Chapter - Section 1

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.

وَعَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمَ لِيُجَارِيَ بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ أَوْ لِيُمَارِيَ بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ أَوْ يصرف بِهِ وُجُوه النَّاس إِلَيْهِ أَدخل الله النَّار» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَرَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه عَن ابْن عمر

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 <i>‘arf</i>, i.e. the odour, of paradise on the day of resurrection.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ عِلْمًا مِمَّا يُبْتَغَى بِهِ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ لَا يَتَعَلَّمُهُ إِلَّا لِيُصِيبَ بِهِ عَرَضًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا لَمْ يَجِدْ عَرْفَ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ» . يَعْنِي رِيحَهَا. رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْن مَاجَه

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “God brighten a man who hears what I say, gets it by heart, retains it, and passes it on to others! Many a bearer of knowledge is not versed in it, and many a bearer of knowledge conveys it to one who is more versed than he is. There are three things on account of which no rancour enters a Muslim's heart:

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 <i>al-Madkhal</i>. 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.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا سَمِعَ مَقَالَتِي فَحَفِظَهَا وَوَعَاهَا وَأَدَّاهَا فَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ غَيْرِ فَقِيهٍ وَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ. ثَلَاثٌ لَا يَغِلُّ عَلَيْهِنَّ قَلْبُ مُسْلِمٍ إِخْلَاصُ الْعَمَلِ لِلَّهِ وَالنَّصِيحَةُ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَلُزُومُ جَمَاعَتِهِمْ فَإِنَّ دَعْوَتَهُمْ تُحِيطُ مِنْ ورائهم» . رَوَاهُ الشَّافِعِي وَالْبَيْهَقِيّ فِي الْمدْخل وَرَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ. إِلَّا أَنَّ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبا دواد لَمْ يَذْكُرَا: «ثَلَاثٌ لَا يَغِلُّ عَلَيْهِنَّ» . إِلَى آخِره

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'.

وَعَن ابْن مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً سَمِعَ مِنَّا شَيْئًا فَبَلَّغَهُ كَمَا سَمِعَهُ فَرُبَّ مُبَلَّغٍ أَوْعَى لَهُ مِنْ سَامِعٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَرَوَاهُ الدَّارمِيّ عَن أبي الدَّرْدَاء

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.”

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «اتَّقُوا الْحَدِيثَ عَنِّي إِلَّا مَا عَلِمْتُمْ فَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَيَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَرَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَجَابِرٍ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ: «اتَّقُوا الْحَدِيثَ عَنِّي إِلَّا مَا علمْتُم»

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.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ قَالَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ بِرَأْيِهِ فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ» . وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «مَنْ قَالَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ فَليَتَبَوَّأ مَقْعَده من النَّار» رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

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.

وَعَنْ جُنْدُبٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ قَالَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ بِرَأْيِهِ فَأَصَابَ فقد أَخطَأ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Disputation about the Qur’an is infidelity.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْمِرَاءُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ كُفْرٌ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

‘Amr b. Shu'aib quoted the authority of his father from his grandfather who said that the Prophet (ﷺ) heard some people disagreeing about the Qur’an and said, “It was just on this account that your predecessors perished:

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.

وَعَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ: سَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قوما يتدارؤون فِي الْقُرْآنِ فَقَالَ:

إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِهَذَا: ضَرَبُوا كِتَابَ اللَّهِ بَعْضَهُ بِبَعْضٍ وَإِنَّمَا نَزَلَ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ يُصَدِّقُ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضًا فَلَا تُكَذِّبُوا بَعْضَهُ بِبَعْضٍ فَمَا عَلِمْتُمْ مِنْهُ فَقُولُوا وَمَا جَهِلْتُمْ فَكِلُوهُ إِلَى عَالِمِهِ

. رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَابْن مَاجَه

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 <i>Sharh as-sunna</i>.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ لِكُلِّ آيَةٍ مِنْهَا ظَهْرٌ وَبَطْنٌ وَلِكُلِّ حَدٍّ مَطْلَعٌ» رَوَاهُ فِي شَرْحِ السُّنَّةِ

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God's messenger as saying, “Knowledge has three categories:

a precise verse, or an established <i>sunna</i>, or a firm obligatory duty. Anything else is an extra.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

الْعِلْمُ ثَلَاثَةٌ: آيَةٌ مُحْكَمَةٌ أَوْ سُنَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ أَوْ فَرِيضَةٌ عَادِلَةٌ وَمَا كَانَ سِوَى ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ فضل

. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَابْن مَاجَه

‘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 <i>yaqussu</i>, which may be translated as given above, but which may also be translated as “inflicts punishment.”

وَعَن عَوْف بن مَالك الْأَشْجَعِيّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَقُصُّ إِلَّا أَمِيرٌ أَوْ مَأْمُورٌ أَو مختال» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَرَوَاهُ الدَّارِمِيُّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ وَفِي رِوَايَته بدل «أَو مختال»

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.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ أَفْتَى بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ كَانَ إِثْمُهُ عَلَى مَنْ أَفْتَاهُ وَمَنْ أَشَارَ عَلَى أَخِيهِ بِأَمْرٍ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ الرُّشْدَ فِي غَيْرِهِ فَقَدْ خانه» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Mu'awiya said that the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade the discussion of thorny questions. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ: إِنَّ النَّبِيَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى عَنِ الْأُغْلُوطَاتِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «تَعَلَّمُوا الْفَرَائِضَ وَالْقُرْآنَ وَعَلِّمُوا النَّاسَ فَإِنِّي مَقْبُوضٌ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

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.

وَعَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ قَالَ: كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَشَخَصَ بِبَصَرِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «هَذَا أَوَانٌ يُخْتَلَسُ فِيهِ الْعِلْمُ مِنَ النَّاسِ حَتَّى لَا يَقْدِرُوا مِنْهُ على شَيْء» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Abu Huraira transmitted [from the Prophet], "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 <i>Jami'</i> 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.

وَعَن أبي هُرَيْرَة رِوَايَةً: «يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَضْرِبَ النَّاسُ أَكْبَادَ الْإِبِلِ يَطْلُبُونَ الْعِلْمَ فَلَا يَجِدُونَ أَحَدًا أَعْلَمَ مِنْ عَالم الْمَدِينَة» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ فِي جَامِعِهِ. قَالَ ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ: إِنَّهُ مَالِكُ بْنُ أنس وَمثله عَن عبد الرَّزَّاق قَالَ اسحق بْنُ مُوسَى: وَسَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُيَيْنَةَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: هُوَ الْعُمَرِيُّ الزَّاهِدُ وَاسْمُهُ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عبد الله

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.

وَعَنْهُ فِيمَا أَعْلَمُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَبْعَثُ لِهَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ كُلِّ مِائَةٍ سَنَةٍ مَنْ يُجَدِّدُ لَهَا دِينَهَا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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 <i>Mishkat</i> says the tradition is given by Baihaqi in <i>al-Madkhal</i>.

وَعَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْعُذْرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «يَحْمِلُ هَذَا الْعِلْمَ مِنْ كُلِّ خَلَفٍ عُدُولُهُ يَنْفُونَ عَنْهُ تَحْرِيفَ الْغَالِينَ وَانْتِحَالَ الْمُبْطِلِينَ وَتَأْوِيلَ الْجَاهِلين» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيّ

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.

وسنذكر حديث جابر:

فإنما شفاء العي السؤال

في باب التيمم إن شاء الله تعالى.

Al-Hasan reported in <i>mursal</i> 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.

عَنِ الْحَسَنِ مُرْسَلًا قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ جَاءَهُ الْمَوْتُ وَهُوَ يَطْلُبُ الْعِلْمَ لِيُحْيِيَ بِهِ الْإِسْلَامَ فَبَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ النَّبِيِّينَ دَرَجَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ» . رَوَاهُ الدَّارمِيّ

He also reported in <i>mursal</i> 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.

وَعَنْهُ مُرْسَلًا قَالَ: سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ رَجُلَيْنِ كَانَا فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَحَدُهُمَا كَانَ عَالِمًا يُصَلِّي الْمَكْتُوبَةَ ثُمَّ يَجْلِسُ فَيُعَلِّمُ النَّاسَ الْخَيْرَ وَالْآخِرُ يَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَيَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ أَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «فَضْلُ هَذَا الْعَالِمِ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي الْمَكْتُوبَةَ ثُمَّ يَجْلِسُ فَيُعَلِّمُ النَّاسَ الْخَيْرَ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ الَّذِي يَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَيَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ كَفَضْلِي عَلَى أَدْنَاكُمْ» . رَوَاهُ الدَّارِمِيُّ

‘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.

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ الْفَقِيهُ فِي الدِّينِ إِنِ احْتِيجَ إِلَيْهِ نَفَعَ وَإِنِ اسْتُغْنِيَ عَنْهُ أَغْنَى نَفْسَهُ» . رَوَاهُ رزين

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.

وَعَن عِكْرِمَة أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: حَدِّثِ النَّاسَ كُلَّ جُمُعَةٍ مَرَّةً فَإِنْ أَبَيْتَ فَمَرَّتَيْنِ فَإِنْ أَكْثَرْتَ فَثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ وَلَا تُمِلَّ النَّاسَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ وَلَا أُلْفِيَنَّكَ تَأْتِي الْقَوْمَ وَهُمْ فِي حَدِيثٍ مِنْ حَدِيثِهِمْ فَتَقُصُّ عَلَيْهِمْ فَتَقْطَعُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَدِيثَهُمْ فَتُمِلَّهُمْ وَلَكِنْ أَنْصِتْ فَإِذَا أَمَرُوكَ فَحَدِّثْهُمْ وَهُمْ يَشْتَهُونَهُ وَانْظُرِ السَّجْعَ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ فَاجْتَنِبْهُ فَإِنِّي عَهِدْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ لَا يَفْعَلُونَ ذَلِك " رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

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.

وَعَنْ وَاثِلَةَ بْنِ الْأَسْقَعِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمَ فَأَدْرَكَهُ كَانَ لَهُ كِفْلَانِ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يُدْرِكْهُ كَانَ لَهُ كفل من الْأجر» . رَوَاهُ الدِّرَامِي