The Spread of Immorality and Its Link to Qiyamah

The subject of immorality and its link to the Day of Judgment (Qiyamah) is a topic that resonates deeply within the teachings of Islam. The Quran and the Hadith are replete with warnings about the social, moral, and spiritual consequences of moral decay. Immorality, in all its forms, is seen as one of the most dangerous diseases that can afflict a society. As we approach the end of times, the prevalence of immoral behavior is predicted to increase, and this decline in moral values is directly connected to the events leading up to Qiyamah.

Islam places a strong emphasis on maintaining moral integrity and encourages Muslims to abstain from actions that can harm their spiritual and physical well-being. The Quran and Hadith provide clear guidance on the types of immoral behaviors that will become widespread before the Day of Judgment, and they also describe the consequences that will follow as a result of such actions.

This blog post will examine the spread of immorality in the context of the end times. We will explore Quranic verses and Hadiths that discuss immorality, its consequences, and how its rise is one of the most significant signs of Qiyamah. Both Quranic and Hadith references will be presented in Arabic, with English translations and interpretations to help understand their deeper meanings.

Understanding Immorality in Islam

In Islam, immorality refers to any action, belief, or behavior that violates the ethical and moral guidelines set by Allah in the Quran and exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Immorality encompasses a wide range of sins, including but not limited to:

• Zina (fornication/adultery)
• Riba (usury)
• Lying, stealing, and cheating
• Drinking alcohol and substance abuse
• Disrespecting parents and elders
• Engaging in gossip, backbiting, and slander
• Engaging in corrupt or unethical behavior in business and trade

The rise of immorality before the arrival of Qiyamah is one of the most forewarned phenomena in both the Quran and Hadith. As we shall see, the spread of these immoral acts signifies the weakening of moral fabric within societies, leading to widespread corruption, injustice, and social breakdown.

The Spread of Immorality as a Sign of Qiyamah

The Quran and Hadith make it clear that the rise of immorality is one of the key signs of the approaching Qiyamah. As the world moves closer to the end of times, people will become more inclined toward sin, abandoning the moral code outlined by Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ). In fact, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was reported to have said:

“يَكُونُ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ قَوْمٌ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَا يَجَاوِزُ حَنَاجِرَهُمْ وَيَخْرُجُ فِيهِمْ دَجَّالٌ”
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
“In the last part of time, there will be people who recite the Quran, but it will not go beyond their throats. Among them will be the Dajjal (Antichrist).”

This Hadith indicates that the mere recitation of the Quran without true understanding or application will be one of the signs of the decline in spirituality. As a result, people will engage in immoral behavior despite the availability of divine guidance. This phenomenon can be seen in many parts of the world today, where people may outwardly appear to follow religious practices but inwardly live lives filled with immorality and sin.

Immorality and the Loss of True Faith

One of the most significant impacts of immorality is the loss of true faith (Iman). As immoral behavior becomes widespread, people’s attachment to their faith weakens. They begin to prioritize worldly desires over spiritual obligations. In the Quran, Allah warns about the consequences of such behavior:

“إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ”
(Surah An-Nahl 16:116)
“Indeed, those who fabricate lies about Allah will never succeed.”

Immorality and the abandonment of the teachings of Islam lead to the corruption of the soul. When people engage in sinful acts, their hearts become hardened, and they lose the ability to discern right from wrong. This moral blindness is one of the signs that the Day of Judgment is drawing closer. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) described this in a famous Hadith:

“إِذَا فَشَا الزِّنَا وَالرِّبَا فِي قَوْمٍ فَقَدْ أَحَلُّوا بِهَا فِي النِّعَمِ”
(Sunan Ibn Majah)
“When fornication and usury (riba) become widespread in a people, they have opened the door to Allah’s punishment.”

Here, the Prophet (ﷺ) links immorality, particularly in the form of zina (fornication) and riba (usury), to the opening of doors for divine retribution. This is a clear indication that when such sins become commonplace in society, they signal the arrival of Qiyamah.

Types of Immorality Predicted to Spread Before Qiyamah

• Zina (Fornication and Adultery)

The spread of zina (fornication and adultery) is one of the most severe immoral acts predicted to rise before Qiyamah. In the Quran, Allah warns against this destructive sin:

“وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَا إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا”
(Surah Al-Isra 17:32)
“And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.”

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also warned that in the end times, fornication and adultery would become widespread, leading to social decay. In one Hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) described how people would no longer view such acts with shame:

“يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ يُشَارِكُونَ فِيهِ فِي الزِّنَا وَيُحِلُّونَهُ وَيَجِدُونَ فِيهِ مَرَاحًا”
(Sahih Muslim)
“There will come a time when people will engage in zina without any sense of shame, and it will become commonplace.”

• Riba (Usury)

Riba, or usury, is another immoral act that will become widespread before Qiyamah. Allah has condemned riba in the Quran:

“يَمْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:276)
“Allah destroys riba and gives increase for charities.”

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also warned about the consequences of riba:

“رِبَا الْفَضْلِ وَرِبَا النَّسَأِ جَمِيعُهُ حَرَامٌ”
(Sahih Muslim)
“The riba of both the usury of excess and the usury of delay, all of it is forbidden.”

Before Qiyamah, people will engage in riba-based transactions as if they are normal, leading to financial corruption and injustice in society.

• Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Another immoral behavior that will rise before Qiyamah is the consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants. The Quran prohibits alcohol:

“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مَا يَسْتَحِلُّونَ عَلَيْهِمْ شُرْبُ الْخَمْرِ”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:90)
“O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it.”

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) described the spread of alcohol consumption in the following Hadith:

“يَشْرَبُ النَّاسُ الْخَمْرَ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمانِ حَتَّى يَسْمَعُوا بِهِ فِي الْمَجَامِعِ وَيَعَتَرِفُونَ بِهِ فِي السُّوقِ”
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
“People will drink alcohol in the end times, even discussing it openly in the markets and gathering places.”

The Impact of Immorality on Society

The spread of immorality has devastating effects on individuals and societies as a whole. It leads to the breakdown of families, the erosion of trust, and the increase of crime and injustice. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) warned that immoral behavior would lead to the collapse of moral values:

“يَكُونُ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمانِ فِتَنٌ تَصِيرُ فِي النَّاسِ كَالْجُمُودِ فِي الزُّجَاجِ”
(Sahih Muslim)
“There will be trials in the end times that will spread among people like cracks in glass.”

The societal breakdown caused by immoral behavior will be one of the signs that Qiyamah is drawing near.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the spread of immorality before Qiyamah is a clear sign that the end times are near. The Quran and Hadith offer us a vivid portrayal of the moral decay that will afflict societies as people engage in sinful acts without shame. The rise in acts like zina (fornication), riba (usury), alcohol consumption, and general disregard for Islamic values are all indicators of the approaching Day of Judgment.

As Allah says in the Quran:

“إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ”
(Surah An-Nahl 16:116)
“Indeed, those who fabricate lies about Allah will never succeed.”

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also warns about the moral decline of society in the following Hadith:

“يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ يُشَارِكُونَ فِيهِ فِي الزِّنَا وَيُحِلُّونَهُ وَيَجِدُونَ فِيهِ مَرَاحًا”
(Sahih Muslim)
“There will come a time when people will engage in zina without any sense of shame, and it will become commonplace.”

The warning is clear: when immorality becomes widespread, it is a sign that humanity is straying further from the righteous path, drawing closer to the end times. As Muslims, we must remain vigilant, stay true to the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, and resist the temptations that lead to moral decay. By doing so, we ensure that we are among those who are prepared for the Day of Judgment, striving to please Allah and protect ourselves from His wrath.