It is narrated from Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say:“Indeed, Islam began as something strange, and soon it will return to being strange as it was in the beginning. So glad tidings to the strangers of that time, when corruption will have spread in the rest of the era. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Abu al-Qasim! Faith will seek refuge towards these two mosques just as a snake seeks refuge in its hole.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Sannah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Islam began in a state of estrangement, and soon it will return to being as strange as it began, so glad tidings are for the strangers." Someone asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Who are the strangers?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: "They are those who, when corruption spreads among the people, they reform (the situation). By the One in Whose hand is my soul! Faith will retreat to Madinah just as a flood flows towards its lowest point. By the One in Whose hand is my soul! Islam will seek refuge between these two mosques just as a snake seeks refuge in its hole."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The religion was unfamiliar at its beginning, and soon it will become unfamiliar again, so glad tidings are for the unfamiliar ones who adopt it."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated this same hadith from the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with the word "Islam" instead of "Deen," and in it these additional words are present: Someone asked, "Who are the unfamiliar people?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "Those who have become distant from their tribes (and relatives)."

Alqamah Muzani (may Allah have mercy on him) says: A man narrated to me, saying: I was in the gathering of Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) in Madinah Munawwarah, and he said to a person: "O so-and-so! What did you hear the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say when he was describing the state of Islam?" He said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: Indeed, the beginning of Islam was like a young camel entering its fifth year, then it will become strong like a camel entering its sixth year, then it will become powerful like a camel entering its seventh year, then it will gain strength like a camel entering its eighth year, and then like a camel entering its ninth year." Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "After the ninth year of a camel's age, weakness begins."

Sayyiduna Karz bin Alqamah Khuza’i (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a Bedouin said:“O Messenger of Allah! Is there any end to Islam?”The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Yes, when Allah intends good and well-being for the people of any house among the Arabs and non-Arabs, He will cause Islam to enter them.”He said:“O Messenger of Allah! Then what will happen?”The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Then tribulations will appear like shadows (i.e., like mountains and clouds).”He said:“Never! By Allah, if Allah wills, it will never be so.”But the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Why not, by Him in Whose hand is my soul! You will pounce upon each other’s necks like the most wicked, great serpent.”

(Second chain) Imam Zuhri, may Allah have mercy on him, recited these words to Imam Sufyan, may Allah have mercy on him: «أَسَاوِدَ صُبًّا» , and Imam Sufyan, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "A large and black snake that rises up."

(Third chain) There is a similar narration, however, these words are additional: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "At that time, the most virtuous person among the people will be that believer who withdraws to a mountain pass, fears his Lord, and keeps the people safe from his own evil."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The links of Islam, that is, the commandments of Islam, will be undone one by one. When one link falls, people will pursue the next link. The first commandment to be broken will be justice, and the last to be demolished will be prayer (salah)."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Firoz Dailami (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The links of Islam, that is, its commandments, will be undone one by one, just as a rope is broken thread by thread."