A serious problem that people face today is the disintegration of the social fabric of societies. This collapse is discernable in various ways. Broken families, the increase in divorce and illegitimate births naturally lead to the destruction of the institution of the family. Stress, anxiety, unhappiness, worry and chaos turn the lives of many people into a real nightmare. People living in a spiritual void, looking for a way out of their depression, fall into a bleak mire of alcohol or drugs. Some, who think that there is no solution to be found, consider suicide as a way out.

One of the striking marks of social decline is the huge increase in illicit activities. The level of crime has reached proportions that astound even experts. The report, “Universal Crime and Justice,” prepared by the United Nations’International Crime Prevention Center, contains a general appraisal of crime throughout the world:

Basically, as in the 1980’s, the crime rate continued to rise in the 1990’s.

Everywhere in the world, in a five-year period, two-thirds of the people living in large cities have been the target at least once of a criminal action.

All over the world, the odds of being the target of a serious crime (robbery, sexual crimes, assault) are one in five. Regardless of the area, crimes against property, and crimes of violence committed by youth, have both had economic ramifications.

The number of types of illicit drugs has increased and their nature diversified in recent years.21

The growth in the number of those who perpetrate evil is proved by the numerous instances of immorality reported in the newspapers. Such instances announce the coming of the End Times.

The period referred to as the End Times will be a time of extreme social disintegration. The structures that form the basis of society will be seriously undermined. In the hadiths of the Prophet (saas), there is much to bring to light the collapse of the fabric of today’s societies.

Actually, all this is not surprising. The causes of such a societal phenomenon are clearly related in the Qur’an, in the accounts of past societies. Social deterioration, and all the various problems associated with it, are the inevitable result of human beings’forgetting Allah and the purposes of their creation, and their abandoning religion and its spiritual values.

The aspects of this social deterioration we see happening so prevalently today were predicted by the Prophet (saas) fourteen centuries ago. Allah's Messenger (saas) described the End Times as “When people suffer strife and social upheaval” (Ahmad Diya’al-Din al-Kamushkhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith). The following are the hadiths relevant to its first phase:

It can be understood from the hadiths that the increase in the amount of evil people, the fact those people regarded as trustworthy are liars, and the fact that some who are regarded as liars are actually trustworthy, are characteristics of the End Times.

	There will be years of deceit, in which a truthful person will be disbelieved and a liar will be believed (Ibn Kathir) The time will be years of confusion. People will believe a liar, and disbelieve one who tells the truth. People will distrust one who is trustworthy, and trust one who is treacherous. (Ahmad)

	The day of Judgment will not come until the very lowest people are the happiest. (Tirmidhi)

One hadith reveals that there will be few trustworthy people and little money earned according to the rules and laws of our religion:

	In the End Times, people will be carrying out their trade but hardly will there be a trustworthy person. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Truthful testimony will be neglected while false testimony and slander will be widespread. This is yet another sign:

	Verily in the presence of the Last Hour, there would be … false testimony and concealing evidence. (Ahmad and Hakim) There will be false accusation of unchastity and slander. (Tirmidhi)

The only measure by which people will be judged will be wealth, respect being dependent on how rich a person is:

	Before the Hour comes, there will be special greeting for the people of distinction. (Ahmad) There will be no Judgment until greetings are given not to the people but to particular individuals. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah Qurtubi )

It is said in the hadiths that another sign it the destruction of social relations between people:

	Only people one knows will be greeted with the salaam... (Ahmad Diya’al-Din al-Kamushkhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith)

	One of the most important features of the End Times will be the cessation of love and respect among people. A sick person lying in the street, with no one offering him assistance, will be a common sight.

In the hadith quoted below, it is stressed that positions of responsibility will be given to those who are not competent:

	When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday.). (Bukhari)

Another characteristic of the period will be the disintegration of relationships among families, between friends and neighbors, and the loss of community and spiritual values:

	A man is unfilial towards his mother, and drives his father far off... (Tirmidhi)

	There would (first) be turmoil for a person in regard to his family, his property, his own self, his children, his neighbors. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Young people will be rebellious and the love and respect between young people and adults will deteriorate:

	When the old have no compassion for the young, when the young show no respect to the old … when children grow angry … Judgment is at hand. (Reported by Omar (r.a.)

The hadiths show that another characteristic of the End Times will be that divorce and the number of children born outside marriage will increase:

	Divorces will be a daily occurrence. (‘Allamah Safarini, Ahwal Yaum al-Qiyamah) There will be an abundance of illegitimate children. (Al-Muttaqi Al-Hindi, Muntakhab Kanzul Ummaal)

Influenced by materialism and their worldview, people will be excessively attached to this world, and will forget about the afterlife. This is another characteristic of the End Times:

	Meanness and greed will multiply. (Muslim, Ibn Majah) At that time, people will sell their religion for a small amount of worldly goods. (Ahmad)

A hadith reveals that people will curse and swear at each other:

	In the Last Days, there will be such people, who, when they meet, curse and abuse each other instead of greeting (with salaam). (Allama Jalaluddin Suyuti, Durre-Mansoor)

Another characteristic of the period will be gossip and mockery of other people:

	There will be an abundance of critics, tale-carriers, backbiters and taunters in society. (Al-Muttaqi Al-Hindi, Muntakhab Kanzul Ummaal)

Insincere flatterers will be respected:

	As Judgment draws near ... the most respected people of the age will be lickspittles and sycophants. (Agreed upon) The Last Hour will not arrive till people come forth who make a living with their tongues as cows eat with their tongues. (Tirmidhi)

Another sign of the End Times to be frequently encountered will be dishonesty in business and bribery:

	Deceit and cheating will be common, (‘Allamah Safarini, Ahwal Yaum al-Qiyamah) Bribes will be called gifts, and will be considered lawful. (Amal al-Din al-Qazwini, Mufid al-'ulum wa-mubid al-humum)

The Prophet (saas) describes the increase of murder in the End Times in these words:

	The Hour (Last Day) will not be established until murder will increase. (Bukhari )

21. United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, Global Report on Crime and Justice, 1999, http://www.uncjin.org/Special/GlobalReport.html