Markets Drawing Close Together, Spread of Trade, and Selective Greeting
In brief
Markets drawing close together (taqarub al-aswaq), the universal spread of trade until a woman assists her husband in commerce, the proliferation of writing ('the pen'), and greeting only those one knows.
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The Hour will not be established until trials appear, lying increases, markets draw close together, time contracts, and harj increases' (Musnad Ahmad 10724). And: 'Before the Hour is greeting only specific people, the spread of trade until a woman helps her husband in trade... and the appearance of the pen' (Musnad Ahmad 3870, al-Mustadrak 7043).
Part of the minor signs that spread together with the contraction of time (taqarub al-zaman) and abundance of wealth.
Spread the greeting of peace (salam) to both those you know and those you do not know, and keep commerce honest and truthful.
Draft brief, not yet checked by the scholar board. The full texts are in the Sources tab and the scholars' views in their own tab.
Where it sits in the sequence
Phase 2 · Signs that spread among people
The narrations do not put these in order, and many of them overlap. Sahih al-Bukhari 7121 lists several together.
What scholars have said
Scholars cite it in part, or differ
Draft attributions: each must be checked against the named book before publication.
Classical and contemporary commentators (cited in Yusuf al-Wabil)
Explain 'the drawing close of markets' (taqarub al-aswaq) in three ways: physical proximity of urban markets, rapid transmission of market prices and information, and convergence of profit margins, alongside universal commerce and literacy ('appearance of the pen').
Ashrat al-Sa'a, on Musnad Ahmad 10724 & 3870
No historical or present-day data has been entered for this sign yet. Each figure will carry its source and an as-of date.