Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
ahmad-zuhd:1884ʿAbdullāh from my father > Sayyār > Jaʿfar > Mālik > In al-ʿĀlim Idhā Lam Yaʿmal Biʿilmih Zallat Mawʿiẓatuh > al-Qulūb Kamā Yazal al-Qaṭr > al-Ṣafāqāl Wsamiʿt Mālik

[Machine] I heard Malik say, "Indeed, a scholar, if they do not act upon their knowledge, their preaching will slip from the hearts as the drop slips from the window." He said, "And I heard Malik say, 'If you seek knowledge in order to act upon it, your secret will be the knowledge. But if you seek it for other than action, it will only increase you in arrogance.'"  

الزهد لأحمد:١٨٨٤حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا سَيَّارٌ حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرٌ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ مَالِكًا يَقُولُ «إِنَّ الْعَالِمَ إِذَا لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِعِلْمِهِ زَلَّتْ مَوْعِظَتُهُ عَنِ الْقُلُوبِ كَمَا يَزَلُّ الْقَطْرُ عَنِ الصَّفَا»

قالَ: وسَمِعْتُ مالِكًا يَقُولُ: «إنَّكَ إذا طَلَبْتَ العِلْمَ لِتَعْمَلَ بِهِ سَرَّكَ العِلْمُ، وإذا طَلَبْتَهُ لِغَيْرِ العَمَلِ لَمْ يَزِدْكَ إلّا فَخْرًا»