Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "From among the portents of the Hour are (the following): -1. Religious knowledge will be taken away (by the death of Religious learned men). -2. (Religious) ignorance will prevail. -3. Drinking of Alcoholic drinks (will be very common). -4. There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse.
Exposition of Hadith on the Portents of the Hour
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (80) enumerates among the minor signs of the Final Hour the removal of beneficial knowledge, the prevalence of ignorance, widespread consumption of intoxicants, and open commission of illicit sexual relations.
Commentary on the Removal of Knowledge
The "taking away of knowledge" refers not to its disappearance from books, but to the death of the sincere, pious scholars ('Ulama) who are its true bearers and practitioners. When such individuals pass away without being replaced by others of similar caliber, knowledge effectively departs.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal stated: "Knowledge is not in the abundance of narration, but it is a light which Allah places in the heart." Its removal signifies the loss of this divine light and understanding from the hearts of people.
Commentary on the Prevalence of Ignorance
This ignorance is not mere lack of information, but religious ignorance (al-Jahl). When true knowledge departs, people will turn to the ignorant for religious rulings, who will then guide them without knowledge, leading them and themselves astray.
Ibn al-Mubarak said: "The beginning of knowledge is silence, then listening and memorizing it, then acting upon it, then spreading it." The prevalence of ignorance indicates the reversal of this virtuous cycle.
Commentary on Widespread Intoxication
The mention of alcoholic drinks (Khamr) encompasses all intoxicants that cloud the intellect. Its prevalence indicates a society that has lost respect for the sanctity of the divinely-given intellect ('Aql) and pursues base desires over spiritual refinement.
Al-Qurtubi commented that this sign demonstrates the weakening of faith, as intoxicants are explicitly forbidden in the Qur'an, and their normalization shows disregard for divine legislation.
Commentary on Open Illicit Sexual Intercourse
The phrase "open illegal sexual intercourse" (Zina) refers to its commission without shame or concealment. This indicates the complete breakdown of modesty (Haya'), which the Prophet (ﷺ) said is a branch of faith.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explained in Fath al-Bari that when sins are committed openly, it signifies that the societal deterrents have collapsed, and divine punishment becomes imminent for the entire community, not just the transgressors.
Interconnected Nature of the Signs
These signs are profoundly interconnected. The removal of knowledge leads directly to ignorance. Ignorance leads to the abandonment of religious prohibitions, resulting in the normalization of intoxicants and illicit relations. This sequence demonstrates the spiritual and moral decay that precedes the Final Hour.
The scholar's duty is to recognize these signs, increase in righteous deeds, call to goodness, and forbid evil according to one's capability, while placing complete trust in Allah's wisdom and timing.