the repentance of everyone who witnessed it—or was effectively in the position of an eyewitness—should be rejected for the rest of his life, because his knowledge of Allah Most High, His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and His promise will have become a matter of direct certainty. If the world continues long enough for people to forget what occurred of this momentous event and to speak of it only rarely, so that reports of it become restricted to a few and cease to be mass-transmitted, then anyone who embraces Islam or repents at that time will be accepted. Allah knows best.” (1).

He supported this view with the report: “After that, the sun and moon will be clothed in light and radiance; then they will rise over the people and set.”

He also cited the report narrated by Abd Allah ibn Amr from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “People will remain for one hundred and twenty years after the sun rises from the west.”

It is also narrated that Imrān ibn Husayn said: “Repentance is not accepted when the sun rises because a blast will occur, causing many people to perish. Whoever embraces Islam or repents at that time and then perishes will not have his repentance accepted; but whoever repents afterward will have his repentance accepted.” (2).

The response to all of this is: “The scriptural texts indicate that repentance will not be accepted after the sun rises from the west and that a disbeliever’s embrace of Islam will not be accepted. The texts make no distinction between those who witnessed this sign and those who did not.”

This is supported by what al-Tabarī narrated from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: “When the first of the signs appears, the pens will be laid aside, the recording angels will be detained, and people’s bodies will testify to their deeds.” (3).