“Allah, there is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. He will certainly gather ˹all of˺ you together on the Day of Judgment—about which there is no doubt. And whose word is more truthful than Allah’s?”
– The Holy Quran 4:87
Increased earthquakes, time passing quickly, taller buildings, all of these are minor signs of Judgment Day, which The Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) informed us about. Let’s dive deeper into this topic and discuss what Judgement Day is and the major signs of the last hour.
What is the Day of Judgment in Islam?
In Islam, the day of judgment, also known as “Yawm al-Qiyamah” is a significant belief. This is when all of humanity and jinns will be resurrected and brought before Allah (SWT), or God, and will be judged for their deeds and actions in their earthly life. Moreover, this is the day when the world will end, and the forever period of the afterlife will commence.
What Will Happen on the Day of Judgment according to Islam?
The Day of Judgment marks the end of times. On this day, everything Allah (SWT) created will cease to exist as Hazrat Israfeel (AS) blows the trumpet, ending everything in the universe.
Humans and Jinns will then be resurrected as Hazrat Israfeel (AS) blows the trumpet again, gathering on the plain of Arafat to face judgment by Allah (SWT), The Almighty. Every human and jinn, regardless of belief, will be naked and given a ‘record of their deeds,’ which they must read aloud, concealing nothing; a testament to the absolute fairness of Allah (SWT), The Exalted. Those receiving the record in the right hand will go to heaven, and those on the left will go to Hell.
Ten Major Signs of the Day of Judgment in Islam
Before the Day of Judgment arrives, ten major signs will warn us of the impending times. These significant signs have been mentioned in the Quran and various Hadiths. Let us delve into a detailed discussion of these ten signs that indicate the commencement of the last hour. However, It is important to note that these events do not follow a chronological order, as no such sequence has been narrated in the Hadiths.
- The Emergence of the Dajjal (the Antichrist)
“Verily Allah (hallowed be He and High) is not blind of one eye. Behold, but the Masih al-Dajjal is blind of right eye as if his eye is like a swollen grape.”
– Sahih Muslim
The Antichrist, Dajjal, will emerge in the last hour, claiming lordship and performing mighty miracles. He will deceive people with false displays of heaven and Hell in his hands, causing confusion and leading many astray. But true believers will be able to read “Kafir” (disbeliever) written between his eyes, safeguarding themselves from his deception. Hazrat Isa (AS), Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him), will ultimately defeat Dajjal, ending his tyranny and signaling a new era of peace.
- Imam Mahdi, “The Guided One”
“This world will not come to an end until one person from my progeny does not rule over the Arabs, and his name will be the same as my name.”
– Tirmidhi
Allah (SWT) will send Imam Mahdi to address these issues in times of immense distress and injustice. He will appear before Dajjal and Jesus, bringing a reign of peace and eliminating all evil forces from the Earth. United under his leadership, Muslims will find strength and harmony.
- Hazrat Isa (AS), son of Mary.
“Verily he [i.e., Jesus) is a portent of the Hour. So be in no doubt concerning it and follow Me. This is the Straight Way.”
– The Holy Quran 43:61
In Muslim belief, Hazrat Isa (AS), or Jesus, was never crucified; Allah (SWT) raised him to heaven. The return of Prophet Isa holds great significance in Islam. He will return to Earth, eliminate Dajjal, and restore peace worldwide. He will break the cross, abolish the jizya tax, and eradicate the rearing of pigs. Emphasizing the teachings of Islam, he will foster unity among all humankind.
- Yajuj & Majuj (Gog and Magog)
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The last hour will not come or happen until the coming forth of Gog and Magog.”
– Sunan Abi Dawud (Book 39, Hadith 21)
According to Islamic belief, Gog and Magog are two tribes with barbaric qualities. They used to wreak havoc until Dhul-Qarnayn, a great and pious ruler, caged them behind a barrier. When the end times are near, they will break this barrier down and reemerge to cause mischief on Earth. When their destruction becomes unbearable, Allah (SWT) will kill them by sending flesh-eating worms.
- The Beast Of The Earth (Dabbat al-ard)
“And when the time for the fulfillment of Our Word against them will come,100 We shall bring forth for them a beast from the earth who will speak to them because people did not believe in Our Signs.”
– The Holy Quran 27:82
As the end times approach, Allah (SWT) will dispatch a beast to Earth, serving as a sign to distinguish between believers and disbelievers. The foreheads of the faithful will be marked with the word “belief,” while the disbelievers will be marked with “disbelief.” This extraordinary creature will possess unique abilities, including the power to communicate with humans. Various interpretations exist concerning its physical appearance, with some suggesting it could be the “AIDS disease” or even the “television.” Ultimately, the truth remains known only to Allah (SWT).
- The Rising Of The Sun From The West
“The Hour will not be established till the sun rises from the west, and when it rises (from the west) and the people see it, then all of them will believe (in Allah). But that will be the time when ‘No good it will do to a soul to believe then. If it believed not before.”
– Sahih al-Bukhari (Book 81, Hadith 95)
Every sunrise, the sun seeks permission from Allah (SWT), and He grants it graciously. However, on the Day of Judgment, this routine will change. The sun will request permission to rise, but it will be denied, commanded to go back where it came from, leading to its rise from the west. This significant event will mark the end of times, closing the gates of repentance for the disbelievers.
- The Smoke (Ad-Dukhan):
“Wait then ˹O Prophet˺ for the day ˹when˺ the sky will be veiled in haze, clearly visible, overwhelming the people. ˹They will cry,˺ “This is a painful torment..”
– The Holy Quran 44: 10-11
According to a hadith, the smoke will come from the sky and remain on the Earth for 40 days. This smoke will have a severe impact on the Earth. It will be like a chill for believers, but it will be hard to bear for disbelievers. Regardless of everything, when this smoke appears, it will be visible to everyone and a clear sign of the last hour.
- The Splitting of the Moon
“The Hour has drawn near, and the Moon was split in two. Yet, when- ever they see a sign, they turn away, saying, ‘Same old magic.”
– The Holy Quran 54:1-2
The splitting of the moon is a fascinating event in Islamic history. It occurred before the migration to Medina when the Quraish polytheists challenged Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) to prove his prophethood by splitting the moon in half. On the 14th night, believers and disbelievers witnessed the miraculous splitting of the moon. This extraordinary occurrence affirmed Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace be Upon Him) Prophethood and strengthened the resolve of the believers in his divine message.
- Three Sinkings of the Earth
“Three sinkings of the earth. One in the east, one in the west and one in the Arabian Peninsula”
– Sahih Muslim (Book 54, Hadith 10)
The sinking of the Earth refers to the event of three landslides—one in the West, one in the East, and one in the Arabian Peninsula. Though there is little information about this event, it is affirmed that this has not happened in the past. The nature of this event will be severe, with intervals between the landslides reminding the people that the end is near.
- The Fire
“The last of them will be a fire that will come from Yemen, and will force the people to the area of their assembly,”
– Sahih Muslim (Book 7, Hadith 7285)
When the last hour comes, a fire will emerge from Yemen and gather people towards it, readying them for the judgment of their deeds and actions in the earthly life. This fire is considered among the last major signs of Qayamah.
Judgment Day is a significant belief in Islam, representing the end of this universe and the start of the afterlife. The signs discussed above are a clear reminder for all Muslims to lead righteous and ethical lives and seek constant repentance from Allah (SWT) to succeed in the afterlife.