Know that the student of knowledge does not attain knowledge nor truly benefit from it except by venerating knowledge and its people, and by honoring the teacher and showing him due respect.
It is said: None truly rises except through reverence, and none truly falls except through abandoning reverence.
Saying2
وَقِيلَ:and it was saidContextual glossالْحُرْمَةُthe reverenceContextual glossخَيْرٌis betterContextual glossمِنَthanContextual glossالطَّاعَةِ،the obedienceContextual glossأَلَاdo you notContextual glossتَرَىseeContextual glossأَنَّthatContextual glossالْإِنْسَانَthe humanContextual glossلَاnotContextual glossيَكْفُرُdisbelievesContextual glossبِالْمَعْصِيَةِ،by the sinContextual glossوَإِنَّمَاbut ratherContextual glossيَكْفُرُdisbelievesContextual glossبِاسْتِخْفَافِهَا،by treating it lightlyContextual glossوَبِتَرْكِand by abandoningContextual glossالْحُرْمَةِ.the reverenceContextual gloss
It is also said: Reverence is better than bare obedience. Do you not see that a person is not counted a disbeliever for the sin itself, but rather for belittling it and for casting off reverence?
Part of venerating knowledge is venerating the teacher. ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, said: I am a bondsman to whoever taught me a single letter — if he wishes he may sell me, and if he wishes he may free me.
I saw the truest truth to be the right of the teacher / and the most binding to preserve for every Muslim. / It is only fitting to present him honor / for teaching a single letter — a thousand dirhams.
Our teacher, the shaykh and imām Sadīd al-Dīn al-Shīrāzī, would say: Our masters said: Whoever wants his son to become a scholar ought to care for visiting jurists, honor them, feed them, and obey them in some measure — and if his son does not become a scholar, his grandson may yet become one.
Among showing respect to the teacher: do not walk ahead of him, sit in his place, or begin speaking in his presence without permission; do not chatter excessively with him, ask nothing while he is wearied, be mindful of the right moment, and do not knock on the door — rather wait until the teacher comes out.
In sum: seek his approval, avoid his displeasure, and follow his instruction when it does not entail disobedience to Allah Most High — there is no obeying a creature in disobedience to the Creator — as the Prophet, blessings and peace upon him, said: The worst of people is he who trades his religion for worldly gain through disobedience to the Creator.
Our teacher, Shaykh al-Islām Burhān al-Dīn, author of al-Hidāya — may Allah have mercy on him — related: One of the greatest imāms in Bukhārā would sit in the lesson circle; sometimes he would stand mid-lesson. When they asked why, he said: My teacher's son plays with children in the alley and sometimes comes to the mosque door — when I see him I rise for him out of reverence for my teacher.
The judge and imām Fakhr al-Dīn al-Arsābandī was chief of the imāms in Marw; the sultan honored him supremely. He would say: I only reached this office through serving my teacher — I served the judge-imām Abū Zayd al-Dabbūsī, cooked his food for thirty years, and ate nothing of it.
Anecdote12
وَكَانَand wasContextual glossالشَّيْخُthe ShaykhContextual glossالْإِمَامُthe imamContextual glossالْأَجَلُّthe most nobleContextual glossشَمْسُShams (of)Contextual glossالْأَئِمَّةِthe imamsContextual glossالْحُلْوَانِيُّal-HulwaniContextual glossرَحِمَهُmay have mercyContextual glossاللهُAllahContextual glossتَعَالَىthe Most HighContextual glossقَدْhadContextual glossخَرَجَleftContextual glossمِنْfromContextual glossبُخَارَىBukharaContextual glossوَسَكَنَand settledContextual glossفِيinContextual glossبَعْضِsome (of)Contextual glossالْقُرَىthe villagesContextual glossأَيَّامًاsome daysContextual glossلِحَادِثَةٍdue to an incidentContextual glossوَقَعَتْthat befellContextual glossلَهُhimContextual glossوَقَدْand hadContextual glossزَارَهُvisited himContextual glossتَلَامِيذُهُhis studentsContextual glossغَيْرَexceptContextual glossالشَّيْخِthe ShaykhContextual glossالْإِمَامِthe imamContextual glossشَمْسِShams (of)Contextual glossالْأَئِمَّةِthe imamsContextual glossالْقَاضِيthe judgeContextual glossبَكْرِBakrContextual glossبْنِson ofContextual glossمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadContextual glossالزَّرَنْجَرِيِّal-ZaranjarīContextual glossرَحِمَهُmay have mercyContextual glossاللهُAllahContextual glossتَعَالَى،the Most HighContextual glossفَقَالَand he saidContextual glossلَهُto himContextual glossحِينَwhenContextual glossلَقِيَهُ:he met himContextual glossلِمَاذَاwhyContextual glossلَمْnotContextual glossتَزُرْنِي؟you visited meContextual glossقَالَ:he saidContextual glossكُنْتُI wasContextual glossمَشْغُولًاoccupiedContextual glossبِخِدْمَةِwith service (of)Contextual glossالْوِلَادَةِ.the birthContextual glossقَالَ:he saidContextual glossتَرْزُقُyou will be grantedContextual glossالْعُمْرَ،the long lifeContextual glossلَاnotContextual glossتَرْزُقُyou will be grantedContextual glossرَوْنَقَgrace (of)Contextual glossالدَّرْسِ،the lessonContextual glossوَكَانَand it wasContextual glossكَذَلِكَ،soContextual glossفَإِنَّهُfor indeed heContextual glossكَانَwasContextual glossيَسْكُنُdwellingContextual glossفِيinContextual glossأَكْثَرِmost (of)Contextual glossأَوْقَاتِهِhis timesContextual glossفِيinContextual glossالْقُرَىthe villagesContextual glossوَلَمْand notContextual glossيَنْتَظِمْwas organizedContextual glossلَهُfor himContextual glossالدَّرْسُ.the lessonContextual glossفَمَنْso whoeverContextual glossتَأَذَّىwas harmed fromContextual glossمِنْهُhimContextual glossأُسْتَاذُهُhis teacherContextual glossيُحْرَمُis deprivedContextual glossبَرَكَةَblessing (of)Contextual glossالْعِلْمِthe knowledgeContextual glossوَلَاand notContextual glossيَنْتَفِعُprofitsContextual glossبِالْعِلْمِby the knowledgeContextual glossإلَّاexceptContextual glossقَلِيلًا.a littleContextual gloss
The great shaykh and imām Shams al-Aʾimma al-Ḥulwānī — may Allah have mercy on him — left Bukhārā and stayed in a village some days after an incident; his students visited him except Shaykh Shams al-Aʾimma, the judge Bakr ibn Muḥammad al-Zaranjarī — may Allah have mercy on him. When they met he asked: Why did you not visit me? He replied: I was busy attending a birth. He said: Long life you may have — you will not have the bloom of study. So it proved, for he spent most of his time in villages and regular teaching did not settle for him. Whoever hurts his teacher is denied the blessing of knowledge and gains little benefit from it.
The teacher and the physician alike give no good counsel if they are not honored — / so bear ills patiently if you cold‑shoulder your doctor, and be content with ignorance if you cold‑shoulder a teacher.
Anecdote14
حُكِيَIt is told that Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to learn knowledge and adab,Contextual glossأَنَّIt is told that Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to learn knowledge and adab,Contextual glossالْخَلِيفَةَIt is told that Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to learn knowledge and adab,Contextual glossهَارُونَIt is told that Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to learn knowledge and adab,Contextual glossالرَّشِيدَIt is told that Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to learn knowledge and adab,Contextual glossبَعَثَIt is told that Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to learn knowledge and adab,Contextual glossابْنَهُIt is told that Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to learn knowledge and adab,Contextual glossإِلَىIt is told that Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to learn knowledge and adab,Contextual glossالْأَصْمَعِيِّIt is told that Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to learn knowledge and adab,Contextual glossلِيُعَلِّمَهُIt is told that Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to learn knowledge and adab,Contextual glossالْعِلْمَIt is told that Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to learn knowledge and adab,Contextual glossوَالْأَدَبَIt is told that Caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to learn knowledge and adab,Contextual glossفَرَآهُand saw him one day performing wuḍūʾ washing his foot while the prince poured water on it,Contextual glossيَوْمًاand saw him one day performing wuḍūʾ washing his foot while the prince poured water on it,Contextual glossيَتَوَضَّأُand saw him one day performing wuḍūʾ washing his foot while the prince poured water on it,Contextual glossوَيَغْسِلُand saw him one day performing wuḍūʾ washing his foot while the prince poured water on it,Contextual glossرِجْلَهُ،and saw him one day performing wuḍūʾ washing his foot while the prince poured water on it,Contextual glossوَابْنُand saw him one day performing wuḍūʾ washing his foot while the prince poured water on it,Contextual glossالْخَلِيفَةِand saw him one day performing wuḍūʾ washing his foot while the prince poured water on it,Contextual glossيَصُبُّand saw him one day performing wuḍūʾ washing his foot while the prince poured water on it,Contextual glossالْمَاءَand saw him one day performing wuḍūʾ washing his foot while the prince poured water on it,Contextual glossعَلَىand saw him one day performing wuḍūʾ washing his foot while the prince poured water on it,Contextual glossرِجْلِهِ،and saw him one day performing wuḍūʾ washing his foot while the prince poured water on it,Contextual glossفَعَاتَبَهُso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossالْأَصْمَعِيُّso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossبِقَوْلِهِ:so al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossإِنَّمَاso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossبَعَثْتَنِيso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossإِلَيْكَso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossلِأُعَلِّمَهُso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossوَأُؤَدِّبَهُso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossفَلِمَاذَاso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossلَمْso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossتَأْمُرْهُso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossأَنْso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossيَصُبَّso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossالْمَاءَso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossبِإِحْدَىso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossيَدَيْهِ،so al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossوَيَغْسِلَso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossبِالْأُخْرَىso al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual glossرِجْلِي؟so al-Aṣmaʿī said: You brought me only to teach and discipline him — why not have him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?Contextual gloss
It is related that the caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd sent his son to al-Aṣmaʿī to teach him knowledge and adab; one day he saw al-Aṣmaʿī making ablution and washing his foot while the caliph's son poured water on it. Al-Aṣmaʿī reproached him: You sent me to you only to teach and train him — so why not bid him pour with one hand and wash my foot with the other?
It is related of Shaykh Shams al-Aʾimma al-Ḥulwānī — may Allah have mercy on him — that he said: I attained this knowledge only through reverence, for I never touched paper except in a state of purity.
Shaykh Imām Shams al-Aʾimma al-Sarakhsī was slow on one night (needing to repeat ablution); he repeated wuḍūʾ seventeen times that night because he would not repeat except in purity — for knowledge is light and wuḍūʾ is light, and the light of knowledge increases thereby.
Proper respect toward knowledge forbids stretching one's foot toward a book, means placing the Qurʾān commentary above other works out of honor, and nothing else should be set atop a book.
Anecdote19
وَكَانَand wasContextual glossأُسْتَاذُنَاour teacherContextual glossالشَّيْخُthe shaykhContextual glossبُرْهَانُBurhan (of)Contextual glossالدِّينِthe religionContextual glossرَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercy on himContextual glossاللهُAllahContextual glossتَعَالَىthe Most HighContextual glossيَحْكِيnarratingContextual glossعَنْfromContextual glossشَيْخٍa shaykhContextual glossمِنَfromContextual glossالْمَشَايِخِ:the mastersContextual glossأَنَّthatContextual glossفَقِيهًاa juristContextual glossكَانَhadContextual glossوَضَعَplacedContextual glossالْمِحْبَرَةَthe inkstandContextual glossعَلَىuponContextual glossالْكِتَابِ،the bookContextual glossفَقَالَso he saidContextual glossلَهُto himContextual glossبِالْفَارِسِيَّةِ:in PersianContextual glossبَرْنِيَايِي.barniyayi (take it off!)Contextual gloss
Our teacher Shaykh Burhān al-Dīn — may Allah have mercy on him — related of an elder: a jurist once set his inkwell on top of a book, whereupon he told him in Persian: burnagām (may your children be lost — a sharp rebuke).
Scholar quote20
وَكَانَand wasContextual glossأُسْتَاذُنَاour teacherContextual glossالْقَاضِيthe judgeContextual glossالْإِمَامُthe imamContextual glossالْأَجَلُّthe most eminentContextual glossفَخْرُFakhr (of)Contextual glossالدِّينِthe religionContextual glossالْمَعْرُوفُknownContextual glossبِقَاضِيخَانٍas QadikhanContextual glossرَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercy on himContextual glossاللهُAllahContextual glossتَعَالَىthe Most HighContextual glossيَقُولُ:sayingContextual glossإنْifContextual glossأُرِيدَit is intendedContextual glossبِذَلِكَby thatContextual glossالِاسْتِخْفَافُthe belittlingContextual glossفَلَاthen noContextual glossبَأْسَharmContextual glossبِذَلِكَ،in thatContextual glossوَالْأَوْلَىand the betterContextual glossأَنْis thatContextual glossيَحْتَرِزَhe abstainsContextual glossعَنْهُ.from itContextual gloss
Our teacher, judge and imām Fakhr al-Dīn known as Qāḍīkhān — may Allah have mercy on him — used to say: If that reflects casual contempt there is still leeway, yet the worthier course is to avoid it.
Further reverence is to write the book neatly — not cramped — and to leave margins blank except when necessary.
Saying22
وَرَأَىand sawContextual glossأَبُوAbuContextual glossحَنِيفَةَHanifaContextual glossرَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercy on himContextual glossاللهُAllahContextual glossكِتَابًاa bookContextual glossيُقَرْمِطُcrowded (in script)Contextual glossفِيinContextual glossالْكِتَابَةِthe writingContextual glossفَقَالَ:so he saidContextual glossلَاdo notContextual glossتُقَرْمِطْcrowdContextual glossخَطَّكَ،your scriptContextual glossإنْifContextual glossعِشْتَyou liveContextual glossتَنْدَمُyou will regretContextual glossوَإنْand ifContextual glossمُتَّyou dieContextual glossتُشْتَمُ.you will be blamedContextual glossيَعْنِيmeaningContextual glossإذَاwhenContextual glossشَاخَتْit agesContextual glossوَضَعُفَand weakensContextual glossنُورُthe light ofContextual glossبَصَرِكَyour eyesightContextual glossنَدِمْتَyou regrettedContextual glossعَلَىuponContextual glossذَلِكَ.thatContextual gloss
Abū Ḥanīfa — may Allah have mercy on him — saw a manuscript copied in cramped hand and said: Do not squeeze your script; if you live you will regret it, and if you die you will be blamed. That is, when age dims your sight you will rue crowding the letters.
Shaykh Imām Majd al-Dīn al-Ṣarkhakī — may Allah be pleased with him — is quoted: Whenever we cramped our script we repented; whenever we omitted vowel marks we repented; whenever we failed to collate we repented.
Ruling47
وَيَنْبَغِيand it is properContextual glossأَنْthatContextual glossيَكُونَit beContextual glossتَقْطِيعُthe cutting ofContextual glossالْكِتَابِthe bookContextual glossمُرَبَّعًا،square-shapedContextual glossفَإِنَّهُfor indeed it isContextual glossتَقْطِيعُthe cutting ofContextual glossأَبِيAbiContextual glossحَنِيفَةَHanifaContextual glossرَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercy on himContextual glossاللهُAllahContextual glossتَعَالَى،the Most HighContextual glossوَهُوَand it isContextual glossأَيْسَرُeasierContextual glossعَلَىforContextual glossالرَّفْعِliftingContextual glossوَالْوَضْعِand placing downContextual glossوَالْمُطَالَعَةِ.and studyingContextual gloss
Book pages are best cut square, following Abū Ḥanīfa's — may Allah have mercy on him — practice, for that eases lifting, setting down, and reading.
Ruling48
وَيَنْبَغِيand it is properContextual glossأَنْthatContextual glossلَاnotContextual glossيَكُونَthere beContextual glossفِيinContextual glossالْكِتَابَةِthe writingContextual glossشَيْءٌanythingContextual glossمِنَfromContextual glossالْحُمْرَةِ،rednessContextual glossفَإِنَّهُfor indeed it isContextual glossمِنْfromContextual glossصَنِيعِthe practice ofContextual glossالْفَلَاسِفَةِthe philosophersContextual glossلَاnotContextual glossصَنِيعِthe practice ofContextual glossالسَّلَفِ،the SalafContextual glossوَقَدْand indeedContextual glossكَرِهَdislikedContextual glossبَعْضُsome ofContextual glossمَشَايِخِنَاour mastersContextual glossاسْتِعْمَالَthe use ofContextual glossالْمُرَكَّبِthe compoundContextual glossالْأَحْمَرِ.the redContextual gloss
Writing should not use ruddiness (red dye) in the ink — that is the philosophers' way, not the early Muslims'; some of our shaykhs disliked the red compound ink.
Another aspect of honoring knowledge is honoring one's fellow students, one's lesson companions, and those from whom one learns — though flattery is generally blameworthy except when seeking knowledge.
Ruling50
فَإِنَّهُfor indeedContextual glossيَنْبَغِيit is properContextual glossأَنْthatContextual glossيَتَمَلَّقَhe shows deferenceContextual glossلِأُسْتَاذِهِto his teacherContextual glossوَشُرَكَائِهِand his fellowsContextual glossلِيَسْتَفِيدَto benefitContextual glossمِنْهُمْ.from themContextual gloss
Therefore one may show obliging courtesy toward teacher and peers in order to gain from them.
Ruling51
وَيَنْبَغِيand it is properContextual glossلِطَالِبِfor the student ofContextual glossالْعِلْمِknowledgeContextual glossأَنْthatContextual glossيَسْتَمِعَhe listens toContextual glossالْعِلْمَthe knowledgeContextual glossوَالْحِكْمَةَand the wisdomContextual glossبِالتَّعْظِيمِwith venerationContextual glossوَالْحُرْمَةِ،and reverenceContextual glossوَإِنْeven ifContextual glossسَمِعَhe hearsContextual glossمَسْأَلَةًa questionContextual glossوَاحِدَةًone (single)Contextual glossأَوْorContextual glossحِكْمَةًa wisdomContextual glossوَاحِدَةًone (single)Contextual glossأَلْفَa thousandContextual glossمَرَّةٍ.timesContextual gloss
The seeker ought to listen to knowledge and wisdom with awe and respect, even if he hears the same point or adage a thousand times.
Saying29
وَقِيلَ:and it was saidContextual glossمَنْwhoeverContextual glossلَمْis notContextual glossيَكُنْhe isContextual glossتَعْظِيمُهُhis venerationContextual glossبَعْدَafterContextual glossأَلْفِa thousandContextual glossمَرَّةٍtimesContextual glossكَتَعْظِيمِهِlike his venerationContextual glossفِيinContextual glossأَوَّلِthe firstContextual glossمَرَّةٍtimeContextual glossفَلَيْسَthen he is notContextual glossبِأَهْلِworthy ofContextual glossالْعِلْمِ.knowledgeContextual gloss
It is said: Whoever after a thousand hearings is not as reverent as the first time is not fit for this knowledge.
The student should not pick the branch of knowledge himself; he should entrust the matter to his teacher, who has tested experience and knows what suits each nature.
Scholar quote31
وَكَانَand wasContextual glossالشَّيْخُthe shaykhContextual glossالْإِمَامُthe imamContextual glossالْأَجَلُّthe most eminentContextual glossالْأُسْتَاذُthe teacherContextual glossبُرْهَانُBurhan (of)Contextual glossالْحَقِّthe truthContextual glossوَالدِّينِand the religionContextual glossرَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercy on himContextual glossاللهُAllahContextual glossتَعَالَىthe Most HighContextual glossيَقُولُ:sayingContextual glossكَانَwereContextual glossطَلَبَةُstudents ofContextual glossالْعِلْمِknowledgeContextual glossفِيinContextual glossالزَّمَانِthe eraContextual glossالْأَوَّلِthe formerContextual glossيُفَوِّضُونَentrustingContextual glossأَمْرَهُمْtheir matterContextual glossفِيinContextual glossالتَّعَلُّمِlearningContextual glossإِلَىtoContextual glossأُسْتَاذِهِمْ،their teacherContextual glossوَكَانُواand they wereContextual glossيَصِلُونَarrivingContextual glossإِلَىatContextual glossمَقْصُودِهِمْtheir goalContextual glossوَمُرَادِهِمْ،and their desireContextual glossوَالْآنَand nowContextual glossيَخْتَارُونَthey chooseContextual glossبِأَنْفُسِهِمْ،by themselvesContextual glossفَلَاso notContextual glossيَحْصُلُis achievedContextual glossمَقْصُودُهُمْtheir goalContextual glossمِنَfromContextual glossالْعِلْمِknowledgeContextual glossوَالْفِقْهِ.and fiqhContextual gloss
The great teacher Burhān al-Ḥaqq wa l-Dīn — may Allah have mercy on him — used to say: Early students entrusted their whole course of study to their shaykh and thereby reached their goal; today they pick for themselves, so they miss the mark of true science and fiqh.
Anecdote32
وَكَانَand it wasContextual glossيُحْكَىnarratedContextual glossأَنَّthatContextual glossمُحَمَّدَMuhammadContextual glossبْنَibnContextual glossإِسْمَاعِيلَIsmailContextual glossالْبُخَارِيَّal-BukhariContextual glossرَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercy on himContextual glossاللهُAllahContextual glossتَعَالَىthe Most HighContextual glossكَانَhad begunContextual glossبَدَأَhe startedContextual glossبِكِتَابَةِby writingContextual glossالصَّلَاةِthe prayer (chapter)Contextual glossعَلَىunderContextual glossمُحَمَّدِMuhammadContextual glossبْنِibnContextual glossالْحَسَنِal-HasanContextual glossرَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercy on himContextual glossاللهُ،AllahContextual glossفَقَالَso saidContextual glossلَهُto himContextual glossمُحَمَّدُMuhammadContextual glossبْنُibnContextual glossالْحَسَنِ:al-HasanContextual glossاذْهَبْgoContextual glossوَتَعَلَّمْand learnContextual glossعِلْمَthe science ofContextual glossالْحَدِيثِ،hadithContextual glossلِمَاbecause of whatContextual glossرَأَىhe sawContextual glossأَنَّthatContextual glossذَلِكَthatContextual glossالْعِلْمَknowledgeContextual glossأَلْيَقَmore fittingContextual glossبِطَبْعِهِ،for his natureContextual glossفَطَلَبَso he soughtContextual glossعِلْمَthe science ofContextual glossالْحَدِيثِhadithContextual glossفَصَارَso he becameContextual glossفِيهِin itContextual glossمُقَدَّمًاforemostContextual glossعَلَىoverContextual glossجَمِيعِall ofContextual glossأَئِمَّةِthe imams ofContextual glossالْحَدِيثِ.hadithContextual gloss
It is told that Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl al-Bukhārī — may Allah have mercy on him — first studied prayer law under Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan — may Allah have mercy on him — who said to him: Go study ḥadīth, for he saw that science better suited his disposition; he did so and became foremost among ḥadīth imāms.
At study sessions one should not sit close to the teacher without need; the distance of a bow between you is nearer to true reverence.
Ruling54
وَيَنْبَغِيand it is properContextual glossلِطَالِبِfor the student ofContextual glossالْعِلْمِknowledgeContextual glossأَنْthatContextual glossيَحْتَرِزَhe guards againstContextual glossعَنِfromContextual glossالْأَخْلَاقِthe moralsContextual glossالذَّمِيمَةِ،the blameworthyContextual glossفَإِنَّهَاfor indeed they areContextual glossكِلَابٌdogsContextual glossمَعْنَوِيَّةٌ،spiritualContextual glossوَقَدْand indeedContextual glossقَالَsaidContextual glossرَسُولُthe Messenger ofContextual glossاللهِAllahContextual glossصَلَّىblessings of AllahContextual glossاللهُAllahContextual glossعَلَيْهِbe upon himContextual glossوَسَلَّمَ:and peaceContextual glossلَاdo notContextual glossتَدْخُلُenterContextual glossالْمَلَائِكَةُthe angelsContextual glossبَيْتًاa houseContextual glossفِيهِin whichContextual glossكَلْبٌa dogContextual glossأَوْorContextual glossصُورَةٌ.an imageContextual glossوَإِنَّمَاand onlyContextual glossيَتَعَلَّمُlearnsContextual glossالْإِنْسَانُa personContextual glossبِوَاسِطَةِthrough the mediation ofContextual glossمَلَكٍ.an angelContextual gloss
The aspirant must shun foul character traits — they are dogs of the inward. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings upon him, said: Angels do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture. Yet man learns only by the mediation of an angel.
