The people used to ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about good, but I used to ask him about evil for fear that it might overtake me. Once I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We were in ignorance and in evil and Allah has bestowed upon us the present good; will there by any evil after this good?" He said, "Yes." I asked, "Will there be good after that evil?" He said, "Yes, but it would be tained with Dakhan (i.e. Little evil)." I asked, "What will its Dakhan be?" He said, "There will be some people who will lead (people) according to principles other than my tradition. You will see their actions and disapprove of them." I said, "Will there by any evil after that good?" He said, "Yes, there will be some people who will invite others to the doors of Hell, and whoever accepts their invitation to it will be thrown in it (by them)." I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Describe those people to us." He said, "They will belong to us and speak our language" I asked, "What do you order me to do if such a thing should take place in my life?" He said, "Adhere to the group of Muslims and their Chief." I asked, "If there is neither a group (of Muslims) nor a chief (what shall I do)?" He said, "Keep away from all those different sects, even if you had to bite (i.e. eat) the root of a tree, till you meet Allah while you are still in that state."
Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions - Sahih al-Bukhari 3606
This narration from Hudhaifah ibn al-Yaman (RA) demonstrates profound wisdom in seeking knowledge about evil to avoid it, unlike others who only inquired about good. The Prophet's (pbuh) responses reveal the cyclical nature of trials and blessings in the Muslim Ummah's timeline.
Commentary on the Three Phases
The first evil after initial goodness refers to political trials and innovations (bid'ah) that emerged after the Rightly Guided Caliphs, where people followed principles contrary to Prophetic tradition while maintaining outward Islamic appearance.
The subsequent good "tainted with Dakhan" indicates periods of relative righteousness mixed with minor corruptions, particularly scholarly disagreements and diluted adherence to Sunnah.
The final evil describes outright misguidance where people actively lead others to hellfire through false teachings while using Islamic terminology and claiming Muslim identity.
Practical Guidance for Preservation
The command to "adhere to the group of Muslims and their Chief" emphasizes the obligation of maintaining unity under legitimate Islamic leadership and avoiding division.
When no clear Muslim community exists, the instruction to "keep away from all different sects" and hold firmly to basic Islam - even in isolation - teaches that personal salvation through correct belief and avoidance of innovation takes precedence over communal affiliation during times of extreme religious confusion.