41. Chapters on Knowledge
When Allah Wants Good For A Slave, He Gives Him Understanding In The Religion
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "For whomever Allah wants good, he gives him understanding in the religion.
The Virtue Of Seeking Knowledge
Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever takes a path upon which to obtain knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him." Narrated Anas bin Malik: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever goes out seeking knowledge, then he is in Allah's cause until he returns." Narrated 'Abdullah bin Sakhbarah: narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever seeks knowledge, he is atoning for what has passed (of sins while doing so)."
What Has Been Related About Concealing Knowledge
Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever is asked about some knowledge that he knows, then he conceals it, he will be bridled with bridle of fire."
What Has Been Related About Exhortation Regarding One Who Seeks Knowledge
Narrated Abu Harun [Al-'Abdi]: "We went to Abu Sa'eed and he said: 'Welcome with the exhortation of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Indeed the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Surely, the people are followers of you, and men will certainly come to you from the regions of the earth to gain understanding in the religion. So when they come to you exhort them with good." Narrated Abu Harun [Al-'Abdi]: from Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Men will come to you from the direction of the east to learn. So when they come to you then exhort them to good." He said: "When Abu Sa'eed saw us he would say: 'Welcome with the exhortation of the Messenger of Allah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family.'"
What Has Been Related About Knowledge Leaving
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed Allah does not take away knowledge by removing it from the people, but He takes away knowledge by taking the scholars, until there remains no scholar and the people begin to ask the ignorant leaders, so they give their verdict without knowledge. They will go astray and lead the people astray." Narrated Jubair bin Nufair: from Abu Ad-Darda who said: "We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) when he raised his sight to the sky, then he said: 'This is the time when knowledge is to be taken from the people, until what remains of it shall not amount to anything." So Ziyad bin Labid Al-Ansari said: 'How will it be taken from us while we recite the Qur'an. By Allah we recite it, and our women and children recite it?' He (ﷺ) said: 'May you be bereaved of your mother O Ziyad! I used to consider you among the Fuqaha of the people of Al-Madinah. The Tawrah and Injil are with the Jews and Christians, but what do they avail of them?'" Jubair said: "So I met 'Ubadah bin As-Samit and said to him: 'Have you not heard what your brother Abu Ad-Darda said?' Then I informed him of what Abu Ad-Darda said. He said: 'Abu Ad-Darda spoke the truth. If you wish, we shall narrated to you about the first knowledge to be removed from the people: It is Khushu', soon you will enter the congregational Masjid, but not see any man in it with Khushu'.'"
About One Who Seeks The World With His Knowledge
Narrated Ibn Ka'b bin Malik: from his father that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: "Whoever seeks knowledge to contend with the scholars, or to use it to argue with the fools, and to have people's faces turn towards him, then he shall be admitted to the Fire." Narrated Ibn 'Umar: that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever learns knowledge for other than (the sake of) Allah, or intends by it other than Allah, then let him take his seat in the Fire."
What Has Been Related About The Encouragement To Convey What Is Heard
Narrated 'Abdur-Rahman bin Aban bin 'Uthman: from his father who said: "Zaid bin Thabit left to go to Marwan during the middle of the day. We said: 'He did not send for him [during] this hour except to ask him about something.' So we got up to ask him, and he said: 'Yes, he asked us about something we heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: "May Allah gladden a man who hears a Hadith from us, so he memorizes it until he conveys it to someone else. Perhaps he carries Fiqh to one who is more understanding than him, and perhaps the one who carries the Fiqh is not a Faqih." Narrated Simak bin Hard: "I heard 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud narrating from his father who said: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: 'May Allah gladden a man who hears something from us, so he conveys it as he heard it. Perhaps the one it is conveyed to is more understanding than the one who heard it.'" Narrated 'Abdul-Malik bin 'Umair: from 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud that he narrated from his father, from the Prophet (ﷺ) who said: "May Allah beautify a man who hears a saying of mine, so he understands it, remembers it, and conveys it. Perhaps he carries the Fiqh to one who has more understanding than him. There are three with which the heart of a Muslim shall not be deceived. Sincerity in deeds for Allah, giving Nasihah to the A'immah of Muslims, and sticking to the Jama'ah. For indeed the call is protected from behind them."
What Has Been Related About The Gravity Of Lying Against The Messenger Of Allah (SAW)
Narrated 'Abdullah [bin Mas'ud]: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever lies upon me, then let him take his seat in the Fire." Narrated 'Ali bin Abi Talib: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Do not lie upon me, for indeed whoever lies upon me, he will be admitted into the Fire." Narrated Anas bin Malik: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever lies upon me" - I think he said - "purposely, then let him take his seat in the Fire."
What Has Been Related About Whoever Reports A Hadith Which Knows Is A Lie
Narrated Al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah: that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever narrates a Hadith from me which he knows is a lie, then he is one of the liars."
What Saying Has Been Prohibited Regarding The Hadith Of the Prophet (SAW)
Narrated 'Ubaidullah bin Abu Rafi: from Abu Rafi' and others, from the Prophet (ﷺ) who said: "Let me not find one of you reclining on his couch when a command I ordered, or a prohibition from me comes to him, and he says: 'I do not know. What we find in the Book of Allah, we follow it.'" Narrated Al-Miqdam bin Ma'dikarib: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Lo! Soon a Hadith from me will be conveyed to a man, while he is reclining on his couch, and he says: 'Between us and you is Allah's Book. So whatever we find in it that is lawful, we consider lawful, and whatever we find in it that is unlawful, we consider it unlawful.' Indeed whatever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made unlawful, it is the same as what Allah made unlawful."
What Has Been Related About It Being Disliked To Write Down Knowledge
Narrated Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri: "We sought permission from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for writing but he did not permit us."
What Has Been Related About Permitting That
Narrated Abu Hurairah: "There was a man among the Ansar who would sit with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he would listen to the Ahadith of the Prophet (ﷺ) and he was amazed with them but he could not remember them. So he complained about that to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: 'O Messenger of Allah! I listen to your Ahadith and I am amazed but I can not remember them.' So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Help yourself with your right hand' and he motioned with his hand as if writing.'" Narrated Abu Hurairah: That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave an address. So he mentioned a story in the Hadith, and Abu Shah said: 'Have it written for me O Messenger of Allah! So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Write it for Abu Shah.'" Narrated Hammam bin Munabbih: that the heard Abu Hurairah say: "None of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) narrated more Ahadith from him than me, except 'Abdullah bin 'Amr. For he used to write them down and I did not write."
What Has Been Related About Narrations From The Children of Isra'il
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Convey from me, even if it be an Ayah, and narrate from the Children of Isra'il, and there is no harm, And whoever lies upon me purposely, then let him take his seat in the Fire."
What Has Been Related About 'The One Who Leads To Good Is Like The One Who Does It
Narrated Anas bin Malik: "A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) to get a mount, but he (ﷺ) did not have anything to mount him on with him. So he was lead to another person to give him a mount. He came to the Prophet (ﷺ) to inform him about that and he said: 'Whoever leads to good, he is like the one who does it.'" Narrated Abu Mas'ud Al-Badri: that a man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) looking for a mount, he said: 'Mine has been ruined.' So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Go to so-and-so.' So he went to him and he gave him a mount. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever leads to good, then for him is the same reward as the one who does it - or - who acts upon it.'" Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari: that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Intercede, and you will be rewarded, and Allah will fulfill what He wills upon the tongue of His Prophet." Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "No soul is wrongfully taken except that some of the burden of its blood is upon the son of Adam, because he was the first to institute murder."
Whoever Calls To Guidance And Is Followed Or To Misguidance
Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever calls to guidance, then he receives the reward similar to the reward of whoever follows him, without that diminishing anything from their rewards. And whoever calls to misguidance, then he receives of sin similar to the sins of those who followed him, without that diminishing anything from their sins." Narrated Ibn Jarir bin 'Abdullah: from his father that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever starts a good tradition which is followed, then for him is a reward, and the likes of their rewards of whoever follows him, there being nothing diminished from their rewards. And whoever starts a bad tradition which is followed, then for him is the sin, and the likes of the sins of whoever follows him, there being nothing diminished from their sins."
What Has Been Related About Adhering To The Sunnah And Staying Away From Innovation
Narrated Al-'Irbad bin Sariyah: "One day after the morning Salat, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) exhorted us to the extent that the eyes wept and the hearts shuddered with fear. A man said: 'Indeed this is a farewell exhortation. [So what] do you order us O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'I order you to have Taqwa of Allah, and to listen and obey, even in the case of an Ethiopian slave. Indeed, whomever among you lives, he will see much difference. Beware of the newly invented matters, for indeed they are astray. Whoever among you sees that, then he must stick to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Khulafa', cling to it with the molars.'" Narrated Narrated Kathir bin 'Abdullah [and he is Ibn 'Amr bin 'Awf Al-Musani]: narrated from his father, from his grandfather that the Prophet (ﷺ) said to Bilal bin Al-Harith: "Know." He said: "I am ready to know O Messenger of Allah!" He (ﷺ) said: "That indeed whoever revives a Sunnah from my Sunnah which has died after me, then for him is a reward similar to whoever acts upon it without diminishing anything from their rewards. And whoever introduces an erroneous innovation which Allah is not pleased with, nor His Messenger, then he shall receive sins similar to whoever acts upon it, without that diminishing anything from the sins of the people.'" Narrated Anas bin Malik: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: 'O my son! If you are capable of (waking up in) the morning and (ending) the evening, while there is nothing of deception in your heart for anything, then do so.' Then he said to me: 'O my son! That is from my Sunnah. Whoever revives my Sunnah then he has loved me. And whoever loved me, he shall be with me in Paradise.'"
Regarding Refraining From What Was Prohibited By The Messenger of Allah (SAW)
Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Leave me with what I left you. When I narrated a Hadith to you, then take it from me. The people before you were only destroyed by their excessive questioning and disagreeing with their Prophets."
What Has Been Related About The Scholar Of Al-Madinah
Narrated Abu Salih reported a narration from Abu Hurairah: "It shall soon be that people are beating the livers of camels (meaning that they are hastening and traveling upon them) seeking knowledge. But they will not find anyone more knowledgeable than a scholar of Al-Madinah."
What Has Been Related About The Superiority Of Fiqh Over Worship
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The Faqih is harder on Ash-Shaitan than a thousand worshipers." Narrated Qais bin Kathir: "A man from Al-Madinah came to Abu Ad-Darda when he was in Dimashq. So he said: 'What brings you O my nephew?' He replied: 'A Hadith reached me which you have narrated from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' He said: 'You did not come for some need?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Did you come for trade?' He said: 'No, I did not come except seeking this Hadith.' So he said: 'Indeed, I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: "Whoever takes a path upon which he seeks knowledge, then Allah makes a path to Paradise easy for him. And indeed the angels lower their wings in approval to the one seeking knowledge. Indeed forgiveness is sought for the knowledgeable one by whomever is in the heavens and whomever is in the earth, even the fish in the waters. And superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like the superiority of the moon over the rest of the celestial bodies. Indeed the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets do not leave behind Dinar or Dirham. The only legacy of the scholars is knowledge, so whoever takes from it, then he has indeed taken the most able share. Narrated Ibn Ashwa: from Yazid bin Salamah Al-Ju'fi, he said: "Yazid bin Salamah 'O Messenger of Allah! I heard so many narrations from you that I am afraid the last of them will cause me to forget the first of them. So narrate a statement to me that will encompass them.' So he said: 'Have Taqwa of Allah with what you learn.'" Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Two things will not be together in a hypocrite: Good manners, and Fiqh in the religion." Narrated Abu Umamah Al-Bahili: "Two men were mentioned before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). One of them a worshiper, and the other a scholar. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like my superiority over the least of you.' Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Indeed Allah, His Angels, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earths - even the ant in his hole, even the fish - say Salat upon the one who teaches the people to do good.'" Narrated Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The believer will never be satisfied with the good he hears, until he ends up in Paradise." Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The wise statement is the lost property of the believer, so wherever he finds it, then he is more worthy of it."