Regarding these trials, is the intended meaning merely their occurrence, or is the intended meaning their establishment such that there is no alternative to them?

The questioner : May Allah reward you. Regarding these trials... is the intended meaning merely their occurrence, or is the intended meaning their establishment such that there is no alternative, or if there is an alternative...?

The Shaykh : No, the intended meaning is the report of a matter that will occur, but if it is among the forbidden matters, then the intended meaning is its prohibition.

The questioner : Ibn Battal (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "We have seen with our own eyes these signs contained in the hadith". The Hafiz (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "In our time". The Hafiz... the intended meaning is that they occur... not established, and there is no counterpart or similar thing... this is the terminology of the scholars.

The Shaykh : In any case, regarding these matters, every person in his time, when much evil and many trials occur to him, applies the hadith to them. And perhaps the intended meaning of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is greater than what occurred in his time. We are now, without doubt, experiencing much killing in other countries. In our country, praise be to Allah, we have been made safe by Allah through what He has of faith. I ask Allah to make it continue upon us and to increase it for us. But in other countries, it is something strange. And yet, we do not assert with certainty that this is the intended meaning of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); the matter may be greater than that.

The questioner : Regarding the second statement, the victorious group...

The Shaykh : The victorious group that is apparent remains until near the Hour, then the wind comes to which Mazin referred, and then the sparks.