There will come a time upon the people when nothing of the...
There will come a time upon the people when nothing of the Qur’an will remain except its written text, and nothing of Islam [will remain] but its name; on that day their masjids will be marvellously constructed buildings, but will be empty of (or desolate with regards to) guidance. 16ـ يَأْتي عَلَى النّاسِ زَمانٌ لايَبْقى مِنَ القُرْآنِ إلاّ رَسْمُهُ، ولامِنَ الإسْلامِ إلاّ اسْمُهُ، مَساجِدُهُمْ يَوْمَئِذ عامِرَةٌ مِنَ البُنى (البِناءِ)، خالِيَةٌ (خرّابٌ)عَنِ الهُدى.
A time will come upon the people when none will be given a high position except the slanderer, none will be deemed witty except the corrupt and none will be regarded as weak but the just. People will consider charity as a loss, keeping ties with near relatives as an obligation and worship as a means of gaining superiority over people. Vain desires will overcome them and guidance will disappear from among them.
17ـ يَأْتي عَلَى النّاسِ زَمانٌ لايُقَرَّبُ فيهِ إلاّ الماحِلُ، ولايُسْتَظْرَفُ فيهِ إلاّ الفاجِرُ، ولايُضَعَّفُ فيهِ إلاّ المُنْصِفُ، يَعُدُّونَ الصَّدَقَةَ غُرْماً، وصِلَةَ الرَّحِمِ مَنّاً، والعِبادَةَ اسْتَطالَةً عَلَى النّاسِ، ويَظْهَرُ عَلَيْهِمُ الهَوى، ويَخْفى بَيْنَهُمُ الهُدى. The camel growls after its silence, and time pounces [attacking] like a rapacious beast of prey. 18ـ هَدَرَ فَنيقُ الباطِلِ بَعْدَ كَظُوم، وصالَ الدَّهْرُ صِيالَ السَّبُعِ العَقُورِ.
By the One who split the seed and created humankind, there will surely come forth amongst you a community that will strike the heads on the interpretation of the Qur’an just as Muhammad (s) began [conveying to you] its revelation, this is the decree from the Most Merciful upon you in the end of days.
19ـ وَالَّذي فَلَقَ الحَبَّةَ، وبَرِيَ النَّسَمَةَ، لَيَظْهَرَنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ قَوْمٌ، يَضْرِبُونَ الْهامَ عَلى تَأوِيلِ القُرْآنِ كَما بَدَأَكُمْ مُحَمَّدٌ عَلى تَنْزيلِهِ، ذلِكُمْ حُكْمٌ مِنَ الرَّحْمنِ عَلَيْكُمْ في آخِرِ الزَّمانِ. Do not plunge into the surge (or fire) of sedition that comes your way, and move away from its path while opening up the middle of the road for it [to pass].
20ـ لاتَقْتَحِمُوا مَا اسْتَقْبَلْتُمْ مِنْ فَوْرِ(نارِ) الفِتْنَةِ وأميطُوا عَنْ سَنَنِها، وَخَلُّوا قَصْدَ السَّبيلِ لَها. He will direct desires towards guidance when [people] will have turned guidance towards desires, and he will turn his opinion towards the Qur’an when they turn the Qur’an towards their opinions.
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