Episode Two: The Minor Signs(1-5)

The signs of the Last Hour are actually in three forms:

i: The signs that have occurred and passed away.

ii: Those that have occured and still occurring and getting increasing.

iii: Those that have not occured till now.

As for the first two forms, those are the minor signs. And the third sign combines some minor and major signs.

Note: Some Muslims erroneously believe because an act has been mentioned as a sign among the signs of the Last Hour makes the act automatically haram or forbidden. This is not correct. Not all what the Prophet mentioned as a sign of the Last Hour is haram.

An example is competing in building lofty houses, without an iota of doubt, this is not haram. Rather, these signs, they can be permissible, forbidden or obligatory acts.

Many of us often neglect these minor signs and concentrate on the more “sensational” major signs. In general, minor signs are related to day-to-day changes that occur in worldly events.

The number of minor signs is numerous and these are the signs that have much more of an effect on one’s everyday life and worship.

When we witness these signs around us, it should serve as clear reminders of Allah and our future in meeting with Him.

At the very least, consciousness which comes about through witnessing the Signs of the Hour, should make a Muslim increase in ibaadah and fear of Allah, knowing full well that He is seeing him. And this is the superior level of faith known as ihsaan.

To least five of these Minor Signs in this episode:

1: The Prophet’s(solla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) mission.

Since the Messenger of Allah is the last prophet sent to mankind, his career initiates the last chapter of human history.

Narrated by Anas, the Prophet said:

بعثت أنا و الساعة كهاتين…
“I have been raised as a Messenger and the Last Hour is just like this(he then joined his index finger and middle finger together.”

Recorded by Imam Muslim.

2: The death of the Prophet.

عن عوف بن مالك، قال، قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: اعدد ستا بين يدي الساعة…..(و ذكر منها: موتي..)
Auf bn Maalik narrated: the Prophet said: [Count six signs that indicate the approach of the Hour; he then mentioned “my death”]
Recorded by Imam Bukhari.

3: The conquest of Baytul Maqdis(Jerusalem).

This was achieved by the second caliph Umar bn Khattab(radiya Allahu anhu), who prayed where the Prophet had prayed facing the true qibla, after which he set to cleaning the place of refuse, he and other righteous men retrieved the house from the Christians and jews and built therein a mosque. And this was in the year 16AH.

The same hadeeth of Auf bn Maalik is an evidence to this. The Prophet mentioned “The Conquest of Baytul Maqdis” among the six signs.

4: The Plague of ‘Amwaas(Emmaus).

Auf bin Malik narrates; I went to the Prophet during the Ghazwa of Tabuk while he was sitting in a leather tent. He said: “Count six signs that indicate the approach of the Hour: my death, the conquest of Jerusalem, a plague that will afflict you (and kill you in great numbers) as the plague that afflicts sheep,….”

Ibn Hajr Al-Asqalaani said: “This sign was manifested in the Plague of Amwaas during ‘Umar’s caliphate, and this occurred after the conquest of Jerusalem. This plague struck in 18AH and claimed the lives of 25,000 people; including that of the famous Companion, Abu ‘Ubaydah bn Al-Jarrah.”

In order the combat the Plague, Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn Jarrah told Abu Musa Al Ash’ari to separate the sick from the healthy, when Abu Musa Al Ash’ari proceeded to do this and he arrived him, he observed that his wife was infected and she died and he became occupied with her death for a period.
Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn Jarrah started to look himself for a place where they could quarantine the people and as he was doing so, he was afflicted with the illness of the plague hit him at that point and he fell ill and was about to die.

The village of Amwas in Syria is located 25 miles from Jerusalem.

5: Superabundance of wealth that leaves no-one in need of receiving sadaqa.

Among the six signs the Prophet listed in the hadeeth of Auf bn Maalik is the increase of wealth to such an extent that no one will be in need of Sadaqah(charity).

To be continued…