Introduction
The term “ʿAlāmātu ʾs-Sāʿah” (علامات الساعة) translates to “Signs of the Hour,” referring to the indicators and events leading up to Yawm al-Qiyāmah, or the Day of Resurrection and Judgment. This is a vital component of Islamic eschatology and embodies the prophetic traditions (aḥādīth) conveyed by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Comprehensive Definition
ʿAlāmātu ʾs-Sāʿah: The signs and events that serve as prelude to the Day of Judgment in Islamic belief.
Etymology
Etymologically, the word “ʿAlāmātu” derives from “ʿalama” (علام), meaning to mark or denote, while “ʾSāʿah” (الساعة) means—literally—the hour. Together, they indicate the markers that lead to the final hour of worldly existence and usher in the eternal reality of the afterlife.
Background
The concept of the signs of the hour is grounded in both the Qurʾān and the aḥādīth (traditions of the Prophet Muhammad). According to Islamic teachings, these signs are divided into minor (al-ashrāṭ aṣ-ṣughra) and major signs (al-ashrāṭ al-kubra). Minor signs include everyday acts of moral decline and social complications while major signs point to more dramatic and supernatural occurrences.
Cultural Differences and Similarities
While the equivalent of eschatological signs exists in other religions, such as Christianity’s “Signs of the End Times” based on the Bible, pivotal differences arise with Islamic teachings’ specificity and detailed descriptions provided by the Prophet Muhammad. Scholars of Islamic eschatology extensively debate and interpret these signs.
Synonyms
- Portents (Omen[plural]): Seen as forewarnings in Islamic context.
- Indicators of the Final Days.
Antonyms
- Temporal Markers: Pointing merely to terrestrial events without eschatological significance.
Related Terms
- Qiyāmah (قيامة): Arabic term for “Resurrection” or “the Day of Judgment.”
- Mashrab (مصير): Destiny or eventual fate, particularly relating to the afterlife.
- Barzakh (برزخ): An intermediary state between death and the final resurrection.
- Dajjāl (دجال): An evil figure who appears before the Day of Judgment, often considered an anti-Christ figure.
Exciting Facts
- The minor signs include the moral degeneration, like increased dishonesty and disintegration of family ties.
- One of the major signs recognized universally across different cultures is the rise of a great deceiver or false messiah, likened in Christology to the Anti-Christ.
Quotations
“The Hour will not be established until two big groups fight each other; there will be a great number of casualties; though the claims of both will be the same.” – Prophet Muhammad (Bukhari)
“The Hour will not come until you see ten signs: the smoke, the Dajjal (anti-Christ), the beast, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Jesus the son of Mary…” – (Muslim)
References
- The Islamic Conference proceedings on Eschatological Signs and their Interpretation.
- Sunni tradition recorded in Sahih Bukhari/Sahih Muslim
Suggested Literature
- “The End of the World: Major and Minor Signs of the Hour” by Muhammad Al-Arifi.
- “Islamic Eschatology: A Comparative Overview” by Mufti Menk.
Quizzes
Live each moment with awareness and hope, for the signs of the hour continually remind us of the extraordinary destiny awaiting every soul.
Farewell until next time, may knowledge lead you closer to universally profound truths.
Yusuf Al-Khalid, October 3, 2023
