عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: لَأُحَدِّثَنَّكُمْ حَدِيثًا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لاَ يُحَدِّثُكُمْ بِهِ أَحَدٌ غَيْرِي: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ العِلْمُ، وَيَكْثُرَ الجَهْلُ، وَيَكْثُرَ الزِّنَا، وَيَكْثُرَ شُرْبُ الخَمْرِ، وَيَقِلَّ الرِّجَالُ، وَيَكْثُرَ النِّسَاءُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِخَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً القَيِّمُ الوَاحِدُ».
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I will narrate to you a Hadīth I heard from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and none will narrate it to you other than me. I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Among the portents of the Hour is that knowledge will be taken away, ignorance will prevail, adultery will spread, drinking alcohol will be common, and men will decrease in number while women will increase so much that for fifty women there will only be one man to look after them."
Agreed uponGradeAuthentic
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that among the portents of the Hour approaching is that Shar‘i knowledge will be taken away through the death of scholars. As a result, ignorance will increase and spread, adultery and immorality will be common, drinking alcohol will prevail, and men will decrease in number while women will increase so much that for fifty women there will be one man to take care of their affairs and interests.
Benefits
- The Hadīth demonstrates some portents of the Hour.
- Knowledge of the time of the Hour is one of the unseen things Allah Almighty kept to Himself.
- We are urged to learn Shar‘i knowledge before it is lost.
Reference
صحيح البخاري (7/ 37) (5231)، صحيح مسلم (4/ 2056) (2671)، فتح الباري لابن حجر (9/ 330)، عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري (20/ 213).