The life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ are not only a source of spiritual guidance, but also a treasure of remarkable Islamic prophecies. Throughout history, there have been countless instances where prophecies have materialised, notably during the time of the Sahaba. Like the incident involving Hatib ibn Abi Balta’a, for example. Prophecies illustrate the divine insight bestowed upon the Prophet ﷺ. He received this critical information through Jibreel عليه السلام, demonstrating the connection between himself ﷺ and divine revelation.
These prophetic revelations boosts Iman in our hearts. And we admire a man who speaks nothing but the truth, as indicated in the Quran:
“وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى” (He does not speak from [his own] desire).
Although I will not be able to demonstrate the hundreds of Islamic prophecies in one article, we explore 11 prophecies made by the Prophet ﷺ. My aim is to reveal the foresight he possessed through wahi (revelation), alongside their relevance in today’s world.
Islamic Prophecies – Number 1: Defeat of the Byzantine Romans
One of the most astonishing Islamic prophecies is regarding the defeat of the Byzantine Romans. Despite the vast deserts and significant geopolitical barriers that separated the Qur’an from the power struggles of the time, it predicted the dramatic conflict between the mighty empires of Persia and Rome. The Qur’an proclaimed immediately after the Roman’s initial defeat: “The Romans have been defeated. In the nearest land, but they, after their defeat, will triumph. Within a few years.” (Ar-Rum 30: 2-4) The phrase “بِضْعِ سِنِينَ” in arabic (a few years) signifies a period of three to nine years. A timeframe that perfectly encapsulated the swift and unexpected turnaround in fortunes that will follow.
From 613 to 619 CE, the Byzantine Empire faced a staggering series of defeats at the hands of the Persian forces. Historian Edward Gibbon boldly described this era as a time when the Byzantine Empire seemed to be teetering on the brink of collapse. Yet, in a stunning turn of events, Emperor Heraclius launched a counter-campaign that fulfilled the prophecy in record time-within just six to eight years! This monumental victory is further emphasized in the Qur’an. “الأَمْرُ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَمِنْ بَعْدُ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ.” (الروم 30: 4-5). “To Allah belongs the command before and after. And on that Day, the believers will rejoice.” (Ar-Rum 30: 4-5). Not only did this victory affirm the accuracy of the prophecy in the Quran, but it also marked a new chapter in the unfolding narrative of the Muslim community’s success.
Precision of Islamic Prophecies
But that’s just the beginning. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ further elaborated on these prophetic visions. As narrated by Abu Hurairah, prophet Muhammad said: “When Khosrow is destroyed, there will be no Kisra (Khosrow) after him, and when Caesar is destroyed, there will be no Caesar after him. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad ﷺ, the treasures of both will certainly be spent in the path of Allah.”
In his scholarly insights, Al-Nawawi explains this hadith:
“Al-Shafi’i and other scholars interpret this to mean that there will be no Khosrow in Iraq, nor Caesar in Sham as they existed during the time of the Prophet ﷺ. He informed us about the complete end of their reigns in these regions. And lo and behold, it happened just as he said.”
Concerning Kisra, his kingship was utterly obliterated, swept away by the very call of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. As for Caesar, he was decisively defeated in Sham, retreating to the far reaches of his empire. Muslims advanced and conquered territories that belonged to him. The treasures of these two great empires were ultimately spent in the path of Allah, just as the Messenger ﷺ foretold.
More on this has been detailed in this excellent youtube video:
Islamic Prophecies – Number 2: Hadith to Fatimah رضي الله عنها
Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates an intimate moment the Prophet ﷺ had for his daughter Fatimah رضي الله عنها. She says: “The wives of the Prophet ﷺ were with him when Fatimah arrived. When he saw her, he welcomed her, saying, ‘Welcome, my daughter,’ and he made her sit by his side. Then he whispered to her, and she wept bitterly. When he saw her distress, he whispered to her again, and she smiled. I asked her, ‘The Prophet ﷺ confided in you above all his wives, and yet you weep?’. When the Prophet ﷺ left, I asked her what he had told her. She said, ‘I would never disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’
After his passing, I insisted, and she shared: ‘The first time he told me that Jibreel used to review the Qur’an with him once every year, but this year he reviewed it twice. He said, “I sense that my time is near, so fear Allah and be patient, for I am the best predecessor for you.” This made me weep. Then he whispered to me, “O Fatimah, will you not be pleased to be the first to follow me to Paradise?” This made me smile.'” Imam Nawawi رحمه الله noted that this exchange contains two prophecies that profoundly came true: the nearing of the Prophet’s ﷺ passing and that Fatimah رضي الله عنها would be the first of his family to join him. 6 months after prophet Muhammad’s passing, she passed away at a very young age.
Islamic Prophecies – Number 3: The Inevitability of Riba
The Prophet ﷺ foresaw a time when Riba (usury) will spread into every facet of financial dealings. Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه reported that the the Prophet said: “A time will come upon the people when everyone will consume riba. Whoever does not consume it will be affected by its dust.” (Sunan Abu Dawood). This prediction resonates profoundly today, as interest-based transactions dominate global financial systems, affecting even those who strive to avoid them. I rarely see someone purchasing a house without a mortgage in western countries!
Islamic Prophecies – Number 4: The Escalation of Violence
The Prophet ﷺ warned against the devastating effects of greed and injustice, which will lead to violence and widespread bloodshed. He said: “Beware of oppression, for oppression will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection. And beware of greed, for it destroyed those before you. It caused them to shed blood and make lawful what was unlawful for them” (Sahih Muslim). He further predicted: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the world will not pass until a time comes when the killer does not know why he has killed, and the one killed does not know why he was killed.” (Sahih Muslim) This description mirrors the senseless violence, atrocities and the endless wards that we are witnessing.
Islamic Prophecies – Number 5: Decline of Morality
The Prophet ﷺ foretold the rise of immodesty and moral decline. He said: “There will be women who are clothed yet naked, inclined to evil and making others incline to it. Their heads will appear like the humps of camels. They will not enter Paradise nor smell its fragrance, though its fragrance can be detected from such-and-such a distance.” (Sahih Muslim) This striking prophecy accurately describes modern trends in fashion and societal behaviour and emphasises the consequences of abandoning modesty.
Islamic Prophecies – Number 6: Weakening of the Ummah
The Prophet ﷺ also prophesied a time when the Muslim community would face internal weakness, despite its large numbers. Thawban رضي الله عنه narrated: “The nations will call each other against you as diners call one another to a feast.” It was asked, “Will this be because of our small numbers?” He replied, “No, you will be numerous, but you will be like the foam of the sea. Allah will remove fear of you from the hearts of your enemies and place weakness in your hearts.” They asked, “What is this weakness?” He said, “Love of the world and dislike of death.” (Sunan Abu Dawood). There will not be a more accurate statement that describes the Ummah today!
Islamic Prophecies – Number 7: Hope Amidst Corruption
Despite these challenges, the Prophet ﷺ assured his followers of the endurance of a righteous group within the Ummah: “A group of my Ummah will continue to adhere to the truth. They will not be harmed by those who forsake them until Allah’s command comes.” (Sahih Muslim)
Islamic Prophecies – Number 8: The Emergence of the Khawarij
Abu Saeed Al-Khudri رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “A group will secede during a division among Muslims, and the group closer to the truth will fight them” (Sahih Muslim). This was fulfilled when Ali رضي الله عنه led the fight against the Khawarij at the Battle of Nahrawan. Furthermore, the Prophet ﷺ foretold their characteristics, saying: “They will recite the Qur’an, but it will not pass beyond their throats. They will leave Islam as an arrow leaves its prey. Their sign will be a black man with one hand like a woman’s breast.” Abu Saeed رضي الله عنه testified to witnessing this during the battle, affirming the accuracy of the prophecy.
When ‘ Ali ibn Abi Talib saw him, he glorified Allah saying: “Allahu Akbar, Allah is the Most Truthful, and so is His Prophet”. Muslims were delighted and the grief they felt for the people killed in Nahrawaan, vanished.
Islamic Prophecies – Number 9: A Catalyst for Peace
Abu Bakrah رضي الله عنه narrated a Hadith of Prophet ﷺ. “This son of mine (Al-Hassan) is a leader, and perhaps Allah will bring reconciliation through him between two large groups of Muslims.” (Sahih Bukhari). This prophecy happens when Al-Hassan رضي الله عنه, after assuming the caliphate, makes peace with Muawiyah رضي الله عنه, ending a prolonged conflict and paving the way for stability. This transition of power also marked the shift from the rightly guided caliphate to hereditary monarchy, as foretold by the Prophet ﷺ. “The caliphate in my Ummah will last thirty years; then it will be monarchy.” (Sunan Abu Dawood). Indeed, the combined tenures of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, and Hasan رضي الله عنهم precisely fulfill this timeline. SubhanAllah.
Islamic Prophecies – Number 10: The Fate of Abu Lahab
Quranic revalation prophecises the inability of Abu Lahab to accept Islam. Prophet ﷺ faced mockery from his uncle Abu Lahab upon the advent of Islam. Many others have mocked Islam in its beginning before becoming companions like Umar ibn Al-Khattab. Allah, however, revealed this prophecy in the Quran only directed to Abu Lahab and not to others: “Perish the hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he!” (Al-Masad 111:1). Strikingly, for the next nine years following these verses, despite hearing them, Abu Lahab’s pride kept him from embracing Islam. The divine revelation functioned as a clear indication of his destined failure.
Islamic Prophecies – Number 11: The Globalisation of Islam
During the early years of intense persecution in Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ steadfastly conveyed the promise of the universal spread of Islam. Tamim Al-Dari رضي الله عنه reported, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “This matter (Islam) will reach wherever the night and day have reached, and Allah will not leave a house of mud-brick or tent (of camel hair) except that He will cause this religion to enter it, bringing honor to the honorable and humiliation to the disgraced.”
In another narration, Thawban رضي الله عنه conveyed that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, Allah folded the Earth for me, so I saw its Eastern and Western parts, and surely the dominion of my nation will reach all that was folded for me.” The fact that these prophecies emerged during a time of Muslim vulnerability is miraculous. The belief in Islam’s survival and eventual global presence was far-fetched at that time, but today, with a quarter of the world’s population identifying as Muslims, it’s clear that this was a divine prophecy confirmed by God.
Scientific Fact from the Quran
While not one of the Islamic Prophecies, this is an astonishing scientific fact:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Everyone of the children of Adam has been created with three hundred and sixty joints…” [Narrated by Muslim] «إنه خلق كل إنسان من بني آدم على ستين وثلاثمائة مفصل…» رواه مسلم
Buraida رضي الله عنه narrated that he heard Allah’s Messenger ﷺ say, “Everyone has three hundred and sixty joints, so he has to give charity for each one of them.” It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, who can afford that?” He replied, “You can bury the mucus you may find in the mosque, or remove a stone, thorn, or bone from the path. If you cannot afford that, two Raka‘at at Ad-Duha (morning prayer) are sufficient.” «في الإنسان ستون وثلاثمائة مفصل، فعليه أن يتصدق عن كل مفصل منها صدقة قالوا فمن يطيق ذلك يا رسول الله ؟ قال النخاعة في المسجد تدفنها ، والشيء تنحيه عن الطريق ، فإن لم تقدر فركعتا الضحى تجزي عنك» صححه الألباني
The Prophet ﷺ proclaimed the existence of 360 joints in the human body at a time when such knowledge was unattainable. Many of these joints are so fine and subtle that they were only discovered with the advancement of modern science. This is yet another example of the miraculous knowledge imparted to the Prophet ﷺ by divine revelation. As Allah says:
“Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?” [Al-Mulk 67:14]
To confirm the real number of joints in the human body, please ask ChatGPT! Here is a breakdown of the joints by body part:
- Skull: 86 joints
- Throat: 6 joints
- Thorax: 66 joints
- Spine and pelvis: 76 joints
- Upper limbs: 64 joints
- Lower limbs: 62 joints
This fact highlights the extraordinary precision in the statements of a man like no other who walked the earth 1400 years ago. Long before the advent of modern science!
Reflection
When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ informs us about matters of the unseen future, it is devine knowledge from Allah ﷻ. Islamic Prophecies in the Quran and Sunnah have been revealed to the Prophet ﷺ to confirm his prophethood and message.
Allah ﷻ says: {He is the Knower of the Unseen, and He does not reveal His unseen to anyone * Except to whom He has approved of messengers} (Surah Al-Jinn, 26:27).