The meaning of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "That knowledge will be taken away and ignorance will increase."

The Shaykh : Among the signs of the Hour is that knowledge will be taken away and ignorance will increase. The taking away of knowledge does not mean that it will be ripped from the hearts of men, but rather it will be taken away by the death of the scholars. They will die one by one until nothing remains among the people except ignorant leaders who issue rulings without knowledge, thereby going astray and leading others astray. Ignorance will increase because when knowledge is taken away, its opposite, which is ignorance, will multiply. The knowledge referred to here is knowledge of the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), not knowledge of worldly affairs. Knowledge of worldly affairs may perhaps increase, but it is the knowledge of the Shari'ah of Allah that will be taken away. Its taking away is among the signs of the Hour, and the spread and increase of ignorance regarding the Shari'ah of Allah is among the signs of the Hour.