It is narrated on the authority of Abu ad-Darda (may Allah be
Pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him) said, “Camps of the Muslims will gather on the Day of al-Malhamah at al-Ghouta,
next to a city which is known as Dimishq (Damascus) and they are from the best
of people in Shaam.”
Reported Abu Dawud in his Sunnan (4298), Ahmad in his Musnad
(21218), Hakim in his Mustadarak (8543) who classed it as Sahih on the
conditions of both al-Bukhari and Muslim but they didn’t report it.
The Location of Ghouta?
It says in ‘Awn al-Ma’bood (3/317):
Ghouta is a place known for being rich in natural water and
luscious trees and it situated next to Damascus.
Al-‘Alqami said, “This Hadith is proof for the virtue of
Damascus and the virtue of those who live there towards the end of times,
as it will be a fortress against the tribulations that will occur.”
Also from the virtues of al-Ghouta is that the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) visited it before his Prophethood (on trade
visits to the region), he also went there as part of the Tabuk expedition and
also on the night of al-Isra - this is what al-Azizi says in Sharh al-Jami’
as-Sagheer. End quote.
Shaykh ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-‘Abbas al-Badr (may Allah Preserve him)
said:
“Camps of the Muslims”: meaning, the Muslims will have power at
that time against their enemy in Shaam.
“on the Day of al-Malhamah at the place of al-Ghouta”: Ghouta is a place next to Damascus and still has this name until present day Shaam.
[Sharh Sunnan Abu Dawood (Tape 483)]
Who are the People Described Fighting There?
Shaykh Hamood at-Tuwayjiri said:
This (above) report was classed as Sahih by al-Hakim and
adh-Dhahabi agreed with him in his Talkhis.
In these Ahadith we have proof that the peak of the ‘Victorious
Group’ will be in Shaam towards the end of time and it will occur under a
Caliphate. This group will remain in Shaam until the wind takes their soul,
and they will be the group that upholds the truth in that region until the time
of their death arrives. The wind will then take the soul of every single member
of the group, those who have Eman in their heart as other narrations have the
wording, “They will remain there until the Hour arrives.” Mu’adh bin
Jabal (the narrator of this added wording) said, “This refers to the Victorious
Group in Shaam”.
As for the times we live in now, this Victorious Group is yet
to gather in Shaam and are currently dispersed between different countries
and different locations. End quote from Ithaf al-Jam’ah (1/332-334).
Imam An-Nawawi said, “It is likely that the Victorious Group are
not located in one location (up until that point of the Battle of Malhamah).”
End quote from Sharh Sahih Muslim (5/58-59).
What is the Malhamah (The Armageddon)[1]?
It says in ‘Awn al-Ma’bood (3/311-315):
The Malhamah will occur when the Romans will say they were
victorious because of the cross (after a battle with a party of the Jews but
before the coming of the Dajjal) and then will raise wooden crosses,
supplicating to ‘Esa whilst making images of him. From them, some of them will
say that they have been made victorious because of the cross, meaning that the
coalition of the Muslim and Christians was only successful against (a party of
the Jews) ‘because of their Christians beliefs’; what they mean by this
statement is to signify an end to the Muslims/Christian coalition. It may mean
that they will say this to purposely enrage the Muslims.
The Muslims will disagree and seek to break the cross and a war
between the Romans and Muslims will break out. The coalition between them will
be nullified and both armies will gather for the Malhamah (or an Armageddon)
war. The battle will continue and Ibn Kathir said the battle will continue for
six years and ad-Dajjal will come out in the seventh.
Has the Malhamah Arrived?
Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have Mercy on him) said, “It is extremely
important for us to point out, when discussing the events that lead up to the
Hour, is that whatever the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
informed us of the tribulations that will occur and the events he mentioned, must
be believed. However, specifying it to a particular time (or generation) would
need evidence. The time that the Hour will be established, as well as its
signs, is not known except to Allah. None knows what month or year it will
occur in. All we know is that the actual Hour will be established on a Friday,
but as to which Friday? Then this remains unknown except to Allah Alone. The
same applies to the signs of the Hour. And Allah Knows best” (at-Tathkirah
1222-1223)
Shaykh Siddiq Hasan Khan said, “There have been many wars with
bloodshed and huge tribulations but none (of these narrations about the Hour)
can be specified to any particular generation. The knowledge of this Hour and
when it will occur is hidden with Allah, the Glorified, with His Knowledge. Man
doesn’t know when it will occur and only comes to know of it except after it
occurs and are able to cross-reference the events with the narrations.” (Ajbad
al-‘Uloom (2/518)
May Allah end the trials faced by the Muslims in this Ummah, bring
the oppressors to justice, spread peace and harmony in the world and return us
to our religion wholeheartedly.
And Allah Knows best.
[1] TN:
The Armageddon
seems to be an innovated Christian belief that didn’t exist in the Old Testament.
For many modern Christians, it refers to the Second Coming and the belief that
Christianity will overcome all. For this reason, this disclaimer is
important – the use of Armageddon is only to serve translations purposes.
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