*Focusing on the Signs of the Final Hour!*

The signs of day of Judgement have already appeared before our eyes. People are wondering upon how close we are to the Doomsday. However, have they not forgotten that our time is near?

Anas b. Malik reported that a desert Arab said to the Messenger ﷺ, مَتَى السَّاعَةُ “When would be the Final Hour?” “Allah’s Messenger ﷺ replied, مَا أَعْدَدْتَ لَهَا “What preparation have you made for that?” Thereupon the desert Arab said, حُبَّ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ “The love of Allah and of His Messenger.” Thereupon the Messenger ﷺ said, أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ “You would be along with one whom you love.” [Muslim]

We are often occupied when the Day of Judgement is and following whether all the signs of the Final Hour have happened, and which ones have occurred. Of course, it has neared. We have seen the appearance of destitute, barefoot shepherds competing in building tall buildings. Wine (intoxicants) will be drunk in great quantities. Illegal sexual intercourse will become widespread. Earthquakes will increase. Time will pass more quickly. Bloodshed will increase. Arabia is turning green, once known for its sands and dryness.

The Prophet ﷺ said,
لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَكْثُرَ الْمَالُ وَيَفِيضَ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ الرَّجُلُ بِزَكَاةِ مَالِهِ فَلاَ يَجِدُ أَحَدًا يَقْبَلُهَا مِنْهُ وَحَتَّى تَعُودَ أَرْضُ الْعَرَبِ مُرُوجًا وَأَنْهَارًا
“The Final Hour will not come before wealth becomes abundant and overflowing, so much so that a man takes Zakat out of his property and cannot find anyone to accept it from him, and till the land of Arabia reverts to meadows and rivers.” [Muslim]

The Prophet ﷺ also said,
يَتَقَارَبُ الزَّمَانُ وَيُقْبَضُ الْعِلْمُ وَتَظْهَرُ الْفِتَنُ وَيُلْقَى الشُّحُّ وَيَكْثُرُ الْهَرْجُ ،‏ قَالُوا وَمَا الْهَرْجُ، قَالَ‏ الْقَتْلُ
“When the time would draw close to the Final Hour, knowledge would be snatched away. Turmoil would be rampant. Miserliness would be put in the hearts of the people. There would be much al-harj.” They asked, What is al-harj? Thereupon he ﷺ said, “It is bloodshed.” [Muslim]

Yes, we have seen the bloodshed! Syria, Burma, Kashmir, and Gaza. These appearances of the Day of Judgement should motivate us to turn back to Allah ﷻ. We should work to better ourselves, our Hereafter (Akhira), to be presented before Allah ﷻ. We often hear that now the “major signs” need to appear such as the appearance of Dajjal and the emergence of Gog and Magog. We are often so focused on the Final Hour, and which signs have already occurred, that we forget to focus on how we prepared for our time when it’s up.

We should ask ourselves some vital questions:

How did I use my time? How did I spend my time with my family? How did I enhance myself with beneficial knowledge? What did I do towards alleviating the suffering of my Ummah?

We all have seen the steadfastness, resilience, strength, courage, and vitality in the people in Gaza. They are strongly willing to fight for the land of Palestine and the blessed Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. The people of Gaza are not crying, “why me?” but saying Hasbunallah wa ni’mal-Wakil, “Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the Best Disposer of affairs.” They are burying their children. They have no food, medicine, or clean water to drink. Yet, they remain steadfast, knowing their rewards will be sufficient for them.

The Day of Resurrection is a day of distress and deep regret in which all of humanity will stand before Allah ﷻ. We either will head to the Heavens, or we will head to Hell (Allah forbid). Knowing this should be a cause of awareness and motivate us in pleasing Allah ﷻ the All-Mighty. We should be aware that trials are part of our life, so we handle them with patience and forbearance. We should surround ourselves with good righteous company, in order to help keep our hearts pure. We must never forget that when we see evil, we must forbid that evil.