"They ask you about the Hour: when will it arrive? Say: Knowledge of it is only with my Lord."
Qiyamah — the Day of Judgment — is one of the six pillars of Islamic faith. Every Muslim must believe in it. And while only Allah knows the exact hour, He has gifted us — through His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — a complete roadmap of signs so we are never taken by total surprise.
This guide is the most comprehensive collection of Signs of Qiyamah in the English language, covering every authentic sign from the Hadith of Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Tirmidhi, and more — with Arabic text, full context, and an honest answer to which signs have already appeared in our world today.
What is Qiyamah in Islam?
Qiyamah (قِيَامَة) — also written as Qayamat or Yawm al-Qiyamah — is the Day of Resurrection and Judgment in Islam. It is the final day of this world when all of creation will be gathered before Allah and every soul will be held accountable for every deed, word, and intention.
Belief in Qiyamah is a pillar of Islamic faith (Iman). The Prophet ﷺ said: "Iman is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in divine decree — both the good and the bad." (Sahih Muslim, 8)
The Day of Judgment is described extensively in both the Quran and Sunnah. What makes Islam unique is that Allah did not leave us without warning — He revealed through the Prophet ﷺ a precise set of signs that will precede this great day, so that believers can recognize the times and strengthen their faith.
"The Hour will not come until you see ten signs..." — then he mentioned: the smoke, Dajjal, the Beast, the sun rising from the west, descent of Isa, Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj, three landslides (East, West, Arabian Peninsula), and a fire from Yemen. (Sahih Muslim, 2901)
Categories of Signs of Qiyamah
Islamic scholars have categorized the Signs of Qiyamah into two main types:
Signs that have been occurring gradually over centuries. Many are already in our world today. These are warnings and wake-up calls for the believers.
Total: 77+ signs documented by scholars
The 10 great catastrophic events that will occur in succession at the very end. None of the major signs have yet occurred. Once they begin, they will follow one another rapidly.
Total: Exactly 10 signs in Sahih Muslim
The 77 Minor Signs of Qiyamah
Scholars have compiled 72 to 77 minor signs from authentic Hadith sources. Below are all the major documented minor signs, with their status in today's world:
Category 1: Signs Related to the Prophet ﷺ and Early Islam
Category 2: Signs Related to Knowledge and Morality
Category 3: Signs Related to Family and Society
Category 4: Signs Related to Earth and Nature
Category 5: Signs Related to Buildings and Wealth
Category 6: Additional Minor Signs
Which Minor Signs Have Already Appeared?
Of the 77 minor signs, Islamic scholars agree that more than 50 have already occurred. The most striking ones visible in today's world are:
- Tall buildings competition — Saudi Arabia, UAE, China all compete for the world's tallest structures
- Widespread music — every pocket now carries unlimited music through smartphones
- Open immorality — normalized globally through media and entertainment
- Time feels short — a year now feels like a month, a month like a week
- Earthquakes increasing — USGS data shows a measurable increase in frequency
- Corrupt leadership — widely observed across many nations
- Frequent killing — wars, genocides, terrorism at a scale never seen before
- Arabia becoming green — Saudi Vision 2030 includes massive greening projects
The 10 Major Signs of Qiyamah (Kubra)
These are the 10 great catastrophic events confirmed in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2901. None of them have yet occurred. Once they begin, they will follow one another like beads falling from a broken necklace — rapidly, one after another.
Imam Mahdi will be a man from the lineage of the Prophet ﷺ — from the family of Fatima RA — who will emerge in a time of great oppression and injustice. He will be recognized in Mecca and people will give him bay'ah (pledge of allegiance) between the Ka'bah and Maqam Ibrahim. He will rule justly, filling the earth with justice after it had been filled with tyranny. He will lead Muslims in prayer when Prophet Isa descends.
Dajjal is described as the greatest trial this world will ever face. He will be a one-eyed man — his right eye will be blind and protruding like a grape, and between his eyes the word "Kafir" (disbeliever) will be written, readable by every believer. He will claim first to be a prophet, then claim to be God. He will have the power to make it rain, cause drought, and will appear to bring people back from the dead. He will travel the world in 40 days — one day like a year, one like a month, one like a week, and the rest like normal days. Only Mecca and Medina will be protected from him.
Prophet Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus, son of Mary) was neither killed nor crucified — Allah raised him up to the heavens (Quran 4:157-158). He will descend near the White Minaret of Damascus, wearing two garments dyed with saffron, placing his hands on the wings of two angels. He will descend during the time of Dajjal and will kill Dajjal near the gate of Ludd (Lod) in Palestine. He will then break the cross, kill swine, abolish the jizyah tax, and rule with justice. He will live on earth for 40 years then die, and Muslims will pray his funeral prayer.
Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj are a massive nation imprisoned behind a barrier built by Dhul Qarnayn (Quran 18:94-98). Every day they dig at the barrier, but when they reach the end of the day, they hear the command to return, and the next morning the wall is restored. One day, instead of saying "return," they will say "Insha'Allah, we will break through tomorrow" — and the next day the barrier will be weak and they will break free. They will spread across the earth, drinking up rivers and causing massive destruction. Allah will destroy them by sending worms in their necks.
A thick, visible smoke will appear and cover the entire earth for 40 days. It will cause believers discomfort like a cold, but will cause disbelievers severe pain as if they are intoxicated. This event is mentioned directly in the Quran.
"So watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke." — Quran 44:10
A beast will emerge from the earth and will speak to people. It will mark believers and disbelievers — stamping believers with "Mu'min" (believer) on their face, and stamping disbelievers with "Kafir" (disbeliever). This creature is mentioned in the Quran.
"And when the Word comes to pass against them, We will bring forth for them a Beast from the earth speaking to them." — Quran 27:82
The sun will one day rise from the west instead of the east. This is the most significant sign because once it happens, the door of repentance is permanently closed. Allah will no longer accept the tawbah of anyone after this sign. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The Hour will not come until the sun rises from the west. When it rises and people see it, all of them will believe — but that will be a time when belief will not benefit anyone who did not believe before." (Sahih Bukhari, 4636)
Three enormous landslides and earthquakes will occur — one in the East, one in the West, and one in the Arabian Peninsula. These will be unlike any earthquake humanity has experienced before — they will cause massive destruction and reshape the earth's geography.
A great fire will emerge from Yemen — from the direction of Aden — that will drive people toward their place of gathering (Syria or the plain of resurrection). This fire will be seen by people all around the world and will force everyone to move in one direction.
Near the end of times, a man called Dhul-Suwayqatayn from Ethiopia will come and destroy the Ka'bah stone by stone. The Prophet ﷺ said: "It is as though I can see him — a short, black-legged, flat-footed man, dismantling the Ka'bah stone by stone." After the Ka'bah is destroyed, there will be no more Hajj or Umrah.
Dajjal — Understanding the Greatest Trial
The Prophet ﷺ warned about Dajjal more than any other sign. From Prophet Nuh ﷺ to every Prophet who came, they all warned their nations about Dajjal. Here is what we know from authentic Hadith:
- Physical description: One-eyed (right eye blind), curly hair, fat body, reddish complexion. "Kafir" written between his eyes — visible to every believer.
- Abilities: Commands the sky to rain, the earth to produce crops. Will appear to raise the dead. Will have mountains of bread and rivers of water following him.
- His deception: Will first claim prophethood, then claim to be God. His "paradise" is actually fire, his "fire" is actually paradise.
- Protection: Recite Surah Al-Kahf every Friday. Memorize the first 10 verses of Surah Al-Kahf — they protect from Dajjal's fitnah.
- His end: Prophet Isa ﷺ will descend and kill him near Ludd, Palestine.
Imam Mahdi — Who Is He?
Imam Mahdi is NOT a prophet — he is a pious Muslim from the lineage of the Prophet ﷺ who will be chosen by Allah to lead the Ummah in its final great trial. Key facts:
- Name: Muhammad ibn Abdillah (same name as the Prophet ﷺ)
- Lineage: From Fatimah RA, granddaughter line of the Prophet ﷺ
- Appearance: He will not know he is the Mahdi at first — people will force bay'ah upon him in Mecca
- Mission: Will rule justly, revive the Sunnah, and lead Muslims against Dajjal
- Duration: Will rule for 7, 8, or 9 years (different narrations)
- NOT yet born: There is no authentic evidence any specific person alive today is the Mahdi
How to Prepare for Qiyamah
The Signs of Qiyamah are not given to create fear — they are given to motivate action. Here is how every Muslim should respond:
Protection from Dajjal's fitnah. Prophet ﷺ commanded this specifically.
SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar — 100 times each daily is a shield against Fitan.
Honor parents, maintain silah al-rahim (family ties) — this adds barakah and protection in end times.
The first thing to be lifted from the earth before Qiyamah is trustworthiness — protect your 5 daily prayers above all else.
- Make Tawbah (sincere repentance) regularly — before the sun rises from the west
- Learn and teach Islamic knowledge — before scholars disappear
- Avoid major sins that are listed as minor signs
- Study the Signs of Qiyamah to recognize the times — exactly what you are doing now
- Stay connected to your local Muslim community