English Translation

Ali b. Bahr told us, saying: Muhammad b. Himyar al-Himsi told us, saying: Ibrahim b. Abi Ablah told me, from al-Walid b. Abd al-Rahman al-Jurashi, who said: Jubayr b. Nufayr told us, from Awf b. Malik, who said: While we were sitting one day with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he looked up at the sky and said, "This is the time when knowledge is about to be taken away." A man from the Ansar named Ziyad b. Labid said to him, "Will knowledge be taken away, O Messenger of Allah, while the Book of Allah is among us, and we have taught it to our sons and our women?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "I had thought you were among the most understanding people of Madinah." Then he mentioned the misguidance of the People of the Two Books, while they had with them what they had of the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Jubayr b. Nufayr later met Shaddad b. Aws at the place of prayer and told him this hadith from Awf b. Malik. He said, "Awf spoke the truth." Then he said, "Do you know what the removal of knowledge is?" I said, "I do not know." He said, "It is the disappearance of its bearers." He said, "Do you know what knowledge is first to be taken away?" I said, "I do not know." He said, "Humble reverence, until you can hardly find anyone reverent."