I was sitting with 'Abdullah and Abu Musa that they reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said: Prior to the Last Hour, there would be a time when knowledge would be taken away, and ignorance would take its place and there would be bloodshed on a large scale.
The Book of Knowledge - Sahih Muslim 2672a
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This noble hadith from our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) contains profound warnings about the conditions preceding the Day of Judgment, as narrated by the esteemed companions 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud and Abu Musa al-Ash'ari.
The Disappearance of Knowledge
The phrase "knowledge would be taken away" refers to the removal of Islamic knowledge through the death of scholars. As the Prophet (ﷺ) said in another narration: "Indeed, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people, but He takes away knowledge by taking away the scholars." When the scholars pass away and few remain, ignorance prevails.
This disappearance occurs gradually - first the understanding of religion diminishes, then the memorization of Qur'an is lost, until no one remains who knows what is lawful and unlawful. People will take ignorant leaders who speak without knowledge, leading them astray.
The Prevalence of Ignorance
"Ignorance would take its place" indicates that when true knowledge departs, falsehood and innovation fill the vacuum. People will judge by their desires rather than divine revelation. They will perform acts of worship without proper knowledge, innovating in matters of religion that Allah has not permitted.
This ignorance manifests in misunderstanding the Qur'an and Sunnah, misinterpreting texts according to personal opinions, and following superstitions over established Islamic teachings.
Widespread Bloodshed
The consequence of lost knowledge and prevalent ignorance is "bloodshed on a large scale." When people abandon the guidance of revelation, their souls become cheap, and killing becomes commonplace. This includes political strife, civil wars, and general lawlessness where human life loses its sanctity.
The scholars explain that this bloodshed results directly from abandoning knowledge - for when people forget Allah's commands regarding the sanctity of life, they shed blood freely without fear of accountability.
Lessons and Remedies
This hadith emphasizes the critical importance of seeking and preserving Islamic knowledge. Muslims must support scholars, establish centers of learning, and study the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah.
We must recognize these signs as warnings to return to proper Islamic education and implementation. The preservation of knowledge through writing, teaching, and practice is a collective obligation upon the Muslim community to counter these prophesied conditions.