Among His names—exalted be his glory: The Hour (al-Sa’a)
God the Mighty and Sublime said: {And to God belongs the unseen of the heavens and the earth. And the matter of the Hour is not but as a twinkling of the eye, or even nearer. Indeed, God is over all things competent}1. We have established that the Hour here is Amir Almuminin—exalted be his glory.
He—exalted be His praise—said: {And Our command is but one, like a twinkling of the eye}2. There is no difference between the two statements for one who recognizes God in reality. And the words of the Mighty and Sublime: {As though on the Day they see it they had not remained [in the world] except for an afternoon or a morning}3.
(298) Our Master al-Sadiq—exalted be his glory—was asked regarding that and said: "They see the Meaning manifest in the visible Form."
(299) It is also related from our Master al-Sadiq—exalted be his glory—that he was asked concerning the words of the Mighty and Sublime: {O mankind, fear your Lord. Indeed, the convulsion of the Hour is a tremendous thing. On the Day you see it every nursing mother will be distracted from that [child] she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will abort her pregnancy, and you will see the people [appearing] intoxicated while they are not intoxicated; but the punishment of God is severe}4.