He therefore told them that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had said, “No era will come upon people except that the one after it is worse than it—until you meet your Lord.” This report, then, is akin to the ḥadith we have just mentioned. For that reason you observe people deteriorating year after year compared to the year before. The righteous pass away first, one by one. In earlier days you would see people standing in prayer at night, fasting by day, giving from their provisions and preferring others over themselves. Today, however, people change from one year to the next for the worse: they stay up at night in pursuits that do not constitute obedience to Allah, sleep during the day, or busy themselves with amusement or with buying and selling rife with deceit, lying, and betrayal—Allah’s refuge is sought. People are slipping into an ever-lower state; yet, despite this, there is still goodness among them. Without doubt—and all praise belongs to Allah—there are those who appear to remain upright upon the religion of Allah. Nevertheless, what matters is the general, overall condition.

For that reason the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also informed us—as in the third ḥadith narrated by al-Bukhari—that when punishment descends upon a people it envelops everyone, just as Allah the Exalted says, “Beware of a trial that will not strike only the wrongdoers among you; and know that Allah is severe in punishment” (Qur’an 8:25). Yet they will be raised on the Day of Resurrection according to their intentions—each person upon what he was.

Accordingly, one must beware of becoming part of the dregs, like the refuse of barley or dates, and must strive to remain steadfast upon Allah’s command even if the rest of the people should perish. If collective punishment does befall them, every individual will still be resurrected in accordance with his own intention.