You are in a time when men of understanding are many, but reciters of the Qur’an are few; when the limits of behavior defined in the Qur’an are guarded, but its letters lost; when few people ask, but many give; when they make the prayer long and the khutbah short; and when they put their actions before their desires. A time will come when men of understanding will be few; but reciters of the Qur’an are many; when the letters of the Qur’an be guarded, but its limits lost; when many will ask, but few will give; when they will make their khutbahs long, and the prayers short; and when they will put their desires before their actions.

—’Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd [d. 32H]

[Mishkat al-Masabeeh]

(Read on pg 82. Dr. Gower Yusuf, Al-Jumu’ah: The Day of Congregation. IIPH. Riyadh: 2010.)