Al-Azhar Al-Sharif has responded to questions regarding the signs of the Hour, explaining that scholars have divided these signs into minor signs and major signs. The minor signs are phenomena that emerge in Islamic societies, as well as in global societies. Among the minor signs are: greetings of peace will only be extended to those whom one knows, neglect in seeking lawful sustenance, marketplaces will draw closer together, indicating the spread of trade and its dominance, and people will take pride in their mosques, boasting about their furnishings and decorations. People will also long to see the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) due to widespread tribulations and the alienation of the religion.
It continued: Stinginess will spread among people, where everyone will withhold what they have—whether it is wealth, knowledge, or skills. People will kill one another without purpose, and a person will be honored not for their virtue or dignity, but out of fear of their harm. Disobedience to mothers will increase, while wives will be obeyed in matters that displease Allah. Fathers will be disobeyed, while friends are obeyed in disobedience to Allah. Voices will be raised in mosques, law enforcement will increase due to the rise in corruption, and people will select individuals to lead prayers based on the beauty of their recitation rather than their understanding or virtue. Positions of authority will be sold through bribery, and bloodshed will be treated lightly.
Al-Azhar added: Writing will spread, and there will be an increase in books and publications. Children will become a source of grief for their parents due to their disobedience and the problems they cause, constantly upsetting them. Rain will become a form of torment instead of a mercy. Knowledge will be sought not for the sake of religion but for worldly gain, such as securing a job or wealth. Luxury and indulgence will appear prominently within the Muslim community.
It continued: People will wish for death due to the abundance of tribulations. A man will be praised for his strength, wit, and intelligence, even though he lacks even a mustard seed’s worth of faith in his heart. Iraq will be besieged, and food and aid will be withheld from it. The same will happen to the Levant (Syria). There will be mass deaths due to plagues and epidemics, similar to the plague of Amwas during the time of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), as well as global wars. Jerusalem will be conquered. Among the signs are also the Prophet’s mission, his death (peace and blessings be upon him), and the following of the ways of Jews and Christians without understanding. Authentic hadiths have mentioned all these signs.
It pointed out that many of these signs revolve around the emergence of corruption, abandonment of religion, a decline in intellect, and ignorance becoming widespread among people. It includes signs such as slave women giving birth to their mistresses, barefoot and destitute shepherds competing in constructing tall buildings, entrusting matters to those unqualified for them, widespread ignorance, an increase in murder, consuming alcohol under different names, and the prevalence of adultery and immorality. Men will wear silk, and the dishonest will be trusted and brought close, while the trustworthy will be betrayed.
Al-Azhar noted that other signs include the spread of vulgarity and indecency, turning mosques into pathways, the sudden occurrence of death, the appearance and generalization of tribulations, an increase in earthquakes, mass killings, and the gathering of nations to prey upon the Muslim Ummah, as diners gather around a shared dish. Knowledge will be sought from unqualified individuals, and there will be women who are clothed yet appear naked. Among the signs are also groups of people carrying whips like the tails of cattle, with which they beat others, and fools taking prominent positions and speaking on matters of public concern.
