What are the signs of the day of judgement?

In a Nutshell: Understanding the Signs of Day of Judgment

The signs of the day of judgement will be preceded by various signs categorised into major and minor. These signs, as prophesised by the Prophet (saw), serve as indicators of the approaching Qiyamah (the Day of Judgement). The Day of Judgment is a pivotal concept in the Islamic creed (aqeedha).

What are the Signs of the Day of Judgment

Minor Signs of the Day of Judgment

The minor signs of the day of judgement are numerous, occurring over an extended period and some are ongoing. Noted Islamic scholars like Shaykh ‘Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar in "The Minor Resurrection" and Shaykh Yusuf al-Wabil in "Ashrat al-Sa’ah" provide detailed accounts of these signs. They include, but are not limited to:

1. The sending and subsequent death of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
2. The conquest of Jerusalem.
3. The plague of ‘Amwas in Palestine.
4. Widespread wealth reducing the need for charity.
5. The emergence of various tribulations and false claimants to prophethood.
6. Significant natural disasters such as fires and earthquakes.
7. Moral decay reflected in the spread of zina (adultery), riba (usury), and alcohol consumption.
8. Social upheavals like loss of trust and the prevalence of ignorance.
9. Environmental transformations – the Arabian land returning to its lush, green state.

Major Signs of the Day of Judgment

The major signs, as narrated in Sahih Muslim by Hudhayfah ibn Asid al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him), are distinct events signaling the imminent arrival of the Day of Judgemnet.

These signs include:

1. The appearance of the Dajjal (False Messiah).
2. The descent of Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus, son of Mary).
3. The emergence of Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog).
4. Three major landslides in the East, West, and Arabian Peninsula.
5. A widespread smoke enveloping the world.
6. The sun rising from the west.
7. The appearance of the Beast of the Earth.
8. A devastating fire pushing people towards their final gathering place.

While the exact sequence of these events is not definitively known, Islamic scholars infer from hadiths that some signs will follow others, like the emergence of the Dajjal followed by the descent of Isa ibn Maryam and then Yajuj and Majuj.

Persuasive Analysis

The signs of the Day of Judgment are not mere folklore but deeply embedded in Islamic theology, reflecting the Quranic emphasis on accountability and the transient nature of life. They serve as reminders for Muslims to adhere to righteousness and moral conduct, preparing for the ultimate accountability before Allah.

Misconceptions

A common misconception is the literal interpretation of some signs. Islamic scholarship often interprets these signs metaphorically or symbolically, emphasizing their underlying moral and ethical implications rather than focusing solely on their physical manifestations.

Conclusion

The signs of the Day of Judgment, both major and minor, form a crucial part of Islamic eschatology. They offer profound insights into the Islamic worldview, reminding believers of the transient nature of this world and the reality of the hereafter.

References

1. Al-Quran.
2. Sahih Muslim.
3. "The Minor Resurrection" by Shaykh ‘Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar.
4. "Ashrat al-Sa’ah" by Shaykh Yusuf al-Wabil.
5. "Majmu’ al-Fatawa" by Shaykh Muhammad al-Salih al-‘Uthaymin.

FAQs on Signs of Day of Judgment

Q1: Are all the minor signs of the Day of Judgment already fulfilled? A1: Some of the minor signs have occurred, some are ongoing, and others are yet to happen.

Q2: Will the major signs occur sequentially or simultaneously? A2: Some major signs are known to follow a sequence, but the exact order of all signs is not definitively known.

Q3: How should Muslims react to the signs of the Day of Judgment? A3: Muslims should increase in righteousness, prepare for the hereafter, and adhere to Islamic teachings and values.

Q4: Can we predict when the Day of Judgment will occur based on these signs? A4: While the signs indicate its approach, the exact time of the Day of Judgment is known only to Allah.

Q5: Is the concept of the Dajjal literal or symbolic? A5: There are differing opinions among scholars; some view it as literal, while others interpret it symbolically, focusing on its moral and ethical implications.

Here are some signs of the day of judgment:

• The ratio of women to men will increase to a point where a man will be equal to 50 women.
• Poor folks from rural areas will compete in the construction of buildings and infrastructure.
• People and sheikhs who know Islam well will die.
• The sun will rise from the west and set to the east.
• The appearance of dabah, the beast, that will differentiate kaafirs and mu'mins by writing the words kaafir and mu'min on everyone's forehead. The beast will do so in a single night.
• The appearance of Masih dajjal.
• The appearance of ya'juj and ma'juj

It was narrated the Prophet (saw) said:

لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى تَكُونَ عَشْرُ آيَاتٍ طُلُوعُ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا وَالدَّجَّالُ وَالدُّخَانُ وَالدَّابَّةُ وَيَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَخُرُوجُ عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ وَثَلاَثُ خُسُوفٍ خَسْفٌ بِالْمَشْرِقِ وَخَسْفٌ بِالْمَغْرِبِ وَخَسْفٌ بِجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِ وَنَارٌ تَخْرُجُ مِنْ قَعْرِ عَدَنِ أَبْيَنَ تَسُوقُ النَّاسَ إِلَى الْمَحْشَرِ تَبِيتُ مَعَهُمْ إِذَا بَاتُوا وَتَقِيلُ مَعَهُمْ إِذَا قَالُوا
"The Hour will not begin until ten signs appear:
1. The rising of the sun from the west (place of its setting);
2. Dajjal;
3. the smoke;
4. the beast;
5. Gog and Magog people;
6. the appearance of 'Eisa bin Maryam(as);
7. the earth collapsing three times - once in the east,
8. one in the west;
9. and one in the Arabian Peninsula;
10. and fire that will emerge from the plain of Aden Abyan and will drive the people to the place of Gathering, stopping with them when they stop at night and when they stop to rest at midday." (Sunan Ibn Majah 4055)

Other narrations included other signs, for example, it was narrated that the Prophet (saw) said:

لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى تَقْتَتِلَ فِئَتَانِ عَظِيمَتَانِ، يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُمَا مَقْتَلَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ، دَعْوَتُهُمَا وَاحِدَةٌ،
وَحَتَّى يُبْعَثَ دَجَّالُونَ كَذَّابُونَ، قَرِيبٌ مِنْ ثَلاَثِينَ، كُلُّهُمْ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ،
وَحَتَّى يُقْبَضَ الْعِلْمُ،
وَتَكْثُرَ الزَّلاَزِلُ،
وَيَتَقَارَبَ الزَّمَانُ،
وَتَظْهَرَ الْفِتَنُ،
وَيَكْثُرَ الْهَرْجُ وَهْوَ الْقَتْلُ،
وَحَتَّى يَكْثُرَ فِيكُمُ الْمَالُ فَيَفِيضَ،
حَتَّى يُهِمَّ رَبَّ الْمَالِ مَنْ يَقْبَلُ صَدَقَتَهُ،
وَحَتّى يَعْرِضَهُ فَيَقُولَ الَّذِي يَعْرِضُهُ عَلَيْهِ لاَ أَرَبَ لِي بِهِ‏.‏
وَحَتَّى يَتَطَاوَلَ النَّاسُ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ،
وَحَتَّى يَمُرَّ الرَّجُلُ بِقَبْرِ الرَّجُلِ فَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي مَكَانَهُ‏.‏
"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. till about thirty Dajjals (liars) appear, and each one of them will claim that he is Allah's Messenger;
3. till the religious knowledge is taken away (by the death of Religious scholars);
4. earthquakes will increase in number;
5. time will pass quickly;
6. afflictions will appear;
7. Al-Harj, (i.e., killing) will increase;
8. till wealth will be 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 (to whom it will be offered) will say, 'I am not in need of it;
9. till the people compete with one another in constructing high buildings;
10. till a man when passing by a grave of someone will say, 'Would that I were in his place " (Sahih al-Bukhari 7121)

وَيُشْرَبَ الْخَمْرُ، وَيَظْهَرَ الزِّنَا، وَيَقِلَّ الرِّجَالُ، وَيَكْثُرَ النِّسَاءُ، حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِلْخَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً الْقَيِّمُ الْوَاحِدُ
11. The drinking of alcoholic drinks will be very common;
12. (open) illegal sexual intercourse will prevail;
13. men will decrease in number while women will increase so much so that, for fifty women there will only be one man to look after them." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6808)

Other narrations added a sign of fighting the other Anti-Islam groups. The Prophet (saw), for example, said:

لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى تُقَاتِلُوا خُوزًا وَكَرْمَانَ مِنَ الأَعَاجِمِ، حُمْرَ الْوُجُوهِ، فُطْسَ الأُنُوفِ، صِغَارَ الأَعْيُنِ، وُجُوهُهُمُ الْمَجَانُّ الْمُطْرَقَةُ، نِعَالُهُمُ الشَّعَرُ
"The Hour will not be established till you fight with the Khudh and the Kirman from among the non-Arabs. They will be of red faces, flat noses and small eyes; their faces will look like flat shields, and their shoes will be of hair." (Sahih al-Bukhari 3590)

In a narration of Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (saw) prophesized the final victory against the Jews, he said:

لا تَقُومَ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يُقَاتِلَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ الْيَهُودَ ، حَتَّى يخْتَبِيءَ الْيَهُودِيُّ مِنْ وَراءِ الْحَجَرِ وَالشَّجِرِ ، فَيَقُولُ الْحَجَرُ وَالشَّجِرُ ‏:‏ يا مُسْلِمْ هَذَا يَهُودِيٌّ خَلْفِى تَعَالَى فَاُقْتُلْهُ ، إلّاَ الغَرْقَدْ فَإِِنََّهُ مِنْ شَجَرِ الْيَهُودِ ‏
"The Last Hour will not come until the Muslims fight against the Jews until a Jew will hide behind a stone or a tree, and the stone or the tree will say: 'O Muslim, there is a Jew behind me. Come and kill him,' but Al-Gharqad tree will not say so, for it is the tree of the Jews."

Other narrations add the disappearance of religion from above the earth, the Prophet (saw) said:

لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ عَلَى أَحَدٍ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ اللَّهُ
"The Hour (Resurrection) will not occur as long as anyone says: 'Allah, Allah." (Sahih Muslim 148 b)