What is the ignorance in religious sciences? What is knowledge ignorance?
It is stated in a prophetic narration:
“Study the Qur’an and teach it to the people. Learn the knowledge related to inheritance and teach it to the people. The Last Day is near when two people will dispute regarding rulings on inheritance and will find no one of knowledge to decide between them.” (Haythami, IV, 223)
Learning the religious sciences and living in accordance with them is incumbent upon every Muslim. The failure of Muslims to be sufficiently engaged with the religious sciences due to the weakening of their religious commitment and to therefore be unable to sincerely practice their religion is also one of the signs of the Last Day.
It is stated in another narration:
“Islam will wear away as embroidery on a garment wears away, until no one will know what fasting, prayer, pilgrimage rites and charity are. The Book of Allah will be taken away in one night, and not even a single verse of it will remain on earth. And there will be some people left, old men and old women, who will say:
‘We saw our fathers saying the words, La ilaha illallah, so we say them too.'”[1]
When Hudhayfa (may Allah be well pleased with him) narrated this Narration, Sila ibn Zufar (may Allah be well pleased with him) who was next to him, said, ‘What good will saying La ilaha illallah do them, when they do not know what fasting, prayer, pilgrimage rites and charity are?’
Hudhayfa (may Allah be well pleased with him) did not respond. Sila ibn Zufar, repeated his question three times and Hudhayfa turned away from him each time.
When Sila repeated his question one more time, Hudhayfa said, ‘O Sila, it will save them from the Fire,’ repeating his words thrice.” (Ibn Maja, Fitan, 26)
Similarly, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has stated:
“Among the signs of the Hour are the disappearance of knowledge, the establishment of ignorance, the drinking of wine and the prevalence of fornication.” (Bukhari, ‘Ilm, 21)
Prevalent ignorance in the religious sciences can be seen clearly in the present day. In the same way, the prevalence of alcohol consumption and fornication is a bitter truth that is widely-accepted. In our day, the situation of those who regard as ‘backwardness’ the treatment of fornication as a crime, who know no bounds in the gratification of their bodily desires, and who openly “fornicate like donkeys”,[2] is no different to that of those unfortunate souls upon whom the Hour will come.
The transgressions mentioned here are especially mentioned because they demonstrate the collapse of the essentials of religion known as zarurat al-diniyya upon which this world and the Next World are established and through these principles they are protected. The disappearance of knowledge results in corruption of the Religion, alcohol gives rise to the loss of one’s senses, fornication leads to the degeneration of future generations, and the increase of turmoil and tribulation causes harm to come to life and property. However, the most important duty of Muslims is to protect these five things. The deterioration of these five important essentials, also called zarurat al-khamsa, is the greatest precursor of the world’s destruction. For it is a Divine promise that mankind will not be left to their own devices, until the end of time.[3] Given that no Prophet will come after the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) it is certain that those who forsake these trusts will face ruin and destruction.
[1] As a matter of fact, a similar state of affairs has been witnessed for years on end in Central Asia, which remained under the yoke of Communism, and especially in China and Russia.
[2] Muslim, Fitan, 110. See also, Tirmidhi, Fitan, 59; Ibn Maja, Fitan, 33.
[3] See, 75:36.
Source: Osman Nuri Topbaş , Journey To Eternity, Erkam Publications
