How should we understand the hadith, "The Hour will not be established until predators speak to people and until the tip of a man's whip and the straps on his sandal speak to him, and his thigh informs him of what occurred with his family after him"?

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! The Hour will not be established until predators speak to people and until the tip of a man's whip and the straps on his sandal speak to him, and his thigh informs him of what occurred with his family after him." [Tirmidhi, Fitan 19, (2182)] Will you explain this hadith?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The following incident is reported to be the reason why this hadith was stated:

While a shepherd was grazing his sheep (around Madinah), a wolf attacked a sheep and held it. The shepherd tried to save the sheep from the wolf. The wolf sat on its tail and addressed the shepherd as follows:

"O shepherd! Fear Allah! You are trying to deprive me of my sustenance." Thereupon, the shepherd said, "What an amazing thing! A wolf sitting on its tail speaks to me in the language of a human being." The wolf said,

"Shall I tell you something more amazing than this? Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, (pbuh) in Madinah is informing the people about the news of the past." Thereupon, the shepherd proceeded driving his sheep until he entered Madinah, went to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and informed him about the incident.

The Prophet ordered somebody to shout, "As-salatu jamiatun (Gather for the prayer)". The Companions gathered. The Prophet (pbuh) told the shepherd to tell the Companions about the incident. Then, the Prophet said, "He has told the truth." Then, the Prophet added,

"By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! The Hour will not be established until predators speak to people and until the tip of a man's whip and the straps on his sandal speak to him, and his thigh informs him of what occurred with his family after him." (Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad; Tirmidhi, Fitan, 19; Abd b. Humayd, Musnad, II / 498).

The following is stated in another narration:

"Be careful! Predators talking to people are among the signs of Doomsday. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! The Hour will not be established until predators speak to people and until the tip of a man's whip and the straps on his sandal speak to him, and his thigh informs him of what occurred with his family after him." (Abd b. Humayd, Musnad, II/498).

A short explanation:

1. As it is understood from the reason why the hadith was stated, it gives a good example of the speech of the wolf, which is a wild animal. 

2. The hadith states that the speech of animals and other things are among the signs of Doomsday. The following is stated in the Quran: " The Hour (of Judgment) is nigh." Therefore, the speech of animals is a sign that Doomsday is near. Besides, the advent of the Prophet (pbuh) is at a time close to Doomsday.

3. Another issue that can be deduced from the hadith is that nothing that man does will remain secret when Doomsday is very close. For, a person’s thigh, which is very close to him and never leaves him, his shoes and laces and the tools that he holds while working can speak. It might have indicated speaking through devices like wireless and telephone. 

Today, fingerprints are taken in order to determine crimes; the tools that are used are determined by spray in a person’s hands. Hidden cameras, etc. can be compared to them. While some beings speak aloud with words, others speak with recordings and silently. It can be said that the hadith indicates them and some other developments. 

4. Hadiths like that mention the things that will happen in the future; therefore, they will be understood better as science, technique and technology develop.

Questions on Islam