Islam Began as Something Strange

This hadeeth was narrated by Muslim (145) from Abu Hurayrah
(may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Islam began as something strange and
will revert to being strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the
strangers.”

Al-Sindi said in Hashiyat Ibn Majah:

“Strange” refers to the small number of its adherents. The
basic meaning of ghareeb (a stranger) is being far from one’s homeland. “And
will revert to being strange” refers to the small number of those who will
adhere to its teachings even though its followers are many. “So give glad
tidings to the strangers” means those who follow its commands. “Tooba (glad
tidings)” has been interpreted as meaning Paradise or a great tree in
Paradise. This shows that supporting Islam and following its commands may
require leaving one’s homeland and being patient in bearing the difficulties
of being a stranger, as was the case in the beginning.

In Sharh Saheeh Muslim, Al-Nawawi quoted al-Qadi ‘Iyad as
saying concerning the meaning of this hadeeth:

“Islam began among a few individuals, then it spread and
prevailed, then it will reduce in numbers until there are only a few left,
as it was in the beginning.”

It says in Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah, 2/170:

The meaning of this hadeeth is that Islam began as something
strange, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) called people to Islam, but no one responded except a few here and
there. At that time it was something strange because its people were like
strangers amongst others and they were few in number and weak, in contrast
to the great numbers and strength of their enemies who persecuted the
Muslims. Then some of them migrated to Abyssinia, fleeing for the sake of
their religion from tribulation and to save themselves from persecution and
oppression, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) migrated at Allah’s command to Madeenah, after suffering intense
persecution and in the hope that Allah would give him people to support him
in his call and support Islam. Allah fulfilled his hopes, granted victory to
his troops and supported His slave.

The Islamic state was established and Islam spread, with the
help of Allah, throughout the land; Allah made the word of kufr (disbelief)
lowest and the word of Allah is (always) uppermost, for Allah is Almighty,
All-Wise, and honour, power and glory belong to Allah, and to His Messenger
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and to the believers [cf
al-Munafiqoon 63:8]. This continued for a long time, then division and
dissent spread among the Muslims and weakness and failure increased
gradually, until Islam once again became something strange as it was in the
beginning. But this is not because of their small numbers, because at that
time they will be many, rather it is because they do not adhere to their
religion or cling to the Book of their Lord and the teachings of the
Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), apart from
those whom Allah wills. So they become distracted and turn to competing in
worldly matters, like those who came before them, and they fight amongst
themselves for leadership. So the enemies of Islam found a way in and they
colonized their lands, humiliated their people and treated them badly. This
is the way in which Islam returned to being strange as it was in the
beginning.

A number of scholars – including Shaykh Muhammad Rasheed Rida
– thought that this hadeeth gives glad tidings of a second victory of Islam
after it becomes something strange again. They base this on the metaphor
used by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he said,
“… will revert to being strange as it began.” So just as following the
initial strangeness and alienation the Muslims were victorious and Islam
spread, this will happen again after the second period of strangeness and
alienation.

This view is more likely to be correct, and is supported by
what is proven in the ahadeeth (reports) about the Mahdi and the descent of
‘Eesa (peace be upon him) at the end of time, when Islam will spread and the
Muslims will be victorious, and kufr and the kafirs (non-Muslims) will be
defeated.

And Allah is the Source of strength. May Allah send blessings
and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and companions.