Believing in the signs of the Hour is part of our belief in the Unseen (Al-Ghaib) without which the belief of a Muslim is incomplete. Signs of the Day of Judgment are many; some have already passed like Prophet Mohammad’s prophecy, his death, 30 imposters etc. Some are minor signs like the extreme increases in the consumption of wine, the spread of adultery, and senseless bloodshed. But if we trace the prophet’s references about the major signs of the Day of Judgment, these are the main ones that are close in time to the actual start of the Day of Judgment itself. Due to the many Hadiths referencing each sign, I will only cite one reference either from Quran or Sunnah, and elaborate about matters important to understand such signs of the Day of Judgment.

Al- Mahdi

The prophet (SAAW) said: “[Check your status of] how would you’ll be when the son of Mary shall come and your Imam is of you.”[1] Many other Hadiths were narrated by scholars of Hadith including Imam Ahmad, Abu Daoud, Al-Tirmizi and Al-Hakem which described details about Al-Mahdi. He will be a regular man from the descendants of the Prophet’s (SAAW) family through Fatimah (RAA), and he will appear and fill earth with justice just as it had previously been filled with wrongdoing and oppression. His name will match the prophet’s name and his father’s name will match the prophet’s father’s name too.

By no means should Muslims abandon working towards implementing justice or choosing righteous leaders to lead them towards piety in this life under the assumption that it cannot be achieved until Al-Mahdi comes, as some groups wish to believe and claim! The prophet (SAAW) spoke of Al-Mahdi as he was commanded to do in delivering the revelation and as the hope in the future for a time of justice and leadership.

Al-Maseeh Al-Dajjal, the Antichrist

The prophet (SAAW) said: “Allah, may He be exalted, is not one-eyed, but Al-Maseeh al-Dajjal is one-eyed, and his right eye looks like a floating grape.”[2] In other Hadiths, the Antichrist was described as a young man with a ruddy complexion and curly hair, and will be one-eyed, with his right eye looking like a floating grape. Three letters: “ka fa ra” (in unjoined letters) will be written between his eyes in which every Muslim, literate or illiterate, will be able to read. Another of his attributes will be that he is sterile, and will have no children, but he will utilize aspects of life like rain, earth’s provisions and treasures, under his command creating one of the greatest Fitna ever.

The prophet (SAAW) directed his Ummah to keep making Dua to be protected from his Fitna and trials. اللهم إني أعوذ بك من عذاب جهنم ومن عذاب القبر ومن فتنة المحيا والممات ومن فتنة المسيح الدجال  (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the punishment of Hell, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the tribulation of the Dajjal).”[3] The prophet (SAAW) also said: “Whoever memorizes ten Ayat from the beginning of Surat al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal.”[4]

The descent of Isa ibn Maryam (AS)

The prophet (SAAW) said: “By the One in whose hand is my soul, it is nearly time for the son of Maryam to descend upon you, to judge fairly. He will break the cross, kill the pigs and put an end to war. Wealth will increase so much that no one will accept it, and one prostration to Allah will be worth more than the world and all that is in it.”[5]

The Hadith narrations spoke of Isa (AS) coming down to the white minaret in the East of Damascus, Syria, resting his hands on the wings of two angels. He will come down to the victorious group that is fighting for the truth and has come together to fight the Dajjal. He will descend at the time when the Iqamah for prayer is being given, and he will pray behind the leader of that group.

The return of Isa (AS) will not contradict that our prophet Mohammad (SAAW) was the last prophet as some try to promote!  As revealed, his return is just a sign of the Day of Judgment ending another sign which is the Antichrist. The narration spoke of Isa (AS) killing the Antichrist in a town in Palestine called: Al-Ludd.[6]

Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj; Gog and Magog

Allah (SW) said: {Until, when Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj are let loose (from their barrier), and they swiftly swarm from every mound. And the true promise (Day of Resurrection) shall draw near (to fulfilment)} 21:96.

Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj are human beings and while tracking the Hadiths speaking about them it seems they belong to the Turkic Mongol race, having small eyes, small, flat noses and wide faces. Their faces look like hammered-out shields (their faces are likened to shields because they are wide and round).

Much of earth’s provision will be consumed by them, and it seems they will represent the rise of a specific nation over other nations on earth.

The swallowing up of the earth; Khasf

This means that a place is swallowed up in the earth and disappears into it. The prophet (SAAW) said: “The Hour will not begin until you see ten signs, (including) three events where the earth swallows up, one in the East, one in the West, and one in the Arabian Peninsula.”[7]

We can see that such major events taking place prior to the Day of Judgment are reminders of things that will happen to earth and for people to believe in God and His is Power, and submit and surrender to Him by following the truth.

The Beast

Allah (SW) said: {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.} 27:82.

Such abnormal communication between a beast and humans will also represent a major shift against normal matters of life in a miraculous way; an animal speaking the language of humans!

The smoke; Al-Dukhan

Allah (SW) said: {Then wait you for the Day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke, covering the people, this is a painful torment.} 44:10-11.

In one Hadith, the prophet (SAAW) described it in the term of nice wind or breeze that will consume all the souls of the believers.[8] It seems that God wanted no believers to watch or see the major changes that will happen to earth out of mercy for them. This Smoke will kill all believers, and the actual Day of Judgment will begin only on the disbelievers in God.

The rising of the Sun from the West

Allah (SW) said: {The day that some of the Signs of your Lord do come, no good will it do to a person to believe then, if he believed not before, nor earned good (by performing deeds of righteousness) through his faith.} 6:158. Most scholars of Tafseer relate the meaning to the major sign of the Day of Judgment; The Sun rising from the West.

This sign will represent a point of no return as mentioned in the verse and supported by Hadith of the prophet. (SAAW)[9] Such a major change in the universe will represent the actual start of the Hour as narrated by Abdullah son of Amr Ibn A’as.[10]

The Fire

The prophet (SAAW) said: “The last of the signs will be a fire which will emerge from Yemen, and will drive the people to their gathering place.”[11]

This Fire will gather people to the real moment of Reckoning. It will be part of the major changes taking place in the world.