Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman reported: The people used to ask the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about good, but I would ask about evil for fear it would overtake me. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, we were in ignorance and evil and Allah sent us this good. Will there be evil after this good?” The Prophet said, “Yes.” I said, “Will there be good after that evil?” The Prophet said, “Yes, but within it is smoke.” I said, “What is its smoke?” The Prophet said, “A people who are not guided by my guidance. You will recognize them and reject them.” I said, “Will there be evil after that good?” The Prophet said, “Yes, callers to the gates of Hellfire. Whoever answers them will taste it from within.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, describe them to us.” The Prophet said, “They are from our progeny and speak our language.” I said, “What do you command me should that overtake me?” The Prophet said, “Hold fast to the community of Muslims and their leader.” I said, “What if there is no community and no leader?” The Prophet said, “Then withdraw from all of the sects, even if you must bite at the root of trees until death overtakes you in that state.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3606, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1847
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
عن حذيفة بن اليمان قال كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ الْخَيْرِ وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ الشَّرِّ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا فِي جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَشَرٍّ فَجَاءَنَا اللَّهُ بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ وَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ قُلْتُ وَمَا دَخَنُهُ قَالَ قَوْمٌ يَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْيِي تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُ قُلْتُ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ نَعَمْ دُعَاةٌ إِلَى أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ مَنْ أَجَابَهُمْ إِلَيْهَا قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا فَقَالَ هُمْ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا وَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا قُلْتُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي إِنْ أَدْرَكَنِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلَا إِمَامٌ قَالَ فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ بِأَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ
3606 صحيح البخاري كتاب المناقب باب علامات النبوة في الإسلام
1847 صحيح مسلم كتاب الإمارة باب وجوب ملازمة جماعة المسلمين عند ظهور الفتن