In this teaching, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asks the Angel Jibrīl whether he will ever return to this dunya after the Prophet’s passing. The angel replies that he will descend four times, each time taking away a quality that humanity has allowed to fade.
The first time he takes justice; today many societies struggle with unfairness and oppression, and the vulnerable are left without protection. The second time he takes baraka, the divine blessing that once filled daily life: material abundance may remain, but the spiritual vitality that gives it purpose fades. The third time he takes mercy from people’s hearts, leaving hardened relationships in which compassion is scarce. The fourth time he takes adab, the proper conduct ordained by Allah, leaving a world in which prohibitions are ignored and disorder prevails.
These words invite us to cherish and revive these virtues in ourselves and our communities. By upholding justice, seeking blessing, showing mercy and honouring good manners, we can counter the disaster the hadith describes and help restore balance to the dunya.
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