Knowledge - Sahih al-Bukhari 85

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "(Religious) knowledge will be taken away (by the death of religious scholars) ignorance (in religion) and afflictions will appear; and Harj will increase." It was asked, "What is Harj, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" He replied by beckoning with his hand indicating "killing." (Fath-al-Bari Page 192, Vol. 1)

Commentary on the Hadith

This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari reveals three interconnected signs of religious decline: the disappearance of Islamic knowledge through the death of scholars, the spread of ignorance in religious matters, and the increase in harj (killing and chaos).

The term "taken away" indicates that divine knowledge isn't merely forgotten but actively withdrawn by Allah when scholars pass without proper successors. This creates a vacuum filled by ignorance, where people lack understanding of halal and haram, leading to innovations and deviations.

Harj, as clarified by the Prophet's gesture, refers to widespread killing and civil strife. Classical commentators like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain that when religious knowledge diminishes, moral restraints weaken, and society descends into violence and chaos.

This prophecy emphasizes the critical role of authentic Islamic scholarship in maintaining social order and spiritual guidance. The chain reaction described—from loss of knowledge to ignorance to violence—highlights the interconnectedness of religious understanding and worldly stability.

Scholarly Observations

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali notes that the removal of knowledge occurs gradually as scholars pass without being replaced by those of equal caliber, leading to reliance on unqualified individuals.

Al-Qurtubi observes that ignorance here refers specifically to religious ignorance, where people abandon Quran and Sunnah while following desires and innovations.

The beckoning gesture demonstrates the severity of harj—it was too grave to articulate verbally, indicating the profound social breakdown that follows religious decline.