The end of the world according to Islam

Most Muslims agree that the end of the world will be preceded by signs as described in the Quran. How many? Well, there’s a long list, and not everyone agrees on how many of the signs will appear. Some are quite general, things like an increase in lying or drinking alcohol. But they also include very specific events, like animals speaking to humans.

Many of the signs are related to fighting, disasters, and suffering. Making things very bad on Earth. Suddenly, a figure with powers to heal the sick will appear... al-Dajjal. Is this a savior, a messiah, sent by God?

No. Al-Dajjal is a fake messiah, helped by demons. But because the world is suffering, many people will be tricked into following him. True Muslims, however, will not be fooled. Someone else will appear: the Mahdi.

Mahdi means “Awaited One”… this is the real savior people have been waiting for! In Muslim traditions, it is said that the Mahdi will appear at the end of times alongside Isa, also known as Jesus, to kill al-Dajjal, rid the world of evil, restore true religion, and bring a time of peace before the end of the world. Almost all practicing Muslims believe in the future arrival of the Mahdi. The concept of the Mahdi is especially important for Shia Muslims. Many Sunni Muslims also believe in the coming of the Mahdi, while other Sunni Muslims do not believe in the Mahdi at all.

But who exactly is the Mahdi? On this point, Shia and Sunni Muslims do not agree. Shia Muslims believe that the Mahdi was born hundreds of years ago, descended from Muhammad and Fatima. They generally believe that he has been alive all this time but living in hiding, and will reveal himself only when God decides. Sunni Muslims that do believe in the Mahdi do not accept that he has been living on Earth for hundreds of years.

They believe he will be a normal person, born sometime before the Day of Judgement and then chosen by God. When al-Dajjal, the Madhi, and Isa appear, the end of the world starts. The most common belief is that, first, all life on Earth will end. Then, the Quran teaches that all the people who have ever lived will be brought back to life. Their body will be resurrected by God.

After resurrection, everyone will then be judged for their actions. It will be the Final Judgement, al-Qiyamah. Those who God deems good go to Jannah - paradise. Those he deems bad go to Jahannam - a fiery, painful place. But no one knows when this day will come… What happens to people who have already died, and are waiting for resurrection?

Muslims believe that after a person dies, their soul goes to a place called Barzakh to wait for resurrection and God’s Final Judgement. Barzakh is neither good nor bad. Instead, it’s an in-between place where people can reflect on their life. There, sinners are punished while those who have been faithful to God live comfortably until the Final Judgement. For many Muslims, the actions of a lifetime are final and cannot be undone in Barzakh, so it’s important to live a virtuous life.

However, in Islamic mystic tradition, Sufism, there is some thought that believers can be helped by the prophets or angels at the Final Judgement, even if they’ve sinned, so long as they are regretful and ask for forgiveness. This is called intersession… Sufi thought exists in both Sunni and Shia Islam, but not everyone agrees that intercession is possible. When it comes to the end of the world, rarely is there agreement on what exactly will happen. Even so, these ideas and beliefs continue to engage and interest people.