Yet the Hour does have portents. Allah the Exalted says: “Are they waiting for anything except the Hour to come upon them suddenly? But some of its signs have already arrived.” (Surah Muhammad 47:18) —that is, its indicators. Therefore, when the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—informed Gabriel that he possessed no knowledge of its exact time, Gabriel asked, “Then tell me about its portents,” meaning the signs that signal its approach. He replied, “That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, and that you will see the barefoot, naked, destitute shepherds competing with one another in the construction of tall buildings.”

The first sign—“that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress”—means that a female slave who is owned will find her circumstances changed until she becomes the mistress of other slaves; this is a figurative expression for an abundance of wealth.

The second sign—“that you will see the barefoot, naked, destitute shepherds competing in erecting lofty buildings”—refers to people who once had no sandals because of poverty, no clothing because of poverty, and were altogether needy. It will not be long before they become wealthy and vie with each other in constructing buildings in a tangible sense—raising them sky-high—and in an aesthetic sense as well, perfecting, adorning, and furnishing them with every possible enhancement because of their surplus riches.

All of this has already taken place, and there are many other portents and signs that the scholars mention in the chapters on tribulations, battles, and the signs of the Hour.

After that, Gabriel—peace be upon him—departed, and the companions remained for as long as Allah willed. Then the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said to ʿUmar, “Do you know who the questioner was?” He replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “It was Gabriel; he came to teach you your religion.” From this hadith we may draw a number of benefits: