The Sending of Our Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)

He (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) informed that his sending is an evidence and sign for the [relative] nearness of the [final] Hour, and that it is the first of the minor signs of the Hour. From Sahl bin Sa'd (radiallaahu anhu) who said: I saw the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), he said with his fore and middle finger [joined together] saying, "I and the Hour were sent like this" ^[1] and he (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said, "I was sent in the initial breeze of the [final] Hour."^[2]

Al-Qurtubi said: "The first of them is the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) because he is the Prophet of the end time, and he was sent without there being any other prophet between him and the resurrection day."^[3]

Notes

1. Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
2. Reported by al-Haakim in al-Kunaa, Albani declared in Sahih in al-Silsilah (no. 808).
3. al-Tadhkirah (1/710)

Source: (نهاية العالم) of Muhammad al-Areefee (1430H).