It is also related in a narration of al-Tayālisī and al-Nasāʾī from ʿAmr ibn Taghlib, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) say: “Among the signs immediately preceding the Hour will be … that merchants become numerous and knowledge becomes widespread” (1).
What this means—and Allah knows best—is that the means of acquiring knowledge, namely books, will become widespread.
In this age, books have become remarkably abundant and have spread throughout the world because of the availability of printing and copying equipment, which has facilitated their dissemination. Despite this, ignorance has become widespread among the people, while beneficial knowledge—knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah and acting upon them—has grown scarce. The abundance of books has availed them nothing (2).
39 — Neglecting the Sunnahs Encouraged by Islam
This includes neglecting the sacred rites of Allah Most High, as stated in the hadith of Ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) say: “Among the signs immediately preceding the Hour will be that a man passes through a mosque without praying two units of prayer there” (3).