There are many additional prophecies pertaining to the end of time, when all these Ahadith are arranged in a chronological order a significant picture becomes very clear, the prophet (saws) mentioned events on a year by year basis, there isn’t a year that has passed in which the prophet (saws) didn’t speak about what is occurring in it.
This isn’t to say he enumerated the years one by one but rather for example He (saws) would mention an event that would span four or five years, then He would mention the event that would come after it and so on, this is consistent up until the time of the hour, the frequency of events he mentions is increased towards our time in history and we can see He (saws) almost did mention events on a year by year basis in our life time because he would often say this event will last for 5,7 or 9 years giving very specific information.
Although this present work shows this chronology and this frequency, we have left out a lot of events for the sake of being brief, were they to be all similarly arranged the matter would be seen with precise clarity.
Allah himself spoke about this in the Quran when He said regarding the Prophet (saws) “He does not withhold what is revealed to him from the Unseen” (81:24), meaning everything he is shown He related to us and He (saws) repeatedly said He was shown what will occur to the end of time.
The following narration’s span the entirety of Islam until the Last Great War they are an example of the breadth of what the prophet was shown, his knowledge covered the span of time itself.
‘Aouf Ibn Maalik Al-Ashja’ee said, “I went to the Prophet and gave him greetings of peace. Hem, said, ‘Aouf?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Enter.’ I asked, ‘All of me or a part of me?’ (Should i simply look inside) He said, ‘All of you. O ‘Aouf, enumerate six that will occur in close proximity to the Hour. the first of them is my death.’ I cried until the Messenger of Allah silenced me. He said, ‘Say: one.’ I said, ‘One.’ He said, ‘The second is the conquering of Jerusalem. Say: two.’ I said, ‘Two.’ He said, ‘The third is death that will occur in my nation, it will take them like the shearing of (wool on) sheep (this is the Plague of Amwas in 639AD). Say: three. The fourth is a trial that will take place in my nation – it is the greatest of them (The trial of the Duhaima, the narration skips to our time). The fifth is the abundant flowing of wealth among you, until a man is given 100 dinars but is still dissatisfied with it (this is an increase in the standard of living after the Duhaima, and is yet to occur). Say: five. The sixth is a truce between you and the children of the yellow ones (referring to Romans and will occur just before the Great War); they will advance toward you with 80 Ghaayah.’ I said, ‘And what is Al-Ghaayah?’ He said, ‘a flag, and under each flag there are 12 000 (troops). And the Fustaat (depending on context it can means either a city or group, here it means city) of the Muslims at that time will be in a land called Ghootah, in a city called Damascus (in Syria).”‘ (Ahmad)
Aouf ibn Maalik said, “I went to the Messenger of Allah while he was engaged in the battle of Tabook; he was in a dome made of Udam (skin or leather). He said, ‘Enumerate six signs which will occur in close proximity to the Hour, 1) my death; 2) the conquering of Constantinople (1453 AD); 3) death that will take you like the barber of sheep (takes hair from them, the Amwas plague occurred in 639AD in Palestine which most scholars say this refers to, it killed many companions); 4) an abundant flow of wealth until a man receives 100 dinar yet still remains dissatisfied (wealth will spread, this is an increase in the standard of living around the world due to technology); 5) a trial that will not leave a single house from the Arabs except that it enters it (the Duhaima); 6) then there will be a truce between you and the children of the yellow ones. They will advance and come to you under 80 flags; under each flag there will be 12,000.(al Malham al Kubra, The Great War)” (Bukhari)
The chronology of these narration’s is elaborated on through out the present work, it is more than likely one of the narrators of the second Hadith mixed between events in the list because the narration is chronological except for the plague, this is something sometimes present in narrations. The last sign is Al Malhma al Kubra (the Great War, Armageddon), the Romans (Europeans) will raise an Army consisting of around 960000 soldiers against the muslims during that war and both Ahadith place it to occur after the trial of the Duhaima which we are living now.
Huthafah ibn Asad said, “The Prophet came over to us as we were studying among ourselves (knowledge regarding) the Hour. He said, ‘What are you discussing?’ We said, ‘We are mentioning (affairs pertaining to) the Hour.’ He said, ‘Indeed it will not come until you see ten signs (These are the Major Signs unlike the previous ones, they are not in order): The smoke, the Dajjaal, the beast, the rising of the sun from the West, the descending of ‘Eesa ibn Maryam, Yajooj and Majooj, three Khusoof (Three major Landslides or Earth Quakes) — the Khasf of the East, the Khasf of the West, and the Khasf of the Arabian Peninsula — and the last of them is a fire that will emerge from the East and that will steer people to their place of gathering (before the Hour).” (Ahmad)
It is related in a Hadeeth from Hudhaifah that from the signs of the Hour is a smoke that will fill all that is between the East and the West. It will remain on earth for forty days. The believer will be afflicted with something similar to a cold; the disbeliever will be in a state of drunkenness; smoke will come out from his nose, his eyes, his ears, and his anus (this is mentioned in ‘Aun Al-Ma’bood.)
Many of Islam’s major scholars have written works on the signs of the hour in which they have arranged the many Ahadith (narrations) of the prophet (saws) in the chronological order they understood the events would occur in. Of the scholars that have undertaken the work of arranging the narrations, among the most known are Imam Suyuti and Imam Ibn Kathir.
Imam Ibn Hajar who wrote the famous Tafsir (exegesis) to Sahih Bukhari, the most famous collection of prophetic narration’s in Islam, Fath al Bari (Victory of the Creator), similarly divided the signs of the hour into two main categories, and arranged them into the order that they would be occurring in, one before the other.
The first category of signs are those that occur on this earth without the earth itself changing, these are signs that should clearly awaken people and drive them to repent to Allah. The signs of this category include the coming of the Dajjaal (Antichrist), the return of Jesus (as), Yajuj wa Majuj (Gog and Magog) and the Major Earthquakes.
The second category of the major signs leave no doubt as to the immanent occurrence of the Day of Resurrection and the end of this world, among them there will be clear events that will distinguish the believer from the disbeliever.
Hence, before and after these signs, there will be no question regarding the necessity to repent and return to living life as Allah intended, “Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves (Stop the evil they commit). And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it” (13:11).
The signs in this category include the appearance of the beast of the earth who will mark people as clearly being believers or non believers in Allah, the smoke and the rising of the Sun from the West (the opposite direction it normally rises from) after which Allah will refuse to accept repentance from any person who has not already repented, and a large fire (Gigantic Lava Flow’s) that will drive people from their countries to the final gathering place on earth before the Hour.
We are living in a time just before the first major sign appears, to briefly summaries these signs, the first of the Major sign of the Hour is Imam Mahdi (ra), the last Khalifah of Allah on earth before Isa (Jesus) returns, who will spread justice on earth like we see oppression spreading today. Abdullah ibn Masood, May Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said, “The world will not pass away before the Arabs are ruled by a man (referring to the Mahdi) of my family whose name will be the same as mine.” (Abu Dawwud) Abu Saeed al Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ”He will be sent at a time of intense disputes and differences among people and earthquakes (will be common).” (Ahmad)
His rule will last for approximately 9 years and he will then pass away, towards the end of this period the Dajjaal (Allah’s curse be upon him) will appear, he will corrupt mankind completely destroying the essence of society, until people no longer remember who they are because they are lost in his false message of what is good for man’s nature and what is corrupt for it.
Fatima bint Qais reported, “I heard the proclaimer of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, calling for congregational prayer. I went to the mosque and prayed with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. When he finished his prayer, he sat upon the pulpit smiling and said, ‘Let every man remain in his seat.’ He then asked, ‘Do you know why I have called you together?’ They replied, ‘Allah and his Messenger know best.’ The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said, ‘By Allah, I have not called you together for hope or for fear, I have called you together because Tamim ad-Dari who was a Christian, came and embraced Islam.
He narrated a story to me, which agreed with the account I had given to you about the Dajjaal. He informed me that he had embarked upon a sea-boat with thirty men of Lakhm and Jozam. Then the sea waves played with them for a month and threw them on to an island when the sun was about to set. They sat in a small side boat and landed on the Island. A beast with very coarse hair met them. They could not tell its front from its back due to its excessive hair. They asked, ‘Woe to thee! Who art thou?” It replied, ‘I am a spy. Go to this man in the monastery, as he is eager to receive the information you bring.
Tamim ad-Dari said, ‘When it named a man for us, we fled away from it lest it might be the devil. Then we hurriedly went on until we entered the monastery and found a big-bodied man whom we had never seen before. He was firmly tied up, his hands tied to his neck, the place between his knees, and joints tied up with iron chains.’ We asked, ‘Woe to thee! What are thou?’ He replied, ‘You have the power to get my information. Inform me about yourselves.
‘ They replied, ‘We are people from Arabia, we embarked upon a sea boat, but the sea waves played with us for a month and threw us onto this island. A beast of coarse hairs met us and said, ‘I am a spy. Go to the man in the monastery.’ So we approached you hurriedly. He asked, ‘Tell me about the trees of Baisan. Do they bear fruit?.’ ‘Yes’ We replied. He said, ‘Behold! Soon they will not yield fruit.’ He asked, ‘Inform me of the lake of Tiberias. Is there water in it?’ We replied, ‘It is full of water.’ He informed us, ‘Soon its water will disappear.’ He then asked, ‘Inform me of the fountain of Zugara. Is there water in it and do its inhabitants irrigate with the water of the fountain?’ ‘Yes, it is full of water and it’s inhabitants irrigate from its water. He asked, ‘Inform me about the Prophet of the illiterate (people). What does he do?’ We said, ‘He has just come out of Makkah and gone to Yathrib (Madina).’ He asked, ‘Have the Arabs fought with him?’ ‘Yes’ We replied. He asked, ‘How did he treat them’ We informed him that he had the upper hand of those among the Arabs who opposed him and they obeyed him.
He said, ‘Behold! It is better for them if they obey him. As for myself I am certainly the Anti-Christ and it is (now) near that an order will be passed for me to come out. I shall then come out and travel the world. I shall leave no village at which I shall not land within 40 nights except Makkah and Taibah, which will be forbidden to me. Whenever I wish to enter one of the two, an angel with a sword in his hand will encounter me and prevent me therefrom. There will be angels on every side to guard it. The apostle of Allah struck his pulpit with his staff and said, ‘This (place) is Taibah meaning Madinah. Behold! Did I not tell you?’ ‘Yes’ they replied. ‘Behold, he is in the Syrian sea (to the North) or the sea of Yemen (to the south); no, rather he is from the eastern direction. He then pointed out with his hand towards the East (the Arabian Sea). (Muslim)
The Arabian Sea in the east is off the coast of Iran and Pakistan, were narration’s say he will first appear from with his army. During the prophet’s (saws) time boats were still small and as they travelled on sea they hugged the shore line. The Arabian sea does not have many islands, and only two or three are close to the shore, the most significant and obvious in terms of it’s location and history is Astola island, it is an isolated island that has been cut off from the mainland for a long time and is directly east of Madina, if one draws a line towards the east it lies just above it. The island is situated about 25 km south of the desert coast of southern Balochistan province, and is the only significant offshore island along the north coast of the Arabian Sea, just off the coast of Pakistan near Iran.
The earliest mention of Astola island is in Arrian’s account of Admiral Nearchos, who was dispatched by Alexander the Great to explore the coast of the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf in 325 AD. The sailors in Nearchos’s fleet were “frightened at the weird tales told about an uninhabited island, which Arrian calls Nosala”.
On top of the Island (200ft above sea) is a ruined temple of the Hindu Goddess “Kali Maa” some 2,000 years old, she is the hindu goddess of time, death, war and destruction. Scholars are not in agreement whether the Dajjaal (Allah’s curse be upon him) will be let loose from the island towards the end of time or that will simply be his time of appearance, all landmass’s have now been explored on earth so reason would state he is no longer on the Island and walking the earth, in fact from the time of the prophet 1400 years ago, the prophet (saws) instructed that people should recite surah al Kahf (chapter 18) every Friday to protect oneself from the fitna (trial’s, troubles, mischief) of the Dajjaal (Allah’s curse be upon him) during that week, hence some scholars hold he is walking the earth in a lessor capacity, and Allah will eventually use him to test mankind towards the end. Narration’s also state the Dajjaal (Allah’s curse be upon him) is not from Mankind he is a creature from Allah, while mankind will brought to account for their life on the day of Judgment after which they will either enter Jannah (Heaven) or Jahanam (Hell) the Dajjaal (Allah’s curse be upon him) will be brought on that day and turned to dust, just as most animal’s will be turned to dust, he is a creature Allah created to test mankind hence the long life he was granted just like Iblis (Allah’s curse be upon him) who was given respite until the day of judgment when Allah will send him to Jahanam (hell).
After the Dajjaal (Allah’s curse be upon him) corrupts the earth Allah will send Isa (Jesus) back to earth to kill him, Abu Huraira (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah Peace and blessings be upon him said, “By the one whose hands my life is in, surely the son of Maryam (Peace upon her) will descend amongst you as a just ruler. He will destroy the cross, kill the swine and abolish the tax.” (Bukhari)
Losing hope of entering the holy places, the Dajjaal (Allah’s curse be upon him) will turn towards Syria, Imaam Mahdi (ra) will already have arranged a Muslim army to face him and will be on the verge of leading the Muslims in the morning prayer when the prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, will descend near the white Minaret in the east of Damascus (Syria), wearing two garments died with saffron, placing his hands on the wings of two angels. After the prayer the prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, will say, ”Open the gate”. The gate will be opened and the Dajjaal will be waiting behind it accompanied by an army of 70,000 Jews from Isfahan (in Iran).
The Dajjaal (Allah’s curse be upon him) on seeing the prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, among the Muslims will begin to dissolve like salt in water (most likely referring to his power and his persona) and will begin to flee. The prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, will say to him, “You will remain alive until I strike you with my spear” He will catch up with him at the Eastern gate of Ludd (Ludd is a mountain in Syria. Some say that it is a village in Jerusalem, and some say that it is a village in Palestine) and then the prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, will kill him with his spear.
Some time after accomplishing this the people of Yajuj wa Majuj (Gog and Magog) will appear, there numbers are so great that the remaining believers on earth will not be able to stop them, Isa (as) will take them to mount Tur in Egypt were they will besiege him, He will supplicate to Allah against them, and Allah will then kill them in the span of day with a disease that will attack their necks, peace will once more return to earth, Jesus (as) will remain alive for 40 years, marry, have children and then pass away.
The other greater signs of the Hour that will occur after the death of Isa (as) are: The destruction of the Ka’bah and the recovery of its treasure; The rising of the sun from the west; The emergence of the Beast from the earth; The smoke; A wind that will take the souls of the believers; The Qur’an will be taken up into heaven; A fire will drive people to their last gathering place before the hour occurs; and The Trumpet will be sounded: at the first sound everyone will feel terror; at the second sound all will be struck down; at the last sound all will be resurrected.
Az-Zubair related that ‘Adee said, “We went to Anas ibn Maalik and complained to him about the ill-treatment we receive from Al-Hajjaaj. He said, ‘Be patient, for no era comes upon a people except that the one that follows it is even worse, (and this will continue) until you meet your Lord. I heard this from your Prophet. (Bukhari)
The Prophet (saws) said: “The signs shall appear one after the other like the beads on a string follow one another (when the string is cut).”
He also said: “The signs are like beads strung on a string. If the string breaks, they (quickly) follow one after the other” (falling from it).
The appearance of the recent signs of the hour in quick succession is clear, signified by the acceptance of most scholars that the minor signs of the hour have already been fulfilled and we are about to witness it’s first major sign, the first sign being the Mahdi (ra), the last Khalifah (Leader) of Islam before Allah sends Isa (Jesus) back to Earth.
The scholars have arranged the signs of the Hour beginning with the prophet’s (saws) death then all the events in our History and into our time and then the future, this work will cover events in our own lifetime up to the time of the Dajjaal (Allah’s curse be upon Him).
The following are some of the narration’s regarding events in our past, at the time of the Prophet (saws) Islam was only found in two small cities, Makkah and Madina and were not a major force in the world;
The Prophet (saws) said muslims would conquer the two major powers in the world at the time, “Allah, the Exalted, unfolded for me the Earth, to the extent that I saw its Eastern and Western extremities. The Kingdom of my Ummah (nation) will reach as far as what has been unfolded to me. The two treasures, the red (Persian Kingdom) and the white (Roman Empire), were bestowed on me…. ” (Sahih Muslim)
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Kisra (the king of Persia) would die and then there would be no Kisra after him. Qaisar (Caesar the ruler of Rome) would die and there would be no Qaisar after him, you will distribute their treasures in the cause of Allah. (Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said referring to the rightly Guided Khalifa’s after him said, ‘Follow the lead of the two who come after me, Abu Bakr and Umar. (Tirmidhi)
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said “Indeed Allah has commenced this matter upon Prophet hood and mercy; it will become Khilafah and mercy; it will become honor and sanctity; (then) it will become kingdoms, great oppression, and corruption in the nation – people will deem private parts, alcohol, and silk to be lawful. They will be supported upon that and they will be given provision continuously until they meet Allah ‘Azza Wa jall (to Him belongs Might and Majesty).” (Abu Dawud)
The Messenger of Allah said, “The Prophets will be followed by the Khalifah’s, who will apply Allah’s Book and who will be just with Allah’s slaves. The Khalifah’s will be followed by kings, who will take their revenge, kill men, and choose wealth (for themselves). (At that time) one can change (evil) with his hand, with his tongue, and with his heart; and there is no Eemaan beyond that.” (Al Baihaqee – Ibn Katheer Al Bidaya Wa Nihaya)
Sa’eed bin Jumhan narrated, Safinah narrated to me, The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “The Khalifah will be in my Ummah for thirty years, then there will be monarchy after that.”‘ Then Safinah said to me: ‘Count the Khalifah of Abu Bakr,’ then he said: ‘Count the Khalifah of ‘Umar and the Khalifah of ‘Uthman.’ Then he said to me: ‘Count the Khalifah of ‘Ali.”‘ He said: “So we found that they add up to thirty years.” Sa’eed said: “I said to him: ‘Banu Umaiyyah (the first Monarchy) claim that the Khalifah is among them.’ He said: ‘Banu Az-Zarqa’ lie, rather they are a monarchy, among the worst of monarchies.”‘ (Tirmidhi, Hasan, Vol. 4, Book 7, Hadith 2226).
The Prophet said Muslims would conquer Egypt; Ibn Ka’ab related from his father that the Messenger of Allah said, “When you conquer Egypt, then treat its inhabitants in a good manner.” (Maalik)
And in another narration, “Treat its inhabitants in a good manner, for they have the right of security and they are kinsfolk” Hagar the wife of the Prophet Ibrahim (saws) and the mother of the Prophet Ismaa’eel (saws), was from them and the prophet Muhammad’s wife Maria (ra) was from them.
Amr ibn Al-Aas led the Muslim army that conquered Egypt in the year 20H (20 years after Hijra), during the Khalifate of ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab.
The Prophet indicated that Muslim’s would reach India and China; Al-Hasan related that Abu Hurairah said, “My Khaleel and the truthful one, The Messenger of Allah said, ‘From this Nation there will be an expedition to Sindh (china) and India.’ If I reach that time and if I become martyred, then that is fine; and if I return, then I am Abu Hurairah the saved: He will have freed me from the Fire.” (Ahmad)
The companions themselves traveled to China, and an expedition to India was sent in the year 44 H, during the rule of Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyaan.
The Prophet said that the Muslims would fight the Turks (Tartars);
Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet said, “The Hour will not arrive until you will fight a people whose shoes are made of (braided) hair and until you fight the Turks, who have small eyes, red faces, small and turned up noses, and who have faces that are like the shield (of a combatant)… People are minerals (this means that their roots, backgrounds, and lineages differ). The best of them in (the days of) ignorance is the best of them in Islam. And there will come upon you a time wherein for one of you to see me is more beloved to him than to be given more family and wealth – (than to be given) double what he already has.” (Bukhari)
Amr ibn Tha’lab related that he heard the Messenger of Allah say, “From the signs of the Hour is for you to fight a people whose faces are wide, as if their faces are shields (Turks and Mongols).” (Ahmad)
The Prophet (pbuh) said the word of Islam will spread throughout the World, enter every home, and no one will be left who has not heard about Islam. With the spread of Islam under the different Islamic Dynasties this came true and today in an age of Mass Media it continues to be so.
Al-Miqdad ibn Aswad said I heard the Prophet say: “Not a dwelling (house) whether of brick, or fur will remain on the surface of the Earth that Allah will not ensure that the word of Islam enters it, either honoring an honorable person or disgracing an abject person.” (Ahmad, Tabarani, Ibn Hibban, and Al-Haakim)