To what extent is the following prophetic hadith authentic: "Behold, the mill of Islam is turning, so revolve wherever it revolves. Behold, the Book and the Sultan will separate, so be with the Book... Behold, rulers will be appointed over you who are pleased for themselves with what they are not pleased for you. If you obey them, they will mislead you, and if you disobey them, they will kill you." They said, "What should we do then, O Messenger of Allah?" He (peace be upon him) said, "Be as the companions of Jesus were, they were sawn with saws and carried on wood... By Him in whose hand is Muhammad's soul, to die in obedience to Allah is better than a life in disobedience"?

The report mentioned by Al-Haythami in Majma‘ Al-Zawa’id from Mu‘adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Take the given if it is given. But if it becomes a bribe concerning the religion, then do not take it. You will not abandon it because poverty and need will prevent you. [Indeed, the mill of Banu Marah has turned, and Banu Marah have been killed]. Indeed, the mill of Islam is turning, so turn with the Book wherever it turns. Indeed, the Book and the ruler will separate, so do not abandon the Book. Indeed, there will be rulers over you who will rule for themselves what they do not rule for you. If you disobey them, they will kill you. And if you obey them, they will mislead you.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, what should we do?” He said, “As the companions of ‘Isa ibn Maryam did: they were sawn with saws and carried on wood. Death in obedience to Allah is better than life in disobedience to Allah.” Al-Haythami said: It was narrated by Al-Tabarani, and Yazid ibn Marthad did not hear from Mu‘adh. Al-Wadeen ibn ‘Ata’ was declared trustworthy by Ibn Hibban but was weakened by a group, and the rest of its narrators are trustworthy. Thus, the hadith is weak due to the قطع (interruption) in its chain of transmission.