Hadith of the Week - Last Day Close When Unfit Rule

Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) reported: “Once the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was speaking to us when a bedouin came and asked him, ‘When will the Last Day be?’ When the Messenger of Allah concluded his speech he asked, ‘Where is the one who inquired about the Last Day?’ The man replied: ‘Here I am.’ The Messenger of Allah replied, ‘When the practice of honouring a trust is lost, expect the Last Day.’ The bedouin asked: ‘How could it be lost?’ The Prophet replied, ‘When the government is entrusted to undeserving people, then wait for the Last Day.’” [Sahih Bukhari]

Thus we are told that a sign of the nearness of the Day of Judgement is that unworthy people will become leaders. The affairs of the world will be in the hands of unfit and undeserving people. Sinners and wicked people will become rulers. Pulpits will be occupied by the greedy and ignorant, people who are devoid of piety and abstinence.

Since this is the current state of affairs, we should be reminded of the end of times and sincerely do our best to correct ourselves. Actually, regardless of when the Day of Judgement comes, a person’s own judgement will begin with his/her death and this could happen any second for anybody. Death does not come with a warning.