XIII.—THE DAY OF RESURRECTION
AND JUDGMENT, AND THE SIGNS
OF THE LAST DAYS.
Qi′a′mat (lit. "standing"), or the day of resurrection and judgment, is a time which all Muhammadans allow is a perfect secret and known only to God. But they say that the approach of the day of judgment will be known by twenty-five signs.[1]
1. The decay of faith among men.
2. The advancing of the meanest persons to dignity.
3. That a maid-servant shall become the mother of her mistress.
4. Tumults and seditions.
5. A war with the Turks.
6. Great distress in the world.
7. That the provinces of ʾIráq and Syria shall refuse to pay tribute.
8. That the buildings of Medina shall extend to Yaháb.
9. The sun rising in the west.
10. The appearance of a remarkable Beast, called the Dábbat-ul-arz, which shall rise out of the earth in the temple at Mecca.
11. War with the Greeks and the taking of Constantinople by 70,000 of the posterity of Isaac.
12. The coming of Masíh-ud-Dajjál, or Antichrist.
13. The coming of Jesus Christ, who will descend upon one of the minarets of the Mosque at Damascus.
14. War with the Jews.
15. The ravages made by Yajúj and Majúj (Gog and Magog).
16. A smoke which shall fill the whole earth.
17. An eclipse of the moon.
18. The return of the Arabians to idolatry.
19. The discovery of a heap of treasure by the retreating of the river Euphrates.
20. The demolition of the temple at Mecca.
21. The speaking of beasts and inanimate things.
22. A breaking out of a fire in Yaman.
23. The appearance of a remarkable man who shall drive men before him with his staff.
24. The coming of Imám Mahdí,[2] the director, who will come from Khorásán, his troops bearing black ensigns.
25. A mighty wind which shall sweep away the souls of all who have but a grain of faith in their hearts.
The following is a succinct account of the day of judgment, translated from a Muhammadan book:—"Then shall God bring all men back and raise them again, and restore to them their souls, and gather them together. He will then call for the books in which have been written the good and evil actions of all men. Then he will judge them in equity and weigh the balance (mizán) of their works, and will make retribution to every soul according to what he has done. Some shall enter Paradise through his goodness and mercy, and some shall go to hell. No Muslim shall remain in hell for ever, but shall enter into Paradise, after they have suffered according to their sins, for believers shall remain for ever in Paradise, and the unbelievers in hell fire."
Sírát is a bridge which all must pass over on the day of judgment. It is said to extend over the midst of hell, and to be sharper than the edge of a sword. In passing it the feet of the infidel will slip, and he will fall into hell fire; but the feet of the Muslim will be firm, and carry him safely to Paradise.