Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah Almighty will take away the scholars, and He will take away knowledge along with them. Then young people will come forward who will contend with one another, and the elderly man among them will be regarded as weak."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain mentions that Hajjaj bin Rishdin bin Sa'd narrated it from his father. Hajjaj was declared da'if (weak) by Ibn Adi, and no one declared him thiqah (trustworthy); there is disagreement over using his father as evidence, though most declared him da'if (weak).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب العلم / 982
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف، حجاج بن رشدین اور ان کے والد رشدین بن سعد کے ضعف کی وجہ سے۔
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الامام الطبراني فى معجم الاوسط 1892 ، أخرجه المعجم الأوسط للطبراني برقم: 1913»