32—The Passing of the Righteous
Among its signs are the passing of the righteous, the dwindling number of virtuous people, and the proliferation of the wicked, until none remain but the worst of people, upon whom the Hour will come.
It is narrated from Abd Allah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The Hour will not come until Allah takes away the righteous (1) from among the people of the earth, leaving only rabble (2) who neither recognize what is right nor condemn what is wrong” (3).
That is, Allah will take away the people of goodness and religion, leaving behind the rabble, the lowliest of people, and those in whom there is no good. This will occur when knowledge is taken away and people appoint ignorant men as leaders who issue fatwas without knowledge.
Amr ibn Shuayb narrated from his father, from his grandfather, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A time will come upon people when they will be thoroughly sifted, leaving only dregs (4) among them; into confusion will have fallen (5)