كتاب العلمKnowledge

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “Pass on information from me, even if it is only a verse of the Qur’an; and relate traditions from the Bani Isra'il, for there is no restriction; but let him who deliberately lies against me come to his abode in hell.”

Bukhari transmitted it.

Samura b. Jundub and al-Mughira b. Shu'ba reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone relates a tradition from me thinking that

it is false, he is one of the liars.” Muslim transmitted it.

Mu'awiya reported God’s messenger as saying, “When God wishes

good for anyone He instructs him in the religion. I am only a distributor; God gives.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “Men are of

different origins just as gold and silver are; the best among them in

the pre-Islamic period are the best among them in Islam when they are

versed in the religion.” Muslim transmitted it.

a man to whom God has given property, empowering

him to dispose of it on what is right; and a man to whom God has given

wisdom who acts according to it and teaches it.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

sadaqa which continues to be supplied, or knowledge from which benefit

continues to be reaped, or the prayers of a good son for his dead father.”

Muslim transmitted it.

He also reported God’s messenger as saying, “ If anyone removes

one of the anxieties of this world from a believer, God will remove one

of the anxieties of the day of resurrection from him; if one smooths

the way for one who is destitute, God will smooth the way for him in

this world and the next; and if anyone conceals the faults of a Muslim,

God will conceal his faults, in this world and the next. God helps a

man as long as he helps his brother. If anyone pursues a path in

search of knowledge, God will thereby make easy for him a path to paradise. No company will gather in a mosque to recite God’s Book and

study it together without calmness descending on them, mercy covering

them, the angels surrounding them, and God mentioning them among

those who are with Him. But he who is made slow by his actions will

not be speeded by his genealogy.” Muslim transmitted it.

He also reported God’s messenger as saying, “The first person to

be judged on the day of resurrection will be a man who died as a martyr.

He will be brought forward, and after God has reminded him of the

favour He showed him and the man acknowledges it, He will ask,

‘What did you do to show gratitude for it?’ The man will reply, ‘I

fought for Thy cause till I was martyred.’ God will say, ‘You lie. You

fought that people might call you courageous, and they have done so.’

Command will then be issued about him, and he will be dragged on his

face and thrown into hell. Next a man who has acquired and taught

knowledge and read the Qur’an will be brought forward, and after God

has reminded him of the favour He showed him and the man acknowledges

it, He will ask, ‘What did you do to show gratitude for it?’ The man

will reply, ‘I acquired and taught knowledge and read the Qur’an for

Thy sake.’ God will say, 'You lie. You acquired knowledge that people

might call you learned, and you read the Qur’an that they might call

you a reader, and they have done so.’ Command will then be issued

about him, and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into hell.

Next a man whom God has made affluent and whom He has given all kinds

of property will be brought forward, and after God has reminded him

of the favour He showed him and the man acknowledges it, He will ask,

‘What did you do to show gratitude for it?’ The man will reply, ‘I

have not neglected to give liberally for Thy sake to all the causes

approved by Thee for this purpose.’ God will say, ‘You lie. You did

it that people might call you generous, and they have done so.’ Command will then be issued about him, and he will be dragged on his face

and thrown into hell.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “God does

not take away knowledge by removing it from men, but takes it away

by taking away the learned, so that when He leaves no learned man, men

will take ignorant men as leaders. Causes will be presented to them

and they will pass judgement without knowledge, erring and leading

others into error.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Shaqiq said that ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud used to exhort the people

every Thursday. A man said, “ I wish, Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman , that you

would give us a daily exhortation.” He replied, “My dislike of wearying you prevents me from that, so I am considerate in my exhortations

to you as God’s messenger was to us for fear of causing us aversion.”

(Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said that when the Prophet made a statement he repeated it

three times so that it would be understood, and that when he met a company and gave them a salutation he did it three times. Bukhari

transmitted it.

Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari told of a man who came to the Prophet and

said, “My camel has become jaded, so give me a mount.” On his replying that he had none, a man said, “Messenger of God, I can guide him

to one who will give him a mount.” God’s messenger then said, “He

who guides to what is good will have a reward equivalent to that of him

who does it.” Muslim transmitted it.

One early morning when they were with God’s messenger some people came to him who were scantily clad, wearing striped

woollen garments,* with swords over their shoulders; most, nay all of

them, belonging to Mudar. God’s messenger showed signs of anger on

his face because of the poverty-stricken state in which he saw them,

and went in. After a little he came out and gave orders to Bilal who

uttered the call to prayer and announced that the time to begin prayer

had come. When the Prophet had prayed, he delivered an address in

which he said, “ ‘Fear your Lord, people, who created you from one

soul . . . God watches over you.’ ‘Fear God, and let a soul look to

what it has sent forward for the morrow. Let a man give sadaqa

from his dinars and dirhams, his clothing, his sa‘ of wheat and sa‘ of

dates, even if it is only half a date.” Jarir said: One of the Ansar

brought a purse which was almost too big for his hand to hold, indeed

it was too big. Then people came one after the other till I saw two

mounds of food and clothing, with the result that I saw the face of God’s

messenger glowing as if it were golden. He then said, “If anyone establishes a good sunna in Islam he will have a reward for it and the

equivalent of the rewards of those who act upon it after him, without

theirs being diminished in any respect; but he who establishes a bad

sunna in Islam will bear the responsibility of it and the responsibility

of those who act upon it after him, without theirs being diminished in

any respect.” Muslim transmitted it.

*[The text has an-nimar au al-'aba, thus giving an alternative word. This is not indicated in

the translation above.]

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “No life is taken

unjustly without a portion of its blood being laid at the door of Adam’s

first son, because he was the first to introduce murder.” (Bukhari and

Muslim). We shall mention the tradition from Mu'awiya, “A section of

my people will continue .. .”* in the chapter on the reward of this

people, if God will.

*Book XXV, Chap. xli. The wording is slightly different.

Kathir b. Qais told how, when he was sitting with Abu Darda' in

the mosque of Damascus, a man came to him and said, “Abu Darda',

I have come to you from the town of the Messenger for a tradition I have

heard that you relate from God's messenger. I have come for no other

purpose.” He replied that he had heard God’s messenger say, “ If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge God will cause him to

travel on one of the roads of paradise, the angels will lower their wings

from good pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, and the inhabitants

of the heavens and the earth and the fish in the depth of the water will

ask forgiveness for him. The superiority of the learned man over the

devout man is like that of the moon on the night when it is full over the

rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the prophets who leave

neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who accepts it

accepts an abundant portion.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah

and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi calling Him Qais b. Kathir.

Two men, one learned and the

other devout, were mentioned to God’s messenger, who then said, “The

superiority of the learned man over the devout man is like mine over

the most contemptible among you,” adding, “God, His angels, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, even the ant in its hole and even

the fish invoke blessings on him who teaches men what is good.”

Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Darimi transmitted it from Makhul in mursal

form, but did not mention the two men. He said, “The superiority of

the learned man over the devout man is like mine over the most contemptible among you.” Then he recited this verse, “Only those of His

servants who are learned fear God," (35:28) 1 then went on with the tradition to

the end.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s messenger as saying, “ People

will follow you, and men will come to you from all regions of the earth

seeking understanding about the religion; so when they come to you,

give them good counsel.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “A word which

contains wisdom is the stray beast* of the wise man, so wherever he finds

it he is most entitled to it.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it,

Tirmidhi saying that this is a gharib tradition and that Ibrahim b. al-Fadl the transmitter is declared to be weak in tradition.

*i.e. something to be sought.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “One faqih has

more power over the devil than a thousand devout men.” Tirmidhi and

Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “The search for knowledge is an obligation laid on every Muslim, but he who commits it to

those who are unworthy of it is like one who puts necklaces of jewels,

pearls and gold on swine.” Ibn Majah transmitted it. Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman up to the word “Muslim”, saying that this

is a tradition whose text is well known but whose isnad is weak, it being

transmitted by many ways all of which are weak.

good behaviour and knowledge

of religion.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who goes out in

search of knowledge is in God’s path till he returns.” Tirmidhi and

Darimi transmitted it.

Sakhbara al-Azdi reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone

seeks knowledge, it will be an atonement for past sins.” Tirmidhi and

Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a tradition whose

isnad is weak, and that Abu Dawud the transmitter is declared to be

weak.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s messenger as saying, “A believer will never be satisfied with the good he hears till he reaches

paradise.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who is

asked about something he knows and conceals it will have a bridle of fire

put on him on the day of resurrection.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and

Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Anas.

Ka'b b. Malik reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone

seeks knowledge to use it in vying with the learned, or disputing with

the foolish, or to attract men’s attention to himself, God will bring him

into hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from

Ibn ‘Umar.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone

acquires knowledge of things by which God’s good pleasure is sought,

but acquires it only to get some worldly advantage, he will not experience the ‘arf, i.e. the odour, of paradise on the day of resurrection.”

Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

sincere action for God’s sake, good counsel to Muslims, and hold-

ing fast to their community, for their invitation includes those who are

beyond them.” Shafi‘i transmitted it, also Baihaqi in al-Madkhal.

Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it from

Zaid b. Thabit, but Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud did not mention, “There

are three things on account of which no rancour enters..." to the end.

Ibn Mas'ud said that he heard God’s messenger saying, “God

brighten a man who hears something from us and conveys it to others

as he heard it, for many a one to whom it is brought retains it better

than the one who heard it.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it,

and Darimi transmitted it from Abu Darda'.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Be on your guard

about tradition from me, except what you know; for he who lies about

me deliberately will certainly come to his abode in hell.” Tirmidhi

transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ibn Mas'ud and Jabir,

but did not mention, “ Be on your guard about tradition from me, except

what you know.”

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Let him who

interprets the Qur’an in the light of his opinion come to his abode

in hell.” A version has, “Let him who interprets the Qur’an without

knowledge come to his abode in hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Jundub reported God’s messenger as saying, “ If anyone interprets

the Qur’an in the light of his own opinion and is right, he has erred.”

Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Disputation

about the Qur’an is infidelity.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

they set parts of God’s Book against others, whereas God's

Book was sent down only to be consistent; so do not use parts to falsify

others. Speak about as much of it as you know, but where you are ignorant entrust it to him who knows.” Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God's messenger as saying, “The Qur'an was

sent down in seven modes. Every verse in it has an external and an

internal meaning, and every interdiction has a source of reference.”

Baghawi transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna.

a precise verse, or an established sunna, or

a firm obligatory duty. Anything else is an extra.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Auf b. Malik al-Ashja‘i reported God’s messenger as saying, "Only

a ruler, or one put in charge, or one who is presumptuous gives instruction."*

Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it from ' Amr b. Shu'aib from his father from his grandfather. A version has, "Or a hypocrite” instead of "one who is presumptuous”.

*The word used here is yaqussu, which may be translated as given above, but which may also

be translated as “inflicts punishment.”

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone is

given a legal decision ignorantly, the sin rests on the one who gave it;

and if anyone advises his brother, knowing that right guidance lies in

another direction, he has deceived him.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mu'awiya said that the Prophet forbade the discussion of thorny

questions. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "Learn the

things which are made obligatory and the Qur’an, and teach them to

people, for I shall die.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Darda’ told how God’s messenger, on an occasion when they

were with him, turned his eyes to the sky and said, "This is a time when

knowledge will be snatched away from men, so that they will be unable

to acquire any.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira transmitted , "The time is approaching when men will urge on their camels in search of knowledge, but

will find no one more learned than the learned man of Medina.” Tirmidhi transmitted it. and in his Jami' he quotes Ibn ‘Uyaina as saying

that Malik b. Anas was meant, and the same view is expressed by ‘Abd

ar-Razzaq. Ishab b. Musa said he heard Ibn ‘Uyaina say that he

was al-‘Umari the ascetic, whose name was ‘Abd al-‘Aziz b. ‘Abdallah.

He also reported among the material he knew to come from God’s

messenger that he said, "At the beginning of every century God will

send one who will renew its religion for this people.” Abu Dawud

transmitted it.

Ibrahim b. ‘Abd ar-Rahman al-‘Udhri reported God's messenger

as saying, "In every successive century those who are reliable authorities

will preserve this knowledge, rejecting the changes made by extremists, the plagiarisms of those who make false claims for themselves, and the

interpretations of the ignorant.”*

*The source is lacking. The editor of the Damascus edition of the Mishkat says the tradition

is given by Baihaqi in al-Madkhal.

We shall mention Jabir’s tradition, “The only cure for perplexity is

to ask”* in the chapter on performing ablution with sand, if God will.

*Book 111. Chap. xi, section ii.

Al-Hasan reported in mursal form that God’s messenger said, “If

death comes to anyone when he is seeking knowledge with the purpose

of using it to revivify Islam, there will be only one degree between him

and the prophets in paradise.” Darimi transmitted it.

He also reported in mursal form that God’s messenger was asked

which of two men who had been among the B. Isra’il was superior, one

who was a learned man who observed the prescribed prayers, then sat

and taught men what is good, the other who fasted by day and prayed

during the night. He replied, “The superiority of this learned man who

observed the prescribed prayers, then sat and taught men what is good

over the devout man who fasted by day and prayed during the night is

like my superiority over the most contemptible among you.” Darimi

transmitted it.

‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, “Good is the man learned

in religion who, if people have need of him benefits them, but who, if

they ignore him enriches himself.”* Razin transmitted it.

*i.e. with religious exercises and study.

Ikrima reported Ibn ‘Abbas as saying, “Talk to the people once

every Friday, but if you object, then twice, and if you want more, then

three times, but do not weary the people with this Qur’an. And do not

let me find you coming to the people when they are talking about their

concerns, interrupting them in their talk by addressing them, and so

wearying them. Keep silent, and when they request you, talk to them

at a time when they want it. Look out for rhymed prose in supplications and avoid it, for I know that God’s messenger and his companions

did not use it.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Wathila b. al-Asqa‘ reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who seeks knowledge and attains it will have a double portion of reward,

but if he does not attain it he will have a single portion of reward."

Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Among the

actions and good deeds for which a believer will continue to receive reward after his death are knowledge which he taught and spread, a good

son whom he left behind, or a copy of the Qur'an which he left as a

legacy, or a mosque which he built, or a house which he built for the

traveller, or a stream which he caused to flow, or a sadaqa which he

gave from his property when he was alive and well, for which he will

continue to receive reward after his death.” Ibn Majah transmitted it,

and also Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-iman.

‘Aisha said she heard God’s messenger say that God revealed

to him, “ If anyone follows a path in search of knowledge, I shall make

easy for him the road to paradise; and if I deprive anyone of his eyes,

I shall guarantee paradise to him in return for them. Superiority in

knowledge is better than superiority in worship, and the basis of the

religion is abstinence.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Studying together for an hour during the night

is better than spending the whole night in devotions.” Darimi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr told of God’s messenger coming upon two

groups in his mosque and saying, “They are both engaged in what is

good, but one of them is superior to the other. These ones are praying and supplicating God who, if He wills, may answer their prayers

but, if He wills, may refuse them. Those ones are learning knowledge*

and teaching the ignorant, so they are superior. I was sent only as a

teacher.” He then sat down among them. Darimi transmitted it.

*The text has al-fiqh au al-'ilm, fiqh and ‘ilm having the same meaning, but the transmitter of the

tradition was not sure which word was used by the Prophet on this occasion.

Abu Darda’ told how God’s messenger, when asked how much a

man had to learn to become a faqih, replied, “ If anyone preserves for

my people forty traditions concerning their religion, God will raise him

up in the next world as a faqih, and I shall be an intercessor and witness

for him on the day of resurrection.”

Anas b. Malik said that God’s messenger asked, “Do you know

who is most generous?" On receiving the reply that God and His

messenger knew best, he said, “God is the most generous, then I am the

most generous of mankind, and the most generous of them after me will

be a man who acquires knowledge and spreads it. On the day of resurrection he will come as a prince alone.” Or he said, “As one people."

he who is greedy for knowledge can never get

enough of it, and he who is greedy for worldly goods can never get

enough of them." Baihaqi transmitted the three traditions in Shu'ab

al-iman, and quoted the imam Ahmad as saying about Abu Darda''s

tradition, “This is a well-known text among the people, but it does not

have a sound isnad."

‘Aun reported Ibn Mas'ud as saying, “Two greedy ones never

attain satisfaction, the learned man and the worldly man, but they are

not equal. The learned man becomes more pleasing to the Compassionate One, but the worldly man perseveres in transgression." Then

‘Abdallah recited, “Nay, but man transgresses in considering that he

is self-sufficient. "* He added, “The other is preferable, for ‘only those

of His servants who are learned fear God.’ " Darimi transmitted it.

*Qur’an, xcvi, 6 f.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Some among

my people will become learned in religion, will recite the Qur’an, and

say that they will go to princes and get some of their worldly goods,

but withdraw from them with their religion. That cannot be; for, as

what is gathered from tragacanth trees consists only of thorns, so what

is gathered from drawing near to them consists only of . . . ” Muhammad

b. as-Sabbah said that he obviously meant “sins." Ibn Majah transmitted it.

If the learned were to guard learning

and entrust it to those who are worthy of it, they would thereby, rule

their contemporaries. But they have bestowed it on worldly people to

get thereby some of their worldly goods, and have been despised by

them. I heard your Prophet say, "If anyone makes the care of his

eternal welfare the sum total of his cares God will protect him from

worldly care, but if he has a variety of cares consisting of matters related to this world God will not be concerned in which of its wadis he

perishes.” Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Baihaqi transmitted it in

Shu'ab al-iman from Ibn ‘Umar beginning with "If anyone makes the

care.”

Al-A‘mash reported God’s messenger as saying, "The calamity

which affects knowledge is forgetfulness, and wasting it is to convey it to

those who are unworthy of it.” Darimi transmitted it in mursal form.

Sufyan said that ‘Umar b. al-Khattab asked Ka‘b who were the lords

of knowledge, and he replied that they are those who act according to

what they know. He then asked what it is that takes knowledge from

the hearts of the learned and was told that it is covetousness. Darimi

transmitted it.

Al-Ahwas b. Hakim told on his father’s authority that a man asked

the Prophet about evil, and he replied, "Do not ask me about evil, but

ask me about good,” saying it three times. Then he said, "The worst

evil consists in learned men who are evil, and the best good consists in

learned men who are good.” Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Darda’ said that the one who would have the worst position in

God’s sight on the day of resurrection would be a learned man who did

not profit from his learning.” Darimi transmitted it.

Ziyad b. Hudair said that ‘Umar asked him whether he knew what

demolishes Islam, and that when he replied that he did not, he said,

"The slip of a learned man, the disputation of a hypocrite about the

Book, and the rule of imams who lead men astray.” Darimi transmitted

it.

knowledge in the

heart, which is the beneficial type; and knowledge on the tongue, which

is God’s allegation against a human being.” Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said, "I have kept in my memory two large quantities*

of learning from God’s messenger, one of which I have disclosed among

you; but were I to disclose the other, this bul'um, meaning the food

tract, would be cut". Bukhari transmitted it.

*Lit. receptacles, or vessels.

If any of you people knows anything he should

make it known, but if anyone does not know he should say that God

knows best, for saying this when one does not know is a part of knowledge. God said to His prophet, “Say, I do not ask you for any reward

for it, and I am not a pretender.”* (Bukhari and Muslim.)

*Qur’an, xxxviii, 86.

Ibn Sirin said, “This knowledge is a religion, so consider from whom

you receive your religion.” Muslim transmitted it.

Hudhaifa said, “ If you Qur'an readers follow a straight course you

will have attained great precedence; but if you go right and left you will

have fallen into vast error.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Seek refuge in

God from the pit of sorrow.” On being asked what the pit of sorrow was,

he replied, “ It is a wadi in jahannam from which jahannam seeks refuge four hundred times every day.” When God’s messenger was asked

who would enter it, he replied, “The Qur’an readers who are ostentatious in what they do.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah has the

same, adding in it, “Among the Qur’an readers who are most hateful to

God are those who visit princes.” Al-Muharibi said that he meant

tyrants.

‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, “ A time is soon coming to

mankind when nothing of Islam but its name will remain and only the

written form of the Qur’an will remain. Their mosques will be in fine

condition but will be devoid of guidance, their learned men will be the

worst people under heaven, corruption coming forth from them and

returning among them.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

The Prophet mentioned a matter, saying,

“That will be at the time when knowledge departs.” I asked, “How can

knowledge depart when we recite the Qur’an and teach it to our children

and they will teach it to their children up till the day of resurrection?”

He replied, “ I am astonished at you,* Ziyad. I thought you were the

most learned man in Medina. Do not these Jews and Christians read the

Torah and the Injil without knowing a thing about their contents?”

Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi transmitted something

similar from him, as did Darimi from Abu Umama.

Ibn Mas'ud reported that God's messenger said to him, "Acquire

knowledge and teach it to the people, learn the obligatory duties and

teach them to the people, learn the Qur’an and teach it to the people;

for I am a man who will be taken away, knowledge will be taken away,

dissensions will appear, so that two men will disagree about an obligatory duty and find no one to decide between them.” Darimi and

Daraqutni transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "Knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure from which nothing is expended in God’s path.” Darimi transmitted it.