May I not narrate to you a hadith which I heard from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) which no one would narrate to you after me who would have personally heard it from him (the Holy Prophet) (as I have the good fortune to do so)? -" It is from the signs of the Last Hour that knowledge would be taken away, ignorance would prevail upon (the world), adultery would become common, wine would be drunk, the number of men will fall short and the women would survive (and thus such a disparity would arise in the number of men and women) that there would be one man to look after fifty women.
The Book of Knowledge - Sahih Muslim 2671b
This narration from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) describes several major signs preceding the Day of Judgment, serving as a profound warning to the Muslim ummah about the moral and intellectual decline that will characterize the end of times.
Disappearance of Beneficial Knowledge
The removal of 'ilm (knowledge) refers not to its literal erasure but to the death of righteous scholars who carry and implement authentic Islamic knowledge. True knowledge is that which leads to Allah's pleasure and correct practice of faith.
When such scholars pass away without adequate successors, ignorance prevails as people follow their desires and innovations, abandoning the Quran and Sunnah as primary sources of guidance.
Moral Degradation in Society
The prevalence of adultery (zina) indicates the breakdown of family structures and modesty. This includes both the physical act and its precursors - unchecked intermingling of sexes, immodest dress, and consumption of obscene media.
The normalization of intoxicants reflects society's pursuit of instant gratification over spiritual clarity, damaging both individual consciousness and social responsibility.
Demographic Imbalance
The significant reduction in male population relative to females may result from continuous wars, epidemics, or other divine decrees. This imbalance disrupts natural social order and family formation.
The ratio of one man to fifty women illustrates extreme demographic disturbance where protective guardianship (qiwamah) becomes practically impossible to maintain according to Islamic principles.
Scholarly Reflections
Imam An-Nawawi comments that these signs serve as warnings for Muslims to hold firmly to knowledge and righteousness, recognizing these developments as fulfillment of prophecy rather than justification for complacency.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani emphasizes that the chain of narration through a single companion highlights the importance of preserving and transmitting knowledge despite its scarcity in later times.