Fear of Three Shortcomings Coming in the Ummah

عن أبي مالك الأشعري أنه سمع النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم يقول لا أخاف على أمتي إلا ثلاث خلال أن يكثر لهم من الدنيا فيتحاسدوا وأن يفتح لهم الكتاب يأخذه المؤمن يبتغي تأويله وما يعلم تأويله إلا الله والراسخون في العلم يقولون آمنا به كل من عند ربنا وما يذكر إلا أولو الألباب وأن يروا ذا علم فيضيعوه ولا يبالوا عليه رواه الطبراني في الكبير (الترغيب والترهيب 1/152)

Hazrat Abu Maalik Ash’ari (Radhiyallahu Anhu) reports that he heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) say “I particularly fear three shortcomings in my Ummah. Firstly, due to the abundance of material wealth and possessions, jealousy for one another will spread among them. Secondly, they will begin to freely discuss the Holy Qur’aan (without referring to the Ulama and the learned), whereas many meanings in the Qur’aan are such that they cannot be understood by anyone except Allah Ta’ala. (In regard to such verses), the well-versed scholars of the Book say: “We fully believe in it, and that it has come from Allah Ta’ala.” (Thus how much more careful should the common people be.) Thirdly, the religious scholars will be neglected and ignored and people will not see the need to refer to them (people will adopt the approach of self-study in Deen and refer to the Qur’aan and Hadith directly).”