Question

Kindly provide the following Hadith in Arabic:

“Before the Hour comes, there will be special greeting for the people of distinction.”

Answer

Perhaps you are referring to the following Hadith reported by Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu), wherein Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has said:

إن بين يدي الساعة تسليم الخاصة وفشو التجارة حتى تعين المرأة زوجها على التجارة وقطع الأرحام وشهادة الزور وكتمان شهادة الحق وظهور القلم

Translation

Hereunder is an explanatory translation of the aforementioned text of the Hadith:

‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) has mentioned that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has said:

‘Verily before the final hour people will only greet those that they know. Business will become so widespread and extensive that even the wife will [begin to] assist her husband in it [i.e., in amassing wealth]. Families will [begin to] cut off ties. People will [begin to] give false testimony, and those bearing the truth will [begin to] conceal it. [Finally,] Forgetfulness will also become so rampant that the people of knowledge will be forced into writing things down to preserve it.

(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 1, pgs. 407-408; Also see: Hashiyatus Sindhi, vol. 1, pg. 654)

Disclaimer: In principle, the signs of Qiyamah are ambiguous and nuanced and only Allah Ta’ala Knows their precise timing and exact application. One should certainly take heed from such Hadiths and signs, despite their application to specific events being open to interpretation.

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Farhan Shariff

Approved: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar