The fire which assembles people at the end of time and the place of gathering

The last great portent of the Hour and the first sign for the establishment of Resurrection is the emergence of the fire that assembles people to the place of gathering.

Proofs on its emergence:

Narrations reported that the fire shall come from Yemen from Qa`rah in Aden, whereas other narrations mentioned that it will emerge from the sea of Hadramout.

The following are the Hadiths which explain that:

1- The Hadith of Hudhayfah ibn Usayd about the portents of the Hour which was concluded with the Prophet's saying: "And the last of that will be a fire which will emerge from Yemen and drive the people to their place of gathering."

In another narration: "And a fire which will emerge from the furthest part of Adan and drive the people."

2- The Hadith of Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "There will emerge a fire from Hadramout or from the surrounding of the sea of Hadramout before the Last Hour to gather mankind."

3- The Hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) stating that when `Abdullah ibn Sallam embraced Islam, he asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about some matters, of which: What is the first portent of the Hour? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: As for the first portent of the Hour, it will be a fire that will collect the people from the East to West."

The place of gathering:

The place of gathering at the end of time is the Levant (the region covering Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine) as authentic Hadiths reported, of which are the following:

1- The Hadith of Bahz ibn Hakim from his father on the authority of his grandfather, he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: "You will be assembled (on the Day of Resurrection) walking, riding and dragging on your face to here and pointed with hand at the Levant (the region covering Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine)."

2- The Hadith of Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The Levant is the land where people will be gathered and brought forth." Among other Hadiths.

Al Hafizh ibn Hajar (may Allah be merciful with his soul) said: It was reported in Tafsir Ibn `Uyaynah on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): Whoever doubts that gathering shall be here -in the Levant- he should recite the beginning of Surat Al Hashr. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to the Companions about that day: Set out. They said: Whereto? He said: to the land of gathering.

The reason for making the Levant the land of gathering is that it is the land of security and faith when seditions and trials take place at the end of time. The Prophet (peace be upon him) invoked Allah to bless the Levant by saying: "O Allah! Bless our Sham. O Allah, bless our Yemen."