3 – It refers to the increasingly similar condition of the people of that age in their lack of religion, until none among them enjoins what is right or forbids what is wrong, because wickedness and its adherents have become prevalent. This occurs particularly when the pursuit of knowledge is abandoned and ignorance is readily accepted. People are not equal in knowledge, for levels of knowledge vary, as Allah Most High says: “Above everyone possessed of knowledge is one more knowing” (1) [Joseph: 76]. They become equal only when they are ignorant.

4 – It refers to the people of the age being brought closer together through the availability of communications technology and rapid land and air transportation, which have brought distant places near (2).

5 – It refers to time actually becoming shorter and passing more rapidly at the end of time.

This has not yet occurred. It is supported by reports that the days of the Dajjāl will lengthen until a day is as long as a year, a month, or a week. Just as days can be lengthened, they can also be shortened (3), due to the disruption of the world’s order and the approaching end of this world.

Ibn Abī Jamra (4) said: “It is possible that what is meant by the contraction of time is: