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If you're reading this, you're alive and the world hasn't ended yet.
Many are waiting for November 13, as a study suggests the end of the world is possible.
Islam and Christianity, the two main religions, have different positions on when this will end.
Three researchers published a study in the American scientific journal Science on November 4, 1960.
This study is entitled: "End of the world: Friday November 13, 2026 AD." (Doomsday: Friday, November 13, A.D. 2026).
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The researchers say that if the world's population continues to grow at the rate indicated by their analysis of nearly 2,000 years of data, they predict it will reach a level where it will become impossible to live on Earth by November 2026.
Although Muslims know from various sacred texts that the end of the world will occur on a Friday, the fact that the 13th falls on a Friday is not certain. So what is the view of the two religions on the end of the world?
The Islamic conception of the end of the world
Islam states that no one knows the exact date of the Doomsday except Allah.
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Muslim scholars explain that signs will announce the day of the end of the world. Some even report, according to verses, that this day will take place on a Friday.
In Surah Al-A'raf, verse 187, Allah says: “They ask you about the Hour: When will it arrive? Say: Only my Lord knows. No one other than Him can determine the moment.”
Similarly, in Surah Luqman, verse 34, Allah states that among the things of which He alone has knowledge is the knowledge of the day of the end of the world.
This means that even the Prophet Mohamed did not know the precise date of the end of the world.
In Islamic teaching, the Hour signs are divided into two groups: minor and major.
These are the signs which will appear before the approach of the Hour. Some have already manifested, others are still in progress, and still others have not yet happened.
Among the signs mentioned in the hadiths, we find:
Some of these signs are mentioned in authentic hadiths, including Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
There are also major signs, which correspond to important events that will occur as the Hour approaches.
In a hadith reported by Imam Muslim, the Prophet Mohamed mentioned ten major signs, including:
Islam warns against any attempt to determine the exact date of the end of the world or to attribute certain earthly events to signs of the end times.
Although the hadiths describe the signs to come, the precise date of the end of the world is known only to God.
The Christian conception of the end of the world
Although Christianity believes in the return of Jesus Christ and the end of times, the Bible does not specify a date for this event. However, she mentions certain signs that could manifest at the end of time.
Reverend Ishaku Ashafa, a Christian pastor in Kaduna State, has said that a major change will come in the lives of people at the end of times.
He explained that the book of Daniel, chapter 12, verse 4, speaks of the increase of knowledge at that time. He also pointed out that the Bible speaks of a general disinterest which will then manifest itself.
Second Timothy, chapter 3, verses 1-5, describes some end-time traits such as selfishness, love of money, disobedience to parents, and lack of love.
Reverend Ashafa added that at the time of his return, Jesus Christ will come and save those who believe in him and take them to heaven. “And those who do not believe in him will stay here,” he said.
However, the Bible shows that no one knows the exact day or hour of this event.
In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, verse 36, Jesus declares that no one knows the day or the hour, not even the angels of heaven, but only God.
Reverend Ashafa said this demonstrates that, despite the presence of visible signs, it is impossible to know the precise moment of the resurrection.
Where does this story come from?
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The study was led by Austrian-born physicist Heinz von Foerster, who now lives in the United States.
He carried out this study in collaboration with Patricia Mora and Lawrence Amiot. All three are members of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois, USA.
The researchers used historical estimates of the world population. Their data included 24 estimates collected from the beginning of our era until 1958.
They used this data to understand how the human population has changed over time.
The researchers did not base their study on the assumption of global population growth at a constant rate.
Instead, they proposed a mathematical model based on the concept of hyperbolic growth.
In this model, not only does the population grow, but its growth rate also increases over time.
This mathematical model is based on the idea that humanity's ability to interact, help each other and form partnerships allows it to overcome certain environmental challenges.
This increases the human capacity to survive and reproduce. After applying this mathematical model to historical data, the researchers concluded that their model would reach a point called the singularity in 2026, specifically in mid-November.
This is why November 13, 2026 appears in the title of the study.
According to the mathematical model, the world population will reach a theoretically infinite level on that day if current conditions and assumptions remain unchanged.
At first glance, the title of the study may seem to announce the end of the world, but its real meaning is quite different.
Researchers did not predict an asteroid colliding with Earth, the sun exploding, or a major catastrophe due to earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
Nor did they predict the demise of humanity due to natural disaster.
In reality, they used the term "apocalypse" to describe a hypothetical situation where the population would reach an infinite level according to their theory.
This is impossible in reality.
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