Signs of the Day of Judgment – Minor and Major Signs Explained

Learn about the signs of the Day of Judgment in Islam, including minor and major signs based on authentic hadiths. Understand what will happen before the end of the world.

All perfect praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad ﷺ is His slave and Messenger.

The belief in the Last Day and its signs is a fundamental part of Islamic faith. The Prophet ﷺ informed us of many events that will occur before the establishment of the Hour, so that believers remain aware, prepared, and firm upon faith.

Signs of the Day of Judgment

The signs of the Day of Judgment are events that occur before the Resurrection and indicate that it is near. These signs are divided into two categories:

Minor (lesser) signs
Major signs

The lesser signs generally occur long before the Hour, while the major signs are extraordinary events that will appear shortly before the Day of Resurrection itself.

Minor Signs of the Day of Judgment

The minor signs are many and have been mentioned in authentic narrations. Some have already occurred, some continue to occur, and some are yet to appear.

Among the well-known minor signs are:

The sending of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
The death of the Prophet ﷺ
The conquest of Jerusalem
The spread of wealth and lack of charity need
The appearance of widespread trials and tribulations
The emergence of false claimants to prophethood
The disappearance of knowledge and spread of ignorance
The spread of zina (fornication and adultery)
The spread of riba (interest/usury)
The prevalence of musical instruments
The widespread consumption of alcohol
Competing in building tall structures
Increase in earthquakes and killings
Appearance of women who are clothed yet naked

These and many other signs are mentioned in authentic hadith collections, and they indicate gradual moral, social, and spiritual decline before the final Hour.

Major Signs of the Day of Judgment

The major signs are extraordinary and terrifying events that will appear shortly before the Day of Resurrection. When these signs begin, the Hour will be very near.

The Prophet ﷺ mentioned ten major signs:

The appearance of the Dajjal (False Messiah)
The descent of ‘Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus, peace be upon him)
The emergence of Ya’juj and Ma’juj (Gog and Magog)
Three major landslides (in the east, west, and Arabian Peninsula)
The smoke
The rising of the sun from the west
The Beast of the earth
A fire that will gather people to their final assembly

These signs will follow one another closely once they begin appearing, as mentioned in authentic narrations.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The Hour will not be established until you see ten signs before it…”

Sahih Muslim

Order of the Major Signs

There is no single definitive authentic narration that lists all major signs in exact chronological order. However, some sequences are known from authentic reports, such as the descent of ‘Isa ibn Maryam and the killing of the Dajjal, followed by the emergence of Ya’juj and Ma’juj.

Scholars have explained that while some ordering is known, the precise sequence of all events is not firmly established in the texts.

Conclusion

The signs of the Day of Judgment are from the unseen matters that Allah has informed us about through His Messenger ﷺ. A believer is required to believe in them as they have been authentically reported, and to take lessons from them by increasing faith, avoiding sins, and preparing for the meeting with Allah.

These signs are not merely for curiosity but serve as reminders of accountability and the reality of the Hereafter.

And Allah knows best.