Sahih Muslim Book - 47, Hadith - 6796

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، سَمِعْتَ عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ ، يَقُولُ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، يَقُولُ : إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَقْبِضُ الْعِلْمَ انْتِزَاعًا يَنْتَزِعُهُ مِنَ النَّاسِ ، وَلَكِنْ يَقْبِضُ الْعِلْمَ بِقَبْضِ الْعُلَمَاءِ ، حَتَّى إِذَا لَمْ يَتْرُكْ عَالِمًا ، اتَّخَذَ النَّاسُ رُؤُوسًا جُهَّالاً ، فَسُئِلُوا فَأَفْتَوْا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ، فَضَلُّوا وَأَضَلُّوا.

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) say: 'Allah will not take away knowledge by snatching it away from the people. Rather, He will take away knowledge by taking away the scholars until, when there is no scholar left, people will turn to ignorant leaders who will be asked questions and will issue Fatawa (rulings) without knowledge. They will go astray and lead others astray."'