This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hafiz Mubashir Hussain Lahori's book Signs of the Day of Judgment in the Light of Authentic Hadith.
Sign of the Day of Judgment: Imitation of the Disbelievers
وعن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: لا تقوم الساعة حتى تأخذ أمتي بأحد القرون قبلها شبرا بشبر وذراعا بذراع، فقيل: يا رسول الله! كفارس والروم؟ فقال: ومن الناس إلا أولئك
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The Day of Judgment will not come until my Ummah resembles the previous nations in such a way that a handful will be equal to a handful and a hand will be equal to a hand." It was asked: O Messenger of Allah! Who are the previous nations? Are they the Persians and Romans (Christians)? He (peace be upon him) said: "If not them, then who else?"
Reference: Bukhari (7319) Ahmad (428/2 - 443) Ahmad (484/2)
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "You will follow the footsteps of the previous nations inch by inch and cubit by cubit until if they entered into the hole of a lizard (like a gecko), you would also follow them into it." We asked: O Messenger of Allah! Do you mean the Jews and Christians? He said: "Then who else?"
Reference: Bukhari: Book of Holding Fast to the Book and Sunnah: Chapter on the Prophet's Saying "You will surely follow the ways of those before you" (7320) Muslim (2669) Ahmad (432/2 - 698 - 594) Ibn Majah (377/2) Hakim (93/1)
In one narration, the Companions asked: O Messenger of Allah! Are they the People of the Book? He said: "(If not them) then who else (could they be)?"
In one narration, if someone from the Children of Israel entered into the hole of a lizard, you would also follow him by entering into it.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad (118/3)
It is narrated from Abu Waqid Al-Laithi (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) set out from Makkah towards Hunain, he passed by a (berry) tree called "Dhat Anwat" on which the polytheists used to hang weapons for blessing. Some Companions (who were new Muslims) said: O Messenger of Allah! Just as they have their ذات أنواط, you should also appoint some (tree) ذات أنواط for us. The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said (upon hearing this): "Allah is the Greatest! This is just like when the Children of Israel said: (O Moses!) appoint for us a god just as they have gods besides Allah. However, you will surely follow the ways of the previous nations."
Reference: Ahmad (2185) Tirmidhi (2180) Tayalisi (191) Abdul Razzaq (369/11)
Benefits:
(1) Imitation and resemblance to the disbelievers is a sign of the Day of Judgment.
(2) This mentioned sign has been manifesting for a long time and is now reaching its final stages.
(3) Muslims in general will resemble the disbelievers, especially the Jews and Christians, to such an extent that the distinction and identity between Muslims and non-Muslims will be erased. Today, the appearance of this sign is not hidden from anyone.
(4) The Muslim Ummah will become so foolish and ignorant in resembling the disbelievers that if any of those nations tried to prove their ignorance by entering into the hole of a gecko or lizard, or according to some narrations, if someone committed adultery with his mother, there will be people in this Ummah who will commit such acts. (May Allah protect us from that)
(5) Today, the entire Muslim Ummah appears colored in the hues of non-Muslims in their political, economic, social, financial, and educational affairs. This has a long history summarized as follows:
➊ When the Persians were conquered, the luxurious lifestyle of the Persians quickly spread among the Muslims, resulting in Muslims becoming fond of a lavish life. Organizing gatherings adorned with dance, music, and instruments is a minor example of this.
➋ When the ruling class of the Tatars accepted Islam, they distorted Islam according to their desires and wishes, and as rulers, no one questioned or stopped them.
➌ Then, when the people of Europe benefited from Muslim sciences and arts and made many inventions, Muslims, intimidated by the Europeans, inclined towards them and instead of acquiring their own scientific heritage, they adopted and practiced the animal-like life of the Europeans, calling it civilization and culture.
➍ Meanwhile, in the Indian subcontinent, spending considerable time with Hindus brought many Hindu customs into Muslims, among which idolatry, grave worship, and shrine worship are prominent polytheistic beliefs.
➎ Today, as a whole, all systems of life of Muslims such as (Politics, Culture, Education, Sociology, Economics) are borrowed from the disbelievers, especially the Westerners. May Allah grant deliverance from this. (Ameen)
