Mongol Invasion: "...They will be of red faces, flat noses and small eyes; their faces will look like flat shields, and their shoes will be of hair.”

Mongol Invasion

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The Hour will not be established till you fight with the Khudh and the Kirman from among the non-Arabs. They will be of red faces, flat noses and small eyes; their faces will look like flat shields, and their shoes will be of hair.”

حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ هَمَّامٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى تُقَاتِلُوا خُوزًا وَكَرْمَانَ مِنَ الأَعَاجِمِ، حُمْرَ الْوُجُوهِ، فُطْسَ الأُنُوفِ، صِغَارَ الأَعْيُنِ، وُجُوهُهُمُ الْمَجَانُّ الْمُطْرَقَةُ، نِعَالُهُمُ الشَّعَرُ ‏”‏‏.‏ تَابَعَهُ غَيْرُهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّزَّاقِ‏.‏

English reference:- Sahih Muslim : Vol. 4, Book 56, Hadith 788

Arabic reference:-Sahih Muslim : Book 61, Hadith 3632


Prophecy in Effect: The Mongols, under Hulagu Khan (grandson of Gengis Khan) invaded 659 years after Prophecised, he ransacked Baghdad, the capital city of the Muslims and the Abbasid dynasty in the year 1258 CE/659 AH (Hijri.) (see here) Muslims thereafter fought and continued to be defeated until the battle of Ayn Jaloot (1260CE/661 AH) whereafter the Mongol dynasty did not have its potent effect as it had before.
One of the primary distinguishing signs of the Mongols was the animal fur they wore. And their red, flat faces:

^A picture of the emperor Kublai Khan with a red, wide (shield-like) face as Prophet Muhammed predicted.

^A picture of the emperor (Tomor Olziit Khaan) , one of the Mongols kings

^A picture of a Mongol warrior , see the beaver fur on his head.


The Mongols came around 700 years after the death of God's Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him). They were extremely violent against the Muslims (so much so that this is one of the most famous conflicts known in Muslim history). The Mongols became Muslims later, but the harm they had caused as non Muslims was one of the reasons for the demise of the Muslim Golden Age.

So its no surprise that it was mentioned specifically by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) more than any other conflict as one of the signs of the approaching of Judgment Day.