Chapter One: Definition of the Signs of the Hour

Meaning of the Word Sharaṭ:

The word sharaṭ, pronounced with both vowels, means a sign; its plural is ashrāṭ. The ashrāṭ of something are its beginnings. From the same root comes the ruler’s shurṭ—his elite guards, whom he places ahead of the rest of his troops—and ishtirāṭ (stipulation), whereby people stipulate terms among themselves. A condition is thus a sign of that which is made conditional upon it (1).

Meaning of the Hour in the Arabic Language:

It is a portion of the night or day. Its plurals are sāʿāt and sāʿ. Night and day together comprise twenty-four hours.

Meaning of the Hour in Islamic Terminology:

In Islamic terminology, the Hour means the time when the Resurrection takes place. It is so called because the reckoning will be swift then, or because it will suddenly overtake people in