The Prophet's ﷺ Mission and Passing
In brief
The sending of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as the Final Messenger—and his subsequent passing—are counted by scholars as the very first signs of the Hour's approach.
The Prophet ﷺ joined his index and middle fingers and said, 'I and the Hour have been sent like these two.' In the battle of Tabuk, he told Awf ibn Malik: 'Count six signs before the Hour: my death, then the conquest of Baitul Maqdis...'
At the very opening of the Islamic era (11 AH / 632 CE for his passing), inaugurating the sequence of early foretold signs.
Hold fast to the Prophet's ﷺ Sunnah and remember that console in every calamity is found by remembering the calamity of his passing.
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 1 · Foretold for the early generations
Events the narrations foretold that scholars connect with the first centuries of Islam. No single narration puts them in order.
What scholars have said
Scholars cite it as having appeared
Draft attributions: each must be checked against the named book before publication.
al-Qurtubid. 671 AH
States that the very first sign of the Hour is the sending of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself, as no prophet comes between him and the Resurrection, followed by his passing as named first in the hadith of Awf ibn Malik.
al-Tadhkirah bi-Ahwal al-Mawta wa-Umur al-Akhirah, الباب في أشراط الساعة
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalanid. 852 AH
Explains that the Prophet's ﷺ comparison of his mission and the Hour to the index and middle fingers means there is no legislative gap or new prophetic dispensation separating them, and that his death was the first shattering calamity to strike the Ummah.
Fath al-Bari, on Sahih al-Bukhari 3176 & 6504
No historical or present-day data has been entered for this sign yet. Each figure will carry its source and an as-of date.