#212: Explanation on the Hadith “Men with Whips like the Tails of Cattle
QUESTION
ON THE HADITH “MEN WITH WHIPS LIKE THE TAILS OF CATTLE”
” Pls shade more light on the statement “men with whips like the tails of cattle with which they strike the people”
ANSWER
Alhamdulillaah and Peace and Blessings be upon the Messenger of Allaah – salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam.
The Hadith from which you quoted reads as follows:
“There are two types of People if Hell that I have not seen: men with whips like the tails of the cattle with which they strike the people, and women who are clothed yet naked, walking with an enticing gait, with something on their heads that looks like the humps of camels, leaning to one side. They will never enter paradise or even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be detected from such and such a distance.”
Recorded and Transmitted by Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad and Imaam Muslim in his Sahih.
Regarding the wording:
“… men with whips like the tails of the cattle with which they strike the people…”
The Ulama a have explained that this is a reference to the oppressive, tyrannical and ruthless rulers that will appear in the end of time and the men who work diligently for them in oppressing and inflicting hardship on the people.
The Ulamaa of the past, in their eras, where the leaders were Muslims that govern with Islam but are oppressive used to warn people from working for them in oppressing the people and make evidence with this hadith. In fact, they used to refer to this Hadith as a reference to the Policemen that enforce the oppressive laws of such tyrannical rulers.
The Polymath, Al-Haafidh Ash-Sakhaawi – rahimahullaah – said while interpreting this wording:
“They are now the helpers of the oppressors and usually it refers to the worst group around the ruler. It may also apply to the unjust rulers.”
Ref: ‘Al-Ashaa’a Li Ashraati As-Saa’a’ page 119
Imaam An-Nawawi – rahimahullaah – said:
“With regard to those who will have whips, they are those who work for the police”
Ref: ‘Sharhu An-Nawawi Ala Sahih Muslim’ 17/191
In another wording of the Hadith, the Rasul – salallaahu alayhi wasallam – said:
“At the end of time, there will appear men from this Ummah with whips like the tails of cattle. They will go out in the morning under the anger if Allaah and will come back in the evening under His wrath.”
This is recorded by Imaam Ahmad in the Musnad 5/315 and by Imaam Al-Haakim in the Mustadrak 4/483 where he declared it as Sahih.
Al-Haafid Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalaani – rahimahullaah – also declared it Sahih in ‘Al-Qawlu Al-Musaddad Fi Adh-dhabb ‘an Al-Musnad’ page 53-54
Some of the Muhaddithin hold the Hadith as Da’if nonetheless.
If that is the interpretation of the Ulamaa of the past on this Hadith and their reference to it as been a prophecy relating to the oppressive regimes of their respective ages, what will we say about the leaders of our time and their helpers among their forces who flung the Book of Allaah behind their backs and threw the Law of Allah into the bin?
Baarakallaahu feekum.
Assalaamu alaykum
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