Question

I humbly request if you could explain the following Hadith:

“Hasten to perform good deeds before the emergence of trials like pieces of a dark night. A man will awake as a believer and end the day a disbeliever, or end the day a believer and wake as a disbeliever. He will sell his religion for the trivialities of this world”

Answer

The commentators of Sahih Muslim explain that this Hadith is placing emphasis on hastening to do good deeds while one has the ability to do so without any hindrances, for soon such trials and tribulations will afflict the Ummah which will come in succession like the darkness of night (continuously) which will make it difficult for one to carry out good deeds.

Since these trials will be of such an extreme nature, it is highly possible that a person may lose his Iman. The Hadith also encourages holding fast onto one’s deen and Iman when people will be selling their Iman in exchange of a paltry sum of worldly gain.

(See: Al Mufhim, vol. 1, pg. 326, Al Minhaj, under Hadith: 309 and Fathul Mulhim, under Hadith: 325)

 May Allah Ta’ala protect us.

Disclaimer: In principle, the signs of Qiyamah are ambiguous and nuanced and only Allah Ta’ala Knows their precise timing and exact application. One should certainly take heed from such Hadiths and signs, despite their application to specific events being open to interpretation.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar