36/26. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4051 — Ignorance, Lost Knowledge, and Killing
The disappearance of the Quran and Knowledge
Ignorance Will Spread: A Hadith on Knowledge Disappearing and Harj
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4051
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4051
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ شَقِيقٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ أَيَّامًا يَنْزِلُ فِيهَا الْجَهْلُ وَيُرْفَعُ فِيهَا الْعِلْمُ وَيَكْثُرُ فِيهَا الْهَرْجُ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا الْهَرْجُ قَالَ " الْقَتْلُ " .
Abu Musa Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “After you days will come when ignorance will become widespread, knowledge will disappear and there will be much Harj.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, what is Harj?” He said: “Killing.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4051In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 126English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4051
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4051
This Hadith about ignorance and Harj is very close in meaning to other narrations on the signs before the Hour. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that days would come after the companions when ignorance would become widespread, knowledge would disappear, and Harj would become much. When they asked what Harj meant, he answered: killing. The core topic is Ignorance. The Hadith is simple but serious. It shows that losing knowledge changes society. Ignorance does not stay private; it can appear with public harm and killing. For searchers asking what Harj means in Islam, this Hadith gives a clear answer from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ignorance spreading is named as a future sign.
- Knowledge disappearing is treated as a serious loss.
- Harj is clearly explained as killing.
- The Hadith connects public violence with a decline in knowledge.
