Seeking Knowledge

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s messenger as saying, “A believer will never be satisfied with the good he hears till he reaches paradise.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who is asked about something he knows and conceals it will have a bridle of fire put on him on the day of resurrection.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Anas.

Ka'b b. Malik reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone seeks knowledge to use it in vying with the learned, or disputing with the foolish, or to attract men’s attention to himself, God will bring him into hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ibn ‘Umar.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone acquires knowledge of things by which God’s good pleasure is sought, but acquires it only to get some worldly advantage, he will not experience the ‘arf, i.e. the odour, of paradise on the day of resurrection.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “God brighten a man who hears what I say, gets it by heart, retains it, and passes it on to others! Many a bearer of knowledge is not versed in it, and many a bearer of knowledge conveys it to one who is more versed than he is. There are three things on account of which no rancour enters a Muslim's heart: sincere action for God’s sake, good counsel to Muslims, and hold- ing fast to their community, for their invitation includes those who are beyond them.” Shafi‘i transmitted it, also Baihaqi in al-Madkhal. Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it from Zaid b. Thabit, but Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud did not mention, “There are three things on account of which no rancour enters..." to the end.

Ibn Mas'ud said that he heard God’s messenger saying, “God brighten a man who hears something from us and conveys it to others as he heard it, for many a one to whom it is brought retains it better than the one who heard it.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it from Abu Darda'

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Be on your guard about tradition from me, except what you know; for he who lies about me deliberately will certainly come to his abode in hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ibn Mas'ud and Jabir, but did not mention, “ Be on your guard about tradition from me, except what you know.”

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Let him who interprets the Qur’an in the light of his opinion come to his abode in hell.” A version has, “Let him who interprets the Qur’an without knowledge come to his abode in hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Jundub reported God’s messenger as saying, “ If anyone interprets the Qur’an in the light of his own opinion and is right, he has erred.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Disputation about the Qur’an is infidelity.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib quoted the authority of his father from his grandfather who said that the Prophet heard some people disagreeing about the Qur’an and said, “It was just on this account that your predecessors perished: they set parts of God’s Book against others, whereas God's Book was sent down only to be consistent; so do not use parts to falsify others. Speak about as much of it as you know, but where you are ignorant entrust it to him who knows.” Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God's messenger as saying, “The Qur'an was sent down in seven modes. Every verse in it has an external and an internal meaning, and every interdiction has a source of reference.” Baghawi transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God's messenger as saying, “Knowledge has three categories: a precise verse, or an established sunna, or a firm obligatory duty. Anything else is an extra.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Auf b. Malik al-Ashja‘i reported God’s messenger as saying, "Only a ruler, or one put in charge, or one who is presumptuous gives instruction."* Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it from ' Amr b. Shu'aib from his father from his grandfather. A version has, "Or a hypocrite” instead of "one who is presumptuous”. *The word used here is yaqussu, which may be translated as given above, but which may also be translated as “inflicts punishment.”

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone is given a legal decision ignorantly, the sin rests on the one who gave it; and if anyone advises his brother, knowing that right guidance lies in another direction, he has deceived him.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mu'awiya said that the Prophet forbade the discussion of thorny questions. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "Learn the things which are made obligatory and the Qur’an, and teach them to people, for I shall die.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Darda’ told how God’s messenger, on an occasion when they were with him, turned his eyes to the sky and said, "This is a time when knowledge will be snatched away from men, so that they will be unable to acquire any.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira transmitted , "The time is approaching when men will urge on their camels in search of knowledge, but will find no one more learned than the learned man of Medina.” Tirmidhi transmitted it. and in his Jami' he quotes Ibn ‘Uyaina as saying that Malik b. Anas was meant, and the same view is expressed by ‘Abd ar-Razzaq. Ishab b. Musa said he heard Ibn ‘Uyaina say that he was al-‘Umari the ascetic, whose name was ‘Abd al-‘Aziz b. ‘Abdallah.

He also reported among the material he knew to come from God’s messenger that he said, "At the beginning of every century God will send one who will renew its religion for this people.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.