It was narrated that Abu Umamah said:

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'You must acquire this knowledge before it is taken away, and its taking away means that it will be lifted up.' He joined his middle finger and the one that next to the thumb like this, and said: 'The scholar and the seeker of knowledge will share the reward, and there is no good in the rest of the people.'"

حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا صَدَقَةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي عَاتِكَةَ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏"‏ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذَا الْعِلْمِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْبَضَ وَقَبْضُهُ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَ إِصْبَعَيْهِ الْوُسْطَى وَالَّتِي تَلِي الإِبْهَامَ هَكَذَا ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ الْعَالِمُ وَالْمُتَعَلِّمُ شَرِيكَانِ فِي الأَجْرِ وَلاَ خَيْرَ فِي سَائِرِ النَّاسِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏