Question Summary:
Reference of Hadith on two armies fighting each other

Question Detail:

please may you provide me the hadith and background on the hadith where it is stated that towards end of times there will be much fighting and there will be 2 major groups who will fight each other...are these two groups from muslims and will they be fighting for the same goal but they have difference of opinion on aqidah issues?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The Hadīth you refer to is as follows:
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، قَالَ: هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا: وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى تَقْتَتِلَ فِئَتَانِ عَظِيمَتَانِ، وَتَكُونُ بَيْنَهُمَا مَقْتَلَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ وَدَعْوَاهُمَا وَاحِدَةٌ»[1] 
Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiyallhu ‘Anhu narrated from Rasulullah Sallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam a number of things (from amongst the signs of Qiyaamah). From amongst them was,
“Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam mentioned: ‘The final day shall not come until too huge armies fight one another. There shall be a great war fought between them, yet their claim will be one and the same.’” (Saheeh Muslim, Book on Trials and Signs of Qiyaamah; Chapter Regarding When Muslims Will Face off Against Each Other with Their Swords)
Commentators of Hadith, in particular ‘Allāmah Shams al-Deen al-Kirmānī, Mullā ‘Alī al-Qārī, ‘Allāmah Ibn al-Malak and Hāfiz Ibn Hajar Rahimahumullah have stated that this Hadīth refers to the battle fought between the army of Hadrat ‘Alī Radiyallahu ‘Anhu and the army of Hadrat mu’āwiyah Radiyalluhu ‘Anhu.[2] Both armies were true and faithful Muslims. They fought due disagreements on internal issues regarding Islamic governance. Both armies claimed of being on the right track.
Being a war fought between two illustrious Sahabah of Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, we respect, honour and revere both personalities equally. Shari’ah advocates that we desist from commenting on the wars fought between different groups of the Sahabah. Hence, we advise that such matters be left alone rather than one digging into their history and emerging with negative views regarding either of the parties. We should rather focus towards matters that shall be of benefit to us in the hereafter.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Nabeel Valli
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net