The hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim (Zakat, 60), Musnad Ahmad (2/370, 417), and Majma‘ al-Zawa’id (7/331) describes a profound vision of the world before the Day of Judgment (Qiyamah). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) foretold that:
“The Hour will not come until wealth becomes abundant and overflows, to the extent that a man will take out the zakat of his wealth but will not find anyone to accept it. And the land of Arabia will return to being meadows and rivers.”
This narration is remarkable not only for its theological implications but also for its socio-economic and environmental foresight. It connects the spiritual, material, and natural worlds in a way that encourages both reflection and responsibility.
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1. Context and Authenticity
This hadith is considered authentic (sahih), found in the most reliable collections of Islamic tradition. Scholars such as Imam Muslim and Ahmad ibn Hanbal included it under discussions about zakat (almsgiving) and the signs of the Last Day.
Classical scholars interpreted this hadith not merely as a literal prediction, but as a multi-layered sign of changing human behavior, social order, and natural conditions before the end of time.
2. The Abundance of Wealth: A Social Transformation
The first part of the hadith — “Wealth will overflow, and one will not find anyone to accept zakat” — represents a radical economic change.
In early Islamic societies, poverty was widespread, and the institution of zakat ensured wealth circulation and social balance. The Prophet’s description of a future where no one needs charity implies:
- Global prosperity or the temporary elimination of poverty.
- A shift in human values, where material needs no longer dominate life.
- A period of economic equilibrium, possibly under just leadership or divine order.
Many scholars, such as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani and al-Nawawi, noted that this abundance could occur before major eschatological events, suggesting a brief golden era of justice and prosperity before turmoil resumes.
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3. “The Land of Arabia Will Return to Meadows and Rivers”
This part of the hadith is especially intriguing in light of modern environmental science. The Prophet’s phrase “return to” (ta‘udu) indicates that Arabia was once fertile, which aligns with geological and paleoclimatic studies showing that much of the Arabian Peninsula was indeed green and river-fed thousands of years ago.
Scientific research using satellite imagery and sediment analysis reveals evidence of ancient riverbeds and lakes beneath the sands of Saudi Arabia, supporting the literal possibility of this prophecy.
Today, with technological advances, massive irrigation projects, and even climate shifts, we are witnessing areas of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and the wider Arabian Peninsula turning green again something once thought impossible.
However, the hadith also carries a moral message: the return of fertility may symbolize the cyclical nature of creation, where human progress and natural balance are intertwined. It reminds humanity that material abundance does not delay divine decree, for even at the height of prosperity, the end may be near.
4. Symbolic and Spiritual Dimensions
Beyond literal interpretation, scholars have also seen this hadith as a reflection of spiritual realities:
- Abundance of wealth may symbolize excess attachment to worldly life and decline in spiritual values.
- The green Arabia might represent a revival of potential material, intellectual, or moral before ultimate decline.
In this view, the hadith warns not only of future events but also of human tendencies: complacency, arrogance, and the illusion of self-sufficiency when life seems easy.
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5. The Balance Between Material Prosperity and Spiritual Accountability
Islamic teachings consistently emphasize balance (mizan). The world may reach unparalleled levels of wealth and technological progress, but if this prosperity leads to moral decay or negligence of divine duty, it becomes a sign of the approaching Hour rather than a blessing.
This hadith therefore serves as a mirror for our age, where wealth, consumption, and environmental transformation are all accelerating. It challenges believers to ask:
- Is our abundance leading to gratitude and justice, or to arrogance and waste?
- Are we restoring the earth responsibly, or exploiting it recklessly?
The prophetic vision thus transcends time offering guidance for economic ethics, environmental stewardship, and spiritual awareness.
6. Modern Reflections: Prophecy and Reality Converge
Recent decades have shown astonishing parallels with this hadith:
- Oil wealth has made parts of the Muslim world economically powerful, reducing poverty in many regions.
- Green technology and desert agriculture are literally making Arabia fertile again.
- Yet, global inequality persists, and the moral challenges of materialism remain unresolved.
These developments remind us that prophecy in Islam often unfolds through natural processes rather than sudden miracles as signs, not spectacles.
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Conclusion: A Timeless Warning and Promise
The hadith about the abundance of wealth and the greening of Arabia encapsulates the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) profound insight into humanity’s future materially, environmentally, and spiritually.
It teaches that before the Day of Judgment, the world will witness extraordinary prosperity and transformation, yet such ease will not prevent the ultimate reality of accountability.
In essence, the hadith invites believers to:
- Use wealth ethically and responsibly.
- Treat the earth as a divine trust.
- Remember that prosperity without faith is a fleeting illusion, while gratitude and justice ensure eternal success.
