The Destruction of the Ka'ba

One of the last signs of the Day of Resurrection is the destruction of the Ka'ba by Zul-Suwayqatayn. He is from Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and will destroy the Ka'ba in order to steal its treasure and Kiswah (its cover). The Ka'ba  is a holy shrine for Muslims, located at the center of the main mosque of Mecca, known as Masjid Al-Haram. It is the ancient shrine which was built by Abraham, and whose foundations were laid by Adam.

In the Tafsir (interpretation) of the Ayah "Until the Gog and Magog  are let through (their barrier)'" (al-Anbiya 21:96), it is reported by Ka'b al-Ahbar that Zul-Suwayqatayn will first emerge at the time of Jesus, son of Mary. Jesus will lead a army of seven and eight hundred Muslim soldiers and march to fight Zul-Suwayqatayn. While they are marching towards Zul-Suwayqatayn, Allah will send a breeze from the direction of Yemen, which will take the soul of every believer. Only the worst of people will be left, and they will begin to copulate like animals. Ka'b said: "At that time, the Hour will be very close."

'AbdAllah ibn 'Amr said, "I heard the Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم  say, Zul-Suwayqatayn from Al-Habasha ( Abyssinia or Ethiopia) will destroy the Ka'ba and steal its treasure and Kiswah. It is as if I could see him now: he is bald-headed and has a distortion in his wrists. He will strike the Ka'ba with his spade and pick-axe'." (Ahmad)

Ibn 'Abbas narrated that the Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "It is as if I can see him now: he is Black and his legs are widely spaced (bow-legged). He will destroy the Ka'bah stone by stone." (Ahmad)

It was reported from 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar that the Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم  said, "Leave the Ahbash (Abyssinians or Ethiopians) alone so long as they do not disturb you, for no one will recover the treasure of the Ka'ba, except Zul-Suwayqatayn from Abyssinia." (Abu Dawud, in the chapter on the prohibition of provoking the Abyssinians)

The Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم  said, "The Hour will not come until a man from Qahtan appears and rules the people." (Muslim; a similar Hadith also is mentioned in Bukhari) Some scholar believe that this Hadith may be referring to Zul-Suwayqatayn.

This man could be Zul-Suwayq (someone else) because this man comes from Qahtan, while other reports say that Zul-Suwayqatayn comes from Abyssinia; and Allah knows best.

Abu Hurairah said, "The Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم  said, 'Day and night will not come to an end until a freed man called Jahjah holds sway'" (Ahmad)   Jahjah could be the name of Zul-Suwayqatayn from Abyssinia; and Allah knows best.

Umar ibn al-Khattab reported that he heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  say: "The people of Makka will leave, and only a few people will pass through it. Then, it will be resettled and rebuilt; then, the people will leave it again, and no-one will ever return."