In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

The Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: “Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people, but He takes it away by taking away death of the religious scholars till none of the scholars remains alive. Then the people will take ignorant ones as their leaders, who, when asked to deliver religious verdicts, will issue them without knowledge, the result being that they will go astray and will lead others astray.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Al-Haafidh Al-Qurtubiy (rahimahullaah) stated in Al-Mufhim: ‘’This text (proves) that indeed the disappearance of knowledge will not be by way of its removal from the hearts (of the people); but (its disappearance) will be through the death of the scholars, (then) the ignorant people will remain- those who will occupy the place of the scholars in the (field) of giving verdicts and teaching.  They will teach and give verdicts based on ignorance, so ignorance will spread and become manifest.’’ [End of quote]

Then Shaikh Abdullaah Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah preserve him) said after the above quote: ‘’So if the ‘Sound Sunni knowledge’ is taken away, then acting upon it will be taken away-is that not the case? When ignorance manifests, acting upon it will become manifest; so both knowledge and acting upon (Knowledge) will disappear. Ignorance will manifest and acting upon (ignorance) will become widespread just as Al-Haafidh Al-Qurtubiy (rahimahullaah) clarified in Al-Mufhim.” [Source: Al-Hajr Fee Daw-il Kitaab Was-Sunnah Wa Fahm Salafil Ummah’ Page: 15-16 by Shaikh Abdullaah Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah preserve him)]