It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Abu Dharr, what will you do when people are struck by such hunger that you will not have the strength to go from your mosque to your bed, nor from your bed to your mosque?" I said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Be chaste (that is, do not stretch out your hand to anyone)." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "What will you do when people die in such great numbers that the place of a grave will be obtained in exchange for a slave (al-wasif)?" I said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Be patient." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "What will you do when people advance (to fight one another) until Ahjar al-Zayt in Madinah is drowned in blood?" I said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Go to those to whom you belong." I said: And if he will not leave me alone? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If you fear that the glint of the sword will overwhelm you, then throw the edge of your cloak over your face; he will carry away your sin and his own, and become one of the people of Hell." I said: Should I not take up arms? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then you would become his partner (in the sin)." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim). Bukhari recorded it from the narration of Hammam from Abu Imran, and Hammad bin Zayd added al-Mush'ath bin Tarif in its chain between Abu Imran al-Jawni and Abdullah bin al-Samit, with an addition in the text as well, and Hammad bin Zayd is more reliable and firmer than Hammad bin Salamah.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Abu Dharr!" I said: Here I am, O Messenger of Allah, ready to serve you. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "How will you be when people are struck by such severe hunger that you will come to your mosque but will not have the strength to return to your bed, and you will be in your bed but will not find the strength to get up and come to the mosque?" I said: Allah and His Messenger know best (or: whatever Allah and His Messenger choose for me). He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Chastity (and not asking others) is incumbent upon you." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Abu Dharr!" I said: Here I am, O Messenger of Allah, ready to serve you. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "How will you be when such death (plague) spreads among the people that a house (that is, the place of a grave) will be obtained in exchange for a slave?" (that is, space in the graveyard will become so scarce). I said: Allah and His Messenger know best (or: whatever Allah and His Messenger choose for me). He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Patience is incumbent upon you." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Abu Dharr!" I said: Here I am, O Messenger of Allah, ready to serve you. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "How will you be when you see that Ahjar al-Zayt (a place in Madinah) has been drowned in blood?" I said: Whatever Allah and His Messenger choose for me. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Join those to whom you belong (that is, go to your tribe or family)." I said: Should I not take up my sword and place it on my shoulder (to fight)? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then you would become a partner (in this trial and bloodshed)." I said: Then what do you command me? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Keep to your house." I said: What if someone (an attacker) enters my house? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If you fear that the glint of the sword will overwhelm you, then throw the edge of your cloak over your face (so that you do not kill him, and he kills you); he will return (to Hell) carrying your sin and his own."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Tha'labah al-Khushani (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Allah Almighty will never be incapable of granting this Ummah a respite of half a day." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, but the two of them did not record it in their books.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "My Lord will not be incapable, for my sake, of deferring (extending the term of) my Ummah by half a day." It was asked: How long is half a day? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Five hundred years." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but the two of them did not record it in their books.