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'.'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 2653)  

كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَشَخَصَ بِبَصَرِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ قَالَ «هَذَا أَوَانُ يُخْتَلَسُ الْعِلْمُ مِنَ النَّاسِ حَتَّى لَا يَقْدِرُوا مِنْهُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ» فَقَالَ زِيَادُ بْنُ لَبِيدٍ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَكَيْفَ يُخْتَلَسُ مِنَّا وَقَدْ قَرَأْنَا الْقُرْآنَ؟ فَوَاللَّهِ لَنَقْرَأَنَّهُ وَلَنُقْرِئَنَّهُ نِسَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَنَا فَقَالَ «ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ يَا زِيَادُ إِنْ كُنْتُ لَأَعُدُّكَ مِنْ فُقَهَاءِ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ هَذِهِ التَّوْرَاةُ وَالْإِنْجِيلُ عِنْدَ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى فَمَاذَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُمْ؟» قَالَ جُبَيْرٌ فَلَقِيتُ عُبَادَةَ بْنَ الصَّامِتِ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَلَا تَسْمَعُ مَا يَقُولُ أَخُوكَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ؟ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِالَّذِي قَالَ قَالَ صَدَقَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ إِنْ شِئْتَ لَأُحَدِّثَنَّكَ بِأَوَّلِ عِلْمٍ يُرْفَعُ مِنَ النَّاسِ الْخُشُوعُ يُوشِكُ أَنْ تَدْخُلَ مَسْجِدَ الْجَمَاعَةِ فَلَا تَرَى فِيهِ رَجُلًا خَاشِعًا  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like my superiority over the least among you." Then he recited this verse, "It is only those who have knowledge among His servants that fear Allah." [Fatir 28] Then he said, "Indeed, Allah and His angels, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, and even the fish in the sea pray for those who teach people goodness."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «فَضْلُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْلِي عَلَى أَدْنَاكُمْ» ثُمَّ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ {إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ} [فاطر 28] ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ وَأَهْلَ سَمَاوَاتِهِ وَأَرَضِيهِ وَالنُّونَ فِي الْبَحْرِ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ الْخَيْرَ  

[Machine] "A man is not considered knowledgeable until he does not envy those above him, does not belittle those below him, and does not seek a price for his knowledge."  

«لَا يَكُونُ الرَّجُلُ عَالِمًا حَتَّى لَا يَحْسُدَ مَنْ فَوْقَهُ وَلَا يَحْقِرَ مَنْ دُونَهُ وَلَا يَبْتَغِيَ بِعِلْمِهِ ثَمَنًا»  

[Machine] I heard Abd al-A'la al-Taymi saying, "Whoever is given knowledge that does not make him cry, it is as if he has not been given knowledge at all, because Allah exalted the status of the scholars." Then he recited the verse from Surah Al-Isra (17:107) until the saying, "They will cry" (17:109).  

سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ الْأَعْلَى التَّيْمِيَّ يَقُولُ مَنْ أُوتِيَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَا يُبْكِيهِ لَخَلِيقٌ أَنْ لَا يَكُونَ أُوتِيَ عِلْمًا يَنْفَعُهُ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى نَعَتَ الْعُلَمَاءَ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ} [الإسراء 107] إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {يَبْكُونَ} [الإسراء 109]  

[Machine] "Do not be a scholar until you possess three qualities: do not seek superiority over others, do not belittle those beneath you, and do not use your knowledge for worldly gain."  

لَا تَكُونُ عَالِمًا حَتَّى يَكُونَ فِيكَ ثَلَاثُ خِصَالٍ لَا تَبْغِي عَلَى مَنْ فَوْقَكَ وَلَا تَحْقِرُ مَنْ دُونَكَ وَلَا تَأْخُذُ عَلَى عِلْمِكَ دُنْيَا  

[Machine] "Do not consider yourself knowledgeable until you become a learner, and do not consider yourself knowledgeable in a subject until you apply it. It is enough sin for you to continue being argumentative. It is enough sin for you to continue being lazy. It is enough sin for you to continue being a liar by speaking about matters other than Allah Almighty."  

«لَا تَكُونُ عَالِمًا حَتَّى تَكُونَ مُتَعَلِّمًا وَلَا تَكُونُ بِالْعِلْمِ عَالِمًا حَتَّى تَكُونَ بِهِ عَامِلًا وَكَفَى بِكَ إِثْمًا أَنْ لَا تَزَالَ مُخَاصِمًا وَكَفَى بِكَ إِثْمًا أَنْ لَا تَزَالَ مُمَارِيًا وَكَفَى بِكَ كَاذِبًا أَنْ لَا تَزَالَ مُحَدِّثًا فِي غَيْرِ ذَاتِ اللَّهِ ﷻ»  

[Machine] I once said to Al-Hasan regarding something he said, "O Abu Sa'id, this is not how jurists speak." He replied, "Woe onto you! Haven't you seen that a jurist is merely an ascetic in this world, desiring the hereafter, knowledgeable in religious affairs, and continuously dedicated to worshipping his Lord?"  

قُلْتُ لِلْحَسَنِ يَوْمًا فِي شَيْءٍ قَالَهُ يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ لَيْسَ هَكَذَا يَقُولُ الْفُقَهَاءُ فَقَالَ «وَيْحَكَ وَرَأَيْتَ أَنْتَ فَقِيهًا قَطُّ إِنَّمَا الْفَقِيهُ الزَّاهِدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا الرَّاغِبُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ الْبَصِيرُ بِأَمْرِ دِينِهِ الْمُدَاوِمُ عَلَى عِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ»  

[Machine] He was asked, "Who is the most knowledgeable among the people of Medina?" He replied, "The one who fears his Lord the most, the Almighty and the Exalted."  

قِيلَ لَهُ مَنْ أَفْقَهُ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ؟ قَالَ أَتْقَاهُمْ لِرَبِّهِ ﷻ  

[Machine] "The true scholar is the one who fears Allah the Almighty."  

«إِنَّمَا الْفَقِيهُ مَنْ يَخَافُ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى»  

[Machine] "The true scholar is the one who does not despair people from the mercy of Allah, does not give them permission in committing sins, does not make them feel safe from the punishment of Allah, and does not divert them away from the Quran to other sources. Indeed, there is no goodness in worship that lacks knowledge and understanding, and there is no knowledge that lacks comprehension, and there is no recitation without reflection."  

«إِنَّ الْفَقِيهَ حَقَّ الْفَقِيهِ مَنْ لَمْ يُقَنِّطِ النَّاسَ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ وَلَمْ يُرَخِّصْ لَهُمْ فِي مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ وَلَمْ يُؤَمِّنْهُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَمْ يَدَعِ الْقُرْآنَ رَغْبَةً عنْهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ إِنَّهُ لَا خَيْرَ فِي عِبَادَةٍ لَا عِلْمَ فِيهَا وَلَا عِلْمٍ لَا فَهْمَ فِيهِ وَلَا قِرَاءَةٍ لَا تَدَبُّرَ فِيهَا»  

[Machine] "Ali is a scholar who is truly knowledgeable, and does not make people lose hope in the mercy of Allah, nor does he reassure them about the punishment of Allah. He does not permit them to commit sins against Allah. Indeed, there is no goodness in worship that lacks knowledge, and no goodness in knowledge that lacks understanding, and no goodness in recitation that lacks reflection."  

عَلِيٌّ «الْفَقِيهُ حَقُّ الْفَقِيهِ الَّذِي لَا يُقَنِّطُ النَّاسَ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يُؤَمِّنُهُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يُرَخِّصُ لَهُمْ فِي مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَا خَيْرَ فِي عِبَادَةٍ لَا عِلْمَ فِيهَا وَلَا خَيْرَ فِي عِلْمٍ لَا فَهْمَ فِيهِ وَلَا خَيْرَ فِي قِرَاءَةٍ لَا تَدَبُّرَ فِيهَا»  

[Machine] "I find a people who learn for other than action, and understand for other than worship, and seek the dunya (worldly life) through the actions of the hereafter, and wear the skins of sheep while their hearts are harder than stone. They deceive through me or they deceive me?" So, I swore by me I will make available to them a trial that will leave the patient confused in it."  

«إِنِّي لَأَجِدُ نَعْتَ قَوْمٍ يَتَعَلَّمُونَ لِغَيْرِ الْعَمَلِ وَيَتَفَقَّهُونَ لِغَيْرِ الْعِبَادَةِ وَيَطْلُبُونَ الدُّنْيَا بِعَمَلِ الْآخِرَةِ وَيَلْبَسُونَ جُلُودَ الضَّأْنِ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ أَمَرُّ مِنَ الصَّبْرِ فَبِي يَغْتَرُّونَ أَوْ إِيَّايَ يُخَادِعُونَ؟ فَحَلَفْتُ بِي لَأُتِيحَنَّ لَهُمْ فِتْنَةً تَتْرُكُ الْحَلِيمَ فِيهَا حَيْرَانَ»  

[Machine] He wrote to him, "O Amir al-Mu'minin, I swear by Allah that I intended nothing but good with it, for it to be an imam who speaks with knowledge and acts with immorality, so that he misleads people and leads them astray."  

فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ هَرِمٌ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَرَدْتُ بِهِ إِلَّا الْخَيْرَ يَكُونُ إِمَامٌ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْعِلْمِ وَيَعْمَلُ بِالْفِسْقِ فَيُشَبِّهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَيَضِلُّوا  

[Machine] "Whoever wants his religion to be honored, should not enter the presence of the ruler, should not spend time with women, and should not argue with people of desires."  

«مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُكْرَمَ دِينُهُ فَلَا يَدْخُلْ عَلَى السُّلْطَانِ وَلَا يَخْلُوَنَّ بِالنِّسْوَانِ وَلَا يُخَاصِمَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْأَهْوَاءِ»  

[Machine] Maymun ibn Mihran wrote to me, "Beware of disputes and arguing about religion, and do not argue with a knowledgeable person or an ignorant person. As for the knowledgeable person, he will withhold his knowledge from you and not care about your actions. And as for the ignorant person, he will intimidate you and not obey you."  

كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ مَيْمُونُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ إِيَّاكَ وَالْخُصُومَةَ وَالْجِدَالَ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَا تُجَادِلَنَّ عَالِمًا وَلَا جَاهِلًا أَمَّا الْعَالِمُ فَإِنَّهُ يَخْزُنُ عَنْكَ عِلْمَهُ وَلَا يُبَالِي مَا صَنَعْتَ وَأَمَّا الْجَاهِلُ فَإِنَّهُ يُخَشِّنُ بِصَدْرِكَ وَلَا يُطِيعُكَ  

[Machine] "Solomon, son of David, peace be upon him, said to his son: 'Avoid disputes, for their benefits are little and they only ignite animosity among siblings.'"  

سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لِابْنِهِ «دَعِ الْمِرَاءَ فَإِنَّ نَفْعَهُ قَلِيلٌ وَهُوَ يُهَيِّجُ الْعَدَاوَةَ بَيْنَ الْإِخْوَانِ»  

[Machine] I heard Umar ibn Abdul Aziz saying, "Whoever makes their religion a subject of disputes, they will move frequently."  

سَمِعْتُ عُمَرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ «يَقُولُ مَنْ جَعَلَ دِينَهُ غَرَضًا لِلْخُصُومَاتِ أَكْثَرَ التَّنَقُّلَ»  

[Machine] "He who worships without knowledge, his actions will cause more harm than benefit. Whoever judges his words based on his actions, his words will be minimal except for what he means. And whoever uses his religion for disputes, his movements will be plentiful."  

أنَّهُ مَنْ تَعَبَّدَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ كَانَ مَا يُفْسِدُ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُصْلِحُ وَمَنْ عَدَّ كَلَامَهُ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ قَلَّ كَلَامُهُ إِلَّا فِيمَا يَعْنِيهِ وَمَنْ جَعَلَ دِينَهُ غَرَضًا لِلْخُصُومَاتِ كَثُرَ تَنَقُّلُهُ»  

[Machine] "Take the religion of the Bedouin and the young boy from the scholars, and keep away from anything else." Abu Muhammad said, "His movement (i.e. transferring of thoughts) is abundant, meaning he moves from one opinion to another."  

«عَلَيْكَ بِدِينِ الْأَعْرَابِيِّ وَالْغُلَامِ فِي الْكُتَّابِ وَالْهَ عَمَّا سِوَى ذَلِكَ» قَالَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ كَثُرَ تَنَقُّلُهُ أَيْ يَنْتَقِلُ مِنْ رَأْيٍ إِلَى رَأْيٍ