Introduction
Belief in the day of resurrection is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam. It is the day where everyone is going to take account of his deeds. People will get either rewarded for their good deeds or punished for their bad deeds. This determines whether he is going to heaven or hell. No prophet nor angel has knowledge of the when the day of resurrection is holding.
There are events that hold before the final day, these vents are called the signs of the last day. These signs are divided into 2;
a. Major signs: These are massive, serious issues that occur which indicates that the day of resurrection is nearby. Examples; appearance of Dajjal, Yajooj and majooj and the beast. etc.
b. Minor signs: these signs usually take place weigh before resurrection. Some signs occurred already and may take place again, some had occurred and are still happening while some did not happen but will happen later in the future. The minor signs are plenty.
Hadith no 2 of An-Nawawi’s collection mentions the minor signs only; Slave girl giving birth to her mistress, barefooted people, naked people , destitute people competition on lofty buildings by herdsmen.
Some Major signs of Resurrection
1. Coming of Imam Mahdi:
Many people in the past claimed to be imam Mahdi, one of them is Mohd Tormat whom spread corruption and even went to the extent of burying some companions simply because they did not agree with him. He will have similar character as the Prophet. His appearance will be from the east, will have slow speech and he will be from the descendants of Fatima (R.A).
The Prophet (pbuh) discussed some signs that will occur before the appearance of Mahdi;
a. The Mahdi will appear when there is extreme violence, confusion and disputes. Fear and calamities will struck in people. Battles will also occur before he comes. People will be troubled from one fitnah to the other so bad that they will wish they were dead.
“Abu Saeed al-Khudri has reported that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: He will be sent at a time of intense disputes and differences among people and earthquakes.” (Ahmad)
b. Mina battle
A tribal war will occur, people going for hajj will be looted and a severe battle will occur in Mina that will lead to the deaths of many people.
c. Disclosure of mountains of gold by the Euphrates
'”The hour shall not occur until the Euphrates will disclose a mountain of gold over which people will fight. Ninety- nine out of which hundred shall be killed and every one of them will say' Perchance I shall be the one to succeed.” (Muslim)
d. Mansur and Haris-al Harrath will emerge
e. Destruction of army in Baidah
2. Appearance of Dajjal.
The fitna Dajjal will bring will be a trial that has never been experienced or seen on the earth. All the prophets warned us about Dajjal because of the severity of the situation. He will come out from the east, moving from one town to another causing fitna. After conquering Constantinople and Syria, Dajjal will appear.
The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Between the creation of Prophet Adam Peace be upon him and the coming of the last hour, their will arise no matter more serious than the Dajjal." (Imran-b-Hussein/ Muslim)
The prophet (pbuh) informed us that before Dajjal comes there are some signs; appearance of Mahdi and there will a massive famine for 3 years.
3. Prophet Isa’s return
One of the major signs of the last day is the return of Prophet Isa, he will be in a mission to destroy dajjal, taking the Muslims to mount tur to protect the for Gog and Magog and later destroy Gog and Magog. He will elevate Islam by reigning as a khalifa. There is a wisdom behind the coming of Jesus; to prove to the Jews that Jesus is indeed alive, he wasn’t killed by the Jews, Jesus also prayed to Allah to be among the ummah of Prophet Muhammad because he loves his character and good seeks to fulfil the prayer.
4. Emergence of Gog and Magog
"When Ya'juj and Ma'juj are let loose (from their Barrier) and they swiftly swarm from every mound" (Surah Al-Anbiya)
Jesus will be notified about the release of Gog and magog, they moved and caused bloodshed and major destructions in cities. Jesus took the Muslims to mount tur for protection. They will come in 2 batches; the first batch will drink all the water of Tiberia and the second batch will say “there was once water in this lake”
5. Landslides
Three major landslides will appear before resurrection. One in Arabia, the other form the east and the other from the west. Many people will die as a result of big swallow by the earth killing many people.
6. The Smoke
Allah says, ''So thou wait for the day when the heaven shall bring a smoke manifest surrounding the people this is a painful Chastisement.'' (Surah-Dhukan)
Rising of smoke to cover the whole world is a major sign of qiyama. It will last for 40 days and 40 nights affecting both the believers and non-believers. However the believers will feel as if they are affected by cold while the non-believers will be unconscious as a result of the smoke entering their brains.
7. The sun will rise from the west.
Allah says in the Qur'an, "The day when some signs of your Lord will come, no good will it do to a person to believe then, if he believed not before, nor earned good (by performing deeds of righteousness) through his faith." (Surah Al-An'aam)
Once the sun rises from the west, this closes the doors of repentance til yawm-l-qiyama.
8. The Beast
"And when the word is fulfilled concerning them. We shall bring forth a Beast of the Earth to speak unto them because mankind had no faith in our revelation." (Surah An-Naml)
Most scholars reported that the beast will emerge from masjid al haram of Makah. The mission of the beast is to distinguish the non-believers from the Muslims. He will do that by drawing a line on the forehead of all believers causing illumination of light while the nose of the non-believers will be sealed with the ring of Suleiman.
9. Snake
“Some scholars are of the opinion it is the Snake which guarded the Holy Ka'bah. Imam Al-Qurtubi relates this as being the opinion of Ibn Abbas”. (Al-Qurtubi).
10. Fire
This is the last major shine, fire engulfing from Yemen putting people in an assembly. The people will be assembled in 3 ways;
a. those who hope for paradise and have fear of punishment
b. 10 people, or 3 people or 2 people will ride a camel on a particular camel.
c. Lastly the 3rd batch is accompanied by the fire in their afternoon nap, night and morning
Minor Signs
1. People will appear naked, barefoot people and shepherds competing in tall buildings
2. A slave woman giving birth to her mistress
3. Knowledge will be taken away while ignorance will be rampant
4. Tribulations will emerge
5. Increase in the occurrence of earthquakes
6. Sexual intercourse will be widespread.
7. Intoxicants will be taken in huge volumes
Conclusion
The day of resurrection is indeed true, some of the minor signs had already occurred while we are waiting for the major signs. May Allah make it easy for us.
Signed
Beingmuslimah
Bibliography
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2. Philips. B. (2011) Fundamentals of Tawheed (Islamic Monotheism). New Delhi.
3. Al-Nursi S. (2006). The Resurrection and the Hereafter. Somerset: The Light.
4. Kathır. H. (2006) Book of the End; Great Trials and Tribulations. Riyadh publishing.
5. Muh. Ammad. (2010). The End of the World. Riyadh: Darusslam.
6. Al-Ashqar, U. (2003). Al-Qiamah Al-Kubra [Day of Judgment]. Riyadh: International Islamic Publication House.