The Mahdi’s Black Banners after the `Abbāsids’ Banners, and what will happen between the Sufyānī’s army and the `Abbāsids

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. Acknowledgments x
4. Introduction xii
5. Abbreviations and key names and terms xxxix
6. Caliph/Emperor list xlii
7. Translation of Nu`aym b. Ḥammād al-Marwazī, Kitāb al-fitan
8. What was related by the Messenger of God and his Companions after him concerning the Tribulations to come 1
9. Naming of the Tribulations which are to come, and their Number from the death of the Messenger of God until the Rising of the Hour 12
10. The Loss of Intelligence and Absence of People’s Dreams during the Tribulations 21
11. Allowance for People’s Desire to Die because of the Prevalence of Trials and Tribulations 26
12. The Regret of Some of the Prophet’s Companions and Others with regard to the Tribulation 30
13. The Desirability of having Few Possessions and Children during the Tribulations 39
14. The Number of the Caliphs after the Messenger of God in this Community 40
15. The Caliphs who were mentioned after the Messenger of God 42
16. Distinguishing the Caliphs from the Kings 43
17. Naming those reigning after the Messenger of God 46
18. The Dominion of the Umayyads and Naming them after `Umar 52
19. The End of the Umayyads’ Dominion 54
20. Protection from Tribulations and the Desirability of Holding Back and Withdrawing during them, and Undesirability of Looking out over them 61
21. Those who believed in Withdrawal during Tribulations 92
22. The Portents of the end of the Umayyads’ Dominion 94
23. Appearance of the `Abbāsids 100
24. The First Portent of the end of the Period of the `Abbāsids 110
25. The First of the Portents of the end of their Dominion will be the Appearance of the Turks after a dissension between them 113
26. Portents in the Heavens concerning the end of `Abbāsids’ Dominion 117
27. Beginnings of the Tribulation in Syria 124
28. The Triumph of the Lowliest and Weakest of Peoples 128
29. Refuges from Tribulations 132
30. The Center of Islam is in Syria 134
31. The First Portent will be the Portent of the Berbers and the Westerners 138
32. The Appearance of the Berbers and the Westerners 140
33. The Corruption and Fighting of the Berbers in Syria and Egypt, and whoever fights them, and the end of their appearance, and the evil conduct that will happen at their hands 142
34. The Description of the Sufyānī, His Name and Ancestry 150
35. The Beginning of the Appearance of the Sufyānī 153
36. The Three Flags 155
37. The Flags that will disperse in the Lands of Egypt and Syria, and other [countries], and the Sufyānī and his Victory over them 155
38. The Conflict between the `Abbāsids, and the Easterners, and the Sufyānī and the Marwānids in Syria towards Iraq 161
39. The Conflict between the People of Syria, the `Abbāsid rulers at al-Raqqa, and what the Sufyānī will do 164
40. What the Sufyānī will do in the Suburbs of Baghdad and Madinat al-Zawra’ when his Expedition will reach Iraq, and the Destruction that will happen 171
41. The Sufyānī and his Army enter Kūfa 173
42. The Mahdi’s Black Banners after the `Abbāsids’ Banners, and what will happen between the Sufyānī’s army and the `Abbāsids 174
43. The Beginning of the End for the Sufyānī, and the Appearance of the Hāshimi from Khurāsān leading the Black Banners, and the Fighting between them until the Horsemen of the Sufyānī reach the East 178
44. The Sufyānī will meet the Black Banners in Battle, and there will be an Apocalyptic Battle between them, in which the People will desire the Mahdi and seek him 179
45. Sending the Troops to Medina and the Killing that will happen in it 181
46. Swallowing up of the Sufyāni’s Troops that he will send to the Mahdi 184
47. The Signs of the Mahdi in his Appearance 187
48. Another Sign at the Time of the Mahdi’s Appearance 190
49. The People’s Gathering Together at Mecca to swear to the Mahdi in it, and the Confusion, Fighting, Seeking the Mahdi that will happen that year in Mecca after the Battle and their Gathering to him 192
50. The Mahdi’s Departure from Mecca to Jerusalem and Syria, after which they will swear to him, and His Traveling towards the Sufyāni and his Supporters 197
51. The Conduct and Justice of the Mahdi and the Plenty of his Time 203
52. The Description of the Mahdi 209
53. The Name of the Mahdi 210
54. The Ancestry of the Mahdi 211
55. The Length of the Mahdi’s Reign 214
56. What will happen after the Mahdi 215
57. The Raid on India 237
58. What will happen in Ḥimṣ during the administration of the Qaḥțānī, and between Quḍā`a and Yaman after the Mahdi 238
59. Al-Ᾱ`māq and the Conquest of Constantinople 242
60. The Imam of the Muslims in Jerusalem and his Victory on the Plain of Acre, and the Conquest of Ḥimṣ 280
61. Concerning the Appearance of the Byzantines in Alexandria, the Edges of Miṣr and its Harbors (mawāhīz) 315
62. What will happen to People previous to the Appearance of the Antichrist 319
63. Signs before the Appearance of the Antichrist 322
64. Where will the Antichrist appear? 327
65. The Appearance of the Antichrist, his Conduct, and the Corruption at his hands 329
66. The Length of the Antichrist’s Staying 345
67. Jesus son of Mary will kill the Antichrist at the Gate of Lydda at the distance of sixteen Cubits 346
68. Refuges from the Antichrist 348
69. Jesus’ Return and his Conduct 350
70. The Length of Jesus’ Staying after his Return 360
71. The Appearance of Gog and Magog 361
72. Swallowing up by the Earth, Earthquakes, Tremors, and Metempsychosis 378
73. Concerning the Fire that will Gather [People] to Syria 388
74. Among the Portents of the Hour 395
75. The Portents of the Hour after the Rising of the Sun from the West 397
76. The Rising of the Sun from the West 406
77. The Appearance of the Beast (Dābba) 409
78. The Ethiopians 414
79. The Emergence of the Ethiopians 415
80. The Turks 419
81. The Times, Months, and Days that are Dated in the Tribulations 425
82. Bibliography 447
83. Index 458