24 – Markets Drawing Closer Together:

Abu Hurayra—may Allah be pleased with him—reported that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “The Hour will not be established until tribulations appear, lying becomes widespread, and markets draw closer together” (1).

Shaykh Hammūd al-Tuwayjirī (2) said: “As for markets drawing closer together, this is interpreted in a weak hadith as meaning their stagnation and the cessation of their profits. What appears to be the case—and Allah knows best—is that this refers to what has occurred in our time: the peoples of the earth have been brought closer together through air and land transportation and electrical devices that transmit sound, such as radio broadcasts and wireless telephones. Through these means, the markets of the world have drawn closer together. No change in prices occurs in any country without merchants—or most of them—throughout the world learning of it. They raise their prices when it rises and lower them when it falls. A merchant can travel by car to the markets of cities that would otherwise be several days’ journey away, obtain what he needs from them, and then return within a day or part of a day. He can also fly to the markets of cities that would otherwise be a month’s journey away or more, obtain what he needs from them, and return within a day or part of a day.