Allah, Most High, says:
رياض الصالحينAbū Zakariyyā Muḥyī al-Dīn Yaḥyā ibn Sharaf al-Nawawī٢٤١ - باب فضل العلم تعلما وتعليما لله
٢٤١ - باب فضل العلم تعلما وتعليما لله
So high [above all] is Allāh, the Sovereign,1 the Truth.2 And, [O Muḥammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the Qur’ān before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."
And He, Most High, says:
أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَـٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَآئِمًا يَحْذَرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُوا۟ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِۦ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.
وقال تَعَالَى:
And He, Most High, says:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْمَجَـٰلِسِ فَٱفْسَحُوا۟ يَفْسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُوا۟ فَٱنشُزُوا۟ يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَـٰتٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
O you who have believed, when you are told, "Space yourselves" in assemblies, then make space; Allāh will make space for you.1 And when you are told, "Arise,"2 then arise; Allāh will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allāh is Aware of what you do.
وقال تَعَالَى:
And He, Most High, says:
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱلدَّوَآبِّ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ كَذَٰلِكَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَـٰٓؤُا۟ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ
And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colors similarly. Only those fear Allāh, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.
وعن معاوية - ﵁ - قَالَ: قَالَ رسول الله - ﷺ: «مَنْ يُرِدِ اللهُ بِهِ خَيْرًا يُفَقِّهْهُ في الدِّينِ». متفقٌ عَلَيْهِ.
Muʿāwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When Allah wishes good for someone, He gives him understanding of the religion." Agreed upon (al-Bukhārī and Muslim).
وعن ابن مسعود - ﵁ - قَالَ: قَالَ رسول الله - ﷺ: «لا حَسَدَ إِلاَّ في اثْنَتَيْنِ: رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللهُ مَالًا، فَسَلَّطَهُ عَلَى هَلَكَتِهِ فِي الحَقِّ، وَرَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللهُ الحِكْمَةَ، فَهُوَ يَقْضِي بِهَا وَيُعَلِّمُهَا». متفقٌ عَلَيْهِ. والمراد بالحسدِ: الغِبْطَةُ، وَهُوَ أَنْ يَتَمَنَّى مِثله.
Ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There is no envy except in two cases: a man whom Allah has given wealth and the power to spend it in the cause of truth, and a man whom Allah has granted wisdom by which he judges and which he teaches." Agreed upon (al-Bukhārī and Muslim). What is meant by "envy" here is admiring emulation (ghibṭah), that is, to wish for the like of it.
وعن أَبي موسى - ﵁ - قَالَ: قَالَ النبيُّ - ﷺ: «مَثَلُ مَا بَعَثَنِي الله بِهِ مِنَ الهُدَى وَالعِلْمِ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أصَابَ أرْضًا؛ فَكَانَتْ مِنْهَا طَائِفَةٌ طَيِّبةٌ قَبِلَتِ المَاءَ فَأَنْبَتَتِ الكَلأَ، وَالعُشْبَ الكَثِيرَ، وَكَانَ مِنْهَا أجَادِبُ أمْسَكَتِ المَاءَ، فَنَفَعَ اللهُ بِهَا النَّاسَ، فَشَرِبُوا مِنْهَا وَسَقَوْا وَزَرَعُوا، وَأَصَابَ طَائِفَةً مِنْهَا أُخْرَى إنَّمَا هِيَ قِيعَانٌ؛ لا تُمْسِكُ مَاءً وَلاَ تُنْبِتُ كلأً، فَذلِكَ مَثَلُ مَنْ فَقُهَ في دِينِ اللهِ، وَنَفَعَهُ مَا بَعَثَنِي اللهُ بِهِ، فَعَلِمَ وَعَلَّمَ، وَمَثَلُ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْفَعْ بِذلِكَ رَأسًا، وَلَمْ يَقْبَلْ هُدَى اللهِ الَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ». متفقٌ عَلَيْهِ.
Abū Mūsā (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The likeness of the guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is that of abundant rain falling upon a land. One part of it was fertile soil that absorbed the water and brought forth much pasture and herbage. Another part was firm ground that retained the water, and Allah benefited the people by it, so they drank from it, watered their animals, and irrigated their crops. And a portion of it fell upon barren flat ground that neither held the water nor brought forth any vegetation. That is the likeness of one who gains understanding of the religion of Allah and benefits from that with which Allah has sent me, so he learns and teaches; and the likeness of one who pays no heed to that and does not accept the guidance of Allah with which I have been sent." Agreed upon (al-Bukhārī and Muslim).
وعن سهل بن سعد - ﵁: أنَّ رسولَ اللهِ - ﷺ - قَالَ لِعَلِيٍّ - ﵁: «فَوَاللهِ لأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللهُ بِكَ رَجُلًا وَاحِدًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ». متفقٌ عَلَيْهِ.
Sahl ibn Saʿd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to ʿAlī (may Allah be pleased with him): "By Allah, that Allah should guide a single man through you is better for you than red camels." Agreed upon (al-Bukhārī and Muslim).
وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص ﵄: أنَّ النبيَّ - ﷺ - قَالَ: «بَلِّغُوا عَنِّي وَلَوْ آيَةً، وَحَدِّثُوا عَنْ بَنِي إسْرَائِيلَ وَلاَ حَرَجَ، وَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَيَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ». رواه البخاري.
ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Convey from me even a single verse, and relate traditions from the Children of Israel, for there is no harm in that; but whoever lies about me deliberately, let him take his place in the Fire." Narrated by al-Bukhārī.
وعن أَبي هريرة - ﵁: أنَّ رسول الله - ﷺ - قَالَ: «وَمَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا، سَهَّلَ اللهُ لَهُ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الجَنَّةِ». رواه مسلم.
Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever travels a path in pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise." Narrated by Muslim.
وعنه أَيضًا - ﵁: أنَّ رسول الله - ﷺ - قَالَ: «مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدىً كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنْ تَبِعَهُ لاَ يَنْقُصُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا». رواه مسلم.
He also reported (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever calls others to guidance will have a reward like the rewards of those who follow him, without that diminishing anything from their rewards." Narrated by Muslim.
وعنه قَالَ: قَالَ رسول الله - ﷺ: «إِذَا مَاتَ ابْنُ آدَمَ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ ثَلاثٍ: صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ، أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ». رواه مسلم .
He also reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the son of Adam dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: an ongoing charity, knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous child who prays for him." Narrated by Muslim.
وعنه، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رسول الله - ﷺ - يقول: «الدُّنْيَا مَلْعُونَةٌ، مَلْعُونٌ مَا فِيهَا، إِلاَّ ذِكْرَ الله تَعَالَى، وَمَا وَالاهُ، وَعَالِمًا، أَوْ مُتَعَلِّمًا». رواه الترمذي، وقال: «حديث حسن». قَوْله: «وَمَا وَالاَهُ»: أيْ طَاعة الله.
On his authority, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "The world is cursed, and cursed is what is in it, except the remembrance of Allah the Exalted, and what is connected to it, and a scholar, or a learner." Narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who said: "A good (ḥasan) hadith." His statement "and what is connected to it" means: obedience to Allah.
وعن أنسٍ - ﵁ - قَالَ: قَالَ رسولُ الله - ﷺ: «مَنْ خَرَجَ في طَلَبِ العِلْمِ فَهُوَ في سَبيلِ اللهِ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ». رواه الترمذي، وقال: «حديث حسن».
On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever goes out in pursuit of knowledge is in the path of Allah until he returns." Narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who said: "A good (ḥasan) hadith."
وعن أَبي سعيدٍ الخدري - ﵁ - عن رسول الله - ﷺ - قَالَ: «لَنْ يَشْبَعَ مُؤْمِنٌ مِنْ خَيْرٍ حَتَّى يَكُونَ مُنْتَهَاهُ الجَنَّةَ». رواه الترمذي، وقال: «حديث حسن».
On the authority of Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who said: "A believer will never have his fill of good until his final destination is Paradise." Narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who said: "A good (ḥasan) hadith."
وعن أَبي أُمَامَة - ﵁: أنَّ رسول الله - ﷺ - قَالَ: «فَضْلُ العَالِمِ عَلَى العَابِدِ كَفَضْلِي عَلَى أَدْنَاكُمْ» ثُمَّ قَالَ رسول الله - ﷺ: «إنَّ اللهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ وَأهْلَ السَّماوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ حَتَّى النَّمْلَةَ في جُحْرِهَا وَحَتَّى الحُوتَ لَيُصَلُّونَ عَلَى مُعَلِّمِي النَّاسِ الخَيْرَ». رواه الترمذي، وقال: «حديث حسن».
On the authority of Abū Umāmah (may Allah be pleased with him): that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like my superiority over the least of you." Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Indeed Allah, His angels, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth—even the ant in its hole and even the fish—send blessings upon those who teach people good." Narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who said: "A good (ḥasan) hadith."
وعن أَبي الدرداء - ﵁ - قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رسول الله - ﷺ - يقول: «مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَبْتَغِي فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللهُ لَهُ طَريقًا إِلَى الجَنَّةِ، وَإنَّ المَلاَئِكَةَ لَتَضَعُ أجْنِحَتَهَا لِطَالِبِ العِلْمِ رِضًا بِمَا يَصْنَعُ، وَإنَّ العَالِمَ لَيَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّماوَاتِ وَمَنْ فِي الأرْضِ حَتَّى الحيتَانُ في المَاءِ، وَفضْلُ العَالِمِ عَلَى العَابِدِ كَفَضْلِ القَمَرِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الكَوَاكِبِ، وَإنَّ العُلَمَاءَ وَرَثَةُ الأنْبِيَاءِ، وَإنَّ الأنْبِيَاءَ لَمْ يَوَرِّثُوا دِينَارًا وَلاَ دِرْهَمًا وَإنَّمَا وَرَّثُوا العِلْمَ، فَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ أَخَذَ بحَظٍّ وَافِرٍ». رواه أَبُو داود والترمذي.
On the authority of Abū al-Dardāʾ (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "Whoever travels a path seeking knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. The angels surely lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge, out of pleasure with what he does. As for the scholar, those in the heavens and those on the earth—even the fish in the water—seek forgiveness for him. The superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like the superiority of the moon over the rest of the stars. The scholars are the heirs of the prophets; the prophets bequeathed neither a dīnār nor a dirham—they bequeathed only knowledge. So whoever takes it has taken an abundant share." Narrated by Abū Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī.
وعن ابن مسعودٍ - ﵁ - قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رسولَ اللهِ - ﷺ - يقول: «نَضَّرَ اللهُ امْرَأً سَمِعَ مِنَّا شَيْئًا، فَبَلَّغَهُ كَمَا سَمِعَهُ، فَرُبَّ مُبَلَّغٍ أوْعَى مِنْ سَامِعٍ». رواه الترمذي، وقال: «حديث حسن صحيح».
On the authority of Ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "May Allah brighten a man who hears something from us and conveys it just as he heard it, for perhaps one to whom it is conveyed retains it better than the one who heard it." Narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who said: "A good and sound (ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ) hadith."
وعن أَبي هريرة - ﵁ - قَالَ: قَالَ رسول الله - ﷺ: «مَنْ سُئِلَ عن عِلْمٍ فَكَتَمَهُ، أُلْجِمَ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَارٍ». رواه أَبُو داود والترمذي، وقال: «حديث حسن».
On the authority of Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever is asked about knowledge and conceals it will be bridled on the Day of Resurrection with a bridle of fire." Narrated by Abū Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī, who said: "A good (ḥasan) hadith."
وعنه، قَالَ: قَالَ رسول الله - ﷺ: «مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ عِلْمًا مِمَّا يُبْتَغَى بِهِ وَجْهُ اللهِ - ﷿ - لاَ يَتَعَلَّمُهُ إِلاَّ لِيُصِيبَ بِهِ عَرَضًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا، لَمْ يَجِدْ عَرْفَ الجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ» يَعْنِي: رِيحَهَا. رواه أَبُو داود بإسناد صحيح.
On his authority, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever learns a branch of knowledge by which the Face of Allah—Mighty and Majestic—ought to be sought, learning it only to attain by it some worldly gain, will not find the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection"—meaning its scent. Narrated by Abū Dāwūd with a sound chain.
وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص ﵄، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رسولَ الله - ﷺ - يقول: «إنَّ اللهَ لاَ يَقْبِضُ العِلْمَ انْتِزَاعًا يَنْتَزعهُ مِنَ النَّاسِ، وَلكِنْ يَقْبِضُ العِلْمَ بِقَبْضِ العُلَمَاءِ، حَتَّى إِذَا لَمْ يُبْقِ عَالِمًا، اتَّخَذَ النَّاسُ رُؤُوسًا جُهَّالًا، فَسُئِلُوا فَأفْتوا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ، فَضَلُّوا وَأضَلُّوا». متفقٌ عَلَيْهِ .
On the authority of ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "Indeed Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it away from people; rather, He takes knowledge away by taking the scholars, until, when He has left no scholar, people take ignorant ones as leaders. They are asked and they give verdicts without knowledge, so they go astray and lead others astray." Agreed upon (al-Bukhārī and Muslim).