Barefoot shepherds compete in tall buildings
Appeared
In brief
In the famous hadith of Jibril, when he asked the Prophet ﷺ about the signs of the Hour, one of the answers was that barefoot, poorly clothed, poor shepherds would compete with one another in building tall buildings.
People who were once poor desert herders become wealthy and show off with ever higher buildings. Scholars such as Ibn Hajar explain it as a reversal: people who had nothing come to wealth and power and spend it on show. Many modern writers point to the race to build skyscrapers in recent decades. That is their reading, not something the text itself says.
Wealth is a test. Build, but without pride or competition for show.
Where it sits in the sequence
The narrations do not put these in order, and many of them overlap. Sahih al-Bukhari 7121 lists several together.
Strongest narrations
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حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ، عَنْ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَيَّانَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَوْمًا بَارِزًا لِلنَّاسِ إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الإِيمَانُ قَالَ " الإِيمَانُ أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَلِقَائِهِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْبَعْثِ الآخِرِ ". قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الإِسْلاَمُ قَالَ " الإِسْلاَمُ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا، وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةَ، وَتُؤْتِيَ الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ، وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ ". قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، مَا الإِحْسَانُ قَالَ " الإِحْسَانُ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ ". قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَتَى السَّاعَةُ قَالَ " مَا الْمَسْئُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ، وَلَكِنْ سَأُحَدِّثُكَ عَنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا إِذَا وَلَدَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ رَبَّتَهَا، فَذَاكَ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا، وَإِذَا كَانَ الْحُفَاةُ الْعُرَاةُ رُءُوسَ النَّاسِ فَذَاكَ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا فِي خَمْسٍ لا يَعْلَمُهُنَّ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ {إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الأَرْحَامِ} ". ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ " رُدُّوا عَلَىَّ ". فَأَخَذُوا لِيَرُدُّوا فَلَمْ يَرَوْا شَيْئًا. فَقَالَ " هَذَا جِبْرِيلُ جَاءَ لِيُعَلِّمَ النَّاسَ دِينَهُمْ ".
Narrated Abu Huraira:One day while Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was sitting with the people, a man came to him walking and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). What is Belief?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Belief is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the meeting with Him, and to believe in the Resurrection." The man asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) What is Islam?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Islam is to worship Allah and not worship anything besides Him, to offer prayers perfectly, to pay the (compulsory) charity (i.e. Zakat) and to fast the month of Ramadan." The man again asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) What is Ihsan (i.e. perfection or Benevolence)?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you." The man further asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) When will the Hour be established?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "The one who is asked about it does not know more than the questioner does, but I will describe to you its portents. When the lady slave gives birth to her mistress, that will be of its portents; when the bare-footed naked people become the chiefs of the people, that will be of its portents. The Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah. Verily, the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah (alone). He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs." (31.34) Then the man left. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Call him back to me." They went to call him back but could not see him. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "That was Gabriel who came to teach the people their religion." (See Hadith No. 47 Vol)
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى تَقْتَتِلَ فِئَتَانِ عَظِيمَتَانِ، يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُمَا مَقْتَلَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ، دَعْوَتُهُمَا وَاحِدَةٌ، وَحَتَّى يُبْعَثَ دَجَّالُونَ كَذَّابُونَ، قَرِيبٌ مِنْ ثَلاَثِينَ، كُلُّهُمْ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَحَتَّى يُقْبَضَ الْعِلْمُ، وَتَكْثُرَ الزَّلاَزِلُ، وَيَتَقَارَبَ الزَّمَانُ، وَتَظْهَرَ الْفِتَنُ، وَيَكْثُرَ الْهَرْجُ وَهْوَ الْقَتْلُ، وَحَتَّى يَكْثُرَ فِيكُمُ الْمَالُ فَيَفِيضَ، حَتَّى يُهِمَّ رَبَّ الْمَالِ مَنْ يَقْبَلُ صَدَقَتَهُ، وَحَتَّى يَعْرِضَهُ فَيَقُولَ الَّذِي يَعْرِضُهُ عَلَيْهِ لاَ أَرَبَ لِي بِهِ. وَحَتَّى يَتَطَاوَلَ النَّاسُ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ، وَحَتَّى يَمُرَّ الرَّجُلُ بِقَبْرِ الرَّجُلِ فَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي مَكَانَهُ. وَحَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا، فَإِذَا طَلَعَتْ وَرَآهَا النَّاسُ ـ يَعْنِي ـ آمَنُوا أَجْمَعُونَ، فَذَلِكَ حِينَ لاَ يَنْفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَانُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ آمَنَتْ مِنْ قَبْلُ، أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِي إِيمَانِهَا خَيْرًا، وَلَتَقُومَنَّ السَّاعَةُ وَقَدْ نَشَرَ الرَّجُلاَنِ ثَوْبَهُمَا بَيْنَهُمَا، فَلاَ يَتَبَايَعَانِهِ وَلاَ يَطْوِيَانِهِ، وَلَتَقُومَنَّ السَّاعَةُ وَقَدِ انْصَرَفَ الرَّجُلُ بِلَبَنِ لِقْحَتِهِ فَلاَ يَطْعَمُهُ، وَلَتَقُومَنَّ السَّاعَةُ وَهْوَ يُلِيطُ حَوْضَهُ فَلاَ يَسْقِي فِيهِ، وَلَتَقُومَنَّ السَّاعَةُ وَقَدْ رَفَعَ أُكْلَتَهُ إِلَى فِيهِ فَلاَ يَطْعَمُهَا ".
Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The Hour will not be established (1) till two big groups fight each other whereupon there will be a great number of casualties on both sides and they will be following one and the same religious doctrine, (2) till about thirty Dajjals (liars) appear, and each one of them will claim that he is Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), (3) till the religious knowledge is taken away (by the death of Religious scholars) (4) earthquakes will increase in number (5) time will pass quickly, (6) afflictions will appear, (7) Al-Harj, (i.e., killing) will increase, (8) till wealth will be in abundance ---- so abundant that a wealthy person will worry lest nobody should accept his Zakat, and whenever he will present it to someone, that person (to whom it will be offered) will say, 'I am not in need of it, (9) till the people compete with one another in constructing high buildings, (10) till a man when passing by a grave of someone will say, 'Would that I were in his place (11) and till the sun rises from the West. So when the sun will rise and the people will see it (rising from the West) they will all believe (embrace Islam) but that will be the time when: (As Allah said,) 'No good will it do to a soul to believe then, if it believed not before, nor earned good (by deeds of righteousness) through its Faith.' (6.158) And the Hour will be established while two men spreading a garment in front of them but they will not be able to sell it, nor fold it up; and the Hour will be established when a man has milked his she-camel and has taken away the milk but he will not be able to drink it; and the Hour will be established before a man repairing a tank (for his livestock) is able to water (his animals) in it; and the Hour will be established when a person has raised a morsel (of food) to his mouth but will not be able to eat it
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ، زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ كَهْمَسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَعْمَرَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، - وَهَذَا حَدِيثُهُ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا كَهْمَسٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَعْمَرَ، قَالَ كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ قَالَ فِي الْقَدَرِ بِالْبَصْرَةِ مَعْبَدٌ الْجُهَنِيُّ فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَحُمَيْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ حَاجَّيْنِ أَوْ مُعْتَمِرَيْنِ فَقُلْنَا لَوْ لَقِينَا أَحَدًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلْنَاهُ عَمَّا يَقُولُ هَؤُلاَءِ فِي الْقَدَرِ فَوُفِّقَ لَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ دَاخِلاً الْمَسْجِدَ فَاكْتَنَفْتُهُ أَنَا وَصَاحِبِي أَحَدُنَا عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَالآخَرُ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ صَاحِبِي سَيَكِلُ الْكَلاَمَ إِلَىَّ فَقُلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ إِنَّهُ قَدْ ظَهَرَ قِبَلَنَا نَاسٌ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَتَقَفَّرُونَ الْعِلْمَ - وَذَكَرَ مِنْ شَأْنِهِمْ - وَأَنَّهُمْ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنْ لاَ قَدَرَ وَأَنَّ الأَمْرَ أُنُفٌ . قَالَ فَإِذَا لَقِيتَ أُولَئِكَ فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِنْهُمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ بُرَآءُ مِنِّي وَالَّذِي يَحْلِفُ بِهِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ لَوْ أَنَّ لأَحَدِهِمْ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا فَأَنْفَقَهُ مَا قَبِلَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ ثُمَّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ إِذْ طَلَعَ عَلَيْنَا رَجُلٌ شَدِيدُ بَيَاضِ الثِّيَابِ شَدِيدُ سَوَادِ الشَّعَرِ لاَ يُرَى عَلَيْهِ أَثَرُ السَّفَرِ وَلاَ يَعْرِفُهُ مِنَّا أَحَدٌ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَسْنَدَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ إِلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ وَوَضَعَ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى فَخِذَيْهِ وَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الإِسْلاَمُ أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةَ وَتُؤْتِيَ الزَّكَاةَ وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ وَتَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً . قَالَ صَدَقْتَ . قَالَ فَعَجِبْنَا لَهُ يَسْأَلُهُ وَيُصَدِّقُهُ . قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الإِيمَانِ . قَالَ " أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ " . قَالَ صَدَقْتَ . قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الإِحْسَانِ . قَالَ " أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ " . قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ السَّاعَةِ . قَالَ " مَا الْمَسْئُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ " . قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ أَمَارَتِهَا . قَالَ " أَنْ تَلِدَ الأَمَةُ رَبَّتَهَا وَأَنْ تَرَى الْحُفَاةَ الْعُرَاةَ الْعَالَةَ رِعَاءَ الشَّاءِ يَتَطَاوَلُونَ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ " . قَالَ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ فَلَبِثْتُ مَلِيًّا ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي " يَا عُمَرُ أَتَدْرِي مَنِ السَّائِلُ " . قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ . قَالَ " فَإِنَّهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَتَاكُمْ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ دِينَكُمْ " .
It is narrated on the authority of Yahya b. Ya'mur that the first man who discussed qadr (Divine Decree) in Basra was Ma'bad al-Juhani. I along with Humaid b. 'Abdur-Rahman Himyari set out for pilgrimage or for 'Umrah and said:Should it so happen that we come into contact with one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) we shall ask him about what is talked about taqdir (Divine Decree). Accidentally we came across Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab, while he was entering the mosque. My companion and I surrounded him. One of us (stood) on his right and the other stood on his left. I expected that my companion would authorize me to speak. I therefore said: Abu Abdur Rahman! There have appeared some people in our land who recite the Qur'an and pursue knowledge. And then after talking about their affairs, added: They (such people) claim that there is no such thing as Divine Decree and events are not predestined. He (Abdullah ibn Umar) said: When you happen to meet such people tell them that I have nothing to do with them and they have nothing to do with me. And verily they are in no way responsible for my (belief). Abdullah ibn Umar swore by Him (the Lord) (and said): If any one of them (who does not believe in the Divine Decree) had with him gold equal to the bulk of (the mountain) Uhud and spent it (in the way of Allah), Allah would not accept it unless he affirmed his faith in Divine Decree. He further said: My father, Umar ibn al-Khattab, told me: One day we were sitting in the company of Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) when there appeared before us a man dressed in pure white clothes, his hair extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on him. None amongst us recognized him. At last he sat with the Apostle (peace be upon him) He knelt before him placed his palms on his thighs and said: Muhammad, inform me about al-Islam. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Al-Islam implies that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and you establish prayer, pay Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the (House) if you are solvent enough (to bear the expense of) the journey. He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth. He (Umar ibn al-Khattab) said: It amazed us that he would put the question and then he would himself verify the truth. He (the inquirer) said: Inform me about Iman (faith). He (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil. He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth. He (the inquirer) again said: Inform me about al-Ihsan (performance of good deeds). He (the Holy Prophet) said: That you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, for though you don't see Him, He, verily, sees you. He (the enquirer) again said: Inform me about the hour (of the Doom). He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: One who is asked knows no more than the one who is inquiring (about it). He (the inquirer) said: Tell me some of its indications. He (the Holy Prophet) said: That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and master, that you will find barefooted, destitute goat-herds vying with one another in the construction of magnificent buildings. He (the narrator, Umar ibn al-Khattab) said: Then he (the inquirer) went on his way but I stayed with him (the Holy Prophet) for a long while. He then, said to me: Umar, do you know who this inquirer was? I replied: Allah and His Apostle knows best. He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: He was Gabriel (the angel). He came to you in order to instruct you in matters of religion
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُلَيَّةَ، قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَيَّانَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمًا بَارِزًا لِلنَّاسِ فَأَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الإِيمَانُ قَالَ " أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكِتَابِهِ وَلِقَائِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْبَعْثِ الآخِرِ " . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الإِسْلاَمُ قَالَ " الإِسْلاَمُ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ وَتُؤَدِّيَ الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ " . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الإِحْسَانُ قَالَ " أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لاَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ " . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَتَى السَّاعَةُ قَالَ " مَا الْمَسْئُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ وَلَكِنْ سَأُحَدِّثُكَ عَنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا إِذَا وَلَدَتِ الأَمَةُ رَبَّهَا فَذَاكَ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا وَإِذَا كَانَتِ الْعُرَاةُ الْحُفَاةُ رُءُوسَ النَّاسِ فَذَاكَ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا وَإِذَا تَطَاوَلَ رِعَاءُ الْبَهْمِ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ فَذَاكَ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا فِي خَمْسٍ لاَ يَعْلَمُهُنَّ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ " . ثُمَّ تَلاَ صلى الله عليه وسلم { إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الأَرْحَامِ وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ مَاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ} " . قَالَ ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " رُدُّوا عَلَىَّ الرَّجُلَ " . فَأَخَذُوا لِيَرُدُّوهُ فَلَمْ يَرَوْا شَيْئًا . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هَذَا جِبْرِيلُ جَاءَ لِيُعَلِّمَ النَّاسَ دِينَهُمْ " .
Abu Huraira reported:One day the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) appeared before the public so a man came to him and then said: Prophet of Allah, what is Iman? Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith in Allah, His angels, His Books, His meeting, His Messengers and that you affirm your faith in the Resurrection hereafter. He said: Messenger of Allah, what is al-Islam? He replied: Al-Islam is that you worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him and you establish obligatory prayer and you pay the obligatory alms (Zakat) and you observe the fast of Ramadan. He said: Messenger of Allah, what is al-Ihsan? He replied: That you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, and for if you fail to see Him. He said: Messenger of Allah, when is the Hour (of Doom)? He replied: The one who is asked about it is no better informed than the inquirer, however I will narrate some of its signs to you. When the slave-girl will give birth to her master, then that is from its signs. When the naked, barefooted would become the chiefs of the people, then that is from its signs. When the shepherds of the black (camels) would exult themselves in buildings, then that is from its signs. (The Hour is) Among one of the five which no one knows but Allah. Then he recited (the verse): "Verily Allah! with Him alone is the knowledge of the Hour and He it is Who sends down the rain and knows that which is in the wombs. And no soul knows what it shall earn tomorrow, and a soul knows not in what land it shall die. Verily Allah is Knowing, Aware." He (Abu Huraira) said: Then the person turned back and went away. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Bring that man back to me. They went to bring him back, but they saw nothing there. Upon this the Messenger of Allah remarked: he was Gabriel, who came to teach the people their religion
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ الْقَعْقَاعِ - عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " سَلُونِي " فَهَابُوهُ أَنْ يَسْأَلُوهُ . فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَجَلَسَ عِنْدَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ . فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الإِسْلاَمُ قَالَ " لاَ تُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَتُقِيمُ الصَّلاَةَ وَتُؤْتِي الزَّكَاةَ وَتَصُومُ رَمَضَانَ " . قَالَ صَدَقْتَ . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الإِيمَانُ قَالَ " أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكِتَابِهِ وَلِقَائِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْبَعْثِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ كُلِّهِ " . قَالَ صَدَقْتَ . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الإِحْسَانُ قَالَ " أَنْ تَخْشَى اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لاَ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ " . قَالَ صَدَقْتَ . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَتَى تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ قَالَ " مَا الْمَسْئُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ وَسَأُحَدِّثُكَ عَنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا إِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْمَرْأَةَ تَلِدُ رَبَّهَا فَذَاكَ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْحُفَاةَ الْعُرَاةَ الصُّمَّ الْبُكْمَ مُلُوكَ الأَرْضِ فَذَاكَ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ رِعَاءَ الْبَهْمِ يَتَطَاوَلُونَ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ فَذَاكَ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا فِي خَمْسٍ مِنَ الْغَيْبِ لاَ يَعْلَمُهُنَّ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ " . ثُمَّ قَرَأَ { إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الأَرْحَامِ وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ مَاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ} قَالَ ثُمَّ قَامَ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " رُدُّوهُ عَلَىَّ " فَالْتُمِسَ فَلَمْ يَجِدُوهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هَذَا جِبْرِيلُ أَرَادَ أَنْ تَعَلَّمُوا إِذْ لَمْ تَسْأَلُوا " .
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:Ask me (about religious matters), but they (the Companions) were in awe of asking him. Then came a man, and sat near his knees and said: O Messenger of Allah, what is al-Islam? So he (the Holy Prophet) replied: [That] you do not associate anything with Allah, and establish the prayer, pay the alms (Zakat) and fast Ramadan. He said: You (have) told the truth. He said: Messenger of Allah, what is al-Iman (Faith)? He said: That you affirm your faith in Allah, His angels, His Books, His meeting, His Apostles, and that you believe in Resurrection and that you believe in Qadr (Divine Decree) in all its entirety. He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth. He said: Messenger of Allah, what is al-Ihsan? Upon this he said: that you fear Allah as if you are seeing Him, and though you see Him not, verily He is seeing you. He (the inquirer) said: You (have) told the truth. He (the inquirer) said: When will the Hour (of Doom) occur? He said: The one who is being asked about it is no better informed than the inquirer and I will narrate some of its signs to you. When you see a [slave] woman giving birth to her master - then that is [one] of its signs. And when you see barefooted, naked, deaf and dumb (ignorant and foolish persons) as the rulers of the earth - then that is [one] of its signs. And when you see the shepherds of black (camels) exult in buildings - then that is [one] of its signs. The (Hour) is one of the five things of the unseen. No one knows them except Allah. Then (the Holy Prophet) recited (the folowing verse):" Verily Allah! with Him alone is the knowledge of the Hour and He it is Who sends down the rain and knows that which is in the wombs. And no soul knows what it shall earn on the morrow and a soul knows not in what land it shall die. Verily Allah is Knowing, Aware." He (Abu Huraira) said: Then the person stood up (and made his way). Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Bring him back to me. He was searched for, but they could not find him. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) thereupon said: He was Gabriel and he wanted to teach you when you did not ask
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا كَهْمَسٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَعْمَرَ، قَالَ كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ تَكَلَّمَ فِي الْقَدَرِ بِالْبَصْرَةِ مَعْبَدٌ الْجُهَنِيُّ فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَحُمَيْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ حَاجَّيْنِ أَوْ مُعْتَمِرَيْنِ فَقُلْنَا لَوْ لَقِينَا أَحَدًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلْنَاهُ عَمَّا يَقُولُ هَؤُلاَءِ فِي الْقَدَرِ . فَوَفَّقَ اللَّهُ لَنَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ دَاخِلاً فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَاكْتَنَفْتُهُ أَنَا وَصَاحِبِي فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ صَاحِبِي سَيَكِلُ الْكَلاَمَ إِلَىَّ فَقُلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ إِنَّهُ قَدْ ظَهَرَ قِبَلَنَا نَاسٌ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَتَفَقَّرُونَ الْعِلْمَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنْ لاَ قَدَرَ وَالأَمْرُ أُنُفٌ . فَقَالَ إِذَا لَقِيتَ أُولَئِكَ فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِنْهُمْ وَهُمْ بُرَآءُ مِنِّي وَالَّذِي يَحْلِفُ بِهِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ لَوْ أَنَّ لأَحَدِهِمْ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا فَأَنْفَقَهُ مَا قَبِلَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ ثُمَّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ بَيْنَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذْ طَلَعَ عَلَيْنَا رَجُلٌ شَدِيدُ بَيَاضِ الثِّيَابِ شَدِيدُ سَوَادِ الشَّعْرِ لاَ يُرَى عَلَيْهِ أَثَرُ السَّفَرِ وَلاَ نَعْرِفُهُ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَسْنَدَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ إِلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ وَوَضَعَ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى فَخِذَيْهِ وَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الإِسْلاَمُ أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةَ وَتُؤْتِيَ الزَّكَاةَ وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ وَتَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً " . قَالَ صَدَقْتَ . قَالَ فَعَجِبْنَا لَهُ يَسْأَلُهُ وَيُصَدِّقُهُ . قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الإِيمَانِ . قَالَ " أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ " . قَالَ صَدَقْتَ . قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الإِحْسَانِ قَالَ " أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ " . قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ السَّاعَةِ . قَالَ " مَا الْمَسْئُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ " . قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ أَمَارَاتِهَا . قَالَ " أَنْ تَلِدَ الأَمَةُ رَبَّتَهَا وَأَنْ تَرَى الْحُفَاةَ الْعُرَاةَ الْعَالَةَ رِعَاءَ الشَّاءِ يَتَطَاوَلُونَ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ " . قَالَ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ فَلَبِثْتُ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ " يَا عُمَرُ هَلْ تَدْرِي مَنِ السَّائِلُ " . قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ . قَالَ " فَإِنَّهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَتَاكُمْ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ دِينَكُمْ " .
Yahya b. Ya`mur said :The first to speak on Divine decree in al-Basrah was Ma`bad al Juhani. I and Humaid b. `Abd al-Rahman al-Himyari proceeded to perform Hajj or `Umrah. We said : would that we meet any of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) so that we could ask him about what they say with regard to divine decree. So Allah helped us to meet `Abd Allah b. `Umar who was entering the mosque. So I and my companion surrounded him, and I thought that my companion would entrust me the task of speaking to him. Then I said : Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman, there appeared on our side some people who recite the Qur'an and are engaged in the hair-splitting of knowledge. They conceive that there is no Divine decree and everything happens freely without predestination. He said : When you meet those people, tell them that I am free from them, and they are free from me. By Him by Whom swears ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar, if one of them has gold equivalent to Uhud and he spends it, Allah will not accept it from him until he believes in Divine decree. He then said : ‘Umar b. Khattab transmitted to me a tradition, saying : One day when we were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) a man with very white clothing and very black hair came up to us. No mark of travel was visible on him, and we did not recognize him. Sitting down beside the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), leaning his knees against his and placing his hands on his thighs, he said : tell me, Muhammad, about Islam. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said : Islam means that you should testify that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle, that you should observe prayer, pay Zakat, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the house (i.e., Ka`bah), If you have the means to go. He said : You have spoken the truth. We were surprised at his questioning him and then declaring that he spoke the truth. He said : Now tell me about faith. He replied : It means that you should believe in Allah, his angels, his Books, his Apostles and the last day, and that you should believe in the decreeing both of good and evil. He said : You have spoken the truth. He said : now tell me about doing good (ihsan). He replied: It means that you should worship Allah as though you are seeing him; if you are not seeing him, he is seeing you. He said: Now tell me about the hour. He replied : The one who is asked about it is no better informed than the one who is asking. He said : Then tell me about its signs. He replied : That a maidservant should beget her mistress, and that you should see barefooted, naked, poor men and shepherds exalting themselves in buildings. ‘Umar said : He then went away, and I waited for three days, then he said : Do you know who the questioner was, `Umar? I replied : Allah and his Apostle know best. He said : He was Gabriel who came to you to teach you your religion
Weak and ungraded reports on this sign
6
Shown for study, not as established. Includes Kitab al-Fitan of Nu'aym ibn Hammad, which is ungraded and weak overall.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
قرأت على يحيى بن سعيد: عثمان بن غياث، قال: حدثني عبد الله بن بريدة، عن يحيى بن يعمر، وحميد بن عبد الرحمن الحميري، قالا: لقينا عبد الله بن عمر، فذكرنا القدر، وما يقولون فيه، فقال: إذا رجعتم إليهم، فقولوا: إن ابن عمر منكم بريء، وأنتم منه برآء - ثلاث مرار - ثم قال: أخبرني عمر بن الخطاب أنهم بينما هم جلوس - أو قعود - عند النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، جاءه رجل يمشي، حسن الوجه، حسن الشعر، عليه ثياب بياض، فنظر القوم بعضهم إلى بعض: ما نعرف هذا، وما هذا بصاحب سفر. ثم قال: يا رسول الله، آتيك؟ قال: " نعم " فجاء فوضع ركبتيه عند ركبتيه، ويديه على فخذيه، فقال: ما الإسلام؟ قال: " شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله، وأن محمدا رسول الله، وتقيم الصلاة، وتؤتي الزكاة، وتصوم رمضان، وتحج البيت " قال: فما الإيمان؟ قال: " أن تؤمن بالله، وملائكته، والجنة والنار، والبعث بعد الموت، والقدر كله "، قال: فما الإحسان؟ قال: " أن تعمل لله كأنك تراه، فإن لم تكن تراه فإنه يراك " قال: فمتى الساعة؟ قال: " ما المسئول عنها بأعلم من السائل "، قال: فما أشراطها؟ قال: " إذا العراة الحفاة العالة رعاء الشاء تطاولوا في البنيان، وولدت الإماء أربابهن " قال: ثم قال: " علي الرجل "، فطلبوه فلم يروا شيئا، فمكث يومين أو ثلاثة، ثم قال: " يا ابن الخطاب، أتدري من السائل عن كذا وكذا؟ " قال: الله ورسوله أعلم، قال: " ذاك جبريل جاءكم يعلمكم دينكم " . قال: وسأله رجل من جهينة أو من مزينة، فقال: يا رسول الله، فيم نعمل، أفي شيء قد خلا أو مضى، أو في شيء يستأنف الآن؟ قال: " في شيء قد خلا، أو مضى " فقال رجل، أو بعض القوم: يا رسول الله، فيم نعمل؟ قال: " أهل الجنة ييسرون لعمل أهل الجنة، وأهل النار ييسرون لعمل أهل النار " . قال: يحيى قال: هو كذا .
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا محمد بن جعفر، حدثنا كهمس، عن ابن بريدة. ويزيد بن هارون، قال: حدثنا كهمس، عن ابن بريدة، عن يحيى بن يعمر، سمع ابن عمر، قال: حدثني عمر بن الخطاب قال: بينما نحن ذات يوم عند نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذ طلع علينا رجل شديد بياض الثياب، شديد سواد الشعر، لا يرى - قال يزيد: لا نرى - عليه أثر السفر، ولا يعرفه منا أحد، حتى جلس إلى نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فأسند ركبتيه إلى ركبتيه، ووضع كفيه على فخذيه. ثم قال: يا محمد أخبرني عن الإسلام، ما الإسلام؟ فقال: " الإسلام أن تشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، وأن محمدا رسول الله، وتقيم الصلاة، وتؤتي الزكاة، وتصوم رمضان، وتحج البيت إن استطعت إليه سبيلا " قال: صدقت. قال: فعجبنا له، يسأله ويصدقه. قال: ثم قال: أخبرني عن الإيمان. قال: " الإيمان أن تؤمن بالله وملائكته وكتبه ورسله واليوم الآخر، والقدر كله خيره وشره " قال: صدقت. قال: فأخبرني عن الإحسان، ما الإحسان؟ قال يزيد: " أن تعبد الله كأنك تراه، فإن لم تكن تراه، فإنه يراك ". قال: فأخبرني عن الساعة. قال: " ما المسئول عنها بأعلم بها من السائل " قال: فأخبرني عن أماراتها. قال: " أن تلد الأمة ربتها، وأن ترى الحفاة العراة رعاء الشاء يتطاولون في البناء ". قال: ثم انطلق، قال: فلبثت مليا - قال يزيد: ثلاثا - فقال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " يا عمر، أتدري من السائل؟ " قال: قلت: الله ورسوله أعلم. قال: " فإنه جبريل، أتاكم يعلمكم دينكم " .
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا هوذة، حدثنا عوف، عن شهر بن حوشب، عن أبي هريرة، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: " إن من أشراط الساعة أن يرى رعاة الشاء رءوس الناس، وأن يرى الحفاة العراة الجوع يتبارون في البناء، وأن تلد الأمة ربها، وربتها "
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا إسماعيل، حدثنا أبو حيان، عن أبي زرعة بن عمرو بن جرير، عن أبي هريرة، قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوما بارزا للناس، فأتاه رجل، فقال: يا رسول الله، ما الإيمان؟ قال: " الإيمان أن تؤمن بالله، وملائكته، وكتابه، ولقائه، ورسله، وتؤمن بالبعث الآخر "، قال: يا رسول الله، ما الإسلام؟ قال: " الإسلام أن تعبد الله لا تشرك به شيئا، وتقيم الصلاة المكتوبة، وتؤتي الزكاة المفروضة، وتصوم رمضان "، قال: يا رسول الله، ما الإحسان؟ قال: " أن تعبد الله كأنك تراه، فإنك إن لا تراه فإنه يراك "، فقال: يا رسول الله، متى الساعة؟ قال: " ما المسئول عنها بأعلم من السائل، ولكن سأحدثك عن أشراطها، إذا ولدت الأمة ربها، فذاك من أشراطها، وإذا كانت العراة الحفاة رءوس الناس، فذاك من أشراطها، وإذا تطاول رعاء البهم في البنيان، فذاك من أشراطها، في خمس لا يعلمهن إلا الله "، ثم تلا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم هذه الآية: {إن الله عنده علم الساعة وينزل الغيث ويعلم ما في الأرحام وما تدري نفس ماذا تكسب غدا وما تدري نفس بأي أرض تموت إن الله عليم خبير} [لقمان: 34] ، ثم أدبر الرجل، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " ردوا علي الرجل "، فأخذوا ليردوه، فلم يروا شيئا، فقال: " هذا جبريل جاء ليعلم الناس دينهم "
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Places named
What scholars have said
Scholars cite it as having appeared
Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalanid. 852 AH (773-852 AH)
Lists people vying in tall buildings among the signs that had happened as foretold.
Fath al-Bari, on Sahih al-Bukhari 7121 (Kitab al-Fitan)
Allamah Muhammad Al-Barzanjid. 1103 AH (1040-1103 AH)
Places it among the signs that have appeared and not ended, and explains: when their wealth grows and their standing spreads, and they have no concern but building.
al-Isha'a li-Ashrat al-Sa'a, ch. 2: signs that have appeared and not ended
Allamah Shamsuddin Al-Saffarinid. 1188 AH (1114-1188 AH)
Lists it among the signs that appeared and did not end, but keep increasing.
al-Buhur al-Zakhira, ch. 2: middle signs that appeared and did not end, but increase
Present-day data
These numbers show the world today beside the narration. They do not decide whether the sign has appeared; that is shown only through named scholars, in the Scholars' views tab.
Jibril asked about the signs of the Hour, and the Prophet ﷺ said: when you see the barefoot, naked, destitute shepherds of sheep competing in tall buildings. Ibn Hajar, al-Barzanji and al-Saffarini already counted it among the signs that had appeared in their own times. The data below shows where the world's tallest buildings now rise, and how one desert economy grew from about the world average to more than three times it.
Narrations behind this panel: Sahih al-Bukhari 50 · Sahih Muslim 8a
What the commentators said it means
- The narration tells of a change of state: people of the desert take power, their wealth grows and their concern turns to raising buildings and boasting of them; 'we have witnessed that in these times': al-Qurtubi (d. 656 AH), quoted by Ibn Hajar.
- 'Competing in building' means boasting of building tall and outdoing each other in it: Ibn Hajar.
- Gulf states
- China
- Rest of the world
Show the numbers
| Gulf states | China | Rest of the world | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990s | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| 2000s | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 2010s | 13 | 22 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4 | 23 | 10 |
The 2020s are counted to 2025.
Source: Wikipedia, List of tallest buildings (from CTBUH data) · retrieved 2026-10-27
- Saudi Arabia
- World
Show the numbers
| Year | Saudi Arabia | World |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,556 | 3,360 |
| 1951 | 3,784 | - |
| 1952 | 3,937 | - |
| 1953 | 4,246 | - |
| 1954 | 4,642 | - |
| 1955 | 4,658 | - |
| 1956 | 4,901 | - |
| 1957 | 4,972 | - |
| 1958 | 5,107 | - |
| 1959 | 5,512 | - |
| 1960 | 5,928 | 4,404 |
| 1961 | 6,481 | - |
| 1962 | 7,085 | - |
| 1963 | 7,516 | - |
| 1964 | 7,978 | - |
| 1965 | 8,717 | - |
| 1966 | 9,726 | - |
| 1967 | 10,302 | - |
| 1968 | 10,916 | - |
| 1969 | 11,429 | - |
| 1970 | 12,153 | 5,971 |
| 1971 | 13,509 | - |
| 1972 | 15,138 | - |
| 1973 | 17,598 | - |
| 1974 | 19,659 | - |
| 1975 | 18,788 | - |
| 1976 | 19,297 | - |
| 1977 | 20,824 | - |
| 1978 | 20,593 | - |
| 1979 | 20,472 | - |
| 1980 | 21,068 | 7,239 |
| 1981 | 21,393 | - |
| 1982 | 20,535 | - |
| 1983 | 17,315 | - |
| 1984 | 16,343 | - |
| 1985 | 14,422 | - |
| 1986 | 12,897 | - |
| 1987 | 12,919 | - |
| 1988 | 12,795 | - |
| 1989 | 12,758 | - |
| 1990 | 14,335 | 8,211 |
| 1991 | 16,830 | - |
| 1992 | 17,905 | - |
| 1993 | 18,101 | - |
| 1994 | 18,679 | - |
| 1995 | 19,223 | - |
| 1996 | 20,280 | - |
| 1997 | 21,087 | - |
| 1998 | 22,311 | - |
| 1999 | 22,059 | - |
| 2000 | 23,905 | 9,904 |
| 2001 | 24,192 | - |
| 2002 | 24,054 | - |
| 2003 | 27,367 | - |
| 2004 | 30,234 | - |
| 2005 | 32,700 | - |
| 2006 | 34,483 | - |
| 2007 | 36,070 | - |
| 2008 | 39,393 | - |
| 2009 | 39,672 | - |
| 2010 | 42,738 | 13,122 |
| 2011 | 48,470 | - |
| 2012 | 49,835 | - |
| 2013 | 50,021 | - |
| 2014 | 50,791 | - |
| 2015 | 51,942 | 14,713 |
| 2016 | 51,959 | 15,029 |
| 2017 | 50,593 | 15,416 |
| 2018 | 50,906 | 15,815 |
| 2019 | 50,123 | 16,091 |
| 2020 | 46,724 | 15,461 |
| 2021 | 49,841 | 16,283 |
| 2022 | 53,517 | 16,677 |
Real GDP per person in 2011 international dollars. Early Gulf estimates are rough.
Source: Maddison Project Database 2023 (Bolt and van Zanden), via Our World in Data · retrieved 2026-10-27
| Year | Building | City | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | Woolworth Building | New York | 241 m |
| 1930 | Chrysler Building | New York | 319 m |
| 1931 | Empire State Building | New York | 381 m |
| 1974 | Sears (Willis) Tower | Chicago | 442 m |
| 1998 | Petronas Towers | Kuala Lumpur | 452 m |
| 2004 | Taipei 101 | Taipei | 508 m |
| 2010 | Burj Khalifa | Dubai | 828 m |
Source: Wikipedia, History of the world's tallest buildings (CTBUH heights) · retrieved 2026-10-27
| Building | City | Height (m) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burj Khalifa | Dubai | 828 | 2,010 |
| Mecca Royal Clock Tower | Mecca | 601 | 2,012 |
| Marina 101 | Dubai | 425 | 2,017 |
| Princess Tower | Dubai | 413.4 | 2,012 |
| Al Hamra Tower | Kuwait City | 412.6 | 2,011 |
| 23 Marina | Dubai | 392.4 | 2,012 |
| Public Investment Fund Tower | Riyadh | 385 | 2,021 |
| Burj Mohammed bin Rashid | Abu Dhabi | 381.2 | 2,014 |
Source: Wikipedia, List of tallest buildings (from CTBUH data) · retrieved 2026-10-27
News and journals
Dated reports from news outlets, research journals and official bodies, each with its source.
Jeddah Tower: aiming past 1,000 m
Work resumed in January 2025. By September 2026 the tower had reached its 116th floor, about 466 m; completion is targeted for late 2028 at more than 1,000 m, which would pass the Burj Khalifa.
Gulf Business, Oct 2026 ↗Khaleej Times ↗
as of 2026-10-27
Background
Oil found in Saudi Arabia, 1938
Dammam Well No. 7 struck oil in commercial quantity on 3 March 1938. Before oil, most of the peninsula lived from herding, date farming, pearling and the pilgrimage.
Saudi Aramco, Our history
as of 2026-10-27
Read with care
- The narration describes people, not countries. This page does not say who the shepherds are; it shows where tall buildings are built and how fast incomes rose.
Draft: figures and wording await a researcher's check and the scholar board.