36/25. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4044 — Knowledge of the Hour Belongs to Allah
The portents of the Hour
Knowledge of the Hour: Only Allah Knows When It Will Come
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4044
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4044
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَيَّانَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَوْمًا بَارِزًا لِلنَّاسِ فَأَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَتَى السَّاعَةُ فَقَالَ " مَا الْمَسْئُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ وَلَكِنْ سَأُخْبِرُكَ عَنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا إِذَا وَلَدَتِ الأَمَةُ رَبَّتَهَا فَذَاكَ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا وَإِذَا كَانَتِ الْحُفَاةُ الْعُرَاةُ رُءُوسَ النَّاسِ فَذَاكَ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا وَإِذَا تَطَاوَلَ رِعَاءُ الْغَنَمِ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ فَذَاكَ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا فِي خَمْسٍ لاَ يَعْلَمُهُنَّ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ " . فَتَلاَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ {إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الأَرْحَامِ} الآيَةَ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out one day to the people, and a man came to him and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, when will the Hour be?’ He said: ‘The one who is asked about it does not know more than the one who is asking. But I will tell you of its portents. When the slave woman gives birth to her mistress, that is one of its portents. When the barefoot and naked become leaders of the people, that is one of its portents. When shepherds compete in constructing buildings, that is one of its portents. (The Hour) is one of five (things) which no one knows except Allah.’Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited the words: “Verily, Allah, with Him (alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. (to the end of the Verse).”[31:34]
[1] Luqmân 31: 34.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4044In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 119English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4044
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4044
This Hadith about the Hour answers a question many people ask: when will it happen? The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that the one being asked did not know more than the one asking. Then he mentioned signs: the slave woman giving birth to her mistress, barefoot and naked people becoming leaders, and shepherds competing in buildings. He also recited the verse that knowledge of the Hour is with Allah alone. The core topic is Divine Knowledge. This Hadith teaches balance. We can know some signs of the Hour, but we cannot know its exact time. So the believer should avoid guessing dates and focus on what Allah has revealed.
What we learn from this hadith
- The exact time of the Hour is known only to Allah.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned signs without giving a date.
- Building competition and social change are named among the portents.
- A believer should not claim hidden knowledge that belongs to Allah.
