Why did the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) not tell us when the Hour would begin?
Question

                Why did the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) not tell us when the Hour would begin?.
Praise be to Allah.
    Firstly: 
The Prophet  (peace 
    and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not tell us when the Hour would 
    begin because he did not know when the Hour would begin. We have already 
    quoted in question no. 
    32627 the evidence from the Qur’aan and Sunnah 
    concerning that. 

    Secondly: 

    If it is asked: why did Allaah not tell us when the Hour 
    would begin? 

    The answer is that wisdom dictates that the time should be 
    hidden from mankind. 

    The reason for that is that the Prophet  (peace and 
    blessings of Allaah be upon him) was sent with glad tidings of Paradise for 
    those who obey Allaah, and with warnings of Hell for those who disobey Him, 
    and with warnings of the Hour and of Hell and its horrors. The purpose of 
    that can only be achieved if the time of the Hour is concealed, so that the 
    people of every era will fear that it may come upon them. Announcing the 
    time when it will happen would cancel out that benefit and would also have 
    other evil consequences. If the Messenger of Allaah  (peace and 
    blessings of Allaah be upon him) had told the people: The Hour will come one 
    thousand years from today, for example, you would have seen the liars 
    mocking this idea and persisting in their disbelief, and the doubts of the 
    doubters would have increased. 

    So there is great wisdom in concealing the matter of the 
    Hour, as Allaah has also concealed the time of each person’s own “Hour,” 
    meaning his death. 

    Al-Aloosi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

    Allaah has concealed the knowledge of the Hour because shar’i 
    wisdom and reason dictate that this should be so, because that is more 
    effective in calling people to obey Him and putting them off disobeying Him. 
    Similarly he has also concealed the lifespan of each person. The verses 
    indicate that the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 
    did not know when the Hour would begin. Yes, he knew that it was close in 
    general terms, and he  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told 
    us of that. 

    End quote. 

    So the believers must fear that Day and their fear should 
    make them aware that Allaah is always watching what they do. So they should 
    adhere to what is true and seek what is good, and they should fear evil and 
    sin, and they should not make the Hour the focus only of disputes and 
    arguments. 

    End quote, from Tafseer al-Manaar. 

    It is by Allaah’s mercy towards His creation that He has told 
    them of signs which will indicate that the onset of the Hour is approaching, 
    so that that will motivate them to do righteous deeds and fear Allaah, and 
    avoid haraam things. Every time they see one of its signs, their fear of the 
    Hour and its horrors will increase, as will their certainty that it is at 
    hand, so they will prepare for it by doing more righteous deeds. 

    Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “Do they then await (anything) other than the Hour that it 
    should come upon them suddenly? But some of its portents (indications and 
    signs) have already come”

    [Muhammad 47:18]

    This is also indicated by the report narrated by Muslim 
    (2947), that the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 
    said: “Hasten to do good deeds before six things come to pass: the rising of 
    the sun from the west, the smoke, the Dajjaal, the Beast, and that which 
    will come to each one of you alone, and that which will affect everyone.”

    Narrated by Muslim, 2947. 

    This means: try to beat the six signs that the Hour has 
    begun, and hasten to do righteous deeds before they come to pass, for good 
    deeds done after they appear will not be accepted and will not count. 

    “That which will come to each one of you alone” refers to 
    death. “That which will affect everyone” means the Resurrection. 

    Al-Qaadi said: He commanded them to hasten to do righteous 
    deeds before these signs came to pass, for when they come they will dazzle 
    people and will distract them from doing anything, or will close the door of 
    repentance and acceptance of deeds to them. 

    Al-‘Alaa’i said: The purpose of these reports is to encourage 
    us to start doing righteous deeds before we die, and to make the most of our 
    time before disaster comes. 

    We ask Allaah to help us to make the most of our time in obeying Him. 

    And Allaah knows best.