The hadith “in the era of Hazrat Mahdi (as), people, with their families, will want to board a ship and run away” is referring to the refugees

ADNAN OKTAR: It is related from Abdullah ibn Umar that our Prophet (saas) said, “in the era of the Mahdi, there will come a time upon people that on that day, people will want to board a ship and run away together with their families." Look, “with their families,” just like the current refugees do. "But the trouble they will face among the waves of the sea will be much more severe than the one on the land," the Prophet (saas) says. He is referring to the refugees drowning when their boats capsize, insha'Allah. Our Prophet (saas) says that there will occur major incidents before the appearance of the Mahdi (as). Our Prophet (saas) provided the aforementioned detail as a sign of these incidents. He foresaw what will happen in the End Times. He foresaw the current incidents 1400 years ago and related them. These incidents happened 1400 years ago; look, the current incidents happened 1400 years ago. And the Prophet (saas) saw and related them. People th