Sahih Muslim Book - 33, Hadith - 4784

حَدَّثَنِى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ حَدَّثَنِى بُسْرُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَضْرَمِىُّ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا إِدْرِيسَ الْخَوْلاَنِىَّ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنَ الْيَمَانِ يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- عَنِ الْخَيْرِ وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِى فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا فِى جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَشَرٍّ فَجَاءَنَا اللَّهُ بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ شَرٌّ قَالَ « نَعَمْ » فَقُلْتُ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ قَالَ « نَعَمْ وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ ». قُلْتُ وَمَا دَخَنُهُ قَالَ « قَوْمٌ يَسْتَنُّونَ بِغَيْرِ سُنَّتِى وَيَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْيِى تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُ ». فَقُلْتُ هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ « نَعَمْ دُعَاةٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ مَنْ أَجَابَهُمْ إِلَيْهَا قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا ». فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا. قَالَ « نَعَمْ قَوْمٌ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا وَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا ». قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَا تَرَى إِنْ أَدْرَكَنِى ذَلِكَ قَالَ « تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ ». فَقُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلاَ إِمَامٌ قَالَ « فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ عَلَى أَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ».

Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman said: "The people used to ask the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) about good things, but I used to ask him about bad things, fearing that I would live to see such things. I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, we were in a state of ignorance (Jahiliyyah) and evil, then Allah sent us this good (i.e., Islam). Will there be any evil after this good?' He said: 'Yes.' I said: 'Will there by any good after that evil?' He said: 'Yes, but it will be tainted.' I said: 'How will it be tainted?' He said: '(There will be) some people who follow an example other than my example and follow a way other than my way. You will approve of some of their deeds and disapprove of others.' "I said: 'Will there be any evil after that good?' He said: 'Yes, there will be people calling at the gates of Hell, and whoever responds to their call, they will throw them into it (the Fire).' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, describe them to us.' He said: 'They will be from among our people, speaking our language.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you command me to do if I live to see such a thing?' He said: 'Adhere to the Jama'ah (group, community, main body) of the Muslims and their Imam (leader).' I asked: 'What if there is no Jama'ah and no leader?' He said: 'Then keep away from all those groups, even if you have to bite (cling) on the roots of a tree until death overtakes you while you are in that state.'"