Islamic eschatology
Islamic eschatology (Arabic: عِلْم آخر الزمان في الإسلام, ‘ilm ākhir az-zamān fī al-islām) is a field of study in Islam concerning future events that would happen in the end times. It is primarily based on sources from the Quran and Sunnah. Aspects from this field of study include the signs of the final age, the destruction of the universe and Judgement Day.[1][2][3]
The primary characters in apocalyptic Islamic narratives are: the Mahdi ("Guided One"), Isa (aka Jesus) who descends from heaven in a Second Coming, the Dajjal ("Deceiving Messiah" aka False Messiah, viewed as similar to the Antichrist figure in Christianity), and the Beast. Of these, Jesus and the Dajjal are mentioned in the Quran; while the other figures are solely found in later writings.
The general consensus of the Muslim religious establishment is that the end times will be preceded by a series of signs. However, Islamic texts from the Classical era, Middle Ages, and modern times have differed enormously as what those signs might include. Suggestions have included an era of trials and tribulations, immorality, mighty wars, unnatural phenomena, an invasion by Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog) into Arab lands, and/or the return of justice to the world.[4] Once all the events are completed, the universe shall be destroyed and every human being would be resurrected to be held accountable for their deeds.[5][6]
Sources for Islamic eschatology[edit]
Alike with other tenets of Islamic faith, sources of Islamic eschatology are taken from two primary sources: the Quran which was written in the early 7th century CE, and Sunnah literature (stories about the Islamic prophet Muhammad's life and sayings) which was written some 250 years later, in the late 9th century CE.[7] However, while the Quran repeatedly exhorts its readers/listeners to prepare for the final "Hour", it contains almost no information about the end times. Almost all content of Islamic eschatalogical narratives comes from the hadith (notably Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim), and from later extrapolation and speculation by major Islamic authors (notably Al-Shaykh Al-Mufid, al-Ghazali, Ibn Arabi, Al-Qurtubi, Ibn Kathir, and as-Suyuti)).[8][9]
The arrival of Judgement Day is prophesied to be preceded by apocalyptic signs of its arrival in various hadith collections.[11][12][13]
The signs are divided into two categories.[18][19] Minor signs are uneventful signs that happen in the timeframe of centuries. Major signs are seismic events that happen very rapidly and is the immediate precursor to the end.[20][21][22][23]
Savior and evil-doing figures that appear in the major signs include:
[37]
Small Resurrection[edit]
Small Resurrection (al-qiyamah al-sughra) happens, when the soul is separated from the body. The soul then turns to the afterlife (akhira or malakut), where it is interrogated by two angels, Munkar and Nakir.[38]
This grave period is known as the Barzakh, similar to the intermediate state in Christianity.