Divine Decree of Allah
Allah, through His supreme power, created all of existence and reserved the authority to command solely for Himself. His decree cannot be rejected, nor can His judgment be overturned. It is by His will that this world serves as a stage for human life, designated as a realm of trials and tribulations. Every soul in it is destined to encounter death, as Allah states: Every soul shall taste death.
This world has an appointed time, after which all creation will transition to the Hereafter, where they will reside eternally. Allah has concealed the timing of the world’s end from all creation, ensuring that they remain perpetually prepared to meet Him. This emphasizes the importance of obedience and devotion. However, Allah has also established signs that signify the approaching Hour, serving as reminders for people to awaken from their negligence. Many of these signs have been foretold in the Qur’an and mentioned in numerous prophetic traditions. Yet, those entrenched in disbelief often mock these warnings, stubbornly denying the truth of the Prophethood. What are the signs of the Hour, and how should a believer respond to them?
Understanding “The Decree of Allah Has Come, So Do Not Rush It”
This verse conveys Allah’s message about the imminent arrival of the Day of Judgment and the impending punishment for the disbelievers who hastened the arrival of that punishment in mockery of the Prophet’s warnings. Other verses also indicate the nearness of that day, such as: The Hour has drawn near for mankind, yet they remain heedless.
and The Hour has come, and the moon has been split.
In linguistic terms, the term ‘decree’ may indicate either a source or an object, with ‘the decree of Allah has come’ referring to the object—specifically, the occurrence of the Day of Judgment. The past tense of ‘has come’ signifies its inevitable occurrence.
The Concept of the Signs of the Hour and their Categories
Scholars have extensively discussed the concept of the Hour and its signs, as well as the believer’s position regarding them, categorizing these signs according to the relevant religious texts.
Religious Definition of the Hour
In religious terminology, the “Hour” refers to the appointed end of this world and the time of Resurrection when the lives of all beings will conclude, and the universe will be thrown into upheaval. It is called the Hour due to the swiftness of reckoning during it or because it arrives suddenly for creation. The signs of the Hour are indicators that precede the Day of Judgment and signify its imminent occurrence.
Categories of the Hour and its Signs
Scholars categorize the signs of the Hour based on various criteria, including:
- Some scholars classify these signs according to when they appear, dividing them into three categories:
- First: Signs that have already occurred and were foretold by the Messenger of Allah, such as the mission of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the conquest of Jerusalem, and the emergence of the fire of Hijaz, among others.
- Second: Ongoing signs that emerge continuously, such as the loss of trust among individuals, delegation of authority to the unworthy, prevalence of ignorance, increased deaths of knowledge bearers, and an upsurge of earthquakes.
- Third: Significant signs that have yet to appear, which will precede the Day of Judgment, including the emergence of the Antichrist, the descent of Jesus (peace be upon him), the emergence of Gog and Magog, the appearance of a beast, and the sun rising from the west.
- Some scholars classify the signs of the Hour based on their location, categorizing them into celestial and earthly signs:
- The celestial signs include phenomena such as the crescent moon appearing to some as two nights old, the splitting of the moon during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the sun rising from the west—events that occur in the sky.
- The earthly signs are numerous and diverse; they include the emergence of the Antichrist, the ignition of a fire, and the appearance of a talking beast that identifies individuals as believers or disbelievers, among many others.
- Some scholars arrange the signs according to their significance, dividing them into minor and major signs:
- The minor signs precede the Hour by a significant time, such as the diminishing of knowledge and the spread of ignorance, and the rise of grand constructions.
- The major signs are the significant events that occur shortly before the Hour, including the emergence of the Antichrist, the descent of Jesus (peace be upon him), and the coming of Gog and Magog, among others.
Benefits of Believing in the Hour and its Signs
Belief in the signs of the Hour yields numerous benefits, including:
- Believing in the signs of the Hour is a fulfillment of an essential tenet of faith—belief in the Last Day. As these signs signify preceding events, acknowledging them amounts to a belief in the unseen that Allah has tested His servants to affirm and acknowledge. Observing these signs in line with authentic texts reinforces believers’ faith, as people throughout the ages have witnessed events aligning with prophetic disclosures, such as Muslims witnessing the Romans’ victory over the Persians, followed by the Muslims’ triumphs over both, and the prevailing of Islam over all religions. Such events substantially fortify believers’ faith and offer undeniable evidence to disbelievers regarding the authenticity of the Prophet’s message.
- The signs of the Hour address a deep-seated human intuition—the innate desire to unveil the hidden and explore what future events await. They serve to thwart deceivers who claim knowledge of the unseen.
- The concealment of the Hour’s timing profoundly impacts personal reform, as it compels individuals to exercise vigilance, contributes to their preparedness, and fosters readiness for its occurrence. The description of forthcoming signs serves to awaken the heedless and encourage them to repent and prepare themselves. This is evidenced by the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) warnings to hasten righteous deeds before the emergence of the Antichrist, the smoke, the beast, the sun rising from the west, and other signs. As time progresses, people draw nearer to the arrival of these foretold events, necessitating increased caution and readiness. The most significant of these signs is perhaps the sun rising from the west, which is alluded to in the verse:
The Day the signs of your Lord come, no soul will benefit from having believed previously, or having earned good through its faith.