The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 1 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA?L IBN KATHIR 277
worship the All-Merciful alone, spread the best of all religions, honour the
building (the kacba), and ask judgements of the young heroes."
"Whose progeny will they be?" they asked.
"By the most noble of all, by H i who communicates with the nobles, by Him
who moves the windimg dunes, by Him who multiplies by doubling, thousands
will arise from the line of 'Abd Shams and 'Abd Mans, and there will be disputation
over this."
"0 Sapb," they commented, "what misery there will be for them, from what
you tell us you know. From what land will those men come?"
He replied, "By Him who will remain everlasting, by Him who will reach
eternity, there will come forth from this land a young man who will guide to
what is right, who will reject the idol Yaghiith and illusion, who will be innocent
of worshipping what is repugnant; he will worship one Lord alone. And then
God will cause him to die, with all praise. From the earth he will be missed; in
heaven he will be wimessed. After him al-jiddiq ("the trusting", i.e. Abii Bakr)
will come to rule; when he judges he speaks the truth and in restoring right he is
neither foolish nor intemperate. Then he will be followed to power by al-hang
("the true believer", i.e. the Caliph Wmar), he who puts to the test and is lordly,
a man who disavows violent language, who gives hospitality to guests, and who
is wise and prudent in his judgements. Then there will follow him a man who
will he demanding and invite others to the cause, and various groups and factions
will assemble about h i. Then they will kill h i out of envy and rage; the old
man will be seized and hacked to pieces and men will speak orations over him?3
Then will follow al-nagr, "the protector", a man who will confuse right opinion
with that of the unfriendly ones. Soldiers will rule over the earth. Then after
him his son will reign, and take what he gathers yet gain little praise. He will
consume his wealth and eat alone. Those after him of his progeny will expand
that wealth. Following him will rule a number of kings; doubtless there will be
much blood spilled over them. After them will come the beggars, who will soon
be folded up like cloth. Then will come a strong and ruthless man, who destroys
justice, subjugates Egypt and conquers the earth with brutality. Then will come
a man short of stature, who will have a mark on his back, die violently and so
good-bye! Then for a while a young man will rule who will leave the kingdom
ruined. His brother will succeed him and continue the same way, concerning
himself with wealth-gathering and speech-making. After him a fool will rule, a
worldly, comfort-loving and spoiled man. His intimates and family will advise
him, then rise up against hi, depose him from rule and kill him. Then after
him will rule al-sabsc, "the seventh", who will leave the kingdom a wasteland.
His sons in his rule will be like those who are deformed, all of them. After that,
73. The assassinated Caliph Wthmiln is dearly implied.