He, exalted be He, also said:

“The Hour has drawn near and the moon has split” (Q 54:1).

The verse is expressed in the past tense; He did not say, “The Hour has occurred,” nor “The Hour will occur.” Rather, He said “has drawn near,” that is, it has come close and is imminent; and “the moon has split,” a sign that proves Muhammad’s prophethood and shows that the celestial sphere can burn—something that will indeed happen at the Final Resurrection. Glorified be He, He joined the report of the Hour’s nearness to the report of the moon’s splitting, for the very sending of Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is one of the portents of the Hour and a proof that it is near.

As the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said in the sound hadith: “I have been sent, along with the Hour, like these two,” and he held together his index and middle fingers.

Allah, Most High, has also said:

“Are they waiting for anything but the Hour to come upon them suddenly? Its portents have already appeared” (Q 47:18).

The knowledge of the Hour Allah has concealed from all His creatures, as is related concerning