This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hafiz Mubashir Hussain Lahori's book Signs of the Day of Judgment in the Light of Authentic Ahadith.
Signs of the Day of Judgment: The Appearance of the Seal of the Prophets, Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ.
عن أنس بن مالك رضى الله عنه عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال بعثت أنا والساعة كهتين وأشار بالسبابة والوسطى
It is narrated from Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "I and the Hour (Day of Judgment) have been sent like these two (fingers)." The Prophet (PBUH) indicated by joining the index and middle fingers.
Reference: (Bukhari: 6504, Muslim: 2950)
عن جابر رضي الله عنه قال خطبنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فحمد الله وأثنى عليه بما هو أهله ثم قال أما بعد فإن أصدق الحديث كتاب الله وأن أفضل الهدي هدي محمد وشر الأمور محدثاتها وكل بدعة ضلالة ثم يرفع صوته وتحمر وجنتاه ويشتد غضبه إذا ذكر الساعة كأنه منذر جيش قال ثم يقول أتتكم الساعة بعثت أنا والساعة هكذا وأشار بإصبعيه السبابة والوسطى صبحتكم الساعة ومستكم من ترك مالا فلأهله ومن ترك دينا أو ضياعا فإلي وعلي
"After that! The truest statement is the Book of Allah (Quran), the best way is the way of Muhammad (PBUH), the worst thing is innovation (Bid’ah), and every innovation is misguidance. Then, while mentioning the Day of Judgment, the voice of the Prophet (PBUH) became loud, his blessed cheeks turned red, and his anger intensified as if he was afraid of an army. The Prophet (PBUH) said: (O people!) The Hour is approaching; I and the Hour have been sent like this." The Prophet (PBUH) indicated by joining the index and middle fingers. "The Hour will come in the morning or in the evening (meaning it is very near). Whoever leaves behind wealth, it belongs to his heirs, and whoever leaves behind debt or poor children, they are my responsibility."
Reference: (Muslim: 867, Nasai: 1577)
عن جبير بن مطعم رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إن لي أسماء أنا محمد وأنا أحمد وأنا الحاشر الذي يحشر الناس على قدمي وأنا الماحي الذي يمحى الله بي الكفر وأنا العاقب قال معمر قلت للزهري ما العاقب قال الذي ليس بعده نبي
Hazrat Jubair (RA) says: "I have some names! I am Muhammad (PBUH), I am also Ahmad, I am also Hashir (the one who gathers people on the Day of Judgment), people will be gathered at my feet. I am Mahi (the one who eradicates disbelief), with me Allah will end disbelief, and I am also Aqib (the last one)."
Reference: (Bukhari: 3896, Muslim: 2355)
An elderly narrator asked Imam Zahri: What is the meaning of 'Aaqib'? He replied: "One after whom there is no prophet."
In some narrations, this is added: "I am the Seal of the Prophets; after me, there is no prophet."
The Prophetic hadith (peace be upon him) is: "The example of me and the Day of Resurrection is like two closely matched horses." Then he said: "The example of me and the Day of Resurrection is like a people who send one of their men as a spy (to inform them of future events), and when he senses the enemy's advance, he waves his garment to warn them that you are surrounded, you are in danger." Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "I am also like that (informing you about the Day of Resurrection)."
Benefits:
1. The occurrence of the Day of Judgment is extremely near.
2. The prophethood of Muhammad is one of the signs of the Day of Judgment.
3. The final knowledge of the occurrence of the Day of Judgment was not even with the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ; therefore, he ﷺ estimated it based on the signs that Allah Almighty had informed him about.
Allah Almighty says:
”(O Prophet!) Say, the knowledge of the Hour is only with my Lord.”
Reference: (Al-A'raf: 187)
4. Every person should prepare for the Hereafter while being mindful of the Day of Judgment.
Allah Almighty says:
اقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مُّعْرِضُونَ
“The reckoning for the people has drawn near, while they are turning away.”
Reference: (Al-Anbiya: 1)
5. Just as there is no third finger between the two fingers (i.e., the middle and the index finger), similarly, no prophet will come between Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Day of Judgment, and this is also proven by explicit texts of the Quran and Hadith.
For example, Allah Almighty says:
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ
“Among the men is no one like Muhammad, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of all the Prophets.”
Reference: (Al-Ahzab: 40)
The word "Seal of the Prophets" is used in the above verse. A seal is a stamp, and a stamp is placed on the final act, meaning the prophethood and messengership have been concluded with you ﷺ. Whoever claims prophethood after you will be a deceiver and a liar, never a prophet. However, Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), who was sent as a prophet to the Children of Israel before the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, was taken alive to the heavens and will be sent down again near the Day of Judgment, but he will not come as a prophet but as a follower of the Ummah. Therefore, the descent of Jesus (peace be upon him) does not contradict the belief in the finality of prophethood.
