Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The Hour will not be established (1) till two big groups fight each other whereupon there will be a great number of casualties on both sides and they will be following one and the same religious doctrine, (2) till about thirty Dajjals (liars) appear, and each one of them will claim that he is Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), (3) till the religious knowledge is taken away (by the death of Religious scholars) (4) earthquakes will increase in number (5) time will pass quickly, (6) afflictions will appear, (7) Al-Harj, (i.e., killing) will increase, (8) till wealth will be in abundance ---- so abundant that a wealthy person will worry lest nobody should accept his Zakat, and whenever he will present it to someone, that person (to whom it will be offered) will say, 'I am not in need of it, (9) till the people compete with one another in constructing high buildings, (10) till a man when passing by a grave of someone will say, 'Would that I were in his place (11) and till the sun rises from the West. So when the sun will rise and the people will see it (rising from the West) they will all believe (embrace Islam) but that will be the time when: (As Allah said,) 'No good will it do to a soul to believe then, if it believed not before, nor earned good (by deeds of righteousness) through its Faith.' (6.158) And the Hour will be established while two men spreading a garment in front of them but they will not be able to sell it, nor fold it up; and the Hour will be established when a man has milked his she-camel and has taken away the milk but he will not be able to drink it; and the Hour will be established before a man repairing a tank (for his livestock) is able to water (his animals) in it; and the Hour will be established when a person has raised a morsel (of food) to his mouth but will not be able to eat it."
Afflictions and the End of the World - Sahih al-Bukhari 7121
This comprehensive hadith enumerates numerous minor signs preceding the Day of Judgment, serving as a profound warning and reminder for believers. The Prophet (ﷺ) systematically outlines these portents to prepare the Ummah for the trials to come.
Major Civil Strife
The first sign describes two massive Muslim factions engaging in devastating warfare despite sharing the same religious doctrine. Scholars interpret this as indicating fitnah (tribulation) arising from political disputes or theological differences within the Muslim community, where both sides justify their positions through Islamic texts.
Proliferation of False Claimants
The appearance of approximately thirty Dajjals (deceivers) signifies the corruption of religious leadership. Each falsely claims prophethood, undermining religious authority and confusing the masses. This indicates a time when religious knowledge becomes diluted and charlatans exploit people's spiritual needs.
Disappearance of Religious Knowledge
The "taking away" of religious knowledge occurs primarily through the death of authentic scholars ('ulama). As Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains, when true scholars perish without adequate successors, ignorance prevails, and people follow misguided opinions, leading to religious innovation and deviation.
Natural Phenomena Intensify
Increased earthquakes represent both physical and metaphysical disturbances in creation. Classical commentators note that as moral corruption increases in society, the natural world reflects this disorder through frequent seismic activities and other natural calamities.
Acceleration of Time
Time passing quickly refers to the subjective experience where years feel like months, months like weeks, and weeks like days. Scholars interpret this as blessings being lifted from time, making it less productive for good deeds and spiritual advancement.
Wealth Abundance and Rejection of Zakat
This remarkable condition describes such wealth abundance that recipients refuse zakat offerings. This indicates both material prosperity and spiritual poverty, where people's attachment to worldly possessions prevents them from accepting their rightful due, disrupting the Islamic economic system.
Architectural Competition
The competition in constructing tall buildings signifies misplaced priorities and arrogance. As Al-Qurtubi notes, this reflects civilizations focusing on worldly achievements while neglecting spiritual development, often accompanied by economic inequality and social stratification.
Final Irrevocable Sign
The sun rising from the west constitutes the major sign after which repentance is no longer accepted. As stated in the Quranic verse (6:158) cited in the hadith, faith at this point becomes meaningless. This cosmic alteration demonstrates Allah's absolute power and serves as the ultimate test.
Sudden Establishment of the Hour
The final scenarios depict the Hour arriving during ordinary daily activities - while trading, milking animals, or eating. This emphasizes its unexpected nature and serves as a powerful reminder that death and judgment can come at any moment, urging constant spiritual preparedness.