Why did Lord Jesus and Prophet Muhammed not reveal when Doomsday would come?

[Shri Anil asked: There is a reference of Doomsday (the day the world ends or is destroyed) in the Quran in which, in one instance, a person asked the Prophet about it and in another instance angel Gabriel asked the Prophet about it, as given in the following verses.

While the Prophet (ﷺ) was saying something in a gathering, a Bedouin came and asked him, “When would the Hour (Doomsday) take place?” Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ) continued his talk, so some people said that Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ) had heard the question, but did not like what that Bedouin had asked. Some of them said that Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ) had not heard it. When the Prophet (ﷺ) finished his speech, he said, “Where is the questioner, who inquired about the Hour (Doomsday)?” The Bedouin said, “I am here, O Allāh's Apostle.” Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday).” The Bedouin said, “How will that be lost?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday.)”

In the second instance, Gabriel asked the Prophet “When will the Hour be established?” Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, “The answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its portents. (1) When a slave (lady) gives birth to her master. (2) When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah. The Prophet (ﷺ) then recited: “Verily, with Allāh (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour--. (31. 34)”.

In the Bible, Jesus also said that He did not know that hour (time of tribulations/dissolution of the world). As per Jesus’s statement “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come”.

In Hadith other reference is there about the hour: Ibn `Umar narrated in the Hadith: “The Prophet said that the keys of the unseen are five and none knows them but Allāh: (1) None knows (the sex of) what is in the womb, but Allāh (2) None knows what will happen tomorrow, but Allāh (3) None knows when it will rain, but Allāh (4) None knows where he will die, but Allāh (knows that) (5) and none knows when the Hour will be established, but Allāh.

Swami, I want to know why ‘the hour’ is kept secret? Why both the Prophet and Jesus, did not disclose information about ‘the hour’ stating that they do now know it? Both Islam and Christianity do not believe in rebirth. In such a case, no person who was present with Jesus or Muhammad saw the end of the world because all of them have died by now. Or is it that they wanted to warn the future generations who will face the destruction of the world? Doomsday can also be interpreted to be one’s own death. In that case, can one say that the people who were associated with Jesus and Muhammad were given a warning about their own death? Some people, after quoting the above verses say that Jesus cannot be God since He did not know ‘the hour’. Please clarify.]

Swami replied: Whether it is the dissolution of an individual or a group of individuals or all individuals, it is only a quantitative difference. Whether the rape is done by an individual or a gang, the sin is qualitatively one and the same. The subsequent punishment applies either to one sinner or to all the sinners, as the case may be. When the entire world is filled only with sinners, then the hour of total destruction comes to the mind of God. That is the hour when there is not even a trace of hope in the mind of God and when there is no point in trying to reform humanity. It is purely the action of God and hence, God alone knows it. Till then, God will keep trying for the reformation of souls, again and again, like a father who tries to reform his children until the last minute. God is the divine Father of all the created souls and He always has the attitude of postponing the last hour with the hope of reforming His children. Even though the Human Incarnation knows it due to the unimaginable God merged in Him, He will not reveal it because it will fill the hearts of human beings with such terror that they might get a heart attack. In fact, the last hour comes only when there is not even a trace of hope of reformation in any soul.

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