and their going so far in sin that no admonition can benefit them and no reminder can turn them away from their misguidance. The Almighty says, in effect: “When they have reached such a state, We shall bring forth for them a beast from the earth that will speak to them”—that is, a beast that understands and speaks, although beasts ordinarily possess neither speech nor reason—so that people may know that this is a sign from Allah Most High (1).

Abd Allah ibn Masūd—may Allah be pleased with him—said: “The Word will be fulfilled against them when the scholars die, knowledge disappears, and the Quran is taken away.”

He then said: “Recite the Quran abundantly before it is taken away.” They asked, “These written copies may be taken away, but what of what is in people’s hearts?!” He replied: “It will be taken away during the night, and by morning they will be utterly devoid of it. They will forget even ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,’ and will revert to the sayings and poetry of the Age of Ignorance. That is when the Word will be fulfilled against them” (2).

B. Evidence from the Purified Sunnah:

1. Imam Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayra—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “There are three things which, when they emerge, no soul will benefit from its faith if it had not believed before or earned some good through its faith: the sun rising from the west, the Dajjal, and the Beast of the Earth” (3).

2. Muslim also narrated from Abd Allah ibn Amr—may Allah be pleased with them both—who said: “I memorized from