It was reported that one day, after the Prophet prayed Fajr, he began to cry while sitting upon the mimbar. He then started speaking to his Companions continuously until ʿAsr, and in some accounts, until Maghrib, reflecting deeply on the Signs of the Last Hour.
One of the Sohābas affirmed that the entire day was devoted to unfolding what would occur near the end of time. Also, narrations attributed to al-Ansorī further support this.
If the Prophet spent such an extended period explaining these matters in depth, it is unrealistic to imagine that a mere “two-hour” lecture could capture even a fraction of the breadth, gravity, and detail of what he conveyed.
When the Prophet was asked about the timing of the Last Hour, even he, the Messenger of Allah, replied:
The one questioned does not know more about it than the one asking.
This statement, reported in the famous hadīth of ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, confirms that the Prophet himself had no knowledge of the exact time the Hour would occur.
This verse reaffirms that the unfolding of the Last Hour belongs to the realm of the Ghayb, the unseen, a form of belief which is an essential part of faith. This belief brings sincere believers both comfort and humility, reminding them that Allah alone knows the ultimate end.In Sūrat al-Aʿrāf, Allah says:
They ask you, O Prophet, concerning the Hour, ‘when will it be?’ Say: Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None shall reveal it at its time except Him. It weighs heavily upon the heavens and the earth, and it will not come upon you except suddenly. They ask you as though you have full knowledge of it. Say: Its knowledge is only with Allah, though most people do not know.
Speaking of the Ashrāt al-Sāʿah—the signs of the Last Hour—some appeared during the time of the Prophet, while others are gradually surfacing even in our modern era.
Scholars generally classify these signs into minor and major categories. The birth and passing of the Prophet themselves signal humanity’s entry into the final phase of history. His role as the last Messenger is among the clearest indicators that the Hour is near.
It was reported that when he was asked about the Hour, he joined two fingers together to show how close it was in his own time.
The disputes that emerged among the Companions after his death, along with the division of the Ummah into sects, were also foretold by him.
Many of his prophecies came to pass during his lifetime and immediately after, confirming the truthfulness of his warnings and the steady arrival of the signs of the Ultimate Hour. He also mentioned that people would begin competing in worldly pursuits (wealth, buildings, and status) while neglecting the spiritual weight of life.
Among the well-known minor signs are the spread of evil and corruption in the land, increased bloodshed, kidnapping, and banditry, the normalization of zina and public shamelessness, and the emergence of a culture of nudity. Rapid worldly changes would occur, things evolving at an exponential pace. Pornography would become widespread, hearts would become desensitized, and spiritual emptiness would grow. Large and extravagant mosques filled with people lacking spiritual depth.
The Prophet also mentioned that a slave girl would give birth to her mistress, interpreted by scholars as a sign of profound social and familial upheaval. He also spoke of the expansion of marketplaces, the rise of obesity, the increase in writing and literacy coupled paradoxically with a rise in ignorance, and the eventual coming of al-Mahdī as the end draws nearer.
Furthermore, the major signs, however, are tremendous events that will unfold rapidly once they begin. Among them are the emergence of the Dajjāl and the descent of Prophet ʿĪsā (Jesus), peace be upon him
These events will undoubtedly reshape the course of humanity entirely and mark the final threshold before the Hour.
A little note:
One of the signs mentioned by the Prophet is that a man will pass by a grave and say, “Would that I were in his place.” This reflects a time when people will be overwhelmed by hardship, grief, and despair to the point that death feels easier than life. In today’s world, rising depression, emotional crises, financial pressure, and the illusion of failure intensified by social media mirror this prophetic warning. Increasing global suicide rates reflect the growing sense of hopelessness in many societies, confirming the depth of this sign in our era. This is not merely a social phenomenon but a spiritual and psychological crisis that the Prophet foretold as part of the approach of the Last Hour.
