QIYAMAH AND THE SIGNS OF QIYAMAH

One of the most fundamental issues in Islam is the Aqidah (belief) that
this world is temporary and that one day (the Day of Qiyamah) it will all
perish with the rest of the creation. "Whatever is on it (the earth) will
perish. Only the Face (Being) of your Rabb the Master of Majesty and
Honour - will remain." (Surah Rahman Ayat 26, 27). Thereafter
everyone will be resurrected and made to account for their deeds and
how they led their worldly lives. While the people of Iman and good
deeds will be blessed with entry into the eternal gardens of Jannat, the
people of kufr (disbelief) and sin will be thrown into the blazing fire of
Jahannum.
Sinful Muslims will, as a result of their sin, go to Jahannam for a
temporary period only. On account of their Iman they will eventually
go to Jannat. "Pious" kuffar (disbelievers), however, will never enter
Jannat. They will be rewarded for their good deeds in this world in the
form of wealth, comfort etc. and in the Hereafter they will be thrown
into Jahannam forever.
When will Qiyamah Take Place?
Only Allah Ta'ala knows the answer to this question. He did not inform
any of the Mala'ikah or Ambiya of the exact time of Qiyamah. "They
ask you (O Muhammed) concerning the Hour (of Qiyamah). Say: Its
knowledge belongs to Allah Ta'ala only, And what do you know, the
Hour may be close!" (Surah Ahzab Ayat 63). Sayyidina Jibra'eel (Alayhis
Salaam) once said to Rasoolullah (SAW): "Tell me of the Hour (when
will it be?)". Rasoolullah (SAW) replied: "The one being asked doesn't
have any more knowledge (in this regard) than the one who is asking!"
(Bukhari, Muslim).

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The Signs of Oivamah:
Although none of the Ambiya knew the exact date and time of
Qiyamah, they were informed by Allah Ta'ala of the many signs of
Qiyamah. All these signs have been explained in the Ahadeeth. Some of
the major signs are:
1. The Appearance of Imam Mahdi (rahmatullahi alayh)
 At least twenty three Sahabah (radhiyallahu anhum) narrated
Ahadeeth regarding Imam Mahdi (rahmatullahi alayh). (At- Taliq).
Hafiz Suyuti (radhiyallahu anhu) collected ninety marfu' Ahadeeth
in this regard. (A Marfu' Hadeeth is a Hadeeth whose chain of
transmission reaches Rasoolullah (SAW) without
interruption/breakage).
 In view of the great number of Ahadeeth regarding Imam Mahdi
(rahmatullahi alayh), the Ahlus Sunnah are unanimous that it is
compulsory to believe in his appearance. (At-Taliq).
2. The Appearnace of Dajjal
Dajjal will appear shortly before Sayyidina Eesa's (Alayhis Salaam)
descent to the earth. He will be one-eyed and the letters Kaf, Fa and Ra
will be written on his fore-head. He will have a garden and a fire with
him claiming that he is Allah. He will send those who believe him to his
'garden' His 'garden', however, will be a blazing fire. Similarly, he will
sent those who deny that he is Allah to his 'fire'. His 'fire', however, will
actually be a beautiful garden with sweet water. Allah Ta'ala will
endow him with extra- ordinary powers. For example, he will command
the skies to send rain and it will rain (immediately). He will therefore
pose a great threat to the Iman of many, many people. Rasoolullah
(SAW) said: "There is no greater test (for the Believers) between
Adam's (Alayhis Salaam) creation and Qiyamah than Dajjal". (Muslim).
He will eventually be killed by Sayyidina Eesa (Alayhis Salaam)
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3. The Coming of Sayyidina Isa (Alayhis Salaam)
As previously explained, Muslims believe that Sayyidina Eesa (Alayhis
Salaam) did not yet die a physical death Shortly before the Jews
entered his house in order to kill him, he was raised to the skies. ......
and they defintely didn't kill him. Instead Allah Ta'ala raised him to
Himself. And Allah Ta'ala is all Powerful, All-Wise." (Surah Nisa - Ayat
157-158).
We also believe that he is still alive and that he will come back to the
earth shortly before Qiyamah. His special mission will be to kill Dajjal.
Rasoolullah (SAW) told us that he will kill Dajjal at a place called "Bab
Ludd". (Mishkat).
Imam Mahdi (rahmatullahi alayh) will still be alive at that time.
Sayyidina Eesa (Alayhis Salaam) will only assume the reigns of
leadership after the death of Imam Mahdi (rahmatullahi alayh). He will
conduct himself as an ummati (follower) of Rasoolullah (SAW), he will
follow his shari'at (and not the Injeel).
He will eventually die a physical death and be buried alongside
Rasoolullah (SAW
It is compulsory to believe that Sayyidina Eesa (Alayhis Salaam) did not
die as yet, but that he is still alive in the heavens and that he will return
to the earth shortly before Qiyamah. Rejection of any of these beliefs is
kufr.
4. The Appearance of Ya'juj and Ma'juj
Ya'juj and Ma'juj is the name of a barbaric tribe that was imprisoned
between two mountains by Dhul Qarnain "They said: O Dhul Qarnain!
Ya'juj and Ma'juj are causing mischief in the land. Can we pay you to
erect a barrier between us and them? I (Dhul Qarnain) will erect a
barrier between you and them... So they are unable to scale it or dig
through it. He (Dhul Qarnain) said: This is due to the mercy of my Rabb,
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but when the promise of my Rabb comes, He will level it (the barrier)
to the ground (and Ya'juj and Ma'juj will be released)" (Surah Kahf-Ayat
94-98)
We learn from this Ayah and many Ahadeeth that the re- appearance
of the Ya'juj and Ma'juj is a major sign of Qiyamah. Upon their release
they will cause a great deal of destruction in the earth. Not long
thereafter Allah Ta'ala will destroy them (all of them). Sayyidina Eesa
(Alayhis Salaam) will live for a period of 40 years after their destruction.
5. The Rising of the Sun in the West
We learn from Ahadeeth narrated by Sayyidina Abdullah bin Mas'ud,
Sayyidina Abdullah bin Amr, Sayyidina Hudhaifa, Sayyidina Abu
Hurairah, Sayyidina Abu Dharr etc (radhiyallahu anhum) that one of the
major signs of Qiyamah is that the sun will one day rise in the West
(instead of the East)
6. The Dabbatul Ard (Animal of the Earth)
The Dabbatul Ard is a strange animal which will appear either the day
before the rising of the sun from the West or the day after it. This
animal will emerge from Mount Safa in Makkah and it will speak to the
people in human language "And when the decision is passed on them,
we will take out an animal for them from the earth (and) it will speak
to them that the people did not believe our signs." (Surah 27- Ayat 82)
Finally, we quote Imam Tahawi (rahmatullahi alayh) once again: "We
believe in the signs of Qiyamah - the emergence of Dajjal, the
descending of Eesa bin Maryam (Alayhis Salaam), the rising of the sun
from the West and the appearance of the Dabbatul Ard."