Fitna

How the scholars use Fitna.

1. "as confirmed by an authentic hadith regarding injustices. Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Tirmidhi narrated from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas about a trial during the fitna involving Uthman ibn Affan. Sa'd testified that the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, There will be a trial during which the one sitting is better than the one standing, and the one standing is better than the one walking, and the one walking is better than the one running. When asked what to do if someone enters to kill, he replied, Be like the son of Adam. Ibn Mardawai narrated from Hudhaifa ibn al-Yaman, saying, Be like the better of the two sons of Adam. Similar narrations are found"

   — Ibn Kathir, Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā

2. "Iblis sends his troops on earth and says to them, Which of you will mislead a Muslim and place a crown on his head? The one who causes the greatest fitna is closest to him in rank. One of them will come and say, I did not cease to be with so-and-so until he divorced his wife. Iblis will say, You did nothing, he will marry another. Then another will come and say, I did not cease to be with so-and-so until I caused enmity between him and his brother. Iblis will say, You did nothing, they will reconcile. Then another will come and say, I did not cease to be with so-and-so until he committed adultery. Iblis"

   — Imam al-Dhahabī, Al-Kabā'ir — The Major Sins

3. "to Amr, the rebellious faction will kill him, calling them to paradise while they call him to hell. Amr would say, I seek refuge in Allah from fitna. However, Imam al-Bukhari narrated this hadith but did not mention the phrase, the rebellious faction will kill you. Al-Baihaqi noted that this omission might be due to another narration from Abu Nadra, who said that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said to Amr when he was digging the trench, Wretched is the son of Sumayya, he will be killed by a rebellious faction."

   — Ibn Kathir, Volume 3 — The Sīrah: From the First Revelation to Badr