Why does the last great war use swords and horses instead of missiles and drones?

Thekabarnews.com—What did the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mean when he said that the last great war would use swords and horses? Where are the satellites, fighter jets, and nuclear bombs in that picture?

The world today is in a race to show off the most modern military technology. The US and Russia both have hypersonic missiles, stealth planes, and nuclear bombs that can wipe out whole countries in a matter of hours.

From the current vantage point, it is logical to believe that buttons and screens will play a key role in a future world war. You press once, and the world changes forever.

But when we look at Islamic stories about Al-Malhamah Al-Kubra, the great war at the end of time, the description seems quite old-fashioned. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ talked about wars as if there were no more contemporary technology.

In a true hadith told by Imam Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ talked of Muslim warriors who had taken over Constantinople. Specifically, “They will hang their swords on olive trees.”

The words are remarkable. He mentioned swords, not guns, rockets, or modern warfare systems. Ibn Majah wrote another story in which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told Muslims to take care of horses. He said that goodness would stay connected to their foreheads until the end of time.

The tale makes me wonder: if the end times mean war all across the world, where are the satellites, radar systems, and computerized weapons we have now?

Some environmentalists and modern scientists suggest a scary prospect that fits with these stories. Specifically, a technological breakdown could occur before humanity fully realizes the end of the world.

A huge electromagnetic pulse (EMP) strike could cause this. So could a big meteor hitting Earth or a powerful solar storm that can destroy microchip-based systems. All these might lead to this kind of collapse. 

If that happened, all electronic devices would stop working right away. Planes could fall from the sky. Cars would stop working on highways. Power grids would go down all across the world.

In that case, modern society would enter a new dark era. There would be no GPS, no immediate means of communication, and no internet available worldwide. People would need to be strong. They’d also need to be handy and have basic tools to survive, as before.

Weapons would no longer depend on code and circuits but on people’s skills. This would include archery, close fighting, and endurance. As a result, war would revert back to being fought with muscle and steel instead of computers and satellites.

This viewpoint also helps us understand better why Islam puts so much stress on traditional physical activities like horseback riding and archery. People today typically see these activities as historical or fun. But from this perspective, they show readiness, not nostalgia.

They remind people of faith that technology is a tool, not a promise. Only character, skill, and strength remain when systems fail.

As technology becomes more important in our lives, the images of swords and horses may not be significant at all. Instead, it could be a warning. When technology turns against its inventors, people will have to rely on their hands again.

Maybe the actual lesson is not about guns at all. It is about being ready—mentally and physically—for a day when progress fails to keep us safe.