The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that the best of people are his companions who were his contemporaries. Next were the tābi‘īn, i.e. the generation that followed the Prophet’s companions, and then the generation that followed. He then said that corruption would spread after those noble generations. Then there would be people who would be unscrupulous in their testimony, untrue to their trust, and who would not honour their commitments. They would prefer to enjoy the pleasures of this life, and this would leave its mark on them.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions the interrogation by two angels when a person is buried. Everyone is asked about the Prophet (peace be upon him). If he is a believer, he will be made to see his seat in Heaven, and his grave is made wider for him. If he is an unbeliever, he will see his seat in Hell and will suffer torment in the grave until the Day of Judgement
The Prophet (peace be upon him) tells us in this hadith about some of the minor signs of the Last Hour. These are: knowledge becomes scarce, earthquakes increase, time draws closer, temptations will be prevalent, killing increases and wealth becomes too plentiful.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions some of the signs of the Last Hour which come all of a sudden. He orders his community to hasten to do good deeds before any of these signs appear.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) gives us some description of the Impostor Misīḥ, who will provide the hardest trial on earth. Every prophet warned his people about him and the hardship that comes with him. He is one-eyed, and in between his eyes the word kāfir, meaning ‘unbeliever’, is written and this will be read by every Muslim.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions that a major sign of the arrival of the Last Hour is that the sun will rise from the west. When this happens, it will be too late to repent of one’s sins. Repentance will not be acceptable from anyone after seeing this sign.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions that on the Day of Judgement everyone will stand in front of his Lord for the reckoning. God will speak to everyone without an interpreter or middle person. Nothing will benefit a person then other than his or her own good deeds.
In this hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) states that the burning power of the fire of Hell is seventy times as much as the fire of our world.
God, Mighty and Exalted, informs us that He has prepared for his righteous servants a great variety of comforts and luxuries, the like of which no human being has ever seen or heard of, or even imagined.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions that when God, Mighty and Exalted, completed His creation, He wrote in the Imperishable Tablet which is with Him above the Throne: My Mercy prevails over My Wrath.
In this hadith, the Prophet mentions some stages of the development of a human pregnancy and when life is blown into it, as well as the writing of what God has determined for it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) then mentions that the final deeds a person does determine that person’s fate in the life to come. Whoever concludes his life doing what the people of Heaven do will be in Heaven and whoever concludes his life doing as the people of Hell will join them there
The Prophet (peace be upon him) gives his young cousin, ꜤAbdullāh ibn ꜤAbbās, concise and comprehensive advice, telling him to have a clear aim. Therefore, whatever he needs, he should ask it of God only, and whatever help he requires, he should appeal to God for it. He should be clear in his mind that all matters are in God’s hand. Therefore, no one will ever cause him benefit or harm except by what God has willed for him
A person who is firm and strong in his faith and learns what is good is better than one who is weak. Therefore, a Muslim should be keen to acquire what will be of benefit to him. He should pray to God to help him in this, and not be lazy or feel helpless. When a Muslim does or obtains something good, he should thank God. If not, he should not wish to have a second chance. Instead, he should say: ‘This is God’s will and whatever God wills is done’.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) corrected people’s beliefs inherited from the time of ignorance. He states in this hadith that diseases are not transmitted by nature. Their transmission is rather by God’s will. He prohibited associating ill thoughts with any particular time, place or person. He liked optimism and having a good feeling when hearing a good word
The Prophet (peace be upon him) orders his companions to look at people who are less favoured than themselves in life’s fortunes, such as those who are poorer and weaker than them. They should not look up to those who are more favoured in their livelihood, health and other riches. If they act on the Prophet’s advice, they will be better able to appreciate what God has given them
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions four of the main characteristics of hypocrites. No Muslim may have any of these characteristics. Whoever combines all these four is a total hypocrite, and whoever has one of them is a partial hypocrite. These four are betrayal of trust, lying, treachery and being wild in a quarrel.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) states that whoever goes to a fortune teller or anyone who claims to know what God has kept for Himself, and believes him in what he says, his action takes him to disbelief. It may even take him totally outside the religion of Islam or bring him very close to such.
Neither body nor form nor appearance is of any importance. It is the heart that counts and whether it is full of faith or unbelief.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions three qualities which ensure that a person who combines them will experience the sweetness of faith. The first is that such a person loves God and His Messenger more than anyone and anything else. Secondly, that he should love others for God’s sake, not for any personal interest of any type. Thirdly, that he hates to revert to disbelief more than he hates anything whatsoever. Such hate should be as much as hating to throw oneself into the Fire.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) says that his community will follow in the footsteps of earlier communities, the Jews and Christians. They will invent practices that are unacceptable from the religious perspective and will commit sinful actions. Thus, they will blindly imitate them.
