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Review instances of al-saa`at and saa`at in the Quran

Introduction

2280 A.D (1710 A.H) has been predicted to be the end of the world is around us about 40 years based on signs in the Quran and calculating from the gematrical values of the seven pairs of the quranic initials as given (15:87). It is not acceptable to many of us as the prediction has been made about it in the past which did not happen, while those who believe in God and the Last Day, and Quran as a guidance, straight path, statute book and warning ignore it as well believing that it is only known to God as the prophet had no knowledge of it paying no attention to a piece of information in the Quran that it will remain almost hidden (20:15) and many of its signs have already come as indicated in the Quran (47:18).

There are 48 instances of saa`at (سَاعَة) in the Quran literally mean “hour” while we know that an Arabic word may have a range of meanings depending on the context, which is a key concept to understand the message coded in the Arabic text of the Quran. There are two derived forms of it in the nominal form: al-saa`at (السَّاعَةَ) meaning “The Hour” refers to the end of the world and saa`at (سَاعَة) meaning “hour” refers to our staying before meeting our Lord through death or the Hour.

However, there are 40 instances of al-saa`at and 8 instances of saa`at in 43 verses across 26 suras in the Quran are detailed below to better understand the end of the world as the phenomenon of meeting our Lord to receive the final compensation and it will not be kept hidden from us until the event comes to us suddenly:

Instances of al-saa`at

[6:31] Certainly, those who denied in meeting of God had lost, until when the Hour (al-saa`atu) comes to them suddenly, said, “Oh! Our regret for what we neglected about it.” And they will bear their burden on their backs; no doubt, what they bear committed evil!
Note: Losers are those who have denied in meeting of God, the Hour will come to them suddenly and will bear their evil on their backs.

[6:40] Say, “Had you seen if the retribution of God came to you or the Hour (al-saa`atu) came to you, would you implore other than God if you were truthful?”
Note: This is an instance of a particular situation describing what would happen to people if it did happen.

[7:187] They ask you (prophet) about the Hour (al-saa`atu): “When will be its time?” Say: “Its knowledge is only with my Lord, none can reveal it of its time except He. It is heavy in the heavens and the earth; it will not come to you except all of a sudden.” They ask you, as if you have knowledge about it! Say: “Its knowledge is only with God, but most people do not know.”
Note: The prophet let his contemporaries know that he had no knowledge when the world will come to an end while its knowledge is with God.

[12:107] Have they then made secure that there comes to them an overwhelming punishment of God or there comes to them the Hour (al-saa`atu) suddenly, while they do not perceive?

[15:85] And we have not created the heavens and the earth and what is between them except with the truth. And indeed, the Hour (al-saa`atu) is surely coming. So you shall overlook the excessive achievement.
Note: The Hour is surely coming and we should not just engage us in achieving the material gain.

[16:77] And to God belongs the unseen of the heavens and the earth, while the event of the Hour (al-saa`atu) is not except like a blink of the eye or it is nearer. Indeed, God has power over all things.
Note: The Hour is not only coming but to God the event of the Hour is a matter of a blink of the eye.

[18:21] And thus that we have made known to them that they would know that God’s promise is true and the Hour (al-saa`atu) there is no doubt in it. When they had disputed among themselves of their affair, then they said, “You shall build a structure around them. Their Lord is a best knower of them.” Those who had prevailed of their matter said, “Surely, we will make a place of worship around them.”

[18:36] And I do not think that the Hour (al-saa`ata) will come, and even if I am returned to my Lord, I will surely find a return better than this being the retuned.”
Note: Possessing wealth is not an indication that someone will be returned to a better place followed by the Hour except a test that we do not forget to say, “what God has given us” to be our Lord associating no partners with Him.

[19:75] Say: “Whoever is in the astray, then the Most Gracious surely will lead him on until they see what they have been promised either the retribution or the Hour (al-saa`ata). Then they will know who is in place of worseness and weaker in power.

[20:15] Indeed, the Hour (al-saa`ata) is coming; I will almost hide it that each soul would be compensated with what it strives.
Note: God has confirmed that the Hour is coming but He has also given us a hint that we may know its time when He blesses us. Thus, it is God’s plan to keep it hidden for a certain period of time.

[21:49] Those who fear their Lord in the unseen, and they are the fearful of the Hour (al-saa`ati).

[22:1] O you people, you shall fear your Lord. Indeed, the quaking of the Hour (al-saa`ati) is a terrible thing.
Note: Those who fear God will prepare them obeying Him would not touch any disaster even the event of the Hour.

[22:7] And that the Hour (al-saa`ata) is coming, there is no doubt about it, and that God will resurrect whoever is in the graves.
Note: Resurrection will take place followed by the Hour wherein there should not be any doubt in it.

[22:55] And those who have disbelieved will not cease to be in doubt of it until the Hour (al-saa`atu) comes to them all of a sudden, or there comes to them a punishment of a barren day.
Note: The Hour will come suddenly to the disbelievers who are doubtful of it until it comes to them or they see the retribution of a barren day.

[25:11] Nay, they have denied in the Hour (bil-saa`ati), and we have prepared for whoever has denied in the Hour (bil-saa`ati), a Blazing fire.
Note: God has warned us if we deny in the Hour, we have to endure Hell.

[30:12] And a day establishes the Hour (al-saa`atu), the criminals will despair.

[30:14] And a day establishes the Hour (al-saa`atu), that day they will separate.
Note: The day establishes the Hour, those who have associated partners with God will separate them from their partners.

[30:55] And a day establishes the Hour (al-saa`atu), the criminals will swear that they had not remained but an hour (saa`atin)! Thus they were deluded.
Note: The guilty will complain that the earthly life had not been long enough for them to prepare for the Hour.

[31:34] Indeed, God with Him is the knowledge of the Hour (al-saa`ati). And He sends down the rain, and He knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, nor does any soul know in which land it will die. Indeed, God is Knower, Cognizant.
Note: God controls everything including the appointment time of the Hour, our death, provisions and reproduction.

[33:63] The people ask you (prophet) about the Hour (al-saa`ati). Say: “Its knowledge is only with God, and what will make you know that the Hour (al-saa`ata) is near.
Note: It was not a duty of Prophet Muhammad to unveil the appointment time of the Hour except to share with contemporaries that it is near.

[34:3] And those who have disbelieved said: “The Hour (al-saa`atu) will not come to us!” Say: “Nay, by my Lord, surely it will come to you; He is Knower of the unseen.” Not an atom’s weight or less than that or greater can escape from Him, either in the heavens or the earth but in a clear record.
Note: God has warned us that the final judgment will take place based on the precise record followed by the event of the Hour.

[40:46] The Fire, they expose to it morning and evening, and the day establishes the Hour (al-saa`atu): “Admit the people of Pharaoh to a severe of the retribution.”
Note: Upon death the guilty people will be shown Hell day and night as interim punishment until the Hour comes but when it comes they will be placed in a severe punishment.

[40:59] Indeed, the Hour (al-saa`ata) is surely coming, there is no doubt in it, but most people do not believe.
Note: Most people are destined to Hell for disobeying God’s commands, laws and warnings.

[41:47] To Him is referred knowledge of the Hour (al-saa`ati). No fruits emerge from their sheaths, nor does any female conceive or give birth without of His knowledge. A day He will call them: “Where are My partners?” They have said, “We proclaim to You – there is no witness among us.”
Note: The knowledge of the Hour has been with God until He has revealed it through His chosen one while He has warned us that there is no intercession on the Day of Judgment followed by the Hour as everything happens according to His will.

[41:50] And certainly when we let him taste a mercy from us after an adversity had touched him, he will say: “This is for me, and I do not think the Hour (al-saa`ata) is establishing even when I am returned to my Lord, there will indeed be the best for me with Him.” Thus, we will surely inform those who disbelieved of what they had done, and we will surely make them taste of a severe retribution.
Note: The Hour is an assumption of the foul-weather friends being the doubtful in it.

[42:17] God is the One who sent down the scripture with truth and the balance. And what you make know that the Hour (al-saa`ata) is near.
Note: God has given us the scripture with the balance that we may establish with the justice to face the Hour, which is approaching.

[42:18] Those who do not believe in it seek to hasten of it, while those who believe are the fearful from it, and they know that it is the truth. There is no doubt, indeed, those who dispute in the Hour (al-saa`ati) are certainly in far astray.
Note: God has warned that those who dispute in the Hour are in the far astray while those who believe are the fearful to it being the truth.

[43:61] And indeed, he (Jesus) is surely a sign for the Hour (lilssaa`ati). So you do not doubt about it and you shall follow Me; this is a straight path.
Note: The birth of Jesus as recorded serves as a marker to know the appointment time of the Hour while to follow God is a straight path for all of us.

[43:66] Do they wait except for the Hour (al-saa`ata) that it should come to them on a sudden, while they do not perceive?
Note: The Hour will come suddenly to the disbelievers while there are enough proofs are given for the believers of its appointment time.

[43:85] And blessed is the One to Whom belongs sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and whatever between both of them; and with Him is knowledge of the Hour (al-saa`ati), and to Him you will be returned.
Note: The Hour is established as a means to meet our Lord to Whom belongs sovereignty of the greater universe to receive our final compensation.

[45:27] And to God belong dominion of the heavens and the earth, and a day the Hour (al-saa`atu) to come; that day the falsifiers will lose.

[45:32] And when it was said: “Indeed, God’s promise is truth and the Hour (al-saa`atu)- there is no doubt in it,” you said: “We do not know what the Hour (al-saa`atu) is! And we do not think except an assumption, and we are not with the convinced ones.”
Note: God has warned those who are not convinced about the appointment time of the Hour while God’s promise is the truth and there is no doubt the Hour.

[47:18] So, do they wait except for the Hour (al-saa`atu) that it should come to them on a sudden? As indeed, its signs have come, so how is for them when their warning has come to them?
Note: Prophet was asked to share with his contemporaries that the Hour would not come suddenly while many of its signs have already come, which means that the appointed time of the end of the world will not remain hidden from people while the world is approaching towards the event.

[54:1] The Hour (al-saa`atu) has come closer and the moon has split.
Note: The landing of human on the moon in July 1969 is a sign that the end of the world is closer, providing certainty of the event to come for those who have concern may prepare them for the day.

[54:46] Nay! The Hour (al-saa`atu) is their appointed time, and the Hour (al-saa`atu) is far worse and more painful.

[79:42] They ask you (prophet) about the Hour (al-saa`ati) when is its time?
Note: Even the prophet had no knowledge of the Hour but his contemporaries were curious to know its appointed time from him while God has assigned a specific duty to His each chosen.

Instances of saa`at

[7:34] And for every community there is a term, when their term comes they cannot remain an hour (saa’atan) nor can they advance.

[9:117] God turned to the prophet, and the emigrants as well as the supporters who followed him at the difficult time (saa`atu); after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated, then He turned towards them. Indeed, with them He was Kind, Merciful.

[10:45] And the day He will gather them, as if they did not stay except an hour (saa’atan) of a day. They will recognize one another between them. Certainly, those who denied in meeting of God had lost and they were not the guided ones.

[10:49] Say (prophet): “I do not possess any power for myself for any harm nor for any benefit except what God wills. For every community there is a term. When their term comes, then they cannot remain an hour (saa’atan) nor can they advance.”

[16:61] And if God were to seize the human for their wrongdoing, then He would have not left a single creature on it (earth). But He delays them to an appointed term. So when their term comes, they cannot remain an hour (saa’atan) nor can they advance.

[30:55] And the day establishes the Hour (al-saa`atu), the criminals will swear that they had not remained but an hour (saa`atin)! Thus they were deluded.
Note: The guilty will complain that the earthly life had not been long enough for them to prepare for the Hour.

[34:30] Say: “For you there is an appointment day, you cannot remain an hour (saa’atan) nor can you advance.”
Note: Death comes to us according to our appointment day and we cannot delay or advance by an hour.

[46:35] So, you (prophet) shall be patient like had been patient of the messengers, possessors of the determination, and do not seek to hasten for them. As if that for them, a day they will see what they are promised – not to remain except for an hour (saa`atan) of a day. There is a proclamation that is there anyone destroyed except the people who were the disobedient?”
Note: Here is an order for the prophet to be patient and he should not ask God to hasten any affliction for the disobedient people as everything will occur according to His promise.

Mathematical confirmation

Out of 40, 36 Instances (including duplicate) of al-saa`at referring to the Hour found in 32 verses across 23 suras can also be mathematically confirmed if the relevant sura and verse numbers are added, the sum is a multiple of 19 => 2166 = 19x114 as detailed in the table below:

Note: This mathematical confirmation is an explicit proof about the certainty of happening the Hour including hints for predicting its appointed time as per God will. The yellow highlighted cells in the table denote the instances 6:40, 18:36, 22:1 and 41:50 are not included in the calculation being assumption, awareness and example about the Hour while the orange highlighted ones being duplicate instances in the same verses.

Conclusion

Reviewed the instances of al-saa`at that deal with the end of the world while the instances of saa`at that deal with the time we are staying in this world before entering the Hereafter through our death or the Hour, i.e., the end of the world. But what may be crucial for us to reflect for understanding two events: (1) the death and (2) the end of the word are established as means to meet our Lord. None can escape these events while these events are terrible for the disbelievers.

But the merciful God has warned us about these events while He has blessed us with the knowledge not only to have explicit proof that the Hour is approaching but also knowing its specific time in 1980 derived from the Quran that the world will come to an end in 2280. Indeed, He has done it by sending His messenger as per His established system of unveiling new information from the past and the future for humanity (72:27) followed by the unveiling of Quran’s mathematical system in 1974. Thus, the relevant information supported by an explicit proof may help us to get into the Hereafter being eligible for an honorable compensation from God. In fact, this study sheds light on confirming that we receive interim compensation followed by our death until the end of the world while we will be receiving the final compensation being gathered before Him (34:26) followed by the end of the world.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (10/18/2019).