Signs of Jesus’ (pbuh) Second Coming

The Signs from the Islamic Resources 8

84. The Decreasing Number of Reliable People

One hadith reveals that before the advent of Prophet Jesus (pbuh), there will be few trustworthy people and only little money earned according to the rules and laws of our religion:

In the End Times, people will be carrying out their trade, but there will hardly be a trustworthy person. (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

Good people will all go, leaving behind them bad people, like useless barley and grapes. (Ibn Ahmad Hanbal, Sahih Bukhari)

85. The Decreasing Number of Trustworthy People

The hadiths report that close to Doomsday, the number of trustworthy people will diminish and that people will seize and use that which has been entrusted to them. Moreover, we are told that people will fall behind in their obligation to give alms:

When the spoils are restricted to a few people, when goods entrusted to one are regarded as booty, when giving alms is regarded as a heavy burden... (Muhammad ibn `Abd ar-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah li Ashrat as-Sa`ah, p. 114)

Goods entrusted to one being regarded as booty, and the giving of alms being regarded as a loan [which is hard to repay]... (Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah li Ashrat as-Sa`ah, p.139)

When you see people breaking their words and promises, disregarding their trusts... (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 378, no. 690)

86. Abandoning Almsgiving

When they regard giving alms as a punishment [a burden instead of a religious observance]. (Tirmidhi)

When that time comes, alms will be taken by force as a punishment and extortion as loot. (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr Fi'l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, pp. 146-47)

Protecting and watching over the poor and needy is a requirement of the religion's moral values. God has commanded believers to give alms to those in need, to meet their needs, and to protect and watch over them. As a result of this moral necessity, poverty disappears in societies that live by religion's moral values, due to the existence of social solidarity. In the End Times, on the other hand, people will turn away from the religion's moral values, causing the almost total disappearance of almsgiving.

87. Abandoning Salah (Prayers)

Hudaifa bin Yaman narrated that God's Messenger (may God bless him and grant him peace) said: Islam would extinquish just as the embroidery of a fabric become worn-out so much so that none would know… what prayer is. (Sunan Ibn Majah)

The Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) said: "One sign of Doomsday is the abandonment of salah... At that time, O Salman! The most wicked of all sins and irreligiousness will occur. People will abandon salah and adhere to their lust. If you are alive during that period, perform your prayers at their respective times." (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr Fi'l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, pp. 146-47)

People will encounter such a time that salah [prayers] will be abandoned, buildings will be higher, oaths and curses will be everywhere, bribery and adultery will spread, and the Hereafter will be exchanged for this life. (Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah li Ashrat as-Sa`ah, p. 157)

88. The Spread of False Testimony and Slander

Verily, in the presence of the Last Hour there will be … false testimony and concealing evidence. (Ibn Ahmad Hanbal and al-Hakim)

There will be false accusations of unchastity and slander. (Tirmidhi)

The spread of false testimony and slander are further important portents of Doomsday. Such activities occur because people distance themselves from religion's morality, which entails being honest under all conditions and being just even at the expense of one's self-interest. People who are distant from religion's morality and unaware that they will give an account of their deeds on the Day of Judgment can readily tell lies or give false testimony if doing so will benefit them. The growing number of such people is a sign of Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) second coming:

89. Giving Positions of Responsibility to Incompetent People

The hadith quoted below stresses another sign:

God's Apostle said, "When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour." It was asked. "How will honesty be lost, O God's Apostle?" He said, "When authority is given to those who do not deserve it, then wait for the Hour." (Sahih Bukhari)

90. Considering One's Superiority To Be in Wealth Rather than in Awareness of God

It becomes obvious that the Hour is drawing near … When people esteem the well-off, and people who are superior to him stand up and salute him. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, pp. 480-81)

People will be judged by their wealth, and respect will be shown to people according to their wealth. These qualities are signs of Doomsday, for:

Before the Hour comes, there will be special greeting for the people of distinction. (Ibn Ahmad Hanbal)

91. The Decay of Human Relations

The hadiths also mention the destruction of social relations between people:

Verily among the signs of the Last Hour is the greeting [Salaam] is limited to those known only… (Ibn Ahmad Hanbal)

The Hour will not come until hearts become strangers, words become apart, and brothers adhere to other religions.(ad-Daylami)

The Hour will not come until special people, rather than ordinary people, are saluted. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 470)

Breaking ties with kin is among the signs of the Last Hour. (Ibn Ahmad Hanbal)

92. People Value Their Pets More Than Other People

When Doomsday approaches, people will have puppies. They will hold these puppies much dearer than their own children. (al-Tabarani, al-Hakim)

Having love and compassion for animals, as well as admiring the beauties God has granted them, are surely favorable characteristics. However, the event related here is the replacement of love for people with love for animals. This is surely a warped viewpoint.

93. The Decay of Family Relations

Another characteristic will be the disintegration of relationships among families, between friends and neighbors, and the loss of community and spiritual values:

Before the Hour comes; … family ties will be cut… (Ibn Ahmad Hanbal, Musnad)

There would [first] be turmoil for a person in regard to his family, his property, his own self, his children, his neighbors. (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

The portents of Doomsday [consist of] saying ugly things to one another, mockery, hostility, the severing of relations with relatives, regarding a trustworthy person as a traitor, and trusting a traitor. (Muhammad ibn `Abd ar-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah li Ashrat as-Sa`ah, pp. 136-37)