What is the ruling on specifying a particular time for the end of the world?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, this brother sent a question saying that people are circulating via mobile phones that the year 2012 CE is the end of people and the occurrence of the Hour, and that one must prepare and do good deeds. Please tell us about such a matter, may you be rewarded?

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for preparing to meet Allah, preparing for the Last Day with righteous deeds, this is a required matter; Allah has commanded it and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) has commanded it, and exhortation to it has come in the Book and the Sunnah. As for knowing when the Hour will occur, this is from the knowledge of the unseen, which no one knows except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). When Jibril asked the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in the presence of his Companions, saying, "Inform me about the Hour," he said, "The one asked about it is no more knowledgeable than the one asking," meaning that I and you are equal in ignorance of the time of its occurrence; for Allah has concealed the knowledge of that from the creation, reserving it for Himself (Glorified and Exalted is He). , What is required of us is to prepare with righteous deeds. As for knowing when the Hour will occur, this is not among our interests and we have not been commanded to do so. Those who specify this and say it will occur on such-and-such a day are liars and claimants of knowledge of the unseen, which no one knows except Allah. This is among the frivolous attempts intended to mislead and claim knowledge of the unseen. There is no power and no strength except by Allah. Yes. May Allah reward you and bless you.