Tuesday, April 22, 2025 AD / Shawwal 23, 1446 AH
Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani
 New question: Please explain the ruling on intentionally remaining in a state of janabah until after the adhan for the morning prayer (fajr) during Ramadan. Click here to read the answer. New saying: A significantly important and enlightening saying from His Eminence about the condition for the Mahdi’s advent. Click here to read it. New critique: Please mention the name of the university or religious school from which His Eminence Khorasani has graduated; because no matter how much I searched, I did not find his name nor his fame as a famous writer, researcher, or religious man in Afghanistan. Click here to read the response. Visit home to read the most important contents of the website. New letter: An excerpt from His Eminence’s letter to one of his companions, in which he advises him and frightens him from Allah. Click here to read it. New lesson: Lessons from His Eminence about the fact that the earth is not empty of a man knowledgeable about the entire religion, whom Allah has appointed as a Caliph, Imam, and guide on it by His command; Authentic Hadiths from the Prophet that indicate it; Hadith No. 11. Click here to read it. New remark: The remark “Inverted era” by “Elias Hakimi” has been published. Click here to read it. New video: A new video with the subject “The Call of Return to Allah” has been published. Click here to watch it. Visit home to read the most important contents of the website.
loading
Question & Answer
 

What is the secret of the black flags of Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani?

The secret of Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani’s use of the black flag is four things:

Firstly, it is Sunnah; because the flag of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) was black; as ibn Abbas, Buraidah, Jabir, Aisha, and others have narrated it. It has been narrated from Yunus ibn Ubaid, the freed slave of Muhammad ibn Qasim, that he said: «بَعَثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ إِلَى الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ رَايَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ: كَانَتْ سَوْدَاءَ مُرَبَّعَةً مِنْ نَمِرَةٍ»[1]; “Muhammad ibn Qasim sent me to Bara’ ibn Azib to ask him about the flag of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family). He replied: ‘It was black and square, being made of a woolen rug.’” It has been narrated from Abu Hurairah that he said: «كَانَتْ رَايَةُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ قِطْعَةٌ قَطِيفَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ كَانَتْ لِعَائِشَةَ»[2]; “The flag of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) was a black velvet cloth belonging to Aisha.” Umrah, the daughter of Abd al-Rahman, has narrated and said: «كَانَتْ رَايَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَوْدَاءَ مِنْ مِرْطٍ لِعَائِشَةَ مُرَحَّلٍ»[3]; “The flag of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) was an unsewn and painted black cloth belonging to Aisha.” Sa‘id ibn Musayyib has narrated a similar report[4]. Harith ibn Hassan has narrated and said: «قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ، فَإِذَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، وَبِلَالٌ قَائِمٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مُتَقَلِّدًا سَيْفًا، وَإِذَا رَايَاتٌ سُودٌ، فَقُلْتُ: مَا هَذِهِ الرَّايَاتُ؟ قَالُوا: هَذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَمْرَو بْنَ الْعَاصِ وَجْهًا»; “I came to Medina. Then I saw that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) was on the pulpit while Bilal was holding a sword in front of him, and some black flags were raised high. Then I said: ‘What are these flags?’ They said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) wants to send Amr ibn al-As to somewhere,’” and in another narration: «عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ قَدِمَ مِنْ غَزَاةٍ»[5]; “Amr ibn al-As has returned from a war.” Ibn Sa‘d has narrated from his narrators that they said: «بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فِي خَمْسِينَ وَمِائَةِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ عَلَى مِائَةِ بَعِيرٍ وَخَمْسِينَ فَرَسًا وَمَعَهُ رَايَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ»[6]; “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) sent Ali ibn Abi Talib to war with one hundred and fifty men from the Ansar, riding a hundred camels and fifty horses, while he was carrying a black flag.” Qatadah has narrated from Anas that he said: «إِنَّ ابْنَ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ كَانَتْ مَعَهُ رَايَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي بَعْضِ مَشَاهِدِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ»[7]; “Ibn Umm Maktum had a black flag with himself in some of the wars of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) which was for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family).” It has been narrated that Zubair ibn al-Awwam entered Mecca on the day of the conquest with five hundred Arab emigrants and tribes, while he was carrying a black flag[8]. Yazid ibn Abi Habib has said: «كَانَتْ رَايَاتُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ سُودًا»[9]; “The flags of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) were black.” Hasan has said: «كَانَتْ رَايَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَوْدَاءَ تُسَمَّى الْعُقَابَ»[10]; “The flag of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) was black and was called the Eagle.” This has been also narrated from Abu Hurairah[11]. It has been narrated from Urwah ibn Zubair that he said: «كَانَتْ رَايَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَوْدَاءَ مِنْ بُرْدٍ لِعَائِشَةَ تُدْعَى الْعُقَابَ»[12]; “The flag of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) was black from a cloth belonging to Aisha. And it was called the Eagle.” It has been narrated from Umm Husain, the daughter of Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husain, that she said in a hadith: «قَالَ لِي عَمِّي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ: يَا بُنَيَّةُ! هَذِهِ رَايَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْعُقَابُ، ثُمَّ أَخْرَجَ خِرْقَةً سَوْدَاءَ، ثُمَّ وَضَعَهَا عَلَى عَيْنَيْهِ، ثُمَّ أَعْطَانِيهَا فَوَضَعْتُهَا عَلَى عَيْنَيَّ وَوَجْهِي»[13]; “My uncle Ja’far ibn Muhammad said to me: ‘O my daughter! This is the Eagle, the flag of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family).’ Then he took out a black cloth and put it on his eyes and then gave it to me. And I, too, put it on my eyes and on my face.” Moreover, the flag of Ali ibn Abi Talib in his wars was also black; as Huraith ibn Makhsh has narrated and said: «إِنَّ رَايَةَ عَلِيٍّ كَانَتْ يَوْمَ الْجَمَلِ سَوْدَاءَ»[14]; “Indeed, the flag of Ali on the day of Jamal was black.” It has been narrated form Ali (peace be upon him) that he said on the day of Siffin, pointing to the bearer of his flag, Abu Sasan al-Hudain ibn al-Mundhar al-Raqashi:

لِمَنْ رَايَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ يَخْفِقُ ظِلُّهَا ... إِذَا قِيلَ قَدِّمْهَا حُضَيْنُ تَقَدَّمَا

يُقَدِّمُهَا لِلْمَوْتِ حَتَّى يُزِيرَهَا ... حِيَاضَ الْمَنَايَا يَقْطُرُ الْمَوْتَ وَالدَّمَا

أَذَقْنَا ابْنَ حَرْبٍ طَعْنَنَا وَضَِرَابَنَا ... بِأَسْيَافِنَا حَتَّى تَوَلَّى وَأَحْجَمَا

جَزَى اللَّهُ قَوْمًا قَاتَلُوا عَنْ إِمَامِهِمْ ... لَدَى الْمَوْتِ قُدْمًا مَا أَعَفَّ وَأَكْرَمَا[15]

“For whom is the black flag whose shadow is cast? When it is said, ‘O Hudain! bring it forth,’ it is brought forth. So, he sends it toward death to bring it to the wells of death, from which destruction and blood drip. We had ibn Harb taste our spears and blows, with our swords, until he turned away and fled. May Allah reward the group who fought alongside their Imam to the death. How honorable and noble they were.”

Some scholars have considered it probable that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) liked the black flag because he took it as a good omen; as they have said: «إِنَّ الْحِكْمَةَ فِي إِيثَارِ الْأَسْوَدَ يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ الْإِشَارَةُ إِلَى مَا مَنَحَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى بِهِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ مِنَ السُّؤْدُدِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّفِقْ لِأَحَدٍ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ قَبْلَهُ، وَإِلَى سُؤْدُدِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَهْلِهِ»[16]; “The wise reason for preferring the color black (سود) on the day of the conquest of Mecca was to refer to «سؤود», meaning victory and dignity, which was not achieved for any of the previous Prophets, as well as the victory and dignity of Islam and its people.” It is not unlikely; because «السّؤدد» means greatness, glory, and honor, and «الْمُسَوَّدُ» means “Sayyid” in the sense of master and leader; as it has been said in the narration of Qays ibn Asim: «اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَسَوِّدُوا أَكْبَرَكُمْ»[17]; “Fear Allah and make the greater one among you the master,” and in the narration of ibn Umar: «مَا رَأَيْتُ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَسْوَدَ مِنْ فُلَانٍ»[18]; “After the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) I did not see anyone to be more Sayyid than so and so.” It has been narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) liked to take things as good omens, and he took good names as good omens[19]. Therefore, Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani’s use of black flags is based on the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) and the way of his guided caliph, Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). This is not strange; because he follows their way in everything and continues their blessed movement to establish the pure religion and fill the Earth with justice and equity. Undoubtedly, the most appropriate flag for one who does this, invites people to return to Islam, and prepares the ground for the Mahdi’s rule is the flag of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) and the flag of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him).

Secondly, using black flags is more beneficial for believers on the day they gather and on the day they fight in the way of Allah; as al-Sarakhsi has said in Sharh al-Siyar al-Kabir: «إِنَّمَا اسْتُحِبَّ فِي الرَّايَاتِ السَّوَادُ لِأَنَّهُ عَلَمٌ لِأَصْحَابِ الْقِتَالِ، وَكُلُّ قَوْمٍ يُقَاتِلُونَ عِنْدَ رَايَتِهِمْ، وَإِذَا تَفَرَّقُوا فِي حَالِ الْقِتَالِ، يَتَمَكَّنُونَ مِنَ الرُّجُوعِ إِلَى رَايَتِهِمْ، وَالسَّوَادُ فِي ضَوْءِ النَّهَارِ أَبْيَنُ وَأَشْهَرُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ خُصُوصًا فِي الْغُبَارِ، فَلِهَذَا اسْتُحِبَّ ذَلِكَ»[20]; “The color black on flags is recommended because it is a symbol for warriors. And each group fights under their own flag and can return to it whenever they are scattered during the war. And black is brighter and more visible in daylight than other colors, especially in dust. Therefore, it is recommended.”

Thirdly, using black flags is a common and conventional practice among those afflicted with a great tragedy, to the extent that it conventionally indicates the occurrence of a grave unfortunate event and is considered a kind of declaration of tragedy. It is probably one of the reasons that have prompted Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani to use black flags; because he has been afflicted with a great tragedy, the like of which has never happened on Earth since Allah made the children of Adam dwell on it, and that is the absence of Allah’s caliph on Earth, which has led to the Earth being filled with ignorance, disbelief, oppression, and sin. This is a tragedy that people are unaware of despite its extensiveness and graveness. For this reason, Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani has used black flags to draw people’s attention to it, and therefore, he will not lower these flags until this tragedy ends, Insha’Allah.

Fourthly, using black flags is a clear opposition to an oppressive and corrupt group called “ISIS”; because they emerged in Syria and Iraq shortly before the emergence of Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani in Khorasan, and they used black flags to invite people to the rule of a misguided and misleading man called Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Therefore, when Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani noticed it, he used black flags to invite people to the rule of the Mahdi to confront this great and dangerous deviation from the path of Islam; as he himself has stated in a part of his honorable book Return to Islam, referring to this ominous group:

I heard that a call to falsehood was raised in the West, so I wanted a call to the truth to be heard in the East so that it would not be just the call to falsehood heard in the world lest Muslims agree on falsehood and the punishment of Allah be sent on them; because the government belongs to Allah alone, and He gives it to whomever He wants from among His servants, and He has wanted none but Mahdi of Fatimah, who pleases the family of Muhammad and all Muslims.[21]

This is the secret of Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani’s use of black flags.

↑[1] . Musnad of Ahmad, vol. 30, p. 589; al-Tarikh al-Kabir by al-Bukhari, vol. 10, p. 479; Sunan of Abi Dawud, vol. 3, p. 32; Sunan of al-Tirmidhi, vol. 4, p. 196; al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Nasa’i, vol. 8, p. 19; Musnad of Abi Ya‘la, vol. 3, p. 255; Musnad of al-Ruyani, vol. 1, p. 273; Akhlaq al-Nabi by Abu al-Shaikh al-Asbahani, vol. 2, p. 413; al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi, vol. 6, p. 589
↑[2] . Al-Kamil by ibn Adi, vol. 3, p. 457; History of Damascus by ibn Asakir, vol. 4, p. 225
↑[3] . Musannaf of ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 6, p. 532; Akhlaq al-Nabi by Abu al-Shaikh al-Asbahani, vol. 2, p. 418; Sharh al-Sunnah by al-Baghawi, vol. 10, p. 404
↑[4] . Tarikh Khalifhah ibn Khayyat, p. 67; History of Damascus by ibn Asakir, vol. 42, p. 73
↑[5] . Musannaf of ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 6, p. 532; Musnad of Ahmad, vol. 25, p. 303; History of Medina by ibn Shabbah, vol. 1, p. 301; Sunan of al-Tirmidhi, vol. 5, p. 245; Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 1, p. 217; al-Mu’jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani, vol. 3, p. 255; al-Azamah by Abu al-Shaikh al-Asbahani, vol. 4, p. 320; Ma‘rifah al-Sahabah by Abu Nu‘aym al-Asbahani, vol. 2, p. 791; al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi, vol. 6, p. 590
↑[6] . Maghazi al-Waqidi, vol. 3, p. 984; al-Tabaqat al-Kubra by ibn Sa‘d, vol. 2, p. 164
↑[7] . Al-Nasa’i has narrated it in al-Sunan al-Kubra (vol. 8, p. 19) with these words.
↑[8] . Maghazi al-Waqidi, vol. 2, p. 819
↑[9] . Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra by ibn Sa‘d, vol. 1, p. 352
↑[10] . Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra by ibn Sa‘d, vol. 1, p. 352; Musannaf of ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 6, p. 533; al-Anwar Fi Shama’il al-Nabi al-Mukhtar by al-Baghawi, p. 592
↑[11] . Ibn Adi has narrated it in al-Kamil Fi al-Du‘afa’ al-Rijal (vol. 5, p. 475).
↑[12] . Sharh al-Siyar al-Kabir by al-Sarakhsi, p. 71, and there is a similar report in Maghazi al-Waqidi (vol. 2, p. 649).
↑[13] . Basa’ir al-Darajat by al-Saffar, p. 207
↑[14] . Musannaf of ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 6, p. 533; al-Mu’talif Wa al-Mukhtalif by al-Daraqutni, vol. 4, p. 2807
↑[15] . Ansab al-Ashraf by al-Baladhuri, vol. 2, p. 270; Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 5, p. 37; al-Futuh by ibn A‘tham, vol. 3, p. 28; Muruj al-Dhahab by al-Mas‘udi, vol. 3, p. 48; Tajarib al-Umam by ibn Miskawayh, vol. 1, p. 532; al-Kamel Fi al-Tarikh by ibn al-Athir, vol. 2, p. 650; Bughyat al-Talab Fi Tarikh Halab by ibn al-Adim, vol. 6, p. 2834
↑[16] . Muntaha al-Suwl Ala Wasa’il al-Wusul Ila Shama’il al-Rasul by al-Hajji, vol. 1, p. 517. He has attributed it to the scholars.
↑[17] . Musnad of Ahmad, vol. 34, p. 217; al-Adab al-Mufrad by al-Bukhari, p. 188; Shu‘ab al-Iman by al-Bayhaqi, vol. 5, p. 41
↑[18] . Al-Ahad Wa al-Mathani by ibn Abi Asim, vol. 1, p. 379; al-Sunnah by Abu Bakr ibn al-Khallal, vol. 2, p. 442; al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani, vol. 12, p. 387; Ma‘rifah al-Sahabah by Abu Nu‘aym al-Asbahani, vol. 5, p. 2496
↑[19] . See Sunan of ibn Majah, vol. 2, p. 170; Sharh Mushkil al-Athar by al-Tahawi, vol. 5, p. 99; Sahih of ibn Hibban, vol. 13, p. 493.
↑[20] . Sharh al-Siyar al-Kabir by al-Sarakhsi, p. 72
The website for the office of Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani The section for answering questions
Share
Share this content with your friends to help spread the knowledge; for letting others know about knowledge is a means for expressing gratitude.
Email
Telegram
Facebook
Twitter
You can also read this content in the following languages:
If you are fluent in another language, translate the content into it and send us your translation to publish on the website. [Translation Form]
Ask a Question
Dear user! You can write your question about the opinions of His Eminence Allamah Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani (may Allah protect him) in the form below and send it to us to be answered in this section.
Attention: Your name may be displayed as the author of this question on the website.
Attention: Since our response will be sent to your email address and may not be published on the website, it is important that you enter your email address correctly.
Please note the following:
1. Your question may have already been answered on the website. Therefore, it is advisable to review the related questions and answers or use the search feature before submitting your question.
2. Please do not send a new question before receiving the answer to your previous one.
3. Please do not send more than one question at a time.
4. Our priority is to answer questions about Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) and how to prepare the ground for his advent, as this is more important than anything at the moment.