English Translation

Abu Ya'la informed us, Abdullah ibn Mu'awiyah narrated to us, Hammad ibn Salamah narrated to us from Ayyub from Abu Qilabah from Abu Asma' from Thawban that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "There will be three difficult years before the Dajjal, in which people will be afflicted with severe hunger. In the first year, Allah will command the sky to withhold a third of its rain and command the earth to withhold a third of its vegetation. In the second year, He will command the sky to withhold two-thirds of its rain and command the earth to withhold two-thirds of its vegetation. In the third year, He will command the sky to withhold all its rain, so no drop will fall, and command the earth to withhold all its vegetation, so no green thing will grow. All cloven-hoofed animals will perish except what Allah wills." It was said: What will sustain people during that time? He said: "Tahlil, takbir, tasbih, and tahmid. It will benefit them as food does."