The Book of Knowledge

كتاب العلم

Chapter 5: The Taking Away Of Knowledge And The Spread Of Ignorance At The End Of Time

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said

The time would draw close to the Last Hour and knowledge would decrease. The rest of the hadith is the same.

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Huraira through other chains of narrators and there is no mention of

" Miserliness would be put (in the hearts of the people)."

'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people but He takes away knowledge by taking away the scholars, so that when He leaves no learned person, people turn to the ignorant as their leaders; then they are asked to deliver religious verdicts and they deliver them without knowledge, they go astray, and lead others astray.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Umar through other chains of transmitters, but in the hadith transmitted by Umar b. 'Ali there is an addition of these words

, I met 'Abdullah b. 'Amr at the end of the year and I asked him about it, and he narrated to us the hadith as he had narrated before that he had heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying.... (The rest of the hadith is the same).

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Amr b. al-'As through another chain of transmitters.

'Urwa b. Zubair reported that 'A'isha said to him

This news has reached me that 'Abdullah b. 'Amr al-'As would pass by us during the Hajj season, so you meet him and ask him (about religious matters) as he has acquired great knowledge from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). I thus met him and asked him about things which he narrated from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). And amongst these the one he mentioned was that Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge from people directly but he takes away the scholars and consequently takes away (knowledge) along with them and leaves amongst persons the ignorant as their leaders who deliver religious verdicts without (adequate) knowledge and themselves go astray and lead others astray. 'Urwa said: When I narrated this to 'A'isha, she deemed it too much (to believe) and thus showed reluctance to accept that (as perfectly true) and said to, 'Urwa: Did he ('Abdullah b. 'Amr) say to you that he had heard Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: ('Urwa had forgotten to ask this from 'Abdullah b. 'Amr). So when it was the next year, she ('A'isha) said to him ('Urwa): Ibn Amr has come (for Hajj), so meet him. talk to him and ask him about this hadith that he narrated to You (last year on the occasion of the Hajj) pertaining to knowledge. He ('Urwa), said: So I met him, and asked about it and he narrated to me exactly like one that he had narrated (to me) for the first time. So when I informed her ('A'isha) about that, she said: I do not think but this that he has certainly told the truth and I find that be has neither made any addition to it, nor missed anything from it.

Chapter 6: The One Who Starts Something Good Or Something Bad; The One Who Calls Others To Guidance Or Misguidance

Jarir b. Abdullah reported that some desert Arabs clad in woollen clothes came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). He saw them in sad plight as they had been hard pressed by need. He (the Holy Prophet) exhorted people to give charity, but they showed some reluctance until (signs) of anger could be seen on his face. Then a person from the Ansar came with a purse containing silver. Then came another person and then other persons followed them in succession until signs of happiness could be seen on his (sacred) face. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said

He who introduced some good practice in Islam which was followed after him (by people) he would be assured of reward like one who followed it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And he who introduced some evil practice in Islam which had been followed subsequently (by others), he would be required to bear the burden like that of one who followed this (evil practice) without their's being diminished in any respect.

Jarir reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) delivered an address in which he exhorted people to give charity.

Jarir b. 'Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

The servant does not introduce good practice which is followed after him.... The rest of the hadith is the same.

Jarir transmitted this hadith from his father through several other chains of narrators.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

He who called (people) to righteousness, there would be reward (assured) for him like the rewards of those who adhered to it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And he who called (people) to error, he shall have to carry (the burden) of its sin, like those who committed it, without their sins being diminished in any respect.