Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
The Great Battle and the Conquest of Istanbul
After the emergence of the Mahdi, Allah Ta‘ala will grant the Muslims power and might in the world. The Christians will realize that the Muslims are gaining support and are growing in strength, day by day. They will then prepare a massive army to fight against the Mahdi and the Muslims.
It is reported in the Hadith that the Christians from all the lands will then gather their troops and prepare to fight against the Muslims. This army will have 80 flags and there will be 12 000 soldiers under each flag, thus totalling 960 000 in number.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had prophesized the occurrence of this great battle and referred to it as “Malhamah-e-Kubra – the Great Battle”. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “All the Christians will unite for the great battle. They will march against you under eighty banners. Twelve thousand people will march under each banner.” (Ibnu Hibbaan #6708)
This great battle will occur at a place near A’maaq and Daabiq (two places near Halab in Syria). The Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) will be present to lead the Muslims in this battle. All the kuffaar will then unite against the Muslims and a fierce battle will be fought.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Qiyaamah will not occur until the disbelievers will encamp to fight you at A’maaq or Daabiq. At that time, an army from the city, comprising of the best people on earth at that time (i.e. the army of the Mahdi [radhiyallahu ‘anhu]), will come out to fight them.
“When the rows of battle will be formed, the Romans (Christians) will say to the Muslims, “Hand over those believers who have fought us and taken our people as captives (i.e. we have not come to fight all of you, rather we have only come to fight those of you who fought us and took our people as captives).” The Muslims will reply, “No, we will not hand over our brothers to you!”
“Then a battle will ensue in which one third of the Muslim army will be defeated (and flee from the battlefield), and Allah Ta‘ala will never forgive them. One third of the Muslim army will be killed, and they will be among the best of martyrs at that time in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala. Finally, the remaining third of the Muslim army will be granted victory. They will never again face trials wherein they will be overpowered for the rest of their lives.” (Muslim #2897)
After this victory of the Muslims, the kuffaar will have no hope of ruling and wielding power in the world. Thereafter, the Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) will prepare to conquer Istanbul. At that time, Istanbul will be under the rule of the kuffaar.
The Conquest of Istanbul
The Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) will proceed with 70 000 people from the Banu Ishaaq towards Istanbul. They will board the Mahdi’s (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) ships and reach Istanbul. When they reach the walls of the city, they will shout out, “Laa ilaaha illallah Allahu Akbar!” in a loud voice. Through the barakah of calling out the takbeer, the city walls will collapse. The Muslims will then enter the city and seize control.
The period between the great war against the Christians and the Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) conquering Istanbul will be approximately six years. Thereafter, Dajjaal will appear in the seventh year.
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), “Have you heard of a city which has one portion on land and another portion in the sea (i.e. Istanbul)?” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) replied in the affirmative.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said, “Qiyaamah will not occur until seventy thousand from the progeny of Bani Ishaaq will wage war against it. When they come to it, they will descend upon it. They will not fight with weapons nor will they fire arrows. Rather, they will call out “Laa ilaaha illallah Allahu Akbar!” at which the portion which is in the ocean will fall. They will then call out for the second time “Laa ilaaha illallah Allahu Akbar!” at which another portion will fall. They will then call out for the third time “Laa ilaaha illallah Allahu Akbar!” at which an opening will be created for them. They will then enter the city and acquire booty. While they will be distributing the booty, they will hear a shout, “Dajjaal has emerged!” They will thus abandon everything and return.” (Muslim #2920)
In the Hadith of Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in Saheeh Muslim, it is mentioned, “After conquering Constantinople (i.e. Istanbul) while the Muslims will be engaged in distributing the booty and will have hung their swords on the olive trees, shaitaan (i.e. a mischief maker) will cry out among them, ‘Indeed Maseeh (i.e. Dajjaal) has come to your families in your absence.’ They will thus leave Constantinople. They will send few horsemen ahead to go and investigate the information but will find that it was only a rumour and that Dajjaal did not emerge. However, sometime after reaching Shaam, Dajjaal will emerge. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, ‘Indeed, I know the names of the horsemen, the names of their fathers and the colour of their horses. They will be the best horsemen on the face of the earth on that day.’” (Muslim #2897, 2899)
In another Hadith, Hazrat Mu’aaz bin Jabal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The land of Baytul Muqaddas becoming developed (by the kuffaar taking over the land) will first take place, thereafter Yathrib (i.e. Madinah Munawwarah) will become barren (of the means of hidaayat). Madinah Munawwarah becoming barren will take place before the great war breaks out. The great war breaking out will take place before Constantinople is conquered (by the Mahdi and the Muslims). Constantinople being conquered will take place before the emergence of Dajjaal.” (Abu Dawood #4296)
