Thus, in the hadith narrated by Sahl—may Allah be pleased with him—he said: The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “My mission and the Hour are like these two,” gesturing with his two fingers and extending them (1).
Anas—may Allah be pleased with him—also reported that the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “My mission and the Hour are like these two.” He then brought his index and middle fingers together (2).
Qays ibn Abī Hāzim narrated from Abū Jubayra, in a report traced back to the Prophet: “I was sent at the first stirring (3) of the Hour” (4).
The first of the signs of the Hour, therefore, was the sending of the Chosen Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him. He is the final prophet, with no prophet to come after him; rather, he will be followed by the Resurrection, just as the index and middle fingers follow one another, with no finger between them
(1) *Sahīh al-Bukhārī*, Book of Heart-Softening Reports, chapter “The Prophet’s Statement: ‘I Was Sent and the Hour Is Like These Two’” (11/347, with *Fath al-Bārī*).
(2) *Sahīh Muslim*, Book of Tribulations and the Signs of the Hour, chapter on the Nearness of the Hour (18/89–90, with al-Nawawī’s commentary).
(3) Concerning *nasam al-sāʿa*, Ibn al-Athīr said: “It derives from *nasīm* (breeze), meaning the first stirring of a gentle wind. Thus, it means: ‘I was sent at the beginning of the Hour’s signs, in the faint beginnings of its approach.’ It is also said that *nasam* is the plural of *nasama* (a living soul), meaning: ‘I was sent among living beings whom Allah Most High created before the Hour drew near.’ It is as though he said: ‘Among the last of Adam’s offspring.’” *Al-Nihāya fī Gharīb al-Hadīth* (5/49–50).
(4) Narrated by al-Dūlābī in *al-Kunā* (1/23) and Ibn Manda in *al-Maʿrifa* (2/234/2).
Al-Albānī said: “Authentic.”
The hadith was also narrated by al-Hākim in *al-Kunā*, as stated in *al-Fath al-Kabīr*, where it is attributed to no one else.
See: *Sahīh al-Jāmiʿ al-Saghīr* (3/8, hadith no. 2829) and *Silsilat al-Ahādīth al-Sahīha* (2/468, hadith no. 808).