Question:
Is it true that Ka’ba will be demolished by people with two lean legs?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Baitullah or Ka’ba is the qibla of the Muslims in the whole world and Allah SWT referred His name to it showing the honour, glory and praise of it compared to other creations of Allah SWT.
- Allah SWT state:
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
“Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds.”
Surah Ali-Imran (96)
According to the above question, there is an authentic hadith with the status muttafaqun ‘alaih (narrated by Imam al-Bukhari and Muslim) stating that the Ka’ba will be destroyed by the people from Ethiopia. Furthermore, narrated the hadith under the chapter The Demolition of the Ka’ba:
- From Abu Hurairah RA, the prophet PBUH said:
يُخَرِّبُ الكَعْبَةَ ذُو السُّوَيْقَتَيْنِ مِنَ الحَبَشَةِ
"Dhus-Suwaiqa-tain (literally: One with two lean legs) from Ethiopia will demolish the Ka`ba."
Sahih al-Bukhari (1596)
Imam al-Nawawi explained the meaning of Dzu al-Suwataqain in the hadith as isim tasghir for two lean legs due to small size of the legs describing the usual legs of Sudanese. (See al-Minhaj Syarah Sahih Muslim, 18/35)
In another narration, the Prophet PBUH describes the people who would destroy the Ka’ba when the Prophet PBUH told his companions:
- From Ibn Abbas RA, the Prophet PBUH:
كَأَنِّي بِهِ أَسْوَدَ أَفْحَجَ، يَقْلَعُهَا حَجَرًا حَجَرًا
"As if I were looking at him, a black person with thin legs plucking the stones of the Ka`ba one after another. "
Sahih al-Bukhari (1595)
Among the matters that are discussed by scholars is when this incident will happen. Here, we cite the opinion of Imam al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in this issue:
وَأُجِيبَ بِأَنَّ ذَلِكَ مَحْمُولٌ عَلَى أَنَّهُ يَقَعُ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ قُرْبَ قِيَامِ السَّاعَةِ حَيْثُ لَا يَبْقَى فِي الْأَرْضِ أَحَدٌ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ اللَّهُ كَمَا ثَبَتَ فِي صَحِيحِ مُسْلِمٍ
“My answer for this issue is that it will happen in the end of times near the time of The Last Day, where there is no longer a person who will say: Allah! Allah! As stated in Sahih Muslim.” (See Fath al-Bari, 3/461)
According to Dr Syarah al-Qudhoh, this incident will happen when all the souls of the believers are taken with the arrival of a nice breeze shortly before The Last Day. (See Kharitoh al-Mustaqbal, 29)
Imam Ibn Hajar said:
“According to several narrations, it is understood that after the destruction of the Ka’ba by the Abyssinians, then the Qahtan will come and destroy them.” (See Fath al-Bari, 13/78)
Other than that, another question that usually arises is, haven’t Allah SWT promised in the Quran, that He will protect the Ka’ba? This is in accordance with the statement of Allah SWT:
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا جَعَلْنَا حَرَمًا آمِنًا وَيُتَخَطَّفُ النَّاسُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِمْ ۚ أَفَبِالْبَاطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ يَكْفُرُونَ
“Have they not seen that We made [Makkah] a safe sanctuary, while people are being taken away all around them? Then in falsehood do they believe, and in the favour of Allah they disbelieve?”
Surah al-Ankabut (67)
Imam al-Nawawi answered this issue when he commented on the Dzu al-Suwaqatain hadith saying:
ولايعارض هذا قوله تعالى حرما آمنا لِأَنَّ مَعْنَاهُ آمِنًا إِلَى قُرْبِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَخَرَابِ الدُّنْيَا
“This hadith, (the hadith regarding the Ka’ba being destroyed) does not contradict the statement of Allah SWT where He would protect the peace (of the Holy lands). The reason is, the peace will be protected by Allah SWT until when the Last Day is near and destruction is rampant on this earth.” (See al-Minhaj Syarah Sahih Muslim, 18/35)
Reviewing the answer given by Imam al-Nawawi, it is clear to us that the meaning that Allah SWT will protect the Ka’ba means Allah SWT will protect it until the Last Day is near. At the time, Allah SWT will no longer protect the Ka’ba and this result in its destruction by the Abyssinians. Furthermore, at the time, there is no longer any believers who are still alive and the Ka’ba’s function ceases to exist.
- From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
ثُمَّ تَأْتِي الْحَبَشَةُ فَيُخَرِّبُونَهُ خَرَابًا لَا يَعْمُرُ بَعْدَهُ أَبَدًا، وَهُمُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَخْرِجُونَ كَنْزَهُ
“Then the Abyssinians came and destroy the Ka’ba completely. Afterwards, the Ka’ba is no longer in use and they (the Abyssinians) seize the treasures in it,”
Musnad Ahmad (8619) [Syeikh Syu’aib al-Arna’outh states the status of this hadith is authentic and its narrators are tsiqah (trustworthy)]
Closing
To conclude, the hadith that discusses the incident related to the destruction of the Ka’ba during the end of times is authentic and the Ka’ba will be destroyed by the Abyssinians of which is described by the Prophet PBUH as black and have lean legs. Lastly, may Allah SWT save us all from the fitnah that will happen during the end of times and always maintain our faith. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.