I asked: What is its deception? He said: "A people (in another narration: there will be after me leaders [who do not follow my sunnah and] guide with something other than my guidance. You will recognize some of them and reject others, [and there will be men among them whose hearts are the hearts of devils in human bodies])." (In another narration: What is the truce upon deception? He said: "The hearts of some people will not return to what they were upon before.") I asked: Is there any evil after that good? He said: "Yes, [a blind and deafening trial, upon which] there will be callers at the gates of Hell. Whoever responds to them, they will throw him into it." I asked: O Messenger of Allāh! Describe them to us. He said: "They are from our skin and speak with our tongues." I asked: [O Messenger of Allāh!] What do you command me if that reaches me? He said: "Adhere to the group of Muslims and their leader, [listen and obey the ruler even if he strikes your back and takes your wealth, so listen and obey]." I asked: What if they have neither a group nor a leader? He said: "Then withdraw from all those factions, even if you have to bite onto the root of a tree until death reaches you while you are upon that." (In another narration): "If you die, O Ḥudhayfah, while biting onto a log, it is better for you than to follow any of them."