Nobody except Allah knows when the Hour will be established. Jibril (Jibra’eel or Gabriel) once came to the Prophet ﷺ, and asked when the Day of Judgment will be. The Prophet ﷺ replied, “The one who is asked knows no more than the one who is inquiring.” (Muslim 8a) Therefore, not even the angels or prophets are aware about the timing of that Day.
However, there are signs of akhirah which Allah has already communicated to us either directly in the Quran or through Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This article lists 50 minor signs of the Day of Judgement as follows.
Hadith 1:
“Count six signs that indicate the approach of the Hour: (1) my death; (2) the conquest of Jerusalem; (3) a (deadly) plague that will afflict you as the plague that afflicts sheep; (4) the increase of wealth to such an extent that even if one is given one hundred dinars, he will not be satisfied; (5) then an affliction which no Arab house will escape; and (6) then a truce between you and Bani Al-Asfar (i.e. the Byzantines) who will betray you and attack you under 80 flags, with 12,000 soldiers under each flag.” (Bukhari 3,176)
1) Demise of the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ left this world in the 11th Year of Hijrah, corresponding to the year 632 CE as per the Gregorian Calendar. His death was a huge setback for the Muslims. Under his brilliant leadership, the Muslims had not only rectified their religious beliefs, but also attained great worldly success. His demise marked the beginning of an era of trials and tribulations for the Muslims.
2) The conquest of Jerusalem
The conquest of Jerusalem began under the command of the Prophet’s ﷺ companion, Abu Ubayda Ibn Al-Jarrah, whose army besieged the sacred city in Palestine in 637 CE. The Christian patriarch of Jerusalem offered to surrender the city on the condition that the Caliph of the Muslim Empire should come in person to accept the surrender and sign a pact with him. Thus, Caliph Umar Ibn Al-Khattab travelled to Jerusalem with one camel and one servant.
When he arrived, he was greeted by the patriarch who was amazed that the Caliph, one of the most powerful people in the world, was dressed in no more than simple robes, indistinguishable from his servant. Umar was given a tour of the city. When the time for salah came, he was invited to pray inside a church, but Umar refused and prayed outside, where a mosque, known as Masjid Umar (the Mosque of Umar), was later constructed.
3) The Great Plague
This likely refers to the deadly Plague of Amwas (or Plague of Emmaus) which occurred in the land of Sham (Syria, Palestine, and surrounding regions) during the caliphate of Umar in 638-639 CE. The plague is estimated to have killed up to 25,000 people, including some prominent Sahabah and senior commanders of the Muslim army.
4) Abundance of Wealth
The Prophet ﷺ foretold about a time when “a person would roam about with sadaqah of gold, but he would find no one to accept it from him”. (Muslim 1012) He further stated, “The Hour will not be established until your wealth increases so much that one will be worried, for no one will accept his zakat, and the person to whom he will give it will reply, ‘I am not in need of it.’” (Muslim 157d) Such wealth and prosperity was arguably attained several times in history, including the caliphates of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (634-644 CE) and Umar Ibn Abd Al-Aziz (717-720 CE).
5) A Great Affliction in Arabia
This could be a reference to the internal fighting that occurred between different groups of Muslims in the decades after the Prophet’s ﷺ demise. The warfare killed Muslims in huge numbers, thus affecting many homes in Arabia, and weakened the solidarity of Islam. For instance, Uthman Ibn Affan, the third caliph of Islam, was placed under house arrest for days by a group of rebels who eventually stabbed him to death. The Prophet’s ﷺ beloved grandson, Husayn Ibn Ali, was also brutally martyred along with many of his family members by the tyrants who controlled the region.
6) Betrayal by the Byzantines
The Prophet ﷺ foretold that a peace treaty will be signed between the Muslims and the Byzantines (Eastern Romans). This truce, however, will be broken by the Byzantines who will attack the Muslims with a massive army of 960,000 soldiers (12,000 soldiers under each of the 80 banners). Some narrations specify a place called A’maqorWabiq near Syria where this confrontation will occur, often referred to as Al-Malhama al-Kubra (The Great War or Armageddon), in which the Muslims will stand victorious.
(End of Hadith 1 Explanation)
Hadith 2:
“The Hour will not be established until: (1) two big groups fight each other whereupon there will be a great number of casualties on both sides and they will be following one and the same religious doctrine; (2) about thirty dajjals (liars) appear, and each one of them will claim that he is Allah’s messenger; (3) the religious knowledge is taken away; (4) earthquakes increase in number; (5) time passes quickly; (6) afflictions appear; (7) al-harj (i.e. killing) increases; (8) wealth is in abundance – so abundant that a wealthy person will worry lest nobody should accept his zakat, and whenever he will present it to someone, that person will say, ‘I am not in need of it’; (9) the people compete with one another in constructing high buildings; (10) a man passing by a grave will say, ‘Would that I were in his place!’; and (11) the sun rises from the west…” (Bukhari 7,121)
7) The Major Battle
The Prophet ﷺ referred to a major battle occurring between two parties that followed the same religious doctrine. There have been many such encounters throughout history, the most notable of which was the Second World War (1939-1945), in which an estimated 40 to 80 million people were killed. The major countries involved in the war nearly all followed Christianity.
However, this could also be a reference to either of the battles that occurred between Muslims soon after the Prophet’s ﷺ demise. The first was the Battle of Jamal (Battle of the Camel), a major confrontation between the forces of the fourth caliph, Ali Ibn Abi Talib and a group led by the Prophet’s ﷺ wife, Aisha. The second was the Battle of Siffin, fought between the armies of Ali and Muawiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan. These battles resulted in the deaths of thousands of Muslims, including some of the most prominent companions of the Prophet ﷺ, such as Talha, Zubayr, and Ammar.
8) The Appearance of False Prophets
Many people have falsely claimed to be prophets of God throughout history. The Prophet ﷺ described them as dajjals – meaning “the great liars”. He made it clear that there will be no prophet after him. (Tirmidhi 2,219 – Sahih) The following are some false prophets that appeared in Arabia during or immediately after the Prophet’s ﷺ time.
- Al-Aswad Al-Ansi – He was a ruler in Yemen who practised sorcery. He also claimed to receive divine revelations and recited them to people. He is said to have been killed in a battle against a Persian Muslim ruler.
- Tulayha Ibn Khuwaylid Al-Asadi – He claimed prophethood during the lifetime of Muhammad ﷺ, but was defeated. After the Prophet’s ﷺ death, he repeated his claim, but his forces were again defeated by the Muslim army led by Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed. He later accepted Islam, served in the Muslim army, and died as a Muslim.
- Musaylima Al-Kadhaab – He was the most powerful among the false prophets. He claimed prophethood during the lifetime of Muhammad ﷺ, and amassed a huge following among his tribesmen, challenging the authority of the Quran and Sunnah. He was killed in the fiercely contested Battle of Yamama against the Muslim army.
- Sajah Bint Al-Harith Al-Taghlibi – She was a poetess who claimed prophethood, but failed to gain substantial followers. In order to gain prominence, she joined forces with different tribal chiefs and then married Musaylimah. However, she embraced Islam after the death of her husband.
9) Disappearance of Religious Knowledge
Another sign of the Day of Judgement is that knowledge will subside. This will most likely occur due to the death of authentic, wise, and knowledgeable scholars, leaving people to follow the ignorant ones who will misguide them.
10) Frequent Earthquakes
Near the end of times, earthquakes will increase in number. This could also mean that the number of deadly earthquakes and the scale of devastation will increase. According to a recent study by researchers from Germany’s GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences and the University of Southern California, global warming will increase the number and intensity of earthquakes worldwide. This will occur due to continuously rising sea levels and stronger storms resulting from human-induced climate change.
11) Quick Passage of Time
Time will shorten or pass quickly near the Last Hour. This has several interpretations. Ibn Taymiyyah wrote in his book Al-Aqeeda Al-Wasitiyya that one will be able to accomplish less in a given period of time, implying that barakah (blessing) will disappear from time – something that started a long time ago. People sometimes complain that they cannot do as much work as they used to do before. This is perhaps due to emergence of distractions that waste time and adoption of luxurious lifestyles.
Secondly, due to advancements in technology, the speed of travel has increased, making the distance appear less, so it may also be regarded as “shrinking” of time. Thirdly, it is also possible that days will literally become shorter, so that each hour pass more quickly, which has not happened yet.
12) Widespread Killing
The Prophet ﷺ mentioned that al-harj, meaning killing, will become widespread near the Day of Judgment. This is already being witnessed today in the form of serial killings, mass shootings, drone attacks, suicide bombings, and similarly innovative means of violence and bloodshed.
13) Competition in Constructing Tall Buildings
Throughout history, nations have competed for owning the greatest architectural marvels. However, the competition for making the tallest skyscrapers has clearly intensified over the past century or so, particularly among countries in the Middle East, East Asia, and North America. According to another hadith, the Hour will be near “when shepherds compete in constructing buildings” (Ibn Majah 4,044 – Sahih) – perhaps meaning that people who were traditionally shepherds gain so much wealth that they compete in erecting the most impressive buildings.
14) Longing for Death
The enormity of trials towards the end of times will be such that people will wish for death. They will encounter widespread oppression, conflicts, and personal hardships, which will harm their mental health. It is also possible that people will be so focused on acquiring material wealth, and removed from their Creator, that depression will be common among them. Hence, they will actually wish to be dead and peacefully resting in their graves rather than living in this world.
(End of Hadith 2 Explanation)
Hadith 3:
“Ahead of the Hour, (1) greetings of salam will only be given to people whom one knows; (2) commerce will become so widespread that a woman will help her husband in trade; (3) ties of kinship will be severed; (4) there will be false testimony and (5) concealment of testimony; and (6) there will be widespread use of the pen.” (Ahmad 3,870 – Hasan)
15) Selective Greetings of Salam
Islam requires us to spread the greetings of peace, offering them to other Muslims whether we know them or not. However, near the Day of Judgement, the greeting will only be given to individuals known to the greeter. This flaw in Muslims’ social interactions is widely being witnessed today.
16) Expansion of Commerce
Traditionally, most households operated in such a way that the husband earned a livelihood for his family while the wife looked after their domestic affairs. However, near the last Hour, commerce will gain such a central place that the wife will assist her husband in his commercial pursuits. This is long being witnessed in the form of family-run businesses and women taking up jobs to improve the family’s financial prospects.
17) Severance of the Ties of Kinship
Islam lays great emphasis on joining the ties of kinship, which means maintaining good relations with one’s family members and other blood relatives. As the end of times approach, people will start neglecting these ties, finding no time to spend with their family members. They will also get caught up in feuds with their family members over issues such as inheritance. Such instances are increasingly being witnessed today around the world.
18) False Testimony and Concealment of Testimony
Giving false testimony is among the greatest sins in Islam. Yet, as people’s moral values erode and they relentlessly pursue material gain, they will frequently give false testimony as a result of getting bribed. Similarly, they will resort to hiding testimony and evidence due to fear of reprisals. For instance, the witnesses may be threatened with harm against themselves or their family members if they speak up in court.
19) Widespread Use of the Pen
This implies the extensive use of written communication. Since the past few centuries, it has become a lot more common to make use of writing than in the past. For example, an estimated 2.2 million books are published every year, according to UNESCO, while the amount of written words being exchanged through emails and social media is probably beyond estimation. So, this sign of the Hour has already been fulfilled.
(End of Hadith 3 Explanation)
Hadith 4:
“From among the portents of the Hour are: (1) the disappearance of religious knowledge; (2) prevalence of ignorance; (3) drinking of alcoholic drinks; and (4) prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse.” (Bukhari 80)
20) Widespread Ignorance
The prevalence of ignorance near the Day of Judgement will be a direct consequence of the disappearance of religious knowledge. As previously discussed, this could be due to the death of knowledgeable persons. However, ignorance will also be reflected in people’s demeanour, attitude, and interactions with each other. They will have far less regard for common courtesies, kindness, and mutual respect, leading to a society where ignorant behaviour becomes the norm.
21) Widespread Drinking of Alcohol
Alcohol and intoxicants will be consumed in great quantities towards the end of times. Indeed, the modern world has seen a global rise in alcohol and drug use, with intoxicants becoming widely available and socially acceptable even in many Muslim societies. This is one of the reasons for the rise of domestic abuse and other acts of violence globally.
22) Prevalence of Zina
The Arabic word zina refers to illegal sexual intercourse, including adultery and fornication. Zina has not only become common but also accepted as a norm in many cultures around the world. Its prevalence was foretold by the Prophet ﷺ in several ahadith, including the one in which he stated that wicked people will commit adultery in public, like donkeys. (Ibn Hibban 6,767 – Sahih) This is an indication that modesty will completely vanish.
(End of Hadith 4 Explanation)
Hadith 5:
“The Hour will not begin until there appear: (1) temptations, (2) widespread lying, (3) markets being close to one another, (4) quick passage of time, and (5) a great deal of killing.” (Ahmad 10,724 – Sahih)
23) Appearance of Temptations
Humans have always been prone to temptation – right from the time when Adam (AS) and Hawwa (AS) were tempted by Satan to eat from the forbidden tree. However, there are more sources of temptation today than ever before. The obsession with money, power, and fame has eroded the conscience of many people. There are also new forms of temptation in the modern world, such as internet pornography, that are driving people towards addiction and irrational behaviour. This serves as a definite sign of the Hour.
24) Widespread Lying
In the age of digital media, lying has assumed many different forms. Social media is ripe with fake news, false images, and defamatory comments about individuals. It has even become difficult to discern authentic videos from those generated by artificial intelligence. False narrations in religion have also become widespread.
25) Close Proximity of Markets
Another sign of the Hour is that markets will become closer. This is already being witnessed in the form of increased commercialization as cities keep expanding. The rise of e-commerce has also brought markets closer to us than ever before, with shopping of all kinds easily accessible to us through our phones.
(End of Hadith 5 Explanation)
Hadith 6:
“From the nearness of the Hour is that: (1) the crescent moon will be sighted enlarged and it will be said it is the second night; (2) that the mosques will be taken as mere fairways; and (3) that sudden death will become prevalent.” (Tabarani 9,376 – Hasan)
26) Expansion of the crescent
The “expansion” or bloating of the crescent moon is another minor sign of the Day of Judgment. This does not refer to a physical change in the moon’s actual size, but rather an optical effect where the new moon appears unnaturally large, leading people to mistakenly believe it is older than it actually is. This could particularly be a matter of contention at the time of sighting the moon for months such as Ramadan and Shawwal.
27) Taking of Mosques as Fairways
There will come a time when many mosques will lose their original purpose – accommodating people for the worship of Allah and serving as a community centre. Instead, mosques will become mere pathways for the people. They will serve as tourist destinations where people admire the architecture, observe the intricacies of the décor, and take photos, rather than visiting them for the remembrance of Allah. This is already being witnessed in some mosques around the world.
28) Increased Incidence of Sudden Death
Sudden death has become common today due to reasons such as cardiac arrests, traffic accidents, and gun violence. In particular, acts of violence such as drone attacks, suicide bombings, and mass shootings have rendered human life highly unpredictable around the world. In the past, it was usually known if someone’s life was at stake during wars. However, today, the cowardly act of bombing unsuspecting civilians has significantly increased the incidence of sudden death in war-torn regions.
(End of Hadith 6 Explanation)
Hadith 7:
“The Hour will not be established until tribes of my ummah unite with the idolators, and until they worship idols. And indeed, there will be thirty imposters in my ummah, each of them claiming that he is a prophet. And I am the last of the prophets; there is no prophet after me.” (Tirmidhi 2,219 – Sahih)
29) Muslims Uniting with Idolators
The Muslims could unite with the idolators in several ways. For instance, they could form political and economic blocs with countries that practice and promote idolatry. They might also form militarily alliances with the idolators against other Muslim states or unite themselves culturally with the idolators, absorbing their media content. Examples of such behaviour are obvious in today’s world.
30) Prevalence of Shirk among Muslims
Before the Day of Judgement, some Muslims will return to idolatry. This could mean physically worshipping idols due to the influence of polytheistic nations. However, it could also mean venerating people, such as saints and spiritual guides, or objects in a manner that is due only to Allah.
(End of Hadith 7 Explanation)
31) The Fire of Hijaz
The Prophet ﷺ said, “The Hour will not be established till a fire will come out of the land of Hijaz, and it will throw light on the necks of the camels in Busra.” (Bukhari 7,118)
This could be a reference to the massive volcanic eruption in Hijaz, towards the east of Medina, around 1256-1257 CE (654 AH). The fire lasted 52 days, and was said to be visible from great distances. Scholars such as Al-Nawawi, who lived at the time, wrote about it in detail.
32) War Against the Turkic Tribes
The Prophet ﷺ said, “The Hour will not be established till you fight with the Khudh and the Kirman from among the non-Arabs. They will have red faces, flat noses, and small eyes. Their faces will look like flat shields and their shoes will be of hair.” (Bukhari 3,590) Many scholars, such as Ibn Katheer and Al-Nawawi, have interpreted this prophecy as having been fulfilled during the Mongol and Tatar invasions of the Muslim lands during the 13th and 14th centuries, CE. The descriptions of their soldiers reportedly matched the physical appearance and attire described in the hadith.
33) The Loss of Honesty
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ once said, “When honesty (al-amanah) is lost, then wait for the Hour.” It was asked, “How will honesty be lost, O Allah’s Messenger ﷺ?” He replied, “When authority is given to those who do not deserve it, then wait for the Hour.” (Bukhari 6,496) The Arabic word al-amanah is translated as honesty or trust among people. One of the manifestations of the loss of trust is people’s affairs being entrusted to those who are not qualified or able to manage the trust placed upon them, leading to widespread corruption and societal breakdown.
34) Oppressive Behaviour
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ informed his companions, “If you survive for a time, you will certainly see people who would have whips in their hands like the tail of an ox. They would get up in the morning under the wrath of Allah and they would get into the evening with the anger of Allah.” (Muslim 2,857a) Scholars have interpreted this hadith as referring to an increase in security personnel (police, etc.) who oppress people without justification – something commonly witnessed today around the world.
35) Competition in Constructing Mosques
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The Hour will not begin until the people compete in (building) mosques.” (Ibn Majah 739 – Sahih) This is an indication that mosques will no longer be constructed solely for the purpose of worshipping Allah. Rather, people will try to show off their wealth, regard for luxury, and architectural ability through the construction of magnificent mosques. In this way, the focus will shift from spirituality to worldly pride and competition near the Day of Judgement.
36) A Slave-Woman Giving Birth to her Mistress
The Prophet ﷺ described one of the signs of the Hour as follows, “…When the slave woman gives birth to her mistress, that is one of its portents…” (Ibn Majah 4,044 – Sahih) There are several views among the scholars as to what this means. The most favoured view is that there will be widespread disobedience among children, so that a girl will treat her mother with negligence and insults.
37) Fulfilment of Believers’ Dreams
The Prophet ﷺ said, “When time draws near, the dreams of a believer will hardly ever fail to come true, and the most truthful of them in dreams will be the truest in speech among them…” (Tirmidhi 2,270 – Sahih) So, the dreams of true believers will start coming true towards the end of times. The more truthful their speech, the greater the likelihood of their dreams coming true. The above hadith further informs us that the dream of a Muslim is a “portion among the 46 portions of prophethood”, meaning that Allah sometimes gives indications to His servants, or conveys them glad tidings, through their dreams. However, not all dreams are from Allah; there are also dreams that are induced by Satan or a person’s own soul.
38) False Narrations in Religion
The Prophet ﷺ said, “There will be, in the end of times, charlatan liars coming to you with narrations that neither you nor your fathers heard, so beware of them lest they misguide you and cause you tribulations.” (Muslim 7) This means false concepts will creep into the Islamic practice based on dubious and inauthentic statements. People will blindly rely on such false narrations even through they are not supported by the teachings of the Quran and Hadith. This is among the most dangerous signs of the akhirah as it leads to bid’ah (innovation in religion) – a grave sin and a major cause of waywardness in religion.
39) Women outnumbering Men
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “From among the portents of the Hour are…(that) women will increase in number and men will decrease in number so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man.” (Bukhari 81) This could be a figurative expression to convey that women will greatly exceed men in number; or it could also be that the ratio of women to men actually becomes 50:1 in some regions. Either way, women will outnumber men in the global demographics towards the end of times. This could be due to factors such as many more men than women dying in wars. We have not reached this imbalanced gender ratio yet, but women certainly outnumber men in many countries.
40) Appearance of Greenery in Arabia
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “The Last Hour will not come…till the land of Arabia reverts to meadows and rivers.” (Muslim 157c) Artificial waterways and human-made rivers will most likely be created to supply water to the barren parts of the Arabian Peninsula, leading to the blossoming of gardens and meadows. The hadith interestingly indicates that Arabia will “revert” to a state of greenery and rivers – indicating these existed in the past too. In fact, a recent study, published in Nature, provides strong evidence that Arabia was lush and green for millions of years before turning into a desert.
41) The Great Famine
The Prophet ﷺ, while alluding to the end of times, declared, “The famine would not break out because of drought, but there would be famine despite heavy rainfall as nothing would grow from the earth.” (Muslim 2,904) Despite heavy rainfall, the land would become barren, leading to a poor harvest and starvation among people. It is not entirely clear whether this famine would occur in Madinah (as indicated by the chapter title) or across several regions. However, it is likely to be intense and catastrophic.
42) Emergence of Gold from Euphrates River
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Soon, the Euphrates River will disclose a treasure of gold, so whoever is present at that time should not take anything of it.” (Bukhari 7,119) According to another version of the hadith, the Euphrates will “uncover a mountain of gold”. The people, in their greed, will likely fight over this gold, but the believers have been warned against taking part in the gold rush. There could also be other reasons to desist from the gold which will only become obvious at that time.
43) The Speech of Animals and Inanimate Objects
The Prophet ﷺ declared, “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! The Hour will not be established until predators speak to people and until the tip of a man’s whip and the straps on his sandal speak to him, and his thigh informs him of what occurred with his family after him.” (Tirmidhi 2,181 – Sahih) This peculiar sign may occur miraculously as a special indication of the approaching Hour.
However, it could also be a result of technological advancements. Scientists are already working on decoding the speech of animals with the help of artificial intelligence models, so they might soon understand the speech of predators. Similarly, people may develop miniscule communication devices that can be attached to their thighs, sandals, and so on. In fact, our electronic devices are already routinely communicating with us through virtual assistants and chatbots such as Alexa and Siri.
44) The Conquest of Constantinople
The city of Istanbul in Türkiye was known as Constantinople in the past. It was a major world city, the capital of the might Byzantium (Eastern Roman) Empire for many centuries. It is also renowned due to its unique geographical location, with the city divided between the continents of Asia and Europe. The Prophet ﷺ predicted the city’s conquest in these words: “Constantinople will be conquered with the coming of the Hour.” (Tirmidhi 2,239 – Sahih)
The Muslim army laid siege to the city in the decades after the Prophet ﷺ, but was unable to conquer it. It was much later, in 1453 CE, that the Ottoman sultan, Mehmed II, conquered the city in a unique military campaign which involved transporting ships over land! This great conquest ended the Byzantium Empire, which had lasted for over 1,100 years. The above hadith most likely refers to this major conquest as a sign of the Hour. However, it is also possible that the city will be conquered again close to the Day of Judgement.
45) The Reign of the Qahtani
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “The Hour will not be established till a man from Qahtan appears, driving the people with his stick.” (Bukhari 7,117) Qahtan refers to a grouping of tribes residing in Yemen and other parts of Arabia. It seems that a man from Qahtan will gain influence, or even leadership, over the people. The scholars have interpreted the “stick” in the above hadith as a metaphorical indication that the man will exercise absolute authority and control over his subject.
46) The War between Muslims and Jews
The Prophet ﷺ informed us, “The Last Hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree – and the stone or the tree would say, ‘O Muslim,’ or ‘O Servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him.’ But the tree of Gharqad would not say so, for it is the tree of the Jews.” (Muslim 2,922)
This major conflict near the end of times has been referred to in several authentic ahadith. Many scholars believe that this war will occur between the forces of Prophet Isa, who will be supported by the Muslims, and Al-Masih Al-Dajjal (the Anti-Christ), who will be strengthened by his Jewish followers. The Muslims will be united and powerful enough to dominate the Jews in the battlefield.
47) The Exodus from Madinah
The Prophet ﷺ informed us, “And the Last Hour will not come until Madinah banishes its evils just as a furnace eliminates the impurities of iron.” (Muslim 1,381) This is an indication that the evil people living in Madinah will migrate out of the city and settle in other places in search of a comfortable or luxurious lifestyle. They will invite their relatives to leave Madinah too, but the city will soon have other inhabitants to replace them. This is indicated by the following prophetic narration contained in the above hadith:
“A time will come for the people when a man will invite his cousin and any other near relation: ‘Come to where living is cheap; come to where there is plenty.’ However, Madinah will be better for them, if only they knew it! By Him in Whose Hand is my life, none amongst them would go out (of Madinah) with a dislike for it, but Allah will make his successor in it someone better than him. Behold, Madinah is like a furnace which eliminates from it the impurities.”
It is possible that this minor sign of the Hour is linked to the emergence of Dajjal who will not be able to enter Makkah and Madinah as these cities will be protected by the angels. So, Dajjal will reach outside Madinah and stay there for a while. The city will then shake three times and expel all its evil residents, who will join the forces of Dajjal and become his followers.
48) The Wind taking the Believers’ Souls
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Verily, Allah will cause a wind to blow from the side of Yemen more delicate than silk, and would spare none (among the believers) but cause him to die…” (Muslim 117) Thus, every believer who has faith equal to the weight of a “grain” or “dust particle” will die. This will not be a destructive wind or a storm, but a gentle wind that takes the souls of the believers, possibly as a mercy. Only the most wicked people will then remain on earth, after which, the events of the Hour will likely occur.
49) Destruction of the Kaaba
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “The thin-legged man from Abyssinia will demolish the Kaaba.” (Bukhari 1,596) The Arabic term used to describe this man is Dhus-Suwayqatayn, meaning the one with thin legs or shanks. Abyssinia is a region in East Africa where the earliest Muslims migrated to avoid persecution. It corresponds to present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea. An enemy of Islam from this region will actually destroy the Kaaba in the end of times. He and his men will strip the Kaaba of its kiswah (cover), loot its treasures, and remove its adornments, before destroying the building brick by brick.
50) The Appearance of the Mahdi
The Mahdi will be a just ruler among the Muslims in the end of times. The Prophet ﷺ said, “The Mahdi will be of my family, from the descendants of Fatimah.” (Abu Dawud 4,284 – Sahih) His emergence will immediately precede the first major sign of the Day of Judgement, that is, the appearance of Dajjal.
The Prophet ﷺ further informed us regarding the Mahdi, “The Mahdi will be of my stock, and will have a broad forehead, a prominent nose. He will fill the earth will equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny, and he will rule for seven years.” (Abu Dawud 4,285 – Hasan) Some other ahadith state that he will rule for eight or nine years. Moreover, Allah will “rectify” him and prepare him for leadership in a single night. (Ibn Majah 4,085 – Hasan)
The Mahdi will travel from Madinah to Makkah, and emerge victorious against the wrongdoers and oppressors there. The people will pledge allegiance to him, designating him as their leader. He will rule with great competence, becoming a source of goodness for the Muslims. Allah will grant plenty of rain, the earth will bear fruits, and the cattle will increase. The Mahdi will distribute funds among the people without counting it. (Muslim 2,913a) In this way, the ummah will be blessed as it has never been blessed before. It is during the reign of Mahdi that Prophet Isa will descend – a major sign of the Day of Judgement.
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