The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah will say, 'O Adam!. Adam will reply, 'Labbaik and Sa`daik (I respond to Your Calls, I am obedient to Your orders), wal Khair fi Yadaik (and all the good is in Your Hands)!' Then Allah will say (to Adam), Bring out the people of the Fire.' Adam will say, 'What (how many) are the people of the Fire?' Allah will say, 'Out of every thousand (take out) nine hundred and ninety-nine (persons).' At that time children will become hoary-headed and every pregnant female will drop her load (have an abortion) and you will see the people as if they were drunk, yet not drunk; But Allah's punishment will be very severe." That news distressed the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) too much, and they said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Who amongst us will be that man (the lucky one out of one-thousand who will be saved from the Fire)?" He said, "Have the good news that one-thousand will be from Gog and Magog, and the one (to be saved will be) from you." The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, I Hope that you (Muslims) will be one third of the people of Paradise." On that, we glorified and praised Allah and said, "Allahu Akbar." The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, I hope that you will be one half of the people of Paradise, as your (Muslims) example in comparison to the other people (non-Muslims), is like that of a white hair on the skin of a black ox, or a round hairless spot on the foreleg of a donkey."
The Dialogue Between Allah and Adam
This narration depicts the profound dialogue on the Day of Judgment where Allah addresses our father Adam, who responds with complete submission: "Labbaik and Sa'daik, wal Khair fi Yadaik." This demonstrates the proper etiquette of a servant before his Lord - acknowledging divine sovereignty while affirming that all goodness emanates from Allah alone.
The Startling Proportion of Hell's Inhabitants
The revelation that 999 out of every thousand will be destined for the Fire caused immense distress among the Companions. This numerical ratio serves as a severe warning about the overwhelming majority who will face divine punishment, intended to awaken hearts from spiritual negligence and encourage immediate repentance.
The Physical Manifestations of Terror
The description of children turning grey-haired and pregnant women miscarrying illustrates the unimaginable horror of that Day. People will appear intoxicated though sober, overwhelmed by the magnitude of what they witness. These physical transformations demonstrate how spiritual realities manifest physically on that ultimate Day.
The Prophetic Consolation and Hope
When the distressed Companions inquired about their fate, the Prophet provided immediate comfort by clarifying that the overwhelming majority destined for Hell would be from Gog and Magog. The Muslim community, though small in number compared to humanity throughout history, would constitute a significant portion of Paradise's inhabitants - initially one-third, then raised to half.
The Significance of the White Hair Simile
The final analogy of a white hair on a black ox or a hairless spot on a donkey's leg powerfully illustrates the relative scarcity of true believers throughout human history. This vivid imagery serves dual purposes: it humbles believers by showing their numerical insignificance while simultaneously elevating their status as the chosen few who attained faith.