36/28. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4058 — Stages of the Ummah and Harj
Signs (of the Day of Judgment)
Stages of the Ummah Hadith: Mercy, Broken Ties, and Harj
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4058
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4058
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا نُوحُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَعْقِلٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ الرَّقَاشِيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " أُمَّتِي عَلَى خَمْسِ طَبَقَاتٍ فَأَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً أَهْلُ بِرٍّ وَتَقْوَى ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ إِلَى عِشْرِينَ وَمِائَةِ سَنَةٍ أَهْلُ تَرَاحُمٍ وَتَوَاصُلٍ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ إِلَى سِتِّينَ وَمِائَةِ سَنَةٍ أَهْلُ تَدَابُرٍ وَتَقَاطُعٍ ثُمَّ الْهَرْجُ الْهَرْجُ النَّجَا النَّجَا " . حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا خَازِمٌ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ الْعَنَزِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمِسْوَرُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْنٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " أُمَّتِي عَلَى خَمْسِ طَبَقَاتٍ كُلُّ طَبَقَةٍ أَرْبَعُونَ عَامًا فَأَمَّا طَبَقَتِي وَطَبَقَةُ أَصْحَابِي فَأَهْلُ عِلْمٍ وَإِيمَانٍ وَأَمَّا الطَّبَقَةُ الثَّانِيَةُ مَا بَيْنَ الأَرْبَعِينَ إِلَى الثَّمَانِينَ فَأَهْلُ بِرٍّ وَتَقْوَى " . ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “My nation will pass through five stages. For forty years (they will be) people of righteousness and piety. Then those who follow them, for the next one hundred and twenty years, will be people who show mercy to one another and uphold ties with one another. Then those who follow them for the next one hundred and sixty years will be people who will turn their backs on one another and sever ties with one another. Then there will be Harj after Harj (killing). Seek deliverance, seek deliverance.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4058In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 133English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4058
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4058
This Hadith about the stages of the Ummah describes groups over time. It mentions a period of righteousness and piety, then people who show mercy and keep ties, then people who turn away from one another and cut ties. After that comes Harj after Harj, meaning killing after killing, and the words seek deliverance are repeated. The core topic is Community. The Hadith focuses on changes in people’s qualities: piety, mercy, family and social ties, then separation and violence. It teaches that the health of the community is tied to righteousness, mercy, and keeping bonds, while broken ties and killing are signs of danger.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith describes stages within the Ummah.
- Righteousness, piety, mercy, and keeping ties are praised by mention.
- Turning away from one another and severing ties are named as later problems.
- Repeated Harj is treated as a serious danger.
