—and rightly so.

A ḥadith has been reported that says, “This world is but one Friday among the Fridays of the Hereafter,” yet its chain of transmission is not sound (1). The same is true of every report that fixes a specific date for the Day of Resurrection; none of their isnāds are reliable.

Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“They ask you about the Hour: ‘When will it be set?’ But what concern is it of yours to mention it? To your Lord alone is its final knowledge. You are only a warner to those who fear it. On the Day they behold it, it will seem to them as though they had stayed no more than an evening or its forenoon.” ⦗42-46⦘ [al-Nāziʿāt].

And He says:

“They ask you concerning the Hour, ‘When will its time be?’ Say, ‘Its knowledge rests only with my Lord; none will reveal it at its time but He. It weighs heavily upon the heavens and the earth; it will not come upon you except suddenly.’ They ask you as though you were well informed about it. Say, ‘Its knowledge is with Allah alone, but most people do not know.’” ⦗187⦘ [al-Aʿrāf].

Verses and authentic ḥadith on this matter are numerous.

He, the Most High, also says:

“The Hour has drawn near and the moon has split.” ⦗1⦘ [al-Qamar].

It is established in the sound ḥadith recorded by Muslim and others, on the authority of Sahl ibn Saʿd, that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“I and the Hour have been sent like these two” (2)—and he held up his index and middle fingers. In another wording he said, “It was almost about to outstrip me” (3). This shows how near the Hour is in comparison with what has already elapsed of the world’s lifetime.

Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“The reckoning of mankind has drawn near, yet they remain in heedless denial.” ⦗1⦘ [al-Anbiyāʾ];

and He says: “The command of Allah is coming, so do not seek to hasten it.” [al-Naḥl: 1];

and He says: “Those who do not believe in it seek to hasten it, while those who believe are fearful of it and know that it is the truth.” [al-Shūrā: 18].

In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Muslim it is related that a Bedouin asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the Hour. He replied:

“It will certainly come—so what have you prepared for it?”

The man said, “By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I have not prepared for it many prayers or deeds, but I love Allah and His Messenger.”

He ﷺ said:

“You will be with those you love.” (4)

The Muslims were never delighted by anything as much as they were by this ḥadith.

In another narration he ﷺ was asked about the Hour, and he looked at a young boy and said:

“This lad will not reach old age before your Hour overtakes you.” (5)

What he meant was the passing away of their generation and their entry into the realm of the Hereafter, for whoever dies has, in effect, entered the Hereafter. Some people therefore say, “Whoever dies, his Resurrection has begun.” (6) Taken in this sense, the statement is correct, though certain atheists use it to hint at heresies and falsehoods.

As for the Great Hour—the gathering of the first and the last on one vast plain—Allah alone has kept the knowledge of its timing to Himself, as is affirmed in the authentic ḥadith:

“Five things are known only to Allah,”

then he recited:

“Indeed, with Allah is knowledge of the Hour; He sends down the rain; He knows what is in the wombs; no soul knows what it will earn tomorrow; and no soul knows in what land it will die. Truly Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [Luqmān: 34] (7).