Question
Is this Hadith authentic?
“Knowledge will be snatched away by the taking away of scholars along with their knowledge leaving behind ignorant people who will be asked to settle matters and they will do so on the basis of their personal views, thus being misguided and misguiding others.”
Answer
You are probably referring to the authentic Hadith recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim with the following words:
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibnul ‘As (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allah Ta’ala will not remove knowledge snatching it away from people, rather he will take away knowledge by taking away the ‘Ulama. When there are no Scholars remaining/When Allah takes away all the Scholars, then people will take the ignorant as leaders who when consulted, will pass verdicts without knowledge. They will be astray and lead others astray.
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 100 and 7307, Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2673)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar