Explanation

The Companion Nāfi‘ ibn ‘Utbah relates that he was with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) during a battle. Some people clad in woolen clothes came from the direction of the west to meet the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) who was sitting on a high place, and they were standing. Nāfi‘ said to himself that he should not leave the Prophet alone with those strangers, so he should go and stand with them, so that they would not kill the Prophet unnoticed. Then he said to himself that the Prophet was probably having a private conversation with them and did not want anyone to hear or know about it. However, he went to where they were standing and stood between them and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Then Nāfi‘ said that he memorized from the Prophet four sentences that he could count on his fingers. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that Muslims after him would fight the disbelieving Arabs. All Arabs would enter Islam, and the whole Arabian Peninsula would be under the rule of Muslims. Then he said that they would fight the Persians and conquer all the Persian territories. Then they would fight the Byzantines, defeat them, and open their lands. Then they would fight the Anti-Christ, and Allah would vanquish him. Then Nāfi‘ said to Jābir ibn Samurah that the Anti-Christ would emerge only after the Byzantines are conquered. These four things happened except the fighting of the Anti-Christ, which will take place just before the advent of the Hour.