Final Concluding Exhortation

Of immense benefit and momentous impact for whoever has a heart or gives ear:

Know that concealing the knowledge of the Hour from the servants, as previously mentioned, contains immense benefits and great wisdoms. Namely, when they do not know when it will occur, they remain on vigilant guard against it; thus, it is more conducive to obedience and more deterrent against sin and atrocity. And the statement of the Allamah has been mentioned earlier: 'Many scholars have argued for determining the nearness of its time based on ahadith that are not devoid of scrutiny.'

I say: As for the nearness of the Hour, it is true; but as for specific determination, no one has knowledge of it except the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed.

The Allamah said: 'Among them (that is, among those who delved into the knowledge of it and that it has drawn near) were those who said: so much time remains for it; and among them were those who said: the Dajjal will emerge at the turn of such-and-such, and the sun will rise at the turn of such-and-such. Then al-Hafiz al-Suyuti came and refuted that in his book: "al-Kashf".'

I say: And it is a concise booklet that does not even reach the size of a single quire.

The Allamah said: 'He mentioned, by way of approximation, that it will occur at the turn of five hundred years after the thousand, or slightly less, or slightly more.' The Allamah said: 'And this is also rejected, because everyone who spoke of that did so based on conjecture and speculation unsupported by any proof from revelation. However, the Lawgiver (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) mentioned signs and portents indicating the proximity of the Hour, and Allah knows best.'

Al-Suyuti said in "al-Kashf 'an Mujawazat Hadhihi al-Ummah al-Alf": 'That which