Qiyamat: The End Of The World

Discussing The Signs Of The Hour

Researching about the signs of The Hour encourages us to be prepared for Al-Akhirah. It isn't a mere information that adds to person's cultural credit without having any real impacts on his life. It is really necessary and essential to explain the signs of The Hour, speak about their true meanings, what will really happen. 

The signs of Al-Qiyamah have been found in the Holy Qura'an and Sunnah. Knowledge about the signs of The Hour is a firm warning for heedless and encouragement for the repentant not to be content with this world. It allows us to deal with them in the prescribed manner, eradicating any confusion concerning with them. For example, we are told about the Dajjal i.e The Anti-christ or simply known as The False Messiah. The description of his eye, his forehead, and the things he will carry with him. All these are mentioned so that we shall not fall prey to his fitnah, rather we'll come to know that he is truly a Dajjal (Liar). 

At the time when Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W) realised that indeed one of the signs of The Hour was close at hand. It is recorded in the collections of Bhukari and Sahih Muslim, that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) once woke up at night and said:

"Woe to the Arabs from an evil has approached. Today a (hole) like this has been opened in the barrier of Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj..." 

He also said:

"Wake up the occupants of these dwellings (i.e, his wives) to pray, for one who is well dressed in this world may be naked in the Hereafter..."

Learning and discussing the signs of The Hour offers hope and makes us to be mentally prepared for future events. It satisfies the natural curiosity of finding out what is hidden from us and what is going to happen before the Earth is going to be crushed. Islam blocks away the way of deceivers, such as astrologers who believe in horoscope, fortune tellers, soothsayers. Islam relates to us, through a great revelation, a great about these future events which are the signs of The Hour. Belief in The Last Day strengthens and increases faith and belief in One Allah.  You shall know the truth when these events shall occur, the confirmation of the perfect religion of the whole world. And you certainly aren't going to regret about having faith on Allah and trusting about the signs that will occur in future years. 

We all know that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) was well aware of the signs of the Hour which are the matters of the unseen and whose knowledge cannot be acquired by mere speculation. It is indeed an evidence for the truthfulness and complete honesty of his message, and that he is truly the Last Messenger of Allah Ta'ala, Glorified and Exalted. The Holy Qura'an states: 

"He alone is the All Knower of the Ghayb (Unseen). and he reveals to none His Ghayb (Unseen). Except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen and informs Him as much as He likes, and then he makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march before him and behind him..." (Al-Jinn 72:26-27)

So we come to know that Allah Ta'ala, the Creator of the whole universe, alone knows about what lies ahead of our future, what is written in our fate, when and how we shall die, and even we'll enter Paradise or either Hell. 

A few of the companions of The Holy Prophet(S.A.W) asked him concerning the length of days, where one day will be like one year and another day will be like a month during the days of the arrival of Dajjal; 

"Will it be sufficient to offer only a day's worth of prayers during those days?" 

The Holy Prophet(S.A.W) replied: 

"No, rather estimate the timing..." 

From this we can derive the ruling for the prayer of those Muslims who live in areas where day or night may last for several months.