While the Prophet (ﷺ) was saying something in a gathering, a Bedouin came and asked him, "When would the Hour (Doomsday) take place?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) continued his talk, so some people said that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had heard the question, but did not like what that Bedouin had asked. Some of them said that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had not heard it. When the Prophet (ﷺ) finished his speech, he said, "Where is the questioner, who inquired about the Hour (Doomsday)?" The Bedouin said, "I am here, O Allah's Apostle ." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday)." The Bedouin said, "How will that be lost?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday.)"
Knowledge - Sahih al-Bukhari 59
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari contains profound wisdom regarding the signs of the Final Hour. The Prophet's (ﷺ) response demonstrates that major cosmic events are preceded by moral and social decay within the Muslim community itself.
Commentary on the First Sign
"When honesty is lost" refers to the disappearance of trustworthiness and integrity from society. This encompasses all forms of honesty: in speech, business transactions, testimony, and fulfillment of trusts. When people cease to be reliable and truthful in their dealings, the social fabric deteriorates.
Scholars explain that this loss occurs gradually - first in minor matters, then spreading to major affairs until deception becomes commonplace. The Prophet (ﷺ) identified this moral decline as a primary indicator of approaching end times.
Commentary on the Second Sign
"When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons" indicates governance by those unqualified due to lack of knowledge, piety, or capability. Classical commentators note this includes rulers who prioritize personal interests over public welfare, lack religious understanding, or attain power through illegitimate means.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains that this unfitness manifests in two ways: deficiency in religious commitment and deficiency in worldly capability. When both qualities are absent in leadership, society faces inevitable collapse.
Prophetic Teaching Methodology
The Prophet's (ﷺ) delayed response was not neglect but a teaching method - allowing the question to settle in listeners' hearts and emphasizing its importance. This demonstrates the wisdom of choosing the appropriate moment for delivering weighty knowledge.
The Bedouin's follow-up question shows the importance of seeking clarification in religious matters, a practice highly encouraged in Islamic scholarship.