Afflictions and the End of the World - Sahih al-Bukhari 7062, 7063

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Near the establishment of the Hour there will be days during which Religious ignorance will spread, knowledge will be taken away (vanish) and there will be much Al-Harj, and Al-Harj means killing."

Commentary on the Prophetic Signs

This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari describes three major signs preceding the Hour: the spread of religious ignorance, the disappearance of beneficial knowledge, and the prevalence of harj (killing). Religious ignorance (al-jahiliyyah) refers not merely to lack of information but to the abandonment of Islamic teachings and revival of pre-Islamic practices despite apparent religious observance.

The "taking away of knowledge" occurs through the death of scholars without adequate successors, causing divine knowledge to gradually vanish from hearts and communities. This creates a vacuum filled by ignorant leaders who issue rulings without proper qualification.

Al-Harj signifies widespread killing and civil strife that becomes commonplace. Classical commentators note this includes political assassinations, tribal conflicts, and general lawlessness where human life loses its sacred value. These three phenomena are interconnected - as knowledge departs, ignorance spreads, leading to societal breakdown and violence.

Scholarly Observations

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes in Fath al-Bari that the chain of knowledge transmission breaks when people learn from unqualified sources rather than proper scholars. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that the disappearance of knowledge refers specifically to the Quran and Sunnah's understanding being lifted from hearts.

The specification that "Al-Harj means killing" was necessary as the term can also mean confusion or distress, but the Prophet clarified its primary meaning here. This killing manifests in various forms: political assassinations, random violence, and wars where Muslims fight each other.

These signs serve as warnings for Muslims to hold firmly to authentic knowledge, seek proper Islamic education, and maintain social order. The hadith encourages preservation of religious scholarship and cautions against the consequences of its neglect.