Article ID: 28

Article Date: 2015-05-29

Writer: Mostafa Amiri(http://rajanews.com/node/213127)

The Signs of the Reappearance(1)

Examining the Narrations Related to the Death of Abdullah, the Last Powerful King of “Bani Fulan” in Hijaz

(Note from the website administrator: “Fulan” in English is equivalent to ‘so-and-so’ and is used for an unspecified person. “Bani Fulan” Bani Flan means the family of so-and-so, is a cryptic and concealed expression in the narrations, used to refer to a dynasty of rulers in Hijaz during the period close to the reappearance. Based on the existing indications and the references to the name of King Abdullah in the narrations of the End Times, many commentators consider the current rulers of Saudi Arabia, namely the Al Saud, to be the same royal family of Bani Fulan.)
The narrations state explicitly that the rule over the region of Hijaz, the country of Saudi Arabia, and the rulers of Mecca and Medina before the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) will be a government opposed to the Ahl al-Bayt and an enemy of the Shia. The rulers will be from the lineage of Bani Fulan, who run the government in a hereditary manner. But after the death of Abdullah, the power of the government of Bani Fulan will weaken, and disputes will arise within this family, until in their final crime among their series of crimes, they martyr the Pure Soul , one of the certain signs of the reappearance, beside the House of God and in a sacred month.
However, with the reappearance and public uprising of Imam Mahdi, the government of Bani Fulan will be destroyed forever. Indeed, in Islamic narrations, there is mention of the entry of the army of Sufyani into Hijaz in order to reach the Shia and the place of presence of Imam Mahdi. Yet, there is no mention of any resistance from the rulers of Hijaz against the army of Sufyani. This matter could be due to the death of Abdullah, the last powerful caliph of Hijaz, and the disputes and conflicts among the family of Bani Fulan over power and succession, just as it could also be the result of an agreement between the family of Bani Fulan and Sufyani for the massacre of the Shia and the capture of Imam Mahdi.
But as to in which country Bani Fulan will rule, due to the existence of multiple evidences and indications — such as the disputes of Bani Fulan between the Two Sanctuaries (Mecca and Medina), the explicit mention in the narrations of the killing of a young man from the Ahl al-Bayt in Medina, and also the martyrdom of the Pure Soul (the final certain sign of the reappearance) only fifteen days before the reappearance of the Imam, carried out by the military forces of the government of Bani Fulan in Mecca — this shows that Bani Fulan will rule in Saudi Arabia and the region of Hijaz.

Questions

• Before the reappearance of Imam Mahdi, who will have power over the government in Hijaz (Saudi Arabia)?
• Will the government in Saudi Arabia before the reappearance be administered in a hereditary manner?
• Is Abdullah from the family of Bani Fulan who rules over Saudi Arabia before the reappearance of Imam Mahdi?
• Will Abdullah be the last powerful king of the government of Bani Fulan, after whose death Bani Fulan will never regain their former stability and power?
• What is the time interval between the death of Abdullah and the reappearance of Imam Mahdi?
• Until when will the government of Bani Fulan remain in power in Saudi Arabia?

The Death of Abdullah in Hijaz

In an authentic narration, it is reported from Imam al-Sadiq that the ruler of Hijaz, before the reappearance of Imam Mahdi, will perish, and after him, the government of Hijaz, which is administered in a hereditary manner, will fall into dispute over power and worldly rule.
Abu Basir narrates from Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH):
“Whoever guarantees to me the death of Abdullah, I will guarantee to him the coming of the Qa’im. After Abdullah dies, the people will no longer unite over anyone, and this matter (the rise of the true government) will, God willing, end with your master (the Awaited Mahdi, PBUH). And after that (the death of Abdullah), monarchy lasting several years will be replaced with monarchy lasting a few months and days.” I said: “Will this period last long? He replied: No.”

A Brief Explanation of the Narration

The hadith explicitly states that Abdullah will be the last powerful king, and after him, the government will become unstable and fragile. There will no longer be consensus over Abdullah’s successor as before, and disputes will arise among Bani Fulan. This condition will not last long, and monarchies of a few months and days (a metaphor for instability of power) will be formed. And of course, this instability of power will also not last long until the matter reaches the Master and Qa’im, Imam Mahdi (PBUH).
The government is described as a monarchy and kingship, because the narration uses the term “malik” (king). Even in other narrations (which will be mentioned later), it is reported about the death of the caliph and the dispute of Bani Fulan after the death of Abdullah, which shows that monarchy and kingship are run in a hereditary way within the family of Al Fulan.
By carefully considering the narration, and the use of the phrase “whoever guarantees” by Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) in the text of the hadith, we realize that the rumors about the death of Abdullah will become so widespread among the people that the infallible Imam requests a firm guarantee of Abdullah’s death, in order to give in return the guarantee and glad tidings of the reappearance of the Qa’im, Imam Mahdi (PBUH).
After the death of Abdullah, the monarchy will not immediately disappear. No, it is not like that; rather, the government will decline and weaken, and governments of a few months and a few days will be formed, which is a metaphor for the lack of stability and the fragility of power. And this matter, that is, the decline of power and the emergence of disputes, will be gradual and not sudden. Take note.
And the same consensus that existed over the last powerful king, namely Abdullah, who ruled for years, will no longer exist over the successor or successors of Abdullah, and disputes will become evident.

Question and Objection

Question:

Is this narration not related to the past? Perhaps this narration occurred in the past and in the history of Islam, and is not about the future?

Answer:

⭐ First, these narrations are among the authentic narrations.
⭐ Second, as some have imagined, they are not related to the past and the era of the Abbasid rule, and they cannot be applied to an Abbasid caliph; rather, they are related to the future and the time of the reappearance. Because in the text of the narration, the guarantee of the reappearance of the Qa’im is mentioned, and according to the narration, the matter reaches “your master,” that is, Imam Mahdi (PBUH). And the end of the hadith refers to the place from which the Imam, at the end of the occultation, will rise (the country of Hijaz). Because the phrase “this matter, by the will of God, will end with your master” means that the matter of the succession of Abdullah among the people of that region ends with the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (PBUH). And as we know, the Imam will rise from Mecca and the country of Hijaz (Saudi Arabia).

Evidences and Indications for Proving the Death of Abdullah in the Country of Hijaz (Saudi Arabia)

Where do Bani Fulan rule? Although it is not explicitly mentioned in which region the death of the caliph from the family of Bani Fulan occurs, and where the family of Bani Fulan rules and governs, from the collection of narrations about Bani Fulan, it is understood that Bani Fulan will gain power in Hijaz and rule in Saudi Arabia in a hereditary manner.

The evidences and indications to prove this claim are as follows:

1.

Narrations report disputes at the time of the death of a caliph in a land, after which Imam Mahdi (PBUH) will seek refuge from Medina to Mecca to await the swallowing of the army of Sufyani into the ground, sent to Medina. Therefore, with this indication, it becomes clear that the death of the caliph (Abdullah) takes place in Hijaz, and the family of Bani Fulan rule over Saudi Arabia.
From Umm Salama, on the authority of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), it is narrated:
“After the death of a caliph, dispute will arise. Then a man from Medina (Imam Mahdi, PBUH) will go from Medina to Mecca. People will come to him for allegiance, and thus they will pledge allegiance to him between the Rukn and the Maqam. At this time, Sufyani will send an army from Sham towards Hijaz.
But in the land of Bayda’, between Mecca and Medina, they will be swallowed into the earth...”

2.

Another indication is the narrations that refer to disputes among the rulers between the Two Sanctuaries (Mecca and Medina) and between the two mosques (the Prophet’s Mosque and the Sacred Mosque), which lead to the killing of a number of members of the family of Bani Fulan.
In al-Ghaybah of Shaykh Tusi, it is narrated from Imam al-Ridha (PBUH):
“Among the signs of relief and the reappearance of Imam Mahdi is an incident that will occur between the Two Sanctuaries.” I asked, “And what incident?” The Imam replied: “A conflict and anger between the Two Sanctuaries that will result in the killing of fifteen people from the family of Bani Fulan.”

3.

Another indication is the killing of a “young man in the city of Medina” by the agents of the government of Al Bani Fulan, which is explicitly mentioned in the narration: this young man will be martyred by the military forces of Bani Fulan in the country of Hijaz (Saudi Arabia) and in Medina.
Therefore, it shows that Bani Fulan rule in Hijaz (Saudi Arabia).
It is narrated from Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (PBUH):
“... O Zurara, there is no escape from the fact that a youth will be martyred in Medina. I asked: May I be your ransom, will the army of Sufyani kill him? He replied: No. Rather, the military forces of the family of Bani Fulan will kill him. They will enter Medina and martyr him without him having committed any crime. At that time, await the relief and the reappearance of Imam Mahdi.”
And this phrase in the narration, “Will the army of Sufyani kill him?” is an indication that these narrations belong to the era of the reappearance. Because in authentic and numerous narrations in the sources of both Shia and Sunni, it is mentioned that the emergence of Imam Mahdi and Sufyani will occur in the same year. Among them is a narration from Imam al-Baqir (PBUH):
“Sufyani and the Qa’im will both appear in the same year.”

4.

Another important indication, which shows that the death of Abdullah in the family of Bani Fulan takes place in the country of Hijaz, and that the government of Al Fulan will not regain its former strength after the death of Abdullah, is a narration from Imam Ali (PBUH). In this narration, it is mentioned that the killing of the Pure Soul , one of the certain signs of the reappearance, will be carried out by Bani Fulan in the Sacred Land (Mecca), on the 25th of Dhu al-Hijjah, fifteen days before the public rise of the Imam (on Ashura, the month of Muharram). In this narration, Imam Ali (PBUH) explicitly refers to the end of the monarchy of Bani Fulan and the destruction of hereditary kingship after the martyrdom of the Pure Soul in Mecca.
“Shall I not inform you of the time when the monarchy of the family of Fulan will come to an end? We said: Yes, O Commander of the Faithful. He said: At the time of the killing of an innocent person, on a sacred day in a sacred month, from the family of Quraysh. By Him who split the grain and created mankind, after that, their rule will not last more than fifteen nights...”
In this narration also, reference is made to the end of the monarchy and government of Bani Fulan after the killing of the Pure Soul. On the other hand, in the narration of the “death of Abdullah,” there is an explicit mention of annual governments being transformed into governments of months, which will ultimately lead to the Imam Mahdi (PBUH). The common point between these two narrations is that both narrations refer to the destruction of the government of Bani Fulan and the matter reaching the Master of the Affair (PBUH). And since the Pure Soul will be killed in Mecca, it shows that the government of Bani Fulan is also based in Hijaz, for they are able to kill the Pure Soul, and this narration also shows that the government of Bani Fulan, until the time of the reappearance and the public uprising of Imam Mahdi (PBUH), though weak and unstable, will remain until they kill the Pure Soul on the 25th of Dhu al-Hijjah. And fifteen days later, with the public uprising of the Imam on the 10th of Muharram, the government of Bani Fulan, which had declined and weakened after the death of Abdullah, will come to an end.

The Dispute of Bani-Fulan

After the death of Abdullah, a dispute will arise among the family of Bani-Fulan over power and succession. This issue (the dispute among Bani-Fulan) has been explicitly mentioned in several narrations.
Imam al-Baqir (PBUH) said:
“... Your relief will not be realized except with the disagreement of Bani-Fulan ... and the Qa’im will not rise, and you will not see that which you long for until Bani-Fulan fall into disagreement and conflict over what lies between them. People will covet their (rule), unity will be lost, and the Sufyani will rise ... .”
In fact, in one narration, regarding the disagreement of Bani-Fulan, the word “definite” (ḥatmī) is used, which indicates its certainty of occurrence.
Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) said:
“... and the emergence of the Sufyani is definite, and the heavenly call is definite ... and the disagreement of Bani-Fulan is definite, and the killing of the Pure Soul is definite ... .”
However, in some narrations, the disagreement of Bani-Fulan has been referred to as the disagreement of Bani-‘Abbas. Due to variant versions of the narrations, different opinions have been raised on this matter. Some scholars believe in the re-establishment of the government of Bani-‘Abbas in the end times before the reappearance, while others hold that the narrations have been corrupted (taṣḥīf), or that the expression Bani-‘Abbas is merely indicative or allegorical, meaning that Bani-Fulan are those who act in a manner similar to Bani-‘Abbas. And Allah knows best.

The Timing of the Dispute of Bani-Fulan

As for how long after the death of Abdullah the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (PBUH) will occur, the narrations remain silent. Only one narration in al-Kafi of Shaykh al-Kulayni refers to the disagreement of Bani-Fulan before the emergence of the Sufyani:
“You will not attain what you long for until there is disagreement among Bani-Fulan. So, when disagreement occurs and people covet authority, and division and discord spread, then after this, the emergence of the Sufyani will take place.”
Naturally, the disagreement of Bani-Fulan occurs after the death of Abdullah and over his succession. In another narration, the “death of Abdullah” is referred to as the “perishing of so-and-so.”
Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) said:
“... Count with your hand: the perishing of so-and-so, the emergence of the Sufyani, the martyrdom of the Pure Soul , the swallowing up of the army, and the heavenly call ... .”

The Successor or Successors of Abdullah

According to the narration of the death of Abdullah, after his death a successor or successors will assume power. However, their rule will no longer have the former strength and authority as it had during Abdullah’s time, and gradually it will weaken. The expression “governments of months and days” also points to this fact.
But an important point here is that the expression “governments of months and days,” in contrast to “governments of years,” may be interpreted in two ways:
1. It could be a figurative expression, meaning a metaphor for the lack of former stability and the fragility of the rule of Bani-Fulan after Abdullah’s death. According to this interpretation, Abdullah’s first successor might even rule for several years.
2. Or it could indicate that Abdullah’s successor will not last even a full year before either dying, being deposed, or abdicating.

The End of the Rule of Bani-Fulan

As for how long Bani-Fulan will remain in power in Arabia, it can be understood from the narration of the killing of the Pure Soul that they will remain until just before the reappearance and public rise of the Imam. However, after the death of Abdullah, the last powerful king of Bani-Fulan, their rule will weaken and decline. Finally, they will commit yet another crime: killing the Pure Soul on the 25th of Dhu al-Hijjah in a brutal way, and fifteen days later, with the public rise of the Imam on the 10th of Muharram, the rule of Bani-Fulan—which had already been weakened by the death of Abdullah—will come to an end.
“Shall I not inform you of the time when the rule of the family of so-and-so will come to an end?” We said: “Yes, O Commander of the Faithful.” He said: “When an innocent person from Quraysh is killed in a sacred land on a sacred day in a sacred month. By the One Who split the seed and created mankind, after that, their rule will not last more than fifteen nights ... .”

Conclusion

Therefore, from the totality of narrations and multiple indications, it is established that Abdullah is the last powerful king of Bani-Fulan in the land of Hijaz (Arabia). With his death, the family of Bani-Fulan will no longer reach consensus over his successor. Even if there are one or more successors—as the narration indicates with the phrase “governments of months and days”—they will not be as powerful as Abdullah. Authority will pass from hand to hand, and due to internal disputes over power, the rule of Hijaz will weaken and become fragile. These events (the death of Abdullah and the disagreement of Bani-Fulan) will occur before the rise of the Sufyani and the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (PBUH). However, the interval between the death of Abdullah and the rise of the Sufyani has not been specified in the narrations and remains ambiguous. In any case, the struggle over succession and authority will continue, power will shift from one hand to another, until this family commits another crime and kills the Pure Soul near the Ka‘bah in the city of Mecca. This shows that the dominion and rule of Bani-Fulan will continue until very near the reappearance and public rise of Imam al-Mahdi (PBUH), though not with the former strength and power of Abdullah’s time. After the killing of the Pure Soul, authority will pass to the Master of the Affair, Imam al-Mahdi (PBUH).

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