Five Things People Love More as the End Times Approach

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned his followers that, in the end times or as the Day of Judgement approaches, people would love five things more while forgetting five other important things.

Syekh Muhammad Nawawi bin Umar al-Banteni, in his book Nashaihul Ibad, relates the Prophet’s words about five things people would favour in the end times and five they would neglect.

The Prophet said: “A time will come when my followers love five things more and forget five others: they will love worldly life more and forget the afterlife; love life and forget death; love grand buildings and forget the grave; love wealth and forget the reckoning; and love their fellow creatures more while forgetting the Creator, Allah.” (Nashaihul Ibad, Syekh Nawawi al-Banteni)

In the end times, people will favour these five things and forget the other five. Abu Mujaddidul Islam Mafa, translator of Nashaihul Ibad, adds an explanation of Syekh Nawawi al-Banteni’s account.

First, people will love the world and forget the afterlife. Second, they will love life and forget death. The Prophet’s words, narrated by Imam al-Tabarani from Aisyah (may Allah be pleased with her), are as follows:

“Whoever recites ‘Allahumma baarik lii fi mauti wa fimaa ba‘dal maut’ (‘O my Lord, bless me in death and after death’) 25 times each day, then dies in their bed, will be granted by Allah the reward of a martyr.”

Third, people will love luxurious buildings—that is, homes renovated to an extravagant standard—and forget the grave and its various sufferings.