10 Major Signs of the Day of Judgement in Islam (With Quran & Hadith)
Belief in the Day of Judgement (Yawm al-Qiyamah) is one of the six pillars of Islamic faith. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that before this final Hour arrives, the world will witness a series of extraordinary events known as Ashrat as-Sa’ah (the signs of the Hour). These are divided into minor signs, which occur gradually over a long period, and major signs, which will appear in close succession shortly before the Hour itself. In this article, we explore the ten major signs of the Day of Judgement as authentically narrated in the Quran and Hadith.
Table of Contents
- The Hadith That Lists the Ten Signs
- 1. The Smoke (Ad-Dukhan)
- 2. The Dajjal (The False Messiah)
- 3. The Beast of the Earth (Dabbat al-Ard)
- 4. The Sun Rising From the West
- 5. The Descent of Isa (Jesus), Son of Mary
- 6. Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog)
- 7-9. Three Landslides (East, West, Arabia)
- 10. The Fire That Gathers Mankind
- Summary Table of the Ten Signs
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Hadith That Lists the Ten Signs
The primary source for this list is a well-known hadith narrated by Hudhayfah ibn Asid al-Ghifari (RA), recorded in Sahih Muslim. He reported that the Prophet ﷺ came to a group of Companions who were discussing the Hour, and said:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came to us all of a sudden as we were (busy in a discussion). He said: What do you discuss about? They (the Companions) said. We are discussing about the Last Hour. Thereupon he said: It will not come until you see ten signs before and (in this connection) he made a mention of the smoke, Dajjal, the beast, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Jesus son of Mary (Allah be pleased with him), the Gog and Magog, and land-slides in three places, one in the east, one in the west and one in Arabia at the end of which fire would burn forth from the Yemen, and would drive people to the place of their assembly. |
— Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2901aThis single narration forms the backbone of Islamic teaching on the major signs. Let’s examine each sign individually, along with its scriptural basis.
1-The Smoke (Ad-Dukhan)
The first major sign is a vast smoke that will cover the earth, causing severe distress to disbelievers and hypocrites, while believers will experience it only as something like a mild cold. This event is directly referenced in the Quran, in the surah that carries its name.
| فَٱرۡتَقِبۡ يَوۡمَ تَأۡتِى ٱلسَّمَآءُ بِدُخَانٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ (١٠) يَغۡشَى ٱلنَّاسَۖ هَـٰذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬ (١١) |
| “Then watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke, covering the people; this is a painful torment.” |
— Surah Ad-Dukhan (44:10-11)
Many scholars of tafsir, including Ibn Kathir, discuss differing views on whether this smoke is a sign that has a specific historical connection or is exclusively an end-times event; the majority position associates it with the approaching Hour.
2-The Dajjal (The False Messiah)
The Dajjal is described in numerous hadith as a one-eyed impostor who will claim divinity and lead many astray with deceptive miracles before being destroyed. The Prophet ﷺ warned his nation about the Dajjal more than any other trial.
— Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2946
The Prophet ﷺ also taught his followers to seek refuge from the trial of the Dajjal in every prayer and to memorize the opening verses of Surah Al-Kahf as protection against him.
3-The Beast of the Earth (Dabbat al-Ard)
A mysterious creature will emerge from the earth and speak to mankind, marking believers and disbelievers so that faith and disbelief become openly visible. This sign is explicitly mentioned in the Quran.
— Surah An-Naml (27:82)
4-The Sun Rising From the West
One of the clearest and most emphasized signs is the sun rising from the west instead of the east — an event after which repentance will no longer be accepted, as this marks the closing of the door of tawbah (repentance).
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4635
This hadith closely echoes the Quranic principle stated in Surah Al-An’am (6:158), which describes a day when the coming of certain signs of one’s Lord will render faith of no benefit to a soul that did not previously believe.
5-The Descent of Isa (Jesus), Son of Mary
Islam teaches that Prophet Isa (AS) was not crucified but was raised to the heavens, and he will descend near the end of time to defeat the Dajjal, establish justice, and affirm the truth of Islam.
— Surah An-Nisa (4:158)
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2222; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 155
6-Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog)
Yajuj and Majuj are two nations who were confined behind a great barrier in ancient times. Near the end of the world, they will break through and spread corruption across the earth in overwhelming numbers, until Allah destroys them.
— Surah Al-Anbiya (21:96)
The Quran also narrates the story of Dhul-Qarnayn constructing the original barrier in Surah Al-Kahf (18:94-98), which is a key background reference for this sign.
7-9-Three Landslides (Khasf): East, West, and the Arabian Peninsula
According to the hadith of Hudhayfah cited earlier, three separate landslides or episodes of the earth caving in will occur — one in the East, one in the West, and one on the Arabian Peninsula. These are understood by scholars as literal geological upheavals serving as divine signs shortly before the Hour.
— Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2901a
10-The Fire That Gathers Mankind
The final of the ten signs is a great fire that will emerge from the land of Yemen (specifically from Aden, according to some narrations) and will drive the remaining people toward their place of final gathering, marking the last stage before the Hour itself commences.
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 7118
Summary Table of the Ten Major Signs
| # | Sign | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Smoke (Ad-Dukhan) | Quran 44:10-11 |
| 2 | The Dajjal | Sahih Muslim 2946 |
| 3 | The Beast of the Earth | Quran 27:82 |
| 4 | Sun rising from the west | Sahih al-Bukhari 4635 |
| 5 | Descent of Isa (AS) | Quran 4:158; Sahih al-Bukhari 2222 |
| 6 | Yajuj and Majuj | Quran 21:96, 18:94-98 |
| 7 | Landslide in the East | Sahih Muslim 2901a |
| 8 | Landslide in the West | Sahih Muslim 2901a |
| 9 | Landslide in the Arabian Peninsula | Sahih Muslim 2901a |
| 10 | Fire from Yemen | Sahih al-Bukhari 7118 |
What Should Believers Do?
The purpose of learning about these signs is not to calculate dates or spread fear, but to strengthen one’s connection with Allah and prioritize sincere repentance and good deeds. The Prophet ﷺ emphasized preparation over speculation:
— Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2947
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 10 major signs of the Day of Judgement in Islam?
They are the smoke, the Dajjal, the Beast of the Earth, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Isa (AS), Yajuj and Majuj, three landslides (east, west, and the Arabian Peninsula), and a fire that gathers mankind — as listed in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2901a.
Are the major signs mentioned in the Quran or only in Hadith?
Several signs — the smoke, the Beast of the Earth, and Yajuj and Majuj — are mentioned in the Quran. The complete list of ten together, along with detailed descriptions of the Dajjal and the landslides, comes from authentic Hadith.
Has any major sign already occurred?
Scholars differ on this question. The dominant view is that the ten major signs described in this hadith have not yet occurred and will appear in close succession near the end of time.
This article is intended for general Islamic educational purposes and summarizes widely accepted narrations from Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhari along with relevant Quranic verses. Readers are encouraged to consult qualified scholars and primary hadith collections for deeper study.