at the hands of the Abyssinians, and the emergence of the wind that will take the souls of the believers.

It should be understood that many of the signs of the Hour first began to appear in the time of the Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—and have continued to increase. They subsequently became more prevalent in some places than in others. What will be followed by the coming of the Hour, however, is their becoming firmly established. Thus, for example, when religious knowledge is taken away, nothing but sheer ignorance will remain in its place. The existence of a group of scholars does not preclude this, for they will then be lost amid the people of ignorance. The same principle applies to the other signs of the Hour (1).

It should also be noted that some people assume that if something is one of the signs of the Hour, it must therefore be objectionable and forbidden. This principle cannot be accepted. Not everything that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—stated would be a sign of the Hour is necessarily forbidden or blameworthy. The shepherds competing to erect tall buildings, the abundance of wealth, and fifty women having only one man responsible for them are undoubtedly not forbidden. These are merely signs, and a sign need not itself be forbidden or blameworthy. It may involve good or evil, something permissible, forbidden, obligatory, or otherwise. Allah knows best (2).

It is now time to begin discussing the minor signs of the Hour. They are as follows:

1 — The Sending of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him:

The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—stated that his being sent was evidence that the coming of the Hour was near and that he was the Prophet of the Hour: