Answer
(Fatwa: 369/369/M=1434)
It is true. In one hadith the holy Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has explained the approaching of Qiyamah in the following words:
بعثت أنا والساعة كهاتين (مشكوة ص 480)
Allah’s Apostle, holding out his middle and index fingers, said, “My advent and the Hours are as close as this (or like these),” namely, the period between his era and the Hour is like the distance between those two fingers, i.e., very short.
The major signs of Qiyamah after which there will be no delay are as follows:
(1) Hadhrat Mahdi (عليه الرضوان) will appear and people will take oath on his hands for Khilafah in front of the holy Kabah between rukn and maqam. (2) The emergence of Dajjal, and causing disturbance on the earth for forty days. (3) The descent of Hadhrat Esa (Jesus) (pbuh) to the earth, and killing him. (4) The emergence of Yajuj Majuj (Gog and Magog). (5) The emergence of the Dabbatul Ard from Safa Mountain. (6) The rising of the sun in the west and it shall be a major sign of Qiyamah. After that everyone will believe that now the system of earth and sky will overturn, and there this system is going to collapse and Qiyamah will occur soon. By seeing this sign people would feel fear and horror. It shall be the dying time of this world, as repentance is not valid at the time of death, in the same way it shall not be accepted when the sun will rise in the west and the door of repentance shall be closed. The holy Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has narrated many other major signs. Qiyamah is a frightful thing. May Almighty Allah give us taufiq that we could prepare for the same, and may He keep us away from the disgrace and dreadfulness of the day of Judgement. Amen! (Ap Ke Masail Aur Un Ka Hal, Vol. 1. P 265-266, Alamaat-e-Qiyamah)
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband