Knowledge taken away
Partly
In brief
One of the signs of the Hour is that knowledge (ilm) is taken away and ignorance spreads. Ilm here does not mean information. It means understanding the religion, and the wisdom to make the right decision, which Allah gives and the scholars carry.
The Prophet ﷺ explained how it happens. Allah does not pull knowledge out of people's chests; He takes it by taking the scholars. When no scholar is left, people turn to ignorant leaders, who give rulings without knowledge, go astray and lead others astray. Scholars note that books and information may be everywhere while real understanding, and the people who carry it, become rare. As Ibn Mas'ud said: 'Knowledge is not a great amount of narration; knowledge is the fear of Allah.'
Learn from living scholars while they are with us, and ask Allah: 'My Lord, increase me in knowledge.'
Where it sits in the sequence
The narrations do not put these in order, and many of them overlap. Sahih al-Bukhari 7121 lists several together.
Strongest narrations
Read all in the archive →Tags are automatic and unreviewed.
حَدَّثَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، عَنْ أَبِي التَّيَّاحِ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ الْعِلْمُ، وَيَثْبُتَ الْجَهْلُ، وَيُشْرَبَ الْخَمْرُ، وَيَظْهَرَ الزِّنَا ".
Narrated Anas:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "From among the portents of the Hour are (the following): -1. Religious knowledge will be taken away (by the death of Religious learned men). -2. (Religious) ignorance will prevail. -3. Drinking of Alcoholic drinks (will be very common). -4. There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ لأُحَدِّثَنَّكُمْ حَدِيثًا لاَ يُحَدِّثُكُمْ أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يَقِلَّ الْعِلْمُ، وَيَظْهَرَ الْجَهْلُ، وَيَظْهَرَ الزِّنَا، وَتَكْثُرَ النِّسَاءُ وَيَقِلَّ الرِّجَالُ، حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِخَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً الْقَيِّمُ الْوَاحِدُ ".
Narrated Anas:I will narrate to you a Hadith and none other than I will tell you about after it. I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying: From among the portents of the Hour are (the following): -1. Religious knowledge will decrease (by the death of religious learned men). -2. Religious ignorance will prevail. -3. There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse. -4. Women will increase in number and men will decrease in number so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man
حَدَّثَنَا الْمَكِّيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا حَنْظَلَةُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " يُقْبَضُ الْعِلْمُ، وَيَظْهَرُ الْجَهْلُ وَالْفِتَنُ، وَيَكْثُرُ الْهَرْجُ ". قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا الْهَرْجُ فَقَالَ هَكَذَا بِيَدِهِ، فَحَرَّفَهَا، كَأَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ الْقَتْلَ.
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "(Religious) knowledge will be taken away (by the death of religious scholars) ignorance (in religion) and afflictions will appear; and Harj will increase." It was asked, "What is Harj, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" He replied by beckoning with his hand indicating "killing." (Fath-al-Bari Page 192, Vol)
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي أُوَيْسٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَقْبِضُ الْعِلْمَ انْتِزَاعًا، يَنْتَزِعُهُ مِنَ الْعِبَادِ، وَلَكِنْ يَقْبِضُ الْعِلْمَ بِقَبْضِ الْعُلَمَاءِ، حَتَّى إِذَا لَمْ يُبْقِ عَالِمًا، اتَّخَذَ النَّاسُ رُءُوسًا جُهَّالاً فَسُئِلُوا، فَأَفْتَوْا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ، فَضَلُّوا وَأَضَلُّوا ". قَالَ الْفِرَبْرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّاسٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنْ هِشَامٍ نَحْوَهُ.
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As:I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "Allah does not take away the knowledge, by taking it away from (the hearts of) the people, but takes it away by the death of the religious learned men till when none of the (religious learned men) remains, people will take as their leaders ignorant persons who when consulted will give their verdict without knowledge. So they will go astray and will lead the people astray
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يُقْبَضَ الْعِلْمُ، وَتَكْثُرَ الزَّلاَزِلُ، وَيَتَقَارَبَ الزَّمَانُ، وَتَظْهَرَ الْفِتَنُ، وَيَكْثُرَ الْهَرْجُ ـ وَهْوَ الْقَتْلُ الْقَتْلُ ـ حَتَّى يَكْثُرَ فِيكُمُ الْمَالُ فَيَفِيضُ ".
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The Hour (Last Day) will not be established until (religious) knowledge will be taken away (by the death of religious learned men), earthquakes will be very frequent, time will pass quickly, afflictions will appear, murders will increase and money will overflow amongst you." (See Hadith No. 85 Vol)
حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْحَوْضِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ لأُحَدِّثَنَّكُمْ حَدِيثًا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ يُحَدِّثُكُمْ بِهِ أَحَدٌ غَيْرِي، سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ الْعِلْمُ، وَيَكْثُرَ الْجَهْلُ وَيَكْثُرَ الزِّنَا، وَيَكْثُرَ شُرْبُ الْخَمْرِ، وَيَقِلَّ الرِّجَالُ، وَيَكْثُرَ النِّسَاءُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِخَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً الْقَيِّمُ الْوَاحِدُ ".
Narrated Anas:I will narrate to you a Habith I heard from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and none other than I will tell you of it. I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "From among the portents of the Hour are the following: Religious knowledge will be taken away; General ignorance (in religious matters) will increase; illegal Sexual intercourse will prevail: Drinking of alcoholic drinks will prevail. Men will decrease in number, and women will increase in number, so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man
Weak and ungraded reports on this sign
30
Shown for study, not as established. Includes Kitab al-Fitan of Nu'aym ibn Hammad, which is ungraded and weak overall.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا أبو بكر بن إسحاق الفقيه، ثنا عبيد بن شريك البزار، ثنا يحيى بن عبد الله بن بكر، حدثني الليث بن سعد، عن إبراهيم بن أبي عبلة، عن الوليد بن عبد الرحمن، عن جبير بن نفير، أنه قال: قال عوف بن مالك الأشجعي: إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم نظر إلى السماء يوما، فقال: «هذا أوان يرفع العلم» فقال له رجل من الأنصار يقال له ابن لبيد: يا رسول الله كيف يرفع العلم وقد أثبت في الكتاب ووعته القلوب؟ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «إن كنت لأحسبك من أفقه أهل المدينة» ثم ذكر ضلالة اليهود والنصارى على ما في أيديهم من كتاب الله، قال: فلقيت شداد بن أوس فحدثته بحديث عوف بن مالك، فقال: صدق عوف ألا أخبرك بأول ذلك يرفع؟ قلت: بلى، قال: الخشوع حتى لا ترى خاشعا. «هذا صحيح وقد احتج الشيخان بجميع رواته، والشاهد لذلك فيه شداد بن أوس فقد سمع جبير بن نفير الحديث منهما جميعا» ، ومن ثالث من الصحابة وهو أبو الدرداء
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا أبو العباس محمد بن يعقوب، ثنا بحر بن نصر، ثنا عبد الله بن وهب، أخبرني عمرو بن الحارث، عن دراج، عن ابن حجيرة، عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: «سيأتي على أمتي زمان تكثر فيه القراء، وتقل الفقهاء ويقبض العلم، ويكثر الهرج» قالوا: وما الهرج يا رسول الله؟ قال: «القتل بينكم، ثم يأتي بعد ذلك زمان يقرأ القرآن رجال لا يجاوز تراقيهم، ثم يأتي من بعد ذلك زمان يجادل المنافق الكافر المشرك بالله المؤمن بمثل ما يقول» هذا حديث صحيح الإسناد، ولم يخرجاه "
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثني يحيى، عن هشام، أملاه علينا حدثني أبي، سمعت عبد الله بن عمرو، من فيه إلى في يقول: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: " إن الله لا يقبض العلم انتزاعا ينتزعه من الناس، ولكن يقبض العلم بقبض العلماء، حتى إذا لم يترك عالما، اتخذ الناس رؤساء جهالا، فسئلوا، فأفتوا بغير علم، فضلوا، وأضلوا "
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا وكيع، أخبرنا هشام، عن أبيه، عن عبد الله بن عمرو، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " إن الله لا يقبض العلم انتزاعا ينزعه من الناس، ولكن يقبض العلم بقبض العلماء، حتى إذا لم يبق عالما اتخذ الناس رؤساء جهالا، فسئلوا، فأفتوا بغير علم، فضلوا وأضلوا "
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Bible · Old Testament
Please note: these Bible passages are here for comparison and history only. In Islam, proof comes from the Quran and sahih hadith. Reports taken from earlier scriptures (Isra'iliyyat) are not treated as proof.
Amos & Zephaniah 8:9-12; Zephaniah 1:14-18
Darkening the Sun at Noon, Famine of the Word of God, and the Great Day of Wrath (Dies Irae)
The prophet Amos proclaims: 'In that day, I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in broad daylight.' A famine will follow, not of bread or thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord; people will wander from sea to sea seeking the word and will not find it. Zephaniah sounds the trumpet of the Great Day: a day of wrath, distress, ruin, gloom, and darkness, when silver and gold will not be able to deliver them on the day of the Lord's burning anger.
וְהָיָ֣ה בַיֹּ֣ום הַה֗וּא... וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י הַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם וְהַחֲשַׁכְתִּ֥י לָאָ֖רֶץ בְּיֹ֥ום אֹֽור׃ ... הִנֵּ֣ה יָמִ֤ים בָּאִים֙... וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּ֥י רָעָ֖ב בָּאָ֑רֶץ לֹֽא־רָעָ֤ב לַלֶּ֙חֶם֙ וְלֹֽא־צָמָ֣א לַמַּ֔יִם כִּ֣י אִם־לִשְׁמֹ֔עַ אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃
'It will happen in that day,' says the Lord, 'that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day... Behold, the days come, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.'
קָרֹ֛וב יֹום־יְהוָ֥ה הַגָּדֹ֖ול קָרֹ֣וב וּמַהֵ֣ר מְאֹ֑ד קֹ֚ול יֹ֣ום יְהוָ֔ה מַ֥ר צֹרֵ֖חַ שָׁ֥ם גִּבֹּֽור׃ יֹ֥ום עֶבְרָ֖ה הַיֹּ֣ום הַה֑וּא יֹ֧ום צָרָ֣ה וּמְצוּקָ֗ה יֹ֤ום שֹׁאָה֙ וּמְשֹׁואָ֔ה יֹ֥ום חֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙ וַאֲפֵלָ֔ה יֹ֥ום עָנָ֖ן וַעֲרָפֶֽל׃
The great day of the Lord is near, near and hurrying greatly... That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Comparative Traditions
Please note: these Bible passages are here for comparison and history only. In Islam, proof comes from the Quran and sahih hadith. Reports taken from earlier scriptures (Isra'iliyyat) are not treated as proof.
The Footsteps of the Messiah (Ikvei de-Meshicha): 15 Signs of Moral and Economic Collapse
The Babylonian Talmud records the traditions of the Tannaim and Amoraim regarding the generational crisis directly preceding the coming of the Son of David (the Messiah). The Sages cataloged 15 unmistakable symptoms: unprecedented insolence, hyperinflation where wine is expensive yet plentiful, houses of learning becoming brothels, wisdom of scholars rotting, the righteous despised, truth universally discarded, and youth treating mothers and elders with contempt.
בְּעִקְּבוֹת מְשִׁיחָא חוּצְפָא יִסְגֵּא, וְיוֹקֶר יַאֲמִיר; הַגֶּפֶן תִּתֵּן פִּרְיָהּ וְהַיַּיִן בְּיוֹקֶר, וְהַמַּלְכוּת תֵּהָפֵךְ לְמִינוּת... נַעֲרִים פְּנֵי זְקֵנִים יַלְבִּינוּ, זְקֵנִים יַעַמְדוּ מִפְּנֵי קְטַנִּים, בַּת קָמָה בְאִמָּהּ...
In the footsteps of the Messiah, insolence will increase and prices will soar; the vine will yield its fruit yet wine will be costly; the government will turn to heresy... youth will shame the face of elders, elders will stand before the young, a daughter will rise against her mother...
אֵין בֶּן דָּוִד בָּא עַד שֶׁתִּתְהַפֵּךְ כָּל הַמַּלְכוּת כֻּלָּהּ לְמִינוּת... עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה פְּרוּטָה מִן הַכִּיס...
The Son of David will not come until the entire kingdom is converted to heresy... and until the last small coin is depleted from the purse...
Symptoms of the Dark Age (Kali Yuga): Decay of Dharma, Wealth as Law, and Moral Collapse
The sage Sukadeva foretells to King Parikshit the exact moral and social degradation of Kali Yuga: religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, and memory will deteriorate day by day. In this age, physical wealth alone will be the marker of good birth and virtue; raw power will determine law and justice; deceit will be the primary virtue in business; and rulers, becoming indistinguishable from thieves, will mercilessly rob and tax their subjects until people flee into the forests to subsist on roots and leaves.
ततश्चानुदिनं धर्मः सत्यं शौचं क्षमा दया । कालेन बलिना राजन् नङ्क्ष्यत्यायुर्बलं स्मृतिः ॥ वित्तमेव कलौ नॄणां जन्माचारगुणोदयः । धर्मन्यायव्यवस्थायां कारणं बलमेव हि ॥
Then, day by day, religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, duration of life, physical strength, and memory will all diminish... In the age of Kali, wealth alone will be the sign of good birth, proper behavior, and fine qualities; and power alone will be the determinant of law and justice.
अनावृष्ट्या विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति दुर्भिक्षकरपीडिताः । शीतातपवातवर्षैर्हिमेश्रान्योन्यतः प्रजाः ॥
Harassed by famine and excessive taxes, people will resort to eating leaves, roots, flesh, wild honey, and seeds. Parched by drought, they will become completely ruined.
What scholars have said
Scholars cite it in part, or differ
Umar ibn al-Khattab & Abdullah ibn Amr (RA)Companions (RA)
Knowledge is not snatched out of people's hearts; it is taken by taking the scholars, until ignorant leaders are left who give rulings without knowledge. Umar: 'the taking of knowledge is the passing of the scholars'.
Sahih al-Bukhari 100; Fath al-Bari on Sahih al-Bukhari 7307
Imam Ibn Battal (with Ibn Hajar's commentary)d. 449 AH (~390-449 AH)
Ibn Battal said knowledge had decreased in his time. Ibn Hajar: that was the beginning; the narration means the state in which only pure ignorance is left, with a few scholars lost among the people.
Fath al-Bari, on Sahih al-Bukhari 7061
Allamah Muhammad Al-Barzanjid. 1103 AH (1040-1103 AH)
Lists 'knowledge is seized' (from a report of Ibn Mas'ud in Ibn Abi Shaybah) among these signs. He closes the chapter: these signs 'all exist, and increase day by day'.
al-Isha'a li-Ashrat al-Sa'a, ch. 2: signs that have appeared and not ended
Present-day data
These numbers show the world today beside the narration. They do not decide whether the sign has appeared; that is shown only through named scholars, in the Scholars' views tab.
'Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from people, but by taking the scholars, until no scholar is left; then people take ignorant leaders, who are asked and give rulings without knowledge, so they go astray and lead astray' (Sahih al-Bukhari 100). The ilm meant here is understanding of the religion (fiqh), the wisdom (hikmah) to put things in their right place and reach the right decision, and the fear of Allah it brings: 'Only those of His servants who have knowledge fear Allah' (Quran 35:28); 'whoever is given wisdom has been given much good' (Quran 2:269). It is a gift from Allah carried by the scholars, and it leaves when they pass and no one of their rank takes their place. The narrations describe how its loss shows: ignorant people asked and giving rulings (Sahih al-Bukhari 100); the Book still read but not acted on, as with earlier communities who still read the Torah and the Gospel (Sunan Ibn Majah 4048); and khushu' lifted first, so that a full mosque may hold no one with it (Jami' al-Tirmidhi 2653). Books and texts can remain everywhere while this ilm becomes rare.
Narrations behind this panel: Sahih al-Bukhari 100 · Sunan Ibn Majah 4048 · Sahih al-Bukhari 80 · Sahih al-Bukhari 7061
What the commentators said it means
- Knowledge leaves when the scholars die and no one like them replaces them: Abdullah ibn Amr (Sahih al-Bukhari 100), Umar ibn al-Khattab.
- 'Knowledge is not a great amount of narration; knowledge is the fear of Allah': Ibn Mas'ud. 'Knowledge is not a great amount of narration; it is a light Allah places in the heart': Imam Malik. Both quoted by Ibn Kathir in his Tafsir on Quran 35:28.
- The first knowledge to be lifted is khushu', humble presence before Allah, until you enter a large mosque and see no one with it: Ubadah ibn al-Samit, Jami' al-Tirmidhi 2653 (al-Tirmidhi: hasan gharib).
- Its beginnings were seen early; the sign is complete when only pure ignorance remains and the few scholars are lost among the people: Ibn Battal, Ibn Hajar.
- Whether an age can be without a mujtahid is debated: many later jurists held that independent ijtihad of the rank of the early imams had become rare, while al-Suyuti wrote al-Radd 'ala man akhlada ila al-ard to argue that no age is free of one.
- At the very end the Quran itself is lifted from the pages and hearts in one night: Hudhayfah's report in Sunan Ibn Majah, which Ibn Hajar calls strong.
68 AH · 687 CEAbdullah ibn Abbasعبد الله بن عباسTa'ifInterpreter of the QuranTafsir
Cousin of the Prophet ﷺ, who prayed for him: 'O Allah, give him understanding of the religion' (Sahih al-Bukhari 143). The Companions referred questions of the Quran to him.
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
110 AH · 728 CEal-Hasan al-Basriالحسن البصريBasraLeading Tabi'i, preacher of the heartZuhd, fiqh
Raised in the house of Umm Salamah; his sermons on sincerity and fear of Allah were remembered for centuries.
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Hasan al-Basri
150 AH · 767 CEImam Abu Hanifaأبو حنيفة النعمانBaghdadFounder of the Hanafi schoolFiqh
Taught in Kufa; built a method of reasoning from the Quran, Sunnah and the Companions' views. Died in prison after refusing the post of judge.
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Abu Hanifa
161 AH · 778 CESufyan al-Thawriسفيان الثوريBasra'Commander of the believers in hadith'Hadith, fiqh
A mujtahid of Kufa whose school was followed for a time; known for avoiding rulers.
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Sufyan al-Thawri
175 AH · 791 CEal-Layth ibn Sa'dالليث بن سعدFustat, EgyptImam of EgyptFiqh, hadith
Al-Shafi'i said he was more learned in fiqh than Malik, but his students did not preserve his school.
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Al-Layth ibn Sa'd
179 AH · 795 CEImam Malik ibn Anasمالك بن أنسMadinahAuthor of al-Muwatta, founder of the Maliki schoolHadith, fiqh
The Imam of Madinah, who built on the practice of its people. 'Knowledge is a light Allah places in the heart' is reported from him.
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Malik ibn Anas
181 AH · 797 CEAbdullah ibn al-Mubarakعبد الله بن المباركHit, IraqScholar, ascetic and frontier fighterHadith, zuhd
Joined knowledge, worship, generosity and jihad; said 'the isnad is part of the religion' (Sahih Muslim, introduction).
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
204 AH · 820 CEImam al-Shafi'iمحمد بن إدريس الشافعيFustat, EgyptAuthor of al-Risala, founder of the Shafi'i schoolUsul al-fiqh, fiqh
Student of Malik; first to set out the principles of deriving rulings (usul al-fiqh) in a book.
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Al-Shafi'i
241 AH · 855 CEImam Ahmad ibn Hanbalأحمد بن حنبلBaghdadAuthor of al-Musnad, founder of the Hanbali schoolHadith, fiqh
Stood firm under flogging and prison during the inquisition (mihna) over the createdness of the Quran.
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Ahmad ibn Hanbal
256 AH · 870 CEImam al-Bukhariمحمد بن إسماعيل البخاريKhartank, near SamarkandCompiler of Sahih al-BukhariHadith
Selected his Sahih from hundreds of thousands of narrations; the most trusted book after the Quran in Sunni scholarship.
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
261 AH · 875 CEImam Muslimمسلم بن الحجاجNishapurCompiler of Sahih MuslimHadith
Student of al-Bukhari; his Sahih is praised for gathering each narration's chains in one place.
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
310 AH · 923 CEImam al-Tabariمحمد بن جرير الطبريBaghdadAuthor of the great tafsir and historyTafsir, history, fiqh
His Jami' al-Bayan gathers the early generations' explanations of every verse.
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Al-Tabari
505 AH · 1111 CEImam al-Ghazaliأبو حامد الغزاليTus, KhurasanAuthor of Ihya' 'Ulum al-DinFiqh, theology, purification of the heart
Left his chair in Baghdad to seek sincerity, then wrote on reviving knowledge that leads to action and the fear of Allah.
- Biography in
- al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Al-Ghazali
676 AH · 1277 CEImam al-Nawawiيحيى بن شرف النوويNawa, SyriaAuthor of Riyad al-Salihin and the commentary on MuslimHadith, Shafi'i fiqh
Died at about 45 having written works still taught in every Muslim land.
- Biography in
- Ibn al-'Attar, Tuhfat al-Talibin
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Al-Nawawi
728 AH · 1328 CEIbn Taymiyyahابن تيميةDamascusJurist and theologianFiqh, theology
Wrote widely and was imprisoned several times for his views; died in the citadel of Damascus.
- Biography in
- Ibn Hajar, al-Durar al-Kamina
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Ibn Taymiyya
774 AH · 1373 CEIbn Kathirابن كثيرDamascusAuthor of the Tafsir and al-Bidaya wa'l-NihayaTafsir, history, hadith
His tafsir explains the Quran by the Quran, the Sunnah and the Companions; his history ends with the signs of the Hour.
- Biography in
- Ibn Hajar, al-Durar al-Kamina
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Ibn Kathir
852 AH · 1449 CEIbn Hajar al-Asqalaniابن حجر العسقلانيCairoAuthor of Fath al-BariHadith
His commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari is the standard reference, including on this sign.
- Biography in
- al-Sakhawi, al-Jawahir wa'l-Durar
911 AH · 1505 CEJalal al-Din al-Suyutiجلال الدين السيوطيCairoAuthor of hundreds of worksTafsir, hadith, fiqh, language
Co-author of Tafsir al-Jalalayn; argued that no age is left without a mujtahid.
- Biography in
- al-Suyuti, Husn al-Muhadara (autobiography)
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Al-Suyuti
1176 AH · 1762 CEShah Waliullah Dehlawiشاه ولي الله الدهلويDelhiAuthor of Hujjat Allah al-BalighaHadith, fiqh, the wisdom behind rulings
Revived hadith study in the subcontinent and translated the Quran into Persian; most chains of hadith teaching in South Asia pass through him.
- Biography in
- Abd al-Hayy al-Hasani, Nuzhat al-Khawatir
1239 AH · 1824 CEShah Abdul Aziz Dehlawiشاه عبد العزيز الدهلويDelhiSon and successor of Shah WaliullahTafsir, hadith
Taught hadith in Delhi for some sixty years; author of the Persian Tafsir Fath al-'Aziz.
- Biography in
- Abd al-Hayy al-Hasani, Nuzhat al-Khawatir
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Shah Abdul Aziz
1290 AH · 1873 CEKaramat Ali Jaunpuriكرامت علي الجونفوريRangpur, BengalPreacher of BengalDa'wah, fiqh
Spent about fifty years travelling Bengal by river, teaching the basics of the religion; buried in Rangpur.
- Biography in
- Abd al-Hayy al-Hasani, Nuzhat al-Khawatir
1297 AH · 1880 CEMuhammad Qasim Nanautaviمحمد قاسم النانوتويDeobandCo-founder of Darul Uloom DeobandTheology, hadith
Founded the madrasa at Deoband in 1866, from which thousands of madrasas in South Asia descend.
- Biography in
- Abd al-Hayy al-Hasani, Nuzhat al-Khawatir
1323 AH · 1905 CERashid Ahmad Gangohiرشيد أحمد الكنكوهيGangoh, IndiaJurist and teacher of hadithHadith, fiqh
Co-founder of Deoband; his hadith lessons were recorded by students as al-Kawkab al-Durri and Lami' al-Darari.
- Biography in
- Abd al-Hayy al-Hasani, Nuzhat al-Khawatir
1339 AH · 1920 CEMahmud Hasan Deobandi (Shaykh al-Hind)محمود حسن الديوبنديDelhiFirst student of Deoband, later its headHadith
Held in Malta by the British for over three years; translated the Quran into Urdu.
- Biography in
- Abd al-Hayy al-Hasani, Nuzhat al-Khawatir
1352 AH · 1933 CEAnwar Shah Kashmiriمحمد أنور شاه الكشميريDeobandMaster of hadith, famed for his memoryHadith
His lessons on Sahih al-Bukhari were compiled as Fayd al-Bari.
- Biography in
- Contemporary records and his students' biographies
1362 AH · 1943 CEAshraf Ali Thanwiأشرف علي التهانويThana Bhawan, India'Hakim al-Ummat', author of Bahishti ZewarFiqh, tafsir, purification of the heart
Wrote close to a thousand works, among them the tafsir Bayan al-Quran; his guidance on everyday life is read in Bengali homes.
- Biography in
- Contemporary records and his students' biographies
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Ashraf Ali Thanwi
1388 AH · 1969 CEShamsul Haque Faridpuriشمس الحق الفريدفوريDhakaFounder of Jamia Qurania Arabia, LalbaghTafsir, da'wah, education
Student of Ashraf Ali Thanwi; built Qawmi madrasa education in East Bengal and wrote in Bangla for ordinary readers.
- Biography in
- Contemporary records and his students' biographies
1393 AH · 1974 CEMuhammad al-Amin al-Shinqitiمحمد الأمين الشنقيطيMakkahAuthor of Adwa' al-BayanTafsir, usul
A Mauritanian scholar who taught in Madinah; his tafsir explains the Quran by the Quran.
- Biography in
- Contemporary records and his students' biographies
1396 AH · 1976 CEMufti Muhammad Shafiمحمد شفيع الديوبنديKarachiAuthor of Ma'arif al-QuranTafsir, fiqh
Grand mufti of Deoband, later founded Darul Uloom Karachi; his tafsir is widely read in Bangla translation.
- Biography in
- Contemporary records and his students' biographies
1402 AH · 1982 CEMuhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawiمحمد زكريا الكاندهلويMadinahShaykh al-Hadith of Saharanpur, author of Fada'il-e-A'malHadith
Taught Sahih al-Bukhari for decades and wrote Awjaz al-Masalik on al-Muwatta; buried in al-Baqi'.
- Biography in
- Contemporary records and his students' biographies
1419 AH · 1998 CEMuhammad Mutawalli al-Sha'rawiمحمد متولي الشعراويCairoExplainer of the Quran to ordinary peopleTafsir
An Azhar scholar whose plain-spoken tafsir lessons reached millions in the Arab world.
- Biography in
- Contemporary records and his students' biographies
1420 AH · 1999 CEAbd al-Aziz ibn Bazعبد العزيز بن بازTa'ifGrand Mufti of Saudi ArabiaFiqh, fatwa
Blind from youth; answered questions from across the world for decades.
- Biography in
- Contemporary records and his students' biographies
1420 AH · 1999 CEMuhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albaniمحمد ناصر الدين الألبانيAmmanGrader of hadithHadith
Graded the narrations of the Sunan collections; his gradings appear beside many narrations on this site.
- Biography in
- Contemporary records and his students' biographies
1420 AH · 1999 CEAbul Hasan Ali Nadwiأبو الحسن علي الحسني الندويRaebareli, IndiaHead of Nadwat al-Ulama, writerHistory, da'wah
Wrote 'What the World Lost by the Decline of Muslims' in Arabic; son of Abd al-Hayy al-Hasani.
- Biography in
- Contemporary records and his students' biographies
1421 AH · 2001 CEMuhammad ibn Salih al-Uthayminمحمد بن صالح العثيمينJeddahJurist and teacher in UnaizahFiqh
Known for clear teaching; his commentary al-Sharh al-Mumti' is widely studied.
- Biography in
- Contemporary records and his students' biographies
1436 AH · 2015 CEWahbah al-Zuhayliوهبة الزحيليDamascusAuthor of al-Fiqh al-Islami wa AdillatuhFiqh, tafsir
His encyclopaedia sets out the four schools side by side with their evidence.
- Biography in
- Contemporary records and his students' biographies
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Wahbah al-Zuhayli
Read with care
- Understanding, wisdom and the fear of Allah cannot be counted, so no chart measures this sign. Whether a given scholar or age measures up is for the scholars to judge, not this page.
- The list is a short selection of scholars whose standing is agreed across the Sunni schools, oldest first. It is not a ranking, many others belong on it, and it names only scholars who have passed away, never anyone living.
Draft: figures and wording await a researcher's check and the scholar board.