About the vicissitudes of time
He (Allah) is the First before every first and the Last after every last. His Firstness necessitates that there is no (other) first before Him and His Lastness necessitates that there is no other last after Him. I do stand witness, both openly as well as secretly, with heart as well as with tongue, that there is no god but Allah.
O people, do not commit the crime of opposing me, do not be seduced into disobeying me and do not wink at each other with eyes when you hear me. By Allah, Who germinates Theseed and blows the wind, whatever I convey to you is from the Prophet (P.B.U.H. and His Household) Neither the conveyor (of Allah’s message, i.e. The Prophet (P.B.U.H. and His Household) ) lied nor the hearer misunderstood.
Well, it is as though I see a misguided man1 who is shouting in Syria and has put his banners in the outskirts of Kufa. When his mouth would be fully opened, his recalcitrance would become intense and his steps on earth would become heavy (and tyrannical) then the disorder (so created) would cut the people with its teeth and war would rage with (all) its waves. Days would become severe and nights full of toil. So when the crops grow and stand on stalks, its foam shoots forth and its lightning shines, the banners of misguiding rebellion would fire up and shoot forth like darkening night and surging sea. This and how many other storms would rend Kufa and gales would sweep over it? Shortly, heads would clash with heads, the standing crop would be harvested and the harvest would be smashed.
1. Some people have taken this to refer to Mu’awiyah and others to A Abdul-Malik ibn Marwan.
