Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
The time when the Hour will occur is part of the unseen knowledge that Allah has kept exclusively for Himself. He did not disclose it to any of His creation, including the prophets, messengers, and the angels close to Him. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ did not know when the Hour would occur.
The Qur’an clearly indicates this. Allah تعالى says:
“They ask you about the Hour, when it will come to pass. Say: ‘Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None can reveal its time except Him.’” [Al-A'raf: 187]
And He سبحانه says:
“People ask you about the Hour. Say: ‘Its knowledge is only with Allah.’” [Al-Ahzab: 63]
Allah تعالى also says:
“Its ultimate knowledge is with your Lord. You are only a warner for those who fear it.” [An-Nazi'at: 44–45]
And He سبحانه says:
“Indeed, Allah alone has knowledge of the Hour.” [Luqman: 34]
In the famous Hadith of Jibril, when the Prophet ﷺ was asked about the Hour, he said:
“The one who is asked about it knows no more than the one who asks.” Narrated by Muslim.
This indicates that the Prophet ﷺ did not know when the Hour would occur, just as Jibril عليه السلام did not know it.
It is authentically reported from Jabir رضي الله عنه that one month before his death, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“You ask me about the Hour, but its knowledge is only with Allah.” Narrated by Muslim.
As for his ﷺ statement in the same hadith that none of those who were alive at that time would remain after one hundred years, this does not mean that the Day of Judgment would occur within one hundred years. Rather, it referred to the passing away of that generation.
Whoever claims that the Prophet ﷺ knew when the Hour would occur has contradicted the clear and explicit texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله explained that interpreting the Prophet’s ﷺ statement, “The one who is asked about it knows no more than the one who asks,” as meaning that the Prophet and Jibril both knew its exact time is an invalid interpretation. The hadith indicates that knowledge of its timing belongs neither to the one asking nor to the one being asked; rather, it belongs to Allah تعالى alone.
It is obligatory to believe that the time of the Hour is known only to Allah, and that the Prophet ﷺ was sent to warn people and explain to them the signs and indications of the Hour, not to tell them when it would occur.
Therefore, a Muslim should not become preoccupied with trying to determine the date of the Day of Judgment. Rather, they should prepare for it through faith, repentance, and righteous deeds.
And Allah تعالى knows best.