Honour In Seeking Knowledge
Sufyaan ath-Thawree (d. 161H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"Woe to you! Seek knowledge, for indeed I fear that it may leave you and go to others besides you and so you will be humiliated. Seek knowledge, for indeed it is nobility - and honour - in this worldly life and nobility in the Hereafter."
Reference: Hilyatul-Awliyaa (6/368), Jaami' Bayaan al-'ilm (no.96).
Translation by: Aboo "Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Sufyaan ath-Thawree (d. 161H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"Woe to you! Seek knowledge, for indeed I fear that it may leave you and go to others besides you and so you will be humiliated. Seek knowledge, for indeed it is nobility - and honour - in this worldly life and nobility in the Hereafter."
Reference: Hilyatul-Awliyaa (6/368), Jaami' Bayaan al-'ilm (no.96).
Translation by: Aboo "Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
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With Knowledge Comes Honour
Eesaa b. Yunus (d. 187H) razhimahullaah said:
"Neither we nor the generation that came before us have seen the likes of al-A'mash. And I have not seen the rich or the leaders more humbled/debased in front of anyone as they were in front of al-A'mash; even with his poverty and need."
Reference: Tahdheebul-Kamaal (12/88), Siyar A'laam an-Nubalaa (6/235), al-Ikmaal fee Asmaa ar-Rijaal (11/114), Hilyatul-Awliyaa (5/47-48).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Eesaa b. Yunus (d. 187H) razhimahullaah said:
"Neither we nor the generation that came before us have seen the likes of al-A'mash. And I have not seen the rich or the leaders more humbled/debased in front of anyone as they were in front of al-A'mash; even with his poverty and need."
Reference: Tahdheebul-Kamaal (12/88), Siyar A'laam an-Nubalaa (6/235), al-Ikmaal fee Asmaa ar-Rijaal (11/114), Hilyatul-Awliyaa (5/47-48).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Worship Without Knowledge Leads To Destruction
Hasan al-Basree (d. 110H) rahimahullaah said:
"The one who acts without knowledge is like the person who travels without any path; the one who acts without knowledge corrupts more than what he rectifies. So, endeavour in seeking knowledge so long as it does not harm worship and endeavour in seeking after worship as long as it does not harm (seeking) knowledge. For indeed a people (i.e. the Khawaarij) sought worship and neglected knowledge until they went out (revolting) against the Ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ) with their swords. But had they sought knowledge then it would not have led them to what they fell into."
Reference: Miftaah Daar as-Sa'aadah (1/83), Mukhtasir Naseehah Ahlil-Hadeeth (no.155).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Hasan al-Basree (d. 110H) rahimahullaah said:
"The one who acts without knowledge is like the person who travels without any path; the one who acts without knowledge corrupts more than what he rectifies. So, endeavour in seeking knowledge so long as it does not harm worship and endeavour in seeking after worship as long as it does not harm (seeking) knowledge. For indeed a people (i.e. the Khawaarij) sought worship and neglected knowledge until they went out (revolting) against the Ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ) with their swords. But had they sought knowledge then it would not have led them to what they fell into."
Reference: Miftaah Daar as-Sa'aadah (1/83), Mukhtasir Naseehah Ahlil-Hadeeth (no.155).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Death Upon Islaam & The Sunnah
Aboo Bakr al-Marroodhee (d. 275H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"I said to Aboo Abdillaah: 'Whoever dies upon Islaam and the Sunnah has died upon good (Khair)’. So he said to me: ‘Silence! Rather whoever dies upon Islaam and the Sunnah has died upon all good.'"
Reference: Manaaqibul-Imaam Ahmad of Ibnul-Jawzee (no.180).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Aboo Bakr al-Marroodhee (d. 275H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"I said to Aboo Abdillaah: 'Whoever dies upon Islaam and the Sunnah has died upon good (Khair)’. So he said to me: ‘Silence! Rather whoever dies upon Islaam and the Sunnah has died upon all good.'"
Reference: Manaaqibul-Imaam Ahmad of Ibnul-Jawzee (no.180).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
The Excellence Of Seeking Hadeeth
Al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee (d. 463H) rahimahullaah said:
"Seeking Hadeeth in this time is more virtuous than all the different types of optional worship due to it being the study of the Sunan (actions and statements of the Prophet) and its details, and (due to) the emergence of innovations and the predominance of its people."
Reference: Sharaf Ashaabul-Hadeeth (no.171).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee (d. 463H) rahimahullaah said:
"Seeking Hadeeth in this time is more virtuous than all the different types of optional worship due to it being the study of the Sunan (actions and statements of the Prophet) and its details, and (due to) the emergence of innovations and the predominance of its people."
Reference: Sharaf Ashaabul-Hadeeth (no.171).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Etiquettes Of Seeking Hadeeth
Khaalid b. Safwaan at-Tamimee (d. 135H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"If you see a Muhaddith (Hadeeth Scholar) narrate a Hadeeth which you have already heard, or he relates a narration which you already know, then do not participate with him in narrating it, in the desire to inform those present, that you already know of it. For indeed that is degrading and disdainful, and bad manners."
Reference: Al-Jaami' li-Akhlaaq ar-Raawee at-Tahhaan's checking (no.353) & 'Ajaaj's checking (no.356).
Translation by Aboo Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Khaalid b. Safwaan at-Tamimee (d. 135H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"If you see a Muhaddith (Hadeeth Scholar) narrate a Hadeeth which you have already heard, or he relates a narration which you already know, then do not participate with him in narrating it, in the desire to inform those present, that you already know of it. For indeed that is degrading and disdainful, and bad manners."
Reference: Al-Jaami' li-Akhlaaq ar-Raawee at-Tahhaan's checking (no.353) & 'Ajaaj's checking (no.356).
Translation by Aboo Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Knowledge Is Praiseworthy When Sought for Action
Az-Zubayr b. 'Arabee rahimahullaah said:
"A man asked Ibn 'Umar (radiallaahu 'anhumaa) concerning touching the Black Stone, so he said: 'I saw the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) touching it and kissing it.' He said: 'So I said: What do you see if it becomes crowded and what if I am overcome (by people)?’ He replied: 'Leave this 'what do you see' in Yemen, I saw the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) touching it and kissing it.'"
Al-Bukhaaree (no.1533) & at-Tirmidhee (no.861).
Explanation:
Ibn Rajab (d. 795H) rahimahullaah said:
"The intent of Ibn 'Umar was that you should have no desire except to adhere and follow the Prophet (ﷺ). There is no need for hypothetical assumptions of inability or the difficulty of it before it even occurs, because it leads to weakening the resolve in observance of adhering and following [the texts]. So gaining insight and understanding in the religion, and asking questions about knowledge is only praiseworthy if it is sought for action and not for the sake of argumentation and disputation."
Jaami' ul-'Uloom wal-Hikam, explanation of Hadeeth (no.9).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Az-Zubayr b. 'Arabee rahimahullaah said:
"A man asked Ibn 'Umar (radiallaahu 'anhumaa) concerning touching the Black Stone, so he said: 'I saw the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) touching it and kissing it.' He said: 'So I said: What do you see if it becomes crowded and what if I am overcome (by people)?’ He replied: 'Leave this 'what do you see' in Yemen, I saw the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) touching it and kissing it.'"
Al-Bukhaaree (no.1533) & at-Tirmidhee (no.861).
Explanation:
Ibn Rajab (d. 795H) rahimahullaah said:
"The intent of Ibn 'Umar was that you should have no desire except to adhere and follow the Prophet (ﷺ). There is no need for hypothetical assumptions of inability or the difficulty of it before it even occurs, because it leads to weakening the resolve in observance of adhering and following [the texts]. So gaining insight and understanding in the religion, and asking questions about knowledge is only praiseworthy if it is sought for action and not for the sake of argumentation and disputation."
Jaami' ul-'Uloom wal-Hikam, explanation of Hadeeth (no.9).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
What Aids Memorisation?
'Alee b. Khashram al-Marwazee rahimahullaah (d. 257H) said:
"I asked Wakee'; I said: 'O Aboo Sufyaan, do you know of anything that helps with memorisation?' He said: 'I see you are a newcomer.' Then he said: 'Abandonment of sins aids in memorisation.'"
Benefit:
'Alee b. Kashram al-Marwazee became one of the great memorisers of Hadeeth and a trustworthy narrator.
Imaam adh-Dhahabee mentions about him: "The Imaam, Al-Haafidh (the great memoriser of Hadeeth), the truthful narrator..." [Siyar A'laamun-Nubalaa (9/430)].
Reference: Al-Jaami' li-Akhlaaq ar-Raawee (no.1785).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
'Alee b. Khashram al-Marwazee rahimahullaah (d. 257H) said:
"I asked Wakee'; I said: 'O Aboo Sufyaan, do you know of anything that helps with memorisation?' He said: 'I see you are a newcomer.' Then he said: 'Abandonment of sins aids in memorisation.'"
Benefit:
'Alee b. Kashram al-Marwazee became one of the great memorisers of Hadeeth and a trustworthy narrator.
Imaam adh-Dhahabee mentions about him: "The Imaam, Al-Haafidh (the great memoriser of Hadeeth), the truthful narrator..." [Siyar A'laamun-Nubalaa (9/430)].
Reference: Al-Jaami' li-Akhlaaq ar-Raawee (no.1785).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Honouring The Scholars Establishes The Deen
Az-Zuhree (d. 124H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"Our scholars who passed before us used to say: 'Holding fast to the Sunnah is salvation, and knowledge will be taken away swiftly, so the scholars remaining and being held in high esteem is the establishment of the religion and Dunya (worldly life), and the passing away of the scholars is the passing away of all of that in its entirety.'"
Reference: Ad-Daarimee (no.96), al-Laalikaa'ee (no.15, no.136 & no.137), al-Hilyah (3/369, 5/346), Taareekh ad-Damishq (55/359), as-Siyar (5/337, 18/343).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Az-Zuhree (d. 124H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"Our scholars who passed before us used to say: 'Holding fast to the Sunnah is salvation, and knowledge will be taken away swiftly, so the scholars remaining and being held in high esteem is the establishment of the religion and Dunya (worldly life), and the passing away of the scholars is the passing away of all of that in its entirety.'"
Reference: Ad-Daarimee (no.96), al-Laalikaa'ee (no.15, no.136 & no.137), al-Hilyah (3/369, 5/346), Taareekh ad-Damishq (55/359), as-Siyar (5/337, 18/343).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Innovations Distance You From Allaah
Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyaanee (d. 131H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"A person of innovation does not increase in striving except that he only increases in distancing himself from Allaah."
EXPLANATION:
Aboo Ishaaq ash-Shaatibee (d. 790H) - rahimahullaah - said:
This narration is corroborated by what is indicated in this authentic Hadeeth from his statement (ﷺ) about the Khawaarij (renegades)...
Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyaanee (d. 131H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"A person of innovation does not increase in striving except that he only increases in distancing himself from Allaah."
EXPLANATION:
Aboo Ishaaq ash-Shaatibee (d. 790H) - rahimahullaah - said:
This narration is corroborated by what is indicated in this authentic Hadeeth from his statement (ﷺ) about the Khawaarij (renegades)...
Innovations Distance You From Allaah
Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyaanee (d. 131H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"A person of innovation does not increase in striving except that he only increases in distancing himself from Allaah."
EXPLANATION:
Aboo Ishaaq ash-Shaatibee (d. 790H) - rahimahullaah - said:
This narration is corroborated by what is indicated in this authentic Hadeeth from his statement (ﷺ) about the Khawaarij (renegades): "There will come from the progeny of this man a people who will make your prayer (Salaah) look insignificant compared to their prayer and your fasting with their fasting" till he mentioned: "They will pass through this religion just as the arrow goes through the bow." So he (ﷺ) firstly explained about their Ijtihaad (striving); and then at the end, he (ﷺ) explained about them being distant from Allaah, the Most High.
And from another angle, he (ﷺ) also clarified that neither any Sarf (the obligatory deeds) nor 'Adl (the supererogatory deeds) will be accepted from him. So every action that he performs based upon innovation then it is as if he has never performed it at all. And he exceeds and goes further than the person who abandons action, due to the 'Inaad (obstinate rejection) which is comprised in his innovation. And also due to the corruption that befalls the people through it (i.e. innovation) in the foundation of the Sharee'ah (Divine legislation), in the subsidiary actions, and in the beliefs. And with all that, he still believes that his innovation brings him closer to Allaah and will take him to Jannah.
Furthermore, there is an established narration which is authentic and clear that there is no gaining nearness to Allaah except with acting in accordance to what He legislated, and upon the way which He legislated and that innovations render actions futile."
Reference: Al-I'tisaam of ash-Shaatibee (1/155-156).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyaanee (d. 131H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"A person of innovation does not increase in striving except that he only increases in distancing himself from Allaah."
EXPLANATION:
Aboo Ishaaq ash-Shaatibee (d. 790H) - rahimahullaah - said:
This narration is corroborated by what is indicated in this authentic Hadeeth from his statement (ﷺ) about the Khawaarij (renegades): "There will come from the progeny of this man a people who will make your prayer (Salaah) look insignificant compared to their prayer and your fasting with their fasting" till he mentioned: "They will pass through this religion just as the arrow goes through the bow." So he (ﷺ) firstly explained about their Ijtihaad (striving); and then at the end, he (ﷺ) explained about them being distant from Allaah, the Most High.
And from another angle, he (ﷺ) also clarified that neither any Sarf (the obligatory deeds) nor 'Adl (the supererogatory deeds) will be accepted from him. So every action that he performs based upon innovation then it is as if he has never performed it at all. And he exceeds and goes further than the person who abandons action, due to the 'Inaad (obstinate rejection) which is comprised in his innovation. And also due to the corruption that befalls the people through it (i.e. innovation) in the foundation of the Sharee'ah (Divine legislation), in the subsidiary actions, and in the beliefs. And with all that, he still believes that his innovation brings him closer to Allaah and will take him to Jannah.
Furthermore, there is an established narration which is authentic and clear that there is no gaining nearness to Allaah except with acting in accordance to what He legislated, and upon the way which He legislated and that innovations render actions futile."
Reference: Al-I'tisaam of ash-Shaatibee (1/155-156).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
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Why You Should Not Sit With The Innovators
Abul-Qaasim Isma’eel b. Muhammad al-Asbahaanee (d. 535H) known as 'Qawwam as-Sunnah' - rahimahullaah - said:
"The abandonment of sitting with the people of innovations and socialising with them is a Sunnah; so that perhaps the hearts of the weak amongst the Muslims do not become attached to any of their innovations, and so that the people realise that they are indeed Ahlul-Bid'ah (people of innovation), and likewise that sitting with them does not become a way for their innovation to become apparent and widespread.”
Reference: Al-Hujjah Fee Bayaanil-Mahajjah of Qawwam as-Sunnah (2/529).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
Abul-Qaasim Isma’eel b. Muhammad al-Asbahaanee (d. 535H) known as 'Qawwam as-Sunnah' - rahimahullaah - said:
"The abandonment of sitting with the people of innovations and socialising with them is a Sunnah; so that perhaps the hearts of the weak amongst the Muslims do not become attached to any of their innovations, and so that the people realise that they are indeed Ahlul-Bid'ah (people of innovation), and likewise that sitting with them does not become a way for their innovation to become apparent and widespread.”
Reference: Al-Hujjah Fee Bayaanil-Mahajjah of Qawwam as-Sunnah (2/529).
Translation by Aboo 'Abdillaah Bilaal Hussain al-Kashmiree.
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