Hadithcore
Riyad as-Salihin, 1388

Abud-Darda (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who follows a path in quest of knowledge, Allah will make the path of Jannah easy to him. The angels lower their wings over the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with what he does. The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and even the fish in the depth of the oceans seek forgiveness for him. The superiority of the learned man over the devout worshipper is like that of the full moon to the rest of the stars (i.e., in brightness). The learned are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only that of knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an abundant portion." <b>[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi]</b>.

وعن أبي الدرداء رضي الله عنه قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ ‏

‏من سلك طريقًا يبتغي فيه علمًا سهل الله له طريقًا إلى الجنة، وإن الملائكة لتضع أجنحتها لطالب العلم رضا بما صنع، وإن العالم ليستغفر له من في السماوات والأرض حتى الحيتان في الماء، وفضل العالم على العابد كفضل القمر على سائر الكواكب، وإن العلماء ورثة الأنبياء وإن الأنبياء لم يورثوا دينارًا ولا درهما وإنما ورثوا العلم‏.‏ فمن أخذه أخذ بحظ وافر‏

‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود والترمذي‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant
In-Book Reference
Book 12, Hadith 13
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadith:</b><br> 1) The scholars are the inheritors of the prophets. They inherit their mission in terms of knowledge and action, inviting people to the truth, and advising them to take all that is good and keep away from every evil.<br> 2) Knowledge is the best legacy a person can inherit. It is an inexhaustible treasure. He who wins it is a real winner. If the merit of knowledge were only limited to following the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), this would be quite enough.<br> 3) The angels lower their wings for seekers of knowledge as a way to showing humility and honor for them, given the Prophetic legacy they carry. This indicates love and respect. So, how would any person abandon such an honorable pursuit and turn to worldly vanities!