What is the meaning of the following Hadeeth in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Amongst the signs of the Hour are clearly seeing the crescent without sighting, people’s treating the mosques as passages, and the occurrence of sudden death.”

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

The Hadeeth in question was reported by At-Tabaraani in Al-Awsat and Al-Albaani deemed it Hasan when narrated by Anas in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Amongst the signs of the Hour are; clearly seeing the crescent without sighting, people’s treating the mosques as passages, and the occurrence of sudden death.”

This Hadeeth contains three minor Signs of the Hour and they are as follows:

First, the distention and expansion of the crescent of the first night of the month so that it becomes as large as the crescent of the second night. This can be explained by another narration of this Hadeeth: “Amongst the signs of the Hour is the expansion of crescents. When the crescent of the first night (of the month) is seen, it will be said that it is (as large as) the crescent of the second night.”  [At-Tabaraani in As-Sagheer.]

Second, people will no longer have high esteem for mosques i.e. one may enter or pass by the mosque and not perform Tahyatul Masjid. This can be explained by the Hadeeth narrated by ibn Khuzaymah : “Amongst the Signs of the Hour is that a man passes by the mosque and does not pray two Rak‘ahs therein.”

And in another: “One passes by the mosque and does not pray therein.”

Third, sudden death will become widespread. May Allaah The Almighty Guard us against that.

Allaah Knows best.