What is the authenticity of the hadith: (When you see the black banner raised in the lands of the non-Arabs, crawl toward it, even over the snow)?
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The questioner : The honorable Shaykh (may Allah preserve you), it is mentioned in the hadith: What is the rank of this hadith, if it is a hadith? I ask for clarification, and may Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : It is a hadith narrated in some of the Sunan and in *Al-Mustadrak of Al-Hakim*, but it contains a defect that some people may not notice, which is: that it is narrated by Abu Qilabah from Thawban, as I recall, and Abu Qilabah has been accused of some tadlis (concealment of a defect in a chain), so the hadith has this defect in terms of its isnad (chain of narration). Then, it contains an anomaly in terms of its wording, for it includes: It is not correct for a conscious Muslim who believes in the greatness of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) to say that Allah has a successor. Who is this person who is fit to be a successor to Allah?!
I am giving an example of this statement that has become common in the usage of some Islamic writers and literary figures today when they want to speak about Allah’s preference for this human being, whom He made among His best of creations. They say that He made him His successor on earth. What is the like of this statement? If they were paying attention, the relationship between the Creator and this created being whom they made a successor to Allah on earth is as far as can be imagined, impossible, from the following example:
It is as if it were said: that such-and-such a king appointed his servant as his successor after him, a servant who knows nothing and is not good at managing the kingdom. Is there not in this expression a belittling of this king, about whom it is reported that he appointed his servant as his successor after him? Did he not find someone to succeed him after him who was close to him? There is no doubt that this example clarifies the vast distance between the Creator in His perfection and greatness and this created being, no matter how great he is, so he is not fit to be a successor to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If this is observed, it becomes very clear that this hadith narrated regarding the Mahdi contains this anomalous phrase: It is not fit for anyone to be the successor of Allah on earth.
When you see the black banner raised in the lands of the non-Arabs, crawl toward it, even over the snow
إذا رأيتم الراية السوداء ترفع في بلاد العجم فازحفوا عليها ولو على الثلجThe Shaykh : It is a hadith narrated in some of the Sunan and in *Al-Mustadrak of Al-Hakim*, but it contains a defect that some people may not notice, which is: that it is narrated by Abu Qilabah from Thawban, as I recall, and Abu Qilabah has been accused of some tadlis (concealment of a defect in a chain), so the hadith has this defect in terms of its isnad (chain of narration). Then, it contains an anomaly in terms of its wording, for it includes:
So go to it, even if you have to crawl, for he is the successor of Allah, the Mahdi
فأتوها ولو حبوا فإنه خليفة الله المهديI am giving an example of this statement that has become common in the usage of some Islamic writers and literary figures today when they want to speak about Allah’s preference for this human being, whom He made among His best of creations. They say that He made him His successor on earth. What is the like of this statement? If they were paying attention, the relationship between the Creator and this created being whom they made a successor to Allah on earth is as far as can be imagined, impossible, from the following example:
It is as if it were said: that such-and-such a king appointed his servant as his successor after him, a servant who knows nothing and is not good at managing the kingdom. Is there not in this expression a belittling of this king, about whom it is reported that he appointed his servant as his successor after him? Did he not find someone to succeed him after him who was close to him? There is no doubt that this example clarifies the vast distance between the Creator in His perfection and greatness and this created being, no matter how great he is, so he is not fit to be a successor to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If this is observed, it becomes very clear that this hadith narrated regarding the Mahdi contains this anomalous phrase: