Islamic eschatology

Islamic eschatology is the aspect of Islamic theology concerning ideas of life after death, matters of the soul, and the "Day of Judgement," known as Yawm al-Qiyāmah (Arabic: يوم القيامة‎, IPA: [jawmu‿l.qijaːma], "the Day of Resurrection") or Yawm ad-Dīn (يوم الدين, Arabic pronunciation: [jawmu‿d.diːn], "the Day of Judgment").The Day of Judgement is characterized by the annihilation of all life, which will then be followed by the resurrection and judgment by God. Multiple verses in the Quran mention the Last Judgment.[1][2]

The main subject of Surat al-Qiyama is resurrection. The Great Tribulation is described in the hadith and commentaries of the ulama, including al-Ghazali, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Majah, Muhammad al-Bukhari, and Ibn Khuzaymah.[2]

The Day of Judgment is also known as the Day of Reckoning, the Last Day, and the Hour (al-sā'ah).Unlike the Quran, the hadith contains several events, happening before the Day of Judgment, which are described as several minor signs and twelve major signs.During this period, terrible corruption and chaos would rule the earth, caused by the Masih ad-Dajjal (the Antichrist in Islam), then Isa (Jesus) will appear, defeating the Dajjal and establish a period of peace, liberating the world from cruelty. These events will be followed by a time of serenity when people live according to religious values.[3]

Similar to other Abrahamic religions, Islam teaches that there will be a resurrection of the dead that will be followed by a final tribulation and eternal division of the righteous and wicked.[4]

Islamic apocalyptic literature describing Armageddon is often known as fitna, Al-Malhama Al-Kubra (The Great Massacre) or ghaybah in Shī'a Islam. The righteous are rewarded with the pleasures of Jannah (Paradise), while the unrighteous are punished in Jahannam (Hell).

A 2012 poll by Pew research found that 50% or more respondents in several Muslim-majority countries (Turkey, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Tunisia, Lebanon, Morocco) expected the Mahdi to return in their lifetime.[5][6]

Diagram of “Plain of Assembly”(Ard al-Hashr) on the Day of Judgment, from autograph manuscript of Futuhat al-Makkiyya by Sufi mystic and philosopher Ibn Arabi, ca. 1238. Shown are the ‘Arsh (Throne of God), pulpits for the righteous (al-Aminun), seven rows of angels, Gabriel (al-Ruh), A’raf (the Barrier), the Pond of Abundance, al-Maqam al-Mahmud (the Praiseworthy Station; where the prophet Muhammad will stand to intercede for the faithful), Mizan (the Scale), As-Sirāt (the Bridge), Jahannam (Hell) and Marj al-Jannat (Meadow of Paradise).^[7]

The study of “last things” incorporates two related concepts: the afterlife and world’s end.

The Quran emphasizes the inevitability of resurrection, judgment, and the eternal division of the righteous and the wicked. On the day of resurrection, humans will be judged by their faith in God, their acceptance of God’s revelations, and their works. The wicked will be consigned to eternal torment; the righteous will enjoy paradise.

Later commentators include a belief in an intermediate state (barzakh) between death and the resurrection and final judgment. Before the final resurrection, the terrible tribulation of the last days occurs, during which the Great Deceiver, al-Dajjal, will appear.

Though not mentioned in the Quran, al-Dajjal is prominent in hadith and later Islamic literature, as is the Mahdi (also absent in the Quran).

The Mahdi will appear to bring justice and truth to all, the entire world will accept Islam, and his death (before the day of resurrection) will bring turmoil, uncertainty, and temptation.

There are disagreements over the Mahdi’s precise relationship to Jesus ; some deny there will be a Muslim Mahdi, claiming that Jesus’ second coming will fulfill this role. Some believe that Jesus will return as a just judge; he will die after forty years and be buried in a spot beside Muhammad ‘s tomb in Medina that has been reserved for him.

Signs of the End Times

In Sunni Islam, a number of greater and lesser signs foretell the end of days.[14]There is debate over whether they could occur concurrently or must be at different points in time, although Islamic scholars typically divide them into three major periods.[15]

Greater signs

Sexual immorality appears among people to such an extent that they commit it openly, except that they will be afflicted by plagues and diseases unknown to their forefathers;
People cheat in weights and measures (business, trades, etc.) and are stricken with famine, calamity, and oppression as a result;
They withhold charity and hoard their wealth, and rain is withheld from the sky from them; there is rain only for animals;
They break their covenant with God and His Messenger and God enables their enemies to overpower them and take some of what is in their hands;
God causes those who do not live according to His book to fight among themselves.[note 1]

Lesser signs

The coming of fitna (tribulations) and removal of khushoo' (fearfulness of God, taqwah, reverence, etc.)[note 2]
The coming of Dajjal, presuming himself as an apostle of God.[note 3][jargon]
A person passing by a grave might say to another the following: "I wish it were my abode."[note 4]
The loss of honesty, as well as authority put in the hands of those who do not deserve it.[note 5]
The loss of knowledge and the prevalence of religious ignorance.[note 6]
Frequent, sudden, and unexpected deaths.[note 7]
Increase in pointless killings.[note 8]
Acceleration of time.[note 9]
Rejection of Hadith.[note 10]
The spread of riba (usury, interest), zina (adultery, fornication), and the drinking of alcohol.[note 11]
Widespread acceptance of music.[note 12]
Pride and competition in the decoration of mosques.[note 13]
Women will increase in number and men will decrease in number so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man.[note 14]
Abundance of earthquakes.[note 15]
Frequent occurrences of disgrace, distortion, and defamation.[note 16]
When people wish to die because of the severe trials and tribulations that they are suffering.[note 17]
Jews fighting Muslims.[note 18]
When paying charity becomes a burden.[note 19]Nomads will compete in the construction of very tall buildings.[note 20]
Women will appear naked despite their being dressed.[note 21]
People will seek knowledge from misguided and straying scholars.[note 22]
Liars will be believed, honest people disbelieved, and faithful people called traitors.[note 23]
The death of righteous, knowledgeable people.[note 24]
The emergence of indecency (obscenity) and enmity among relatives and neighbours.[note 25]
The rise of idolatry and polytheists in the community.[note 26]
The Euphrates will uncover a mountain of gold.[note 27]
The land of the Arabs will return to being a land of rivers and fields.[note 28]
People will increasingly earn money by unlawful (Haram) ways.[note 29]
There will be much rain but little vegetation.[note 30]
Evil people will be expelled from Al-Madinah.[note 31]
Wild animals will communicate with humans, and humans will communicate with objects.[note 32]
Lightning and thunder will become more prevalent.[note 33]
There will be a special greeting for people of distinction.[note 34]
Trade will become so widespread that a woman will help her husband in business.[note 35]
No truly honest man will remain and no one will be trusted.[note 36]
Only the worst people will be left; they will not know any good nor forbid any evil (i.e. No one will say there is no god but Allah).[note 37]
Nations will call each other to destroy Islam by any and every means.[note 38]
Islamic knowledge will be passed on, but no one will follow it correctly.[note 39]
Muslim rulers will come who do not follow the guidance and tradition of the Sunnah. Some of their men will have the hearts of devils in a human body.[note 40]
Stinginess will become more widespread and honorable people will perish.[note 41]
A man will obey his wife and disobey his mother, and treat his friend kindly while shunning his father.[note 42]
Voices will be raised in the mosques.[note 43]
The leader of a people will be the worst of them.[note 44]
People will treat a man with respect because they fear the evil he could do.[note 45]
Much wine will be drunk.[note 46]
Muslims shall fight against a nation who wear shoes made of hair and with faces like hammered shields, with red complexions and small eyes.[note 47]
The emergence of the Sufyani within the Syria region.[note 48]
The truce and joint Roman-Muslim campaign against a common enemy, followed by al-Malhama al-Kubra (Armageddon), a Roman vs. Muslim war.[note 49]
The Black Standard will come from Khorasan, (see Hadith of black flags) nothing shall turn them back until it is planted in Jerusalem.[note 50]
There will be disagreement concerning succession. Then a man will emerge from Madina. He will hurry to Makkah, and the people of Makkah will come out to him and urge him and try to force him to accept the Bai'aa.[note 51]
Mecca will be attacked and the Kaaba will be destroyed.[note 52]
Emergence of an army, from Yemen, that will make Islam dominant.[note 53][16]
One of the last of the lesser signs, and which will signal the coming of the 10 major signs is the appearance of the Mahdi.[17][18][19][20]

Major signs

Following the second period, the third will be marked by the ten major signs known as alamatu's-sa'ah al-kubra (the major signs of the end).[note 54]

They are as follows:

The false messiah—anti-Christ, Masih ad-Dajjal—shall appear with great powers as a one-eyed man with his right eye blind and deformed like a grape. Although believers will not be deceived, he will claim to be God, to hold the keys to heaven and hell, and will lead many astray.[21]
In reality, his heaven is hell, and his hell is heaven. The Dajjal will be followed by seventy thousand Jews of Isfahan wearing Persian shawls.[note 55]
The return of Isa (Jesus), from the fourth sky, to kill Dajjal.[22]
Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj (Gog and Magog), a Japhetic tribe of vicious beings who had been imprisoned by Dhul-Qarnayn, will break out. They will ravage the earth, drink all the water of Lake Tiberias, and kill all believers in their way. Isa, Imam Al-Mahdi, and the believers with them will go to the top of a mountain and pray for the destruction of Gog and Magog. God eventually will send disease and worms to wipe them out.[note 56][23]
A huge black cloud of smoke will cover the earth.[note 57]
The Dabbat al-ard, or Beast of the Earth, will come out of the ground to talk to people.[note 58]
The sun will rise from the west.[24][25]
Three sinkings of the earth, one in the east,[note 59]
one in the west,[note 60]and one in Arabia.[note 61]
The second blow of the trumpet will be sounded, the dead will return to life, and a fire will come out of Yemen that shall gather all to Mahshar Al Qiy'amah (The Gathering for Judgment).[26]

Criticism

According to some liberals such as Mustafa Akyol, if the Muslim community focuses on apocalyptism and Dajjal they might be going away from social development but this thinking is abolished by one Hadith, and it is,

"If you were to sow a seed (for a plant/vegetation) and the Qiyamah were to happen, then saw the seed first."^[90]

This is a metaphoric hadith, which instructs Muslims to be optimistic and working for betterment even if they know they're in the end times.