There’s an ayah in the Qur’an where Allah, the Most High, speaks of the Day of Judgment in a deeply profound way. He says:

"Verily, the Hour is coming – I almost keep it hidden – so that every soul may be rewarded for what it strives for."
(Surah Ta Ha 20:15)

This statement is loaded with both mystery and urgency. Allah tells us that the final Hour is coming — without a doubt. Yet He also says it’s as though He has hidden it. Scholars describe this expression as one of the most powerful ways to highlight how completely and utterly concealed the timing of the Day of Judgment truly is.

Even the closest of Allah’s creation — the greatest angels like Jibreel (Gabriel), and the most honored human beings like the Prophets — were not granted any knowledge of when the Hour would strike. Every soul in existence stands equally unaware. The knowledge is reserved with Allah alone.

The Hidden Yet Imminent Hour

There is something awe-inspiring in this concealment. The Day of Judgment is completely veiled, yet at the same time, it feels imminent. This duality is not a contradiction but a call to urgency. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said:

“I and the Hour have been sent like these two,”
— and he held up his index and middle finger together.

The scholars interpret this to mean that the coming of the Prophet ﷺ itself signaled that the world had entered its final phase. Even without seeing great cosmic signs or witnessing chaos, the very fact that the final messenger has already come is enough proof that we are nearing the end.

Why the Qur'an Doesn't Obsess Over Signs

When reading the Qur’an from cover to cover, something becomes evident: the specific signs of the Day of Judgment — the minor and the major — are mentioned only briefly or indirectly. This is in stark contrast to how fascinated we can become with them. We search for rumors of Dajjal, predictions of disasters, and apocalyptic forecasts, but the Qur'an doesn’t dwell on these the way we do.

Why?

Because true preparation doesn’t lie in knowing when the Day will come — it lies in how we live before it comes. If you study the past nations destroyed for their sins, observe the injustices and tribulations happening now, and commit to the acts of worship Allah commands, you will have already prepared your soul for whatever comes, seen or unseen.

As believers, we are called to faith in the unseen. And that faith should cultivate an inner immunity — a shield of belief — strong enough to withstand any test, be it the coming of Dajjal or the collapse of the world around us.

Dajjal: The Greatest Trial That Remains Unnamed

The Prophet ﷺ said there has never been a greater trial than that of the Dajjal (Antichrist), from the time of Adam to the Day of Judgment. Yet, astonishingly, his name is never once mentioned in the Qur’an. Some scholars even suggest that this omission serves to belittle him — despite the fact that every Prophet warned their people about him.

But what truly protects us from his fitnah (trial) is not knowledge of who or what he is, but iman — deep, sincere belief. When the heart is anchored in belief, no matter how great or small the trial is, it cannot shake that foundation.

The Prophet’s Mission: The Final Wake-Up Call

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ being sent to mankind was not just a mercy — it was a warning. A final reminder. When Allah sent him, the countdown had already begun. We are living in the last chapter of humanity's story. And if that fact alone doesn't create a sense of urgency within us, then no number of signs or disasters will.

As the Prophet ﷺ put it, if you compare the entirety of human existence before him to what remains after him, it’s like the distance between the tips of your index and middle finger. There is barely any time left.

For Some, the End Is Already Here

When we look around at what's happening in Gaza, Sudan, Congo, and parts of Syria — for many people, the end of times is not a theory. It is their reality. They live in a world of destruction, loss, displacement, and death. For them, World War III isn't something to be feared in the future — it has already arrived.

And yet, many of us only begin to reflect or panic when the threat reaches our doorstep. But Allah tests our sincerity through this very gap. Are we only shaken when chaos enters our lives? Or are we deeply connected to the pain of our ummah, wherever it may be?

“The believers, in their mutual compassion, are like one body — if one part hurts, the entire body suffers with sleeplessness and fever.”
(Hadith, Sahih Muslim)

Tribulations Spread When They Go Unchecked

One of the reasons fitan (trials) — whether political, spiritual, or moral — spread across the earth is because they go unchallenged. We grow numb. We adapt to evil. We scroll past injustice. This negligence causes tribulations to fester and expand, reaching places they otherwise might never have touched.

If we wait until the worst of scenarios reach our homes, we will have already failed the test of foresight, empathy, and faith.

Final Thoughts

The Day of Judgment is coming. That is a certainty. But its exact time? Hidden. Unknown. Irrelevant to the heart that’s already prepared.

The Qur’an does not obsess over signs because it teaches us something far more important: the moment to turn to Allah is now. The moment to repent is now. The moment to live with purpose, urgency, and sincerity — is now.

So don’t wait for the world to fall apart before you wake up. Wake up before the world falls apart. Because to some, it already has.

And to all of us, that Day — that Hour — is never far.