The prevalence of popular beliefs in the inevitable ending of the world is easily understandable when we recall the notion of micro and macrocosm relations, and consider the commonly accepted fact that everyone is mortal. Death, seen as one thing that everyone must encounter, is the universal and inescapable end against which any power becomes powerless. Applying this perspective, Mang Marjuki (57 years), a farmer said:
Just like everyone without exception will die, the whole world will also inevitably die; its death is its overall destruction and no one would know when, but certainly the time will come; that is what we call kiyamat.[31]
The local word kiyamat refers to the end of the world. This word comes from the Arabic qiyamah, which means “the arising”. This term is used in religious discourse as a special reference to “the arising (of men at the Resurrection), a schematic statement of the order of events in Muslim eschatology”, where all the dead are resurrected from their graves to receive the final judgment.[32] This event will take place after the universe is totally destroyed. Popular beliefs, however, put more emphasis on the total destruction of the world itself rather than on the resurrection. Commonly held ideas about kiyamat are: that it is the moment when tremendous floods appear everywhere, rising higher than the highest coconut trees and thereafter reaching all mountain peaks; all volcanoes will erupt; there will be terrible earthquakes; the earth will be rolled out like a carpet (bumi digulung) so that no one can live upon it; the stars, moon and sun will crash into each other; and the sky will break down and press upon the earth. In short, at kiyamat the world will be totally destroyed and no one will be saved.
It is also locally believed that the kiyamat will not come suddenly without notice. A number of signs will precede it, so that true believers detecting the signs and realising that kiyamat is about to come will have time to seek repentance. The non-believers however, because they have never recited syahadat, will not understand what is going on and will not know what to do. Instead, they will fall into vulnerable desperation. In local common belief, among the signs for the coming of kiyamat include: the appearance of smoke everywhere; the appearance of Dadjjal, followed by the descent of Imam Mahdi and Nabi Isa (Jesus); the coming of Ya'judj and Ma'judj (Gog and Magog). Sulendraningrat (n.d.) adds the signs with the appearance of three eclipses one in the west, one in the east, and one in Arabia; the rising of the sun in the west; the coming of Dabbah (the beast of the earth); the damage to the Ka'ba in Mecca; the prints of the Holy Qur'an disappear; and the spread of extreme cold air. Preceding these signs there will occur a long famine the world over, and civil war, which will break out in Turkey where two competing sides will fight to gain control over Istanbul.[33]
Local popular beliefs talk about catastrophic conditions preceded by various symptoms. Among the widely mentioned symptoms will be: when sons enslave their mothers; needy shepherds compete in unlawful luxuries (bocah angon wis pada mabok ning barang kang bli karuan-karuan);[34] time appears to be much shorter than ever; people no longer care whether they get things lawfully or unlawfully; there will be a general prevalence of arrogance and a craving for power; people will become careless with regard to their faith; adultery will seem natural, sinless, and be in common practice; the world will be caught in a long lasting darkness; the sun will rise in the west and Dadjjal will appear. Imam Mahdi and then Jesus will descend to refresh the Islamic faith; monstrous beasts will appear; the whole universe will shake violently.
Among these signs, the legend of Dadjjal is worth mentioning briefly. Dadjjal, which means the super liar, is a name that refers to a satanic human figure who leads people astray. He is identified as a descendant of Medina Jews, born when the Prophet Muhammad was still alive. During his childhood his name was Ibnu Shayyad or Ibnu Shaid. He is believed to be still alive and chained somewhere. Now he is more than 1400 years old. His first appearance will be in Khurasan, a town in Persia. His body will be huge and corpulent with reddish, frizzy hair, and with a wide throat. One of his eyes will look like a floating grape, as if made of green glass. On his forehead and between his eyes (some others describe him as one-eyed), will be written three unconnected Arabic letters kaf [K], fa [F], and ra [R]. If they are combined it will read “kufur” (unbelieving) or “kafir” (unbeliever). He will appear bringing supplies of food, water and fire, conquering the whole world by both coercive and fascinating magical acts. Although he will succeed in seizing most parts of the world and gaining many followers, he will not be able to seize Mecca and Medina. He will exercise power causing unbearable chaos for some time (some say forty days, others say forty years).[35]
The legend also mentions that Imam Mahdi and Jesus will appear preceding Kiyamat. They are two figures who will refresh the Islamic faith. Imam Mahdi is said to be the descendant of Sayid Husein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, born in Mecca on 15th of Sya'ban (the fourth month of Islamic calendar), AH 255/AD 834, that is, more than one thousand years ago. He disappeared miraculously and will reappear in Mecca sometime on the tenth of Dzulhijjah in an uneven year of the Muslim calendar, for approximately ten years, to fight against Dajjal and to establish order. At that time the Muslim army will not be strong enough, Imam Mahdi will probably be defeated and killed by Dajjal, but will have paved the way for Jesus to achieve a great victory. Jesus, however, will descend and work with Imam Mahdi, and upon Mahdi's death he will succeed to his leadership. Jesus will defeat Dajjal and the latter will perish in Syria or Palestine at Jesus' hand. After Jesus' time the situation will deteriorate. Most believers will pass away and finally only unbelievers will be left. At that time there will be no longer heard people pronouncing the words: “Allah, Allah”. The day of ending will come even closer, the world will be caught in uncertainty, then Israfil will blow his trumpet; all living creatures will vanish.[36]