In this heartfelt 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 affirmatively, explaining that he will descend four times, each visit taking away a quality that humanity has allowed to wane.
The first visitation removes justice; today many societies struggle with fairness and oppression, leaving the vulnerable without protection. The second takes baraka, the divine blessing that once suffused daily life. While material abundance may remain, the spiritual vitality that gives purpose fades. The third withdrawal concerns mercy from the hearts of people, resulting in hardened relationships where compassion is scarce. Finally, the fourth descent extracts adab—the proper etiquette and moral conduct ordained by Allah—leaving a world where prohibitions are ignored and disorder prevails.
These prophetic insights invite us to cherish and revive these virtues within ourselves and our communities. By nurturing justice, seeking blessings, extending mercy, and honoring good manners, we can counter the sense of disaster that the hadith describes and restore balance to the dunya.
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