Mishkat al-Masabih

Al-A‘mash reported God’s messenger as saying, "The calamity which affects knowledge is forgetfulness, and wasting it is to convey it to those who are unworthy of it.” Darimi transmitted it in mursal form.

Sufyan said that ‘Umar b. al-Khattab asked Ka‘b who were the lords of knowledge, and he replied that they are those who act according to what they know. He then asked what it is that takes knowledge from the hearts of the learned and was told that it is covetousness. Darimi transmitted it.

Al-Ahwas b. Hakim told on his father’s authority that a man asked the Prophet about evil, and he replied, "Do not ask me about evil, but ask me about good,” saying it three times. Then he said, "The worst evil consists in learned men who are evil, and the best good consists in learned men who are good.” Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Darda’ said that the one who would have the worst position in God’s sight on the day of resurrection would be a learned man who did not profit from his learning.” Darimi transmitted it.

Ziyad b. Hudair said that ‘Umar asked him whether he knew what demolishes Islam, and that when he replied that he did not, he said, "The slip of a learned man, the disputation of a hypocrite about the Book, and the rule of imams who lead men astray.” Darimi transmitted it.

Al-Hasan said that knowledge is of two kinds: knowledge in the heart, which is the beneficial type; and knowledge on the tongue, which is God’s allegation against a human being.” Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said, "I have kept in my memory two large quantities* of learning from God’s messenger, one of which I have disclosed among you; but were I to disclose the other, this bul'um, meaning the food tract, would be cut". Bukhari transmitted it. *Lit. receptacles, or vessels.

‘Abdallah said: If any of you people knows anything he should make it known, but if anyone does not know he should say that God knows best, for saying this when one does not know is a part of knowledge. God said to His prophet, “Say, I do not ask you for any reward for it, and I am not a pretender.”* (Bukhari and Muslim.) *Qur’an, xxxviii, 86.

Ibn Sirin said, “This knowledge is a religion, so consider from whom you receive your religion.” Muslim transmitted it.

Hudhaifa said, “ If you Qur'an readers follow a straight course you will have attained great precedence; but if you go right and left you will have fallen into vast error.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Seek refuge in God from the pit of sorrow.” On being asked what the pit of sorrow was, he replied, “ It is a wadi in jahannam from which jahannam seeks refuge four hundred times every day.” When God’s messenger was asked who would enter it, he replied, “The Qur’an readers who are ostentatious in what they do.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah has the same, adding in it, “Among the Qur’an readers who are most hateful to God are those who visit princes.” Al-Muharibi said that he meant tyrants.

‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, “ A time is soon coming to mankind when nothing of Islam but its name will remain and only the written form of the Qur’an will remain. Their mosques will be in fine condition but will be devoid of guidance, their learned men will be the worst people under heaven, corruption coming forth from them and returning among them.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Ziyad b. Labid said: The Prophet mentioned a matter, saying, “That will be at the time when knowledge departs.” I asked, “How can knowledge depart when we recite the Qur’an and teach it to our children and they will teach it to their children up till the day of resurrection?” He replied, “ I am astonished at you,* Ziyad. I thought you were the most learned man in Medina. Do not these Jews and Christians read the Torah and the Injil without knowing a thing about their contents?” Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi transmitted something similar from him, as did Darimi from Abu Umama.

Ibn Mas'ud reported that God's messenger said to him, "Acquire knowledge and teach it to the people, learn the obligatory duties and teach them to the people, learn the Qur’an and teach it to the people; for I am a man who will be taken away, knowledge will be taken away, dissensions will appear, so that two men will disagree about an obligatory duty and find no one to decide between them.” Darimi and Daraqutni transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "Knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure from which nothing is expended in God’s path.” Darimi transmitted it.