Question
What is the authenticity of this Hadith?
“Signs (of the Hour) are like beads fastened together by a thread. Once the thread is cut, they fall one after another.”
Answer
Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (radiyallahu ‘anhuma).
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (radiyallahu ‘anhuma). reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The signs [of Qiyamah] are like pearls fastened by a string. Once the string is cut, they fall one after the other.”
(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith: 7040, vol. 2 pg. 219)
Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has recorded the Hadith with slight variation in the wording on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (rahimahullah) and has declared the Hadith authentic.
(Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 6833)
Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has also recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) and Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu). He has declared the version recorded by Sayyiduna ‘Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) authentic and ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) concurs.
(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 4 pg. 473-474 and vol. 4 pg. 546)
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And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar