In this teaching, the Royal Ottoman Society reflects on prophetic narrations recorded in classical Islamic sources. They speak of a horizon: after the Hijri year 1400, the world would not pass beyond the year 1500. We are now in 1447, which means roughly 53 years remain until that limit.
The narrations divide this span into two periods. The first forty years correspond to the era of the return of Prophet ʿĪsā (Jesus) aleyhisselam. After that, only 13 years would remain for the final events, which many scholars connect with the appearance of the Mahdi (aleyhisselam) and the great confrontation known as Melhame‑i Kübra, the “Great Battle.” The tradition states that of eight parts of humanity, seven will perish in this clash, an image some modern interpreters relate to a worldwide nuclear conflict.
Only Allah subhanahu wa ta‘ala knows the exact moment of the Day of Judgment, yet the convergence of these narrations with present developments invites sincere reflection. The reports stress that no earthly power, whether two smaller states at odds or the great powers of today, can stop such an event on its own. According to the tradition, the ultimate safeguard will be the Mahdi, whose divine guidance alone can restore balance and end the turmoil.
We invite all seekers to study these signs further through the Society’s collection of classical texts and contemporary commentaries in our digital library.
