Signs of the Day of Judgement
Nobody knows when the Day of Judgement will occur. However, Allah has mercifully taught us some of the signs so that we can be alert to the fact that the Hour is approaching. These signs play a very vital role, especially for those who live at a time distant from the Prophet and who did not experience firsthand his teaching and example.
There are two kinds of signs of judgement day.
Source for knowing the Signs of the Day of Judgement
Allah let us know about the signs of judgment day by His Messenger. We get these signs from Quran and mostly in details in Hadith. About these signs Prophet (pbuh) said “The signs will appear one after the other like the beads on a string follow one another.” (Musnade Ahmad)
Evidences for Major Signs
It was narrated by Hudhaifa ibn Usayd that the Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him said, “The last hour will not arrive till you have seen ten signs. He Peace and blessings be upon him then mentioned the Smoke, Dajjal, Beast, Rising of the Sun from the place of its setting, the Descent of Isa, Ya'juj Ma'juj, Three Landslides, one in the East, one in the West and one in the Arabian Peninsula after that a Fire would spread from Yemen and drive the people to their place of gathering.” (Muslim :: Book 41 :: Hadith 6931)
Mahdi
Prophet (pbuh) said, "The world will not pass away before the Arabs are ruled by a man of my family whose name will be the same as mine." (Sunan Abu Daud Hadith 4282)
Dajjal
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, " There would be no creation (creating more trouble) than the Dajjal right from the creation of Adam to the Last Hour." (Muslim :: Book 41 :: Hadith 7037)
Return of Prophet Jesus
Allah says in the Quran, "And he (son of Mary) shall be a known sign for (the coming of) the hour." (Surah Zukhruf: 61)
The Ya'juj Ma'juj
Allah says in the Qur'an, "When Ya'juj and Ma'juj are let loose (from their Barrier) and they swiftly swarm from every mound" (Surah Al-Anbiya: 96)
Landslides
As quoted earlier in a hadeeth of Saheeh Muslim, among the major signs of the Day of Judgement are the three landslides that will occur in the East, the West and in the Arabian Peninsula.
The Smoke
“Then wait you for the Day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke, covering the people, this will be a painful torment” (Surah Dukhan: 10-11)
It is clearly evident from the above verse the smoke is a major sign of Qiyamah.
The Rising of the Sun from the West
Al-Bukhari records that the Prophet said: “The hour will not be established till the sun rises from the West” (Bukhari :: Chapter 60 :: Hadith 159)
The Beast of the Earth
Allah says in the Quran, “And when the Word (of torment) is fulfilled against them, We shall bring out from the earth a beast to them, which will speak to them because mankind believed not with certainty in Our Signs” (al-Naml: 82).
The Fire that Will Gather the People
Muslim records a hadeeth in which the Prophet stated the ten major signs and it concludes with, “at the end of which fire would burn forth from the Yemen, and would drive people to the place of their assembly.” (Muslim :: Book 41 :: Hadith 6931)
Signs occurred in Present Days
Many minor signs of Judgement Day had been occurred throughout last 1400 years as described in the hadiths. Many of them are same as Prophet (pbuh) narrated 1400 years ago. Last century a lot of signs occurred quickly. Some of the minor signs which had been fulfilled are described below.
(Signs of the Day of Judgement: Past, Present & Future)
The fulfillment of so many minor signs in present day indicates that we are very near to the major signs. But when the major signs will start coming up we cannot assume that. They may occur in this century or after many centuries. Only Allah knows about them. But we have to prepare for the major signs and have to try to avoid the fitnah of end days as possible.
As the Quran and Prophet (pbuh) have described the signs, a Muslim knows with full certainty that what is going to occur. These events will occur and the Hour will be established. With the Hour comes judgement and this is what every human, especially who has knowledge about these events should be thinking about and preparing for them. These signs reinforce one’s belief in the Prophet. More importantly, these signs, if one takes the time to reflect upon them, are a reminder of the Day of Judgement. They should revive the heart of the person and make him recall what he is doing on this earth and to where all this is heading.
There are two kinds of signs of judgement day.
- Ashraat al-Saa'ah al-Sughra or Minor signs: Minor signs are events of normal nature prophesized by our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to take place before the Judgement Day.
- Ashraat al-Saa'ah al-Kubraa or Major signs: Major signs are events of extraordinary nature prophesied by our Prophet (pbuh) to take place before the Judgement Day.
Source for knowing the Signs of the Day of Judgement
Allah let us know about the signs of judgment day by His Messenger. We get these signs from Quran and mostly in details in Hadith. About these signs Prophet (pbuh) said “The signs will appear one after the other like the beads on a string follow one another.” (Musnade Ahmad)
Evidences for Major Signs
It was narrated by Hudhaifa ibn Usayd that the Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him said, “The last hour will not arrive till you have seen ten signs. He Peace and blessings be upon him then mentioned the Smoke, Dajjal, Beast, Rising of the Sun from the place of its setting, the Descent of Isa, Ya'juj Ma'juj, Three Landslides, one in the East, one in the West and one in the Arabian Peninsula after that a Fire would spread from Yemen and drive the people to their place of gathering.” (Muslim :: Book 41 :: Hadith 6931)
Mahdi
Prophet (pbuh) said, "The world will not pass away before the Arabs are ruled by a man of my family whose name will be the same as mine." (Sunan Abu Daud Hadith 4282)
Dajjal
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, " There would be no creation (creating more trouble) than the Dajjal right from the creation of Adam to the Last Hour." (Muslim :: Book 41 :: Hadith 7037)
Return of Prophet Jesus
Allah says in the Quran, "And he (son of Mary) shall be a known sign for (the coming of) the hour." (Surah Zukhruf: 61)
The Ya'juj Ma'juj
Allah says in the Qur'an, "When Ya'juj and Ma'juj are let loose (from their Barrier) and they swiftly swarm from every mound" (Surah Al-Anbiya: 96)
Landslides
As quoted earlier in a hadeeth of Saheeh Muslim, among the major signs of the Day of Judgement are the three landslides that will occur in the East, the West and in the Arabian Peninsula.
The Smoke
“Then wait you for the Day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke, covering the people, this will be a painful torment” (Surah Dukhan: 10-11)
It is clearly evident from the above verse the smoke is a major sign of Qiyamah.
The Rising of the Sun from the West
Al-Bukhari records that the Prophet said: “The hour will not be established till the sun rises from the West” (Bukhari :: Chapter 60 :: Hadith 159)
The Beast of the Earth
Allah says in the Quran, “And when the Word (of torment) is fulfilled against them, We shall bring out from the earth a beast to them, which will speak to them because mankind believed not with certainty in Our Signs” (al-Naml: 82).
The Fire that Will Gather the People
Muslim records a hadeeth in which the Prophet stated the ten major signs and it concludes with, “at the end of which fire would burn forth from the Yemen, and would drive people to the place of their assembly.” (Muslim :: Book 41 :: Hadith 6931)
Signs occurred in Present Days
Many minor signs of Judgement Day had been occurred throughout last 1400 years as described in the hadiths. Many of them are same as Prophet (pbuh) narrated 1400 years ago. Last century a lot of signs occurred quickly. Some of the minor signs which had been fulfilled are described below.
- Naked, destitute, barefoot shepherds will compete in building tall buildings.
- Knowledge will be taken away (by the death of people of knowledge) and ignorance will prevail.
- Wine (intoxicants) will be drunk in great quantities.
- Illegal sexual intercourse will become widespread.
- Earthquakes will increase.
- Tribulations will prevail.
- Bloodshed will increase.
- Trustworthiness will be lost, that is, when authority is given to those who do not deserve it.
- Women will enter the workforce out of love for this world.
- Arrogance will increase in the earth.
- Family ties will be cut.
(Signs of the Day of Judgement: Past, Present & Future)
The fulfillment of so many minor signs in present day indicates that we are very near to the major signs. But when the major signs will start coming up we cannot assume that. They may occur in this century or after many centuries. Only Allah knows about them. But we have to prepare for the major signs and have to try to avoid the fitnah of end days as possible.
As the Quran and Prophet (pbuh) have described the signs, a Muslim knows with full certainty that what is going to occur. These events will occur and the Hour will be established. With the Hour comes judgement and this is what every human, especially who has knowledge about these events should be thinking about and preparing for them. These signs reinforce one’s belief in the Prophet. More importantly, these signs, if one takes the time to reflect upon them, are a reminder of the Day of Judgement. They should revive the heart of the person and make him recall what he is doing on this earth and to where all this is heading.
Bibliography
Bukhari :: Chapter 60 :: Hadith 159. n.d.
IslamQA. n.d. 20 December 2014 <http://islamqa.info/en/2281>.
Muslim :: Book 41 :: Hadith 6931. n.d.
Muslim :: Book 41 :: Hadith 7037. n.d.
Musnade Ahmad. n.d.
Signs of the Day of Judgment: Past, Present & Future. n.d. <http://www.onislam.net/english/ask-the-scholar/muslim-creed/the-unseen/afflictions-and-portents-of-the-last-hour/174608-signs-of-the-day-of-judgment-past-present-aamp-future.html?Portents_of_the_Last_Hour=>.
Sunan Abu Daud Hadith 4282. n.d.
IslamQA. n.d. 20 December 2014 <http://islamqa.info/en/2281>.
Muslim :: Book 41 :: Hadith 6931. n.d.
Muslim :: Book 41 :: Hadith 7037. n.d.
Musnade Ahmad. n.d.
Signs of the Day of Judgment: Past, Present & Future. n.d. <http://www.onislam.net/english/ask-the-scholar/muslim-creed/the-unseen/afflictions-and-portents-of-the-last-hour/174608-signs-of-the-day-of-judgment-past-present-aamp-future.html?Portents_of_the_Last_Hour=>.
Sunan Abu Daud Hadith 4282. n.d.
© 2014 by Tauhid Ahmed.