‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, “ A time is soon coming to
mankind when nothing of Islam but its name will remain and only the
written form of the Qur’an will remain. Their mosques will be in fine
condition but will be devoid of guidance, their learned men will be the
worst people under heaven, corruption coming forth from them and
returning among them.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Seek refuge in
God from the pit of sorrow.” On being asked what the pit of sorrow was,
he replied, “ It is a wadi in jahannam from which jahannam seeks refuge four hundred times every day.” When God’s messenger was asked
who would enter it, he replied, “The Qur’an readers who are ostentatious in what they do.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah has the
same, adding in it, “Among the Qur’an readers who are most hateful to
God are those who visit princes.” Al-Muharibi said that he meant
tyrants.
The Prophet mentioned a matter, saying,
“That will be at the time when knowledge departs.” I asked, “How can
knowledge depart when we recite the Qur’an and teach it to our children
and they will teach it to their children up till the day of resurrection?”
He replied, “ I am astonished at you,* Ziyad. I thought you were the
most learned man in Medina. Do not these Jews and Christians read the
Torah and the Injil without knowing a thing about their contents?”
Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi transmitted something
similar from him, as did Darimi from Abu Umama.
Hudhaifa said, “ If you Qur'an readers follow a straight course you
will have attained great precedence; but if you go right and left you will
have fallen into vast error.” Bukhari transmitted it.
