Faithful Reflections

I. Defining the Last Age ( Ākhir az-Zamān ) The term 'Last Day' ( Yawm al-Qiyāmah ) is often preceded by the concept of the 'Last Age' ( Ākhir az-Zamān ), the final historical period culminating in the end of history itself. This age is characterized by profound spiritual and moral collapse, leading to a state of godlessness. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prophesied that moral consciousness would decline to such an extent that people would "engage in sexual intercourse in public like donkeys". This moral decay frames the necessity of the ultimate prophetic events. The culmination of this age is marked by the return of the true Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary ( ‘Īsā ibn Maryam ), who will return to rule the world with justice. The descent of Jesus is explicitly identified in the Qur'an as a sign for the knowledge of the Hour: “And indeed, Jesus will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow ...