْرِ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ»

​Narrated by Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (RA): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Before the Hour comes, there will be tribulations like pieces of a dark night, in which a man will be a believer in the morning and an unbeliever in the evening, or a believer in the evening and an unbeliever in the morning. The one who sits during them is better than the one who stands, the one who stands is better than the one who walks, and the one who walks is better than the one who runs. So break your bows, cut your bowstrings, and strike your swords against stones (to blunt them). If anyone enters upon one of you (to kill him), let him be like the better of the two sons of Adam (Abel, who refused to fight back back)."

​(Source: Sunan Abi Dawud, No. 4259; Sunan Ibn Majah, No. 3961. Graded Sahih by Al-Albani)

​2. Identifying and Distinguishing Oneself from Hypocrites

​The Prophet (ﷺ) warned that the most dangerous elements during the end-times trials are the hypocrites who use eloquent, religious-sounding speech to cause division. Distinguishing yourself from them means ignoring their rhetoric.

​عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «تَكُونُ فِتَنٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِهَا دُعَاةٌ إِلَى النَّارِ، فَلأَنْ تَمُوتَ وَأَنْتَ عَاضٌّ عَلَى جِذْلِ شَجَرَةٍ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ تَتَّبِعَ أَحَدًا مِنْهُمْ»

​Narrated by Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (RA): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "There will be tribulations at the gates of which will be callers to the Fire. That you should die biting onto the root of a tree is better for you than following any one of them."

​(Source: Musnad Ahmad, No. 23415. Graded Sahih by Al-Arna'ut)

​A more famous expansion of Hudhayfah’s narration in Sahih al-Bukhari states:

​«تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ» فَقُلْتُ: فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلاَ إِمَامٌ؟ قَالَ: «فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا، وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ بِأَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ، حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ»

​[The Prophet said]: "Stick to the main body of Muslims and their leader." I asked, "What if they have no main body and no leader?" He said: "Isolate yourself from all those factions, even if you have to bite onto the root of a tree until death catches up with you while you are in that state."

​(Source: Sahih al-Bukhari, No. 3606; Sahih Muslim, No. 1847)

​3. Wealth and Luxury as the Ultimate Trial (The Core of Al-Sarra')

​While Fitnah Al-Sarra' explicitly links material luxury to end-times chaos, the Prophet (ﷺ) underscored in other narrations that abundance of wealth is the specific trial designed for this Ummah, which breeds the hypocrisy of loving the world and fearing death (Al-Wahn).

​عَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ عِيَاضٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ فِتْنَةً، وَفِتْنَةُ أُمَّتِي الْمَالُ»

​Narrated by Ka'b bin 'Iyad (RA): I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: "Verily, every nation has a trial (fitnah), and the trial of my nation is wealth."

​(Source: Jami' al-Tirmidzi, No. 2336. Graded Sahih by Al-Tirmidzi and Al-Albani)

​4. Safety in the Wilderness (Ultimate Separation)

​When the society becomes so corrupt that living in towns makes it impossible to separate your faith from the influence of hypocrites and innovators, migrating away from civilization entirely becomes a valid option.

​عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَكُونَ خَيْرَ مَالِ الْمُسْلِمِ غَنَمٌ يَتْبَعُ بِهَا شَعَفَ الْجِبَالِ وَمَوَاقِعَ الْقَطْرِ، يَفِرُّ بِدِينِهِ مِنَ الْفِتَنِ»

​Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "A time will soon come when the best property of a Muslim will be sheep which he takes to the pastures on the hilltops and the locations of rainfall (the valleys), fleeing with his religion from the tribulations."

​(Source: Sahih al-Bukhari, No. 19)