‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “God doesnot take away knowledge by removing it from men, but takes it awayby taking away the learned, so that when He leaves no learned man, menwill take ignorant men as leaders. Causes will be presented to themand they will pass judgement without knowledge, erring and leadingothers into error.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
The Nature of Knowledge's Removal
The Prophet (peace be upon him) clarifies that divine knowledge is not directly stripped from human hearts, but rather withdrawn through the gradual passing of scholars. This demonstrates Allah's wisdom in preserving the sanctity of knowledge itself while allowing natural processes to unfold.
The Succession of Leadership
When true scholars vanish from society, the community inevitably turns to ignorant individuals for guidance. This creates a dangerous vacuum where unqualified persons assume positions of religious authority without possessing the necessary qualifications.
The Consequences of Ignorant Leadership
These false leaders will be presented with religious and legal matters requiring scholarly insight. Lacking proper knowledge, they will issue erroneous rulings, thereby falling into misguidance themselves while simultaneously leading their followers astray.
Scholarly Commentary on Preservation
Classical scholars note this hadith emphasizes the critical importance of preserving Islamic scholarship through continuous learning and teaching. The chain of knowledge must remain unbroken, as its interruption leads to religious innovation and deviation from the straight path.