This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hafiz Mubashir Hussain Lahori's book Signs of the Day of Judgment in the Light of Authentic Hadiths.
Sign of the Day of Judgment: There will be competition in building sky-high buildings
عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه قال : أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : لا تقوم الساعة ... حتى يتطاول الناس فى البنيان
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 people compete in constructing sky-high buildings.
Reference: Bukhari: Kitab al-Fitan (7121) Muslim (10) Ahmad (701/2) Shu'ab al-Iman (10701) Al-Adab al-Mufrad (449)
عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : وإذا تطاول رعاة الإبل البهم فى البنيان
Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: When dark-skinned shepherds compete with each other in building tall buildings, then this is one of the signs of the Day of Judgment. (After this, the Day of Judgment will be near).
Reference: Bukhari: Kitab al-Iman (50) Muslim (10) Ahmad (33/1) Abu Dawood (4696) Tirmidhi (2610) Nasai (5001) Ibn Majah (51)
In one narration it is said: When you see that the naked, poor, and shepherds of goats compete in building large buildings, (then the Day of Judgment is near).
Reference: Muslim: Kitab al-Iman (10) Ahmad (396/1)
In one narration it is said: Those who own buildings will compete in constructing large buildings.
Reference: Ahmad (224/4)
Benefits:
➊ The construction of sky-high buildings is a sign of the approaching Day of Judgment.
➋ This mentioned sign has been apparent for quite some time.
➌ There is no harm in constructing spacious and sufficiently tall buildings according to necessity and unavoidable circumstances because necessities justify prohibitions.
➍ Despite being a sign of the Day of Judgment, the presence of extremely tall and multi-storied sky-high buildings, built on the basis of new inventions and strong materials, is nothing less than a marvel.
➎ Many individuals and companies construct sky-high buildings on their foundations for pride, commemoration, and international records. Lahore’s "Minar Pakistan" and Paris’s "Eiffel Tower" are clear examples of this, while similarly, the twin towers of the "World Trade Center (W.T.C)" in America, consisting of 110 floors, which were in fact an open challenge to the greatness and sovereignty of the One God, have become a lesson for others after suffering a dangerous destruction.
