The end of times is the phase of life on earth before the coming of the apocalypse. Our Prophet, Muhammad SAW, has told us the signs of the end of times through a number of hadiths. The purpose is for Muslims to always be vigilant, strengthen their faith, and increase their good deeds.
Signs of the End of Time According to the Messenger
The following are some of the signs of the end of time according to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) as explained in the authentic hadiths:
1. The prevalence of slander and trials
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“Hurry to do good deeds before slander comes like a dark night, where a person is a believer in the morning and a disbeliever in the evening…”
(HR Muslim)
This hadith indicates that tribulations will come one after another in the end times. A person’s faith can change quickly due to the many temptations of the world.
2. Rampant Disobedience to Parents
In a hadith narrated by Tirmidhi, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that one of the signs of the end times is the prevalence of children who are disobedient to their parents. On the other hand, they honor their friends. We see this phenomenon a lot when family ties start to weaken.3. Religious Knowledge is DisappearingThe Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Indeed, among the signs of the end of times are the removal of knowledge, the spread of ignorance, the prevalence of adultery, and the prevalence of women.”
(HR Bukhari and Muslim)
The meaning of the removal of knowledge is the death of scholars, so that people become further away from religious understanding.
4. The Emergence of Unfaithful Leaders
In another hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“When trusts are betrayed, then wait for the Day of Judgment.” The companions asked, “How are trusts betrayed?” He replied, “When affairs are entrusted to those who are not qualified, then wait for the Day of Judgment.”
(HR Bukhari)
This shows that corrupt leadership is one of the signs of the approaching Day of Judgment.
5. Social and Moral Changes
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also said in a hadith narrated by Ahmad:
“Among the signs of the Day of Judgment is that people will boast about their mosques, but few will prosper.”
In addition to the increasing emptiness of mosques, the Prophet also mentioned that before the Day of Judgment, there will be many cases of adultery, alcohol will be considered normal, and moral values will be abandoned.
6. The Sun Rising from the West
The biggest and clearest sign that the apocalypse is coming is the rising of the sun from the west. In a hadith narrated by Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that when this sign occurs, the door to repentance will be closed and humans will no longer have the opportunity to improve themselves.
The signs of the end of times described by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are there to remind Muslims to always maintain their faith, increase their good deeds, and stay away from worldly temptations.
My friends, let us strengthen our faith not only through ritual worship, but also through social awareness. Paying zakat, infaq, and sadaqah (Ziswaf) is one way to purify our hearts and wealth, while helping others in the midst of the challenges of the end times. Come on, pay your Ziswaf now, here!