36/24. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4036 — Years of Deception and Ruwaibidah
Hard times
Hadith About Ruwaibidah and Years of Deception
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4036
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4036
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ الْجُمَحِيُّ، عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ أَبِي الْفُرَاتِ، عَنِ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " سَيَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ سَنَوَاتٌ خَدَّاعَاتٌ يُصَدَّقُ فِيهَا الْكَاذِبُ وَيُكَذَّبُ فِيهَا الصَّادِقُ وَيُؤْتَمَنُ فِيهَا الْخَائِنُ وَيُخَوَّنُ فِيهَا الأَمِينُ وَيَنْطِقُ فِيهَا الرُّوَيْبِضَةُ قِيلَ وَمَا الرُّوَيْبِضَةُ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ التَّافِهُ فِي أَمْرِ الْعَامَّةِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There will come to the people years of treachery, when the liar will be regarded as honest, and the honest man will be regarded as a liar; the traitor will be regarded as faithful, and the faithful man will be regarded as a traitor; and the Ruwaibidah will decide matters.’ It was said: ‘Who are the Ruwaibidah?’ He said: ‘Vile and base men who control the affairs of the people.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4036In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 111English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4036
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4036
This hadith about Ruwaibidah gives a clear warning about moral confusion. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that years of treachery would come, when the liar is regarded as honest and the honest person is regarded as a liar. The traitor is treated as faithful, while the faithful person is treated as a traitor. Then the Ruwaibidah will speak. When asked who the Ruwaibidah are, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم described them as vile and base men who control the affairs of the people. The narration is not a license to insult people carelessly. It is a warning about a time when truth, trust, and public responsibility are turned upside down. The believer should value honesty and be careful who is trusted with public matters.
What we learn from this hadith
- A time will come when honesty and lying are confused in people’s eyes.
- The traitor may be treated as faithful, and the faithful person as a traitor.
- The Ruwaibidah are described as vile and base men involved in public affairs.
- The hadith teaches caution about truth, trust, and leadership.
