حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ أَبِي الأَسْوَدِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا الْحَارِثُ بْنُ حَصِيرَةَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ: إِنَّكُمْ فِي زَمَانٍ: كَثِيرٌ فُقَهَاؤُهُ، قَلِيلٌ خُطَبَاؤُهُ، قَلِيلٌ سُؤَّالُهُ، كَثِيرٌ مُعْطُوهُ، الْعَمَلُ فِيهِ قَائِدٌ لِلْهَوَى. وَسَيَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِكُمْ زَمَانٌ: قَلِيلٌ فُقَهَاؤُهُ، كَثِيرٌ خُطَبَاؤُهُ، كَثِيرٌ سُؤَّالُهُ، قَلِيلٌ مُعْطُوهُ، الْهَوَى فِيهِ قَائِدٌ لِلْعَمَلِ، اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ حُسْنَ الْهَدْيِ، فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ، خَيْرٌ مِنْ بَعْضِ الْعَمَلِ.
Ibn Mas'ud was heard to say, "You are living at a time when there are many men of understanding and few orators. There are few who ask and many who give. In it there is more action than diversion. After you there will come a time when there are few men of understanding and many orators. There will be many who ask and few who give. Guidance in it directs action. Know that right guidance at the end of time is better than some actions."
Cited in Al-Adab al-Mufrad (No. 789).