What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: What is the Day of Resurrection, and what is the ruling for the one who denies it. Please can you also mention some of its signs because people nowadays regard any strange thing as a sign of the Day of Judgement. Is it actually the case that every strange thing is a sign of the Day of Judgement?
Questioner: Brother from UK
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب
The earth and the skies, the Jinns, mankind and angels will all finish one day; this day is known as the Day of Resurrection, and the one who denies it is a non-Muslim, because such a person is in fact denying the Qur’ān. Just as Allāh Almighty states,
{(وَّ اَنَّ السَّاعَۃَ اٰتِیَۃٌ لَّا رَیۡبَ فِیۡہَا ۙ وَ اَنَّ اللہَ یَبْعَثُ مَنۡ فِی الْقُبُوۡرِ ﴿۷}
{And because the Last Day is to come; there is no doubt in it, and because Allāh [ﷻ] will raise those who are in the graves}
[Part 17, Sūrah al-Hajj, v 7]
It is also stated in al-Shifā al-Sharīf,
مَنْ أَنْكَرَ الْجَنَّةَ، أَوِ النَّارَ، أَوِ الْبَعْثَ، أَوِ الْحِسَابَ، أَوِ الْقِيَامَةَ، فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ بِإِجْمَاعٍ لِلنَّصِّ عَلَيْهِ وَإِجْمَاعِ الْأُمَّةِ عَلَى صِحَّةِ” “نَقْلِهِ مُتَوَاتِرًا
[al-Shifā bi Ta’rīf Huqūq al-Mustafā, vol 2, pg 290]
However, a few signs will become apparent before the Day of Resurrection which have been mentioned in blessed Hadīths. Some of them have already become apparent, and some will become apparent at a later stage. I will now present some signs alongside proofs in light of Hadīth.
Knowledge being lifted, meaning by the [swift] passing away of scholars. [This does not mean that the scholars will remain and the knowledge will vanish from their hearts, but is merely referring to the swift passing].
Ignorance will be prevalent.
Unlawful intercourse [i.e. fornication & adultery] will be common, just how donkey’s mate; there will be no modesty between younger & elder.
Alcohol will be widespread.
Males will be less in number and females more, up to the extent that the ratio between them will be 1 male per 50 females.
Just as it has been narrated in Sahīh al-Bukhārī by Sayyidunā Anas, may Allāh Almighty be pleased with this, that I heard the following from the Noble Prophet ﷺ,
إِنَّ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ العِلْمُ، وَيَكْثُرَ الجَهْلُ، وَيَكْثُرَ الزِّنَا، وَيَكْثُرَ شُرْبُ الخَمْرِ، وَيَقِلَّ الرِّجَالُ، وَيَكْثُرَ النِّسَاءُ” “حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِخَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً القَيِّمُ الوَاحِدُ
[Sahīh al-Bukhārī, vol 3, pg 472, Hadīth no 5231]
6. There will be 30 false prophets [other than Dajjāl]:
There will be 30 excessive liars and will all claim to be prophets, although our Beloved Prophet ﷺ is the last & final Prophet. Some of the great liars have been and gone, such Musaylma Kadhāb, Tulayha Ibn Khuwaylid, Aswad ‘Ansī, Sajāh but accepted Islam later on, and Ghulām Ahmad Qādiyānī, and there will more who will make themselves apparent in this era, and the remaining later.
Proof:
The Noble Prophet ﷺ states,
“وَإِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ فِي أُمَّتِي كَذَّابُونَ ثَلَاثُونَ، كُلُّهُمْ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ، وَأَنَا خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي”
[Sunān Abū Dāwūd vol 4, pg 133, Hadīth no 4252]
7. Vast amounts of wealth:
There will great amounts of wealth; the river Euphrates will reveal its treasures which will be mountains of gold which people will be fighting over.
Proof:
The Noble Prophet ﷺ has stated,
“لَا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَحْسِرَ الْفُرَاتُ عَنْ جَبَلٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ، يَقْتَتِلُ النَّاسُ عَلَيْهِ”
[Sahīh Muslim, pg 1547, Hadīth no 2894]
8. The blessing in time will no longer remain, up to the extent that years will become like months, months like weeks, weeks like days, and one day will pass by at the speed at which something burns, in other words, it will pass by very quickly.
Proof:
It is narrated by Sayyidunā Anas, may Allāh Almighty be pleased with him, that the Noble Prophet ﷺ stated,
لَا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَتَقَارَبَ الزَّمَانُ، فَتَكُونُ السَّنَةُ كَالشَّهْرِ، وَالشَّهْرُ كَالْجُمُعَةِ، وَتَكُونُ الْجُمُعَةُ كَالْيَوْمِ، وَيَكُونُ الْيَوْمُ” “كَالسَّاعَةِ، وَتَكُونُ السَّاعَةُ كَالضَّرَمَةِ بِالنَّارِ
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Hadīth no 2332]
9. Religious knowledge will not be sought for the sake of the religion.
Ah! Just like nowadays in the U.K. – in fact all over the world – some people seek knowledge merely for the purpose of fame and wealth so that people call them shaykh. May Allāh Almighty protect us from such adversity.
Proof:
Just as the Noble Prophet ﷺ has stated,
“وَتُعُلِّمَ لِغَيْرِ الدِّينِ”
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Hadīth no 2211]
10. Giving zakāh will become difficult for people, such that they will think of it as a penalty.
This sign is occurring in Muslims to a certain extent; the majority of people who are well off do not pay Zakāh – If every one of them was to pay zakāh, then there would be no poor Muslims at all.
11. Men will become obedient to their wives.
This sign has also become apparent, especially in countries such as the likes of the U.K. up to the extent where it is not hidden; anyone & everyone can see this is the reality. In fact, nowadays people have become powerless in this regard; it is very difficult for people to spend their lives without this being the case.
12. People will disobey their parents.
13. People will be close to & socialise with their friends but will shun their parents.
14. People will cause a commotion in mosques.
This sign has also become apparent to a certain extent, such that which mosque nowadays is there which is actually free from noise & small talk.
15. Oppressive people will become the leaders of a nation.
16. People will be respected only out of fear.
This can be seen nowadays wherever there is a person who has some people working under him.
17. The drinking of alcohol will be rife; nowadays which sitting is actually free from alcohol.
18. Music & songs will be everywhere. Ah! This sign has become apparent to such an extent that people are actually digging themselves into a ditch by giving the so called ruling of permissibility on music.
19. People will curse the former generations; they will say ill things regarding them. This sign has also become apparent to some extent in today’s day & age, just as Shī’ās & Tafdīlīs curse some Noble Companion every day.
The proof for this sign:
It is narrated from Sayyidunā ‘Alī, may Allāh Almighty be pleased with him, that,
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:إِذَا فَعَلَتْ أُمَّتِي خَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ خَصْلَةً حَلَّ بِهَا الْبَلَاءُ “، فَقِيلَ: وَمَا هُنَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: ” إِذَا كَانَ الْمَغْنَمُ دُوَلًا، وَالْأَمَانَةُ مَغْنَمًا، وَالزَّكَاةُ مَغْرَمًا، وَأَطَاعَ الرَّجُلُ زَوْجَتَهُ وَعَقَّ أُمَّهُ، وَبَرَّ صَدِيقَهُ وَجَفَا أَبَاهُ، وَارْتَفَعَتِ الْأَصْوَاتُ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ، وَكَانَ زَعِيمُ الْقَوْمِ أَرْذَلَهُمْ، وَأُكْرِمَ الرَّجُلُ مَخَافَةَ شَرِّهِ، وَشُرِبَتِ الْخُمُورُ، وَلُبِسَ “الْحَرِيرُ، وَاتُّخِذَتِ الْقَيْنَاتُ وَالْمَعَازِفُ، وَلَعَنَ آخِرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ أَوَّلَهَا، فَلْيَرْتَقِبُوا عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ رِيحًا حَمْرَاءَ أَوْ خَسْفًا وَمَسْخًا
“The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ stated that, ‘When my Ummah does fifteen things, the afflictions will occur in it.’ It was said, ‘What are they O Messenger of Allāh ﷺ?’ He ﷺ said, ‘When al-Maghnam (the spoils of war) are distributed (more favourably), trust is taken forcefully, Zakāh is a fine, a man obeys his wife and disobeys his mother, he is kind to his friend and abandons his father, voices are raised in the Masjids, the leader of the people is the most despicable among them, the most honoured man is the one whose evil the people are afraid of, intoxicants are drunk, silk is worn (by males), there is a fascination for singing slave-girls and music, and the end of this Ummah curses its beginning. When that occurs, anticipate a red wind, collapsing of the earth, and the transformation how things appear.’”
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Hadīth no 2210]
20. Things will start speak to people:
Animals & creatures will begin to speak to people, the edge of a whip, the lace of a shoe will also speak. Whatever happened while a person was not at home will be disclosed, in fact a person’s own thigh will inform him as to what happened.
Proof:
وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى تُكَلِّمَ السِّبَاعُ الإِنْسَ، وَحَتَّى تُكَلِّمَ الرَّجُلَ عَذَبَةُ سَوْطِهِ وَشِرَاكُ نَعْلِهِ وَتُخْبِرَهُ فَخِذُهُ” “بِمَا أَحْدَثَ أَهْلُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī, vol 4, pg 476, Hadīth no 2181]
11 MAJOR SIGNS:
Other than these [20], there will be 11 major signs which will become apparent.
Huge clouds of mysterious smoke, fog & smog will appear, causing darkness from the earth up to the sky.
The appearance of Dajjāl.
The coming out of Dābbah al-Ard [the beast]: This is a particular creature; it will possess the staff of Sayyidunā Mūsā and be wearing the ring of Sayyidunā Sulaymān – peace be upon them both. It will make an enlightened mark on the forehead of the Muslims with the staff and stamp a deep black mark on the forehead of the non-Muslims with the ring. At that time, all the Muslims and non-Muslims will be clearly noticeable; this sign will never change. Those who are non-Muslims will never accept faith and those who are Muslims will remain established upon their faith.
The rising of the sun from the West: The door of repentance will be sealed as soon as this sign occurs; any acceptance of Islām at that time will not be accepted.
The decent of Sayyidunā ‘Īsā, upon whom be peace.
The emerging of Ya’jūj Ma’jūj.
7-9. Three earthquakes will occur causing many people to be consumed by the earth: one will occur in the East, one in the West and one in the Arabian Peninsula.
Fire being brought forth from Yemen.
Proof:
It is narrated from Sayyidunā Ibn Asīd al-Ghifārī, may Allāh Almighty be pleased with him, that we were discussing the Day of Resurrection when the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ arrived and asked, “What are you discussing?” We requested, “We are conversing regarding the Day of Judgement.” Thereupon he ﷺ stated,
إِنَّهَا لَنْ تَقُومَ حَتَّى تَرَوْنَ قَبْلَهَا عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ – فَذَكَرَ – الدُّخَانَ، وَالدَّجَّالَ، وَالدَّابَّةَ، وَطُلُوعَ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا، وَنُزُولَ” عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَيَأَجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ، وَثَلَاثَةَ خُسُوفٍ: خَسْفٌ بِالْمَشْرِقِ، وَخَسْفٌ “بِالْمَغْرِبِ، “وَخَسْفٌ بِجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِ، وَآخِرُ ذَلِكَ نَارٌ تَخْرُجُ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ، تَطْرُدُ النَّاسَ إِلَى مَحْشَرِهِمْ
[Sahīh Muslim, pg 1551, Hadīth no 2901]
The appearance of Sayyidunā Imām Mahdī, may Allāh Almighty be pleased with him: Sayyidunā Imām Mahdī will arrive towards the Day of Judgement, which has been mentioned in many Hadīths.
Proof:
“الْمَهْدِيُّ مِنِّي، أَجْلَى الْجَبْهَةِ، أَقْنَى الْأَنْفِ، يَمْلَأُ الْأَرْضَ قِسْطًا وَعَدْلًا، كَمَا مُلِئَتْ جَوْرًا وَظُلْمًا، يَمْلِكُ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ”
“The Mahdi will be of my offspring, and will have a broad forehead & a prominent nose. He will fill the earth will equality and justice just as it was filled with oppression and tyranny, and he will rule for seven years.”
[Sunan Abū Dāwūd, Hadīth no 4285]
There are other signs excluding these also mentioned in Hadīths; someone who is in search for more may find them in the books of Hadīth. One should also bear in mind that one is not to regard any strange thing as a sign of the Day of Judgement without knowledge, until one comes to know of it via Hadīth. It is a lie and impermissible to regard something as a sign of the Day of Judgement from one’s own self.
واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری
Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali
