This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hafiz Mubashir Hussain Lahori's book Signs of the Day of Judgment in the Light of Authentic Ahadith.
Sign of the Day of Judgment: The Plague Epidemic
عن عوف بن مالك رضى الله عنه عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : أمسكوا مما تكون قبل الساعة موتان يكون فى الناس كفعام الغنم
It is narrated from Hazrat Auf bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Remember six things before the Day of Judgment. Death will spread among you like a plague among goats (and they will suddenly start dying)."
Reference: Bukhari: Book of Jizya: Chapter on what to beware of fate (3176) Ahmad (34/6) Abu Dawood (5000) Ibn Majah (4091) Hakim (466/4) Sharh al-Sunnah (430/7)
Hazrat Salmah bin Nufail (may Allah be pleased with him) says that once we were present with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) when a man asked: O Messenger of Allah! Has food ever come down from the sky to you? He replied: Yes. He asked: How? He said: In a small vessel. He asked: Did any of it remain? He said: Yes. He asked: Where is it? He said: It was taken back again, and revelation came to me that I will not remain among you forever but will pass away, and after me, you (the companions) will live for some time. You will see groups of Muslims killing and plundering each other, and before the Day of Judgment, death will spread with great intensity (everywhere). After that, there will be years of earthquakes.
Reference: Ahmad (145/4)
Benefits:
(1) Before the Day of Judgment, a plague of death will spread.
(2) According to Hafiz Ibn Hajar, Ibn Kathir, and other commentators, this plague appeared in Sham at Maqam Amwas (a city in Palestine) and spread to the land of Sham. Many companions, including Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him), the trustworthy of the Ummah, also died from this disease.
Reference: (For details see: Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya, Fath al-Bari)
(3) The descent of food from the sky is a miracle of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).
(4) The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) was given prior knowledge of his death, and he has passed away; therefore, those who believe in his eternal life are mistaken.
(5) The occurrence of earthquakes in the world is also a sign of the Day of Judgment.
