حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

Respect for knowledge and its people: Abu Mu'awiyah said: One day I ate with al-Rashid, may Allah have mercy on him, and a man whom I did not recognize poured water over my hands. Harun asked: Abu Mu'awiyah, do you know who is pouring water for you? I replied: No. He said: I am. I asked: You, Commander of the Faithful? He replied: Yes, out of reverence for knowledge. [al-Muntazam 8/322, 323].

Respect for knowledge and its people: Professor Ibn al-Amid, may God have mercy on him, said: I never thought there was anything sweeter in the world than the leadership and ministry I held, until I witnessed the discussion between Abu al-Qasim al-Tabarani and Abu Bakr al-Ji’abi, may God have mercy on them both, in my presence. Al-Tabarani was surpassing Abu Bakr with his vast memory, and Abu Bakr was surpassing him with his intelligence and wit, until their voices rose, and neither could overcome the other. Al-Ji’abi said: I have a hadith that no one else in the world has. He said: Bring it forth. So he said: Abu Khalifah al-Jumahi narrated to us, Sulayman ibn Ayyub narrated to us, and he narrated a hadith. Al-Tabarani said: I am Sulayman ibn Ayyub, and Abu Khalifah heard it from me, so listen to me so that your chain of transmission may be elevated. Al-Ji’abi was ashamed, and I wished that I had not been a minister and that I had been al-Tabarani, and could have rejoiced as he rejoiced, or something to that effect. [Siyar (its abridgment) 3/1273].

Respect for knowledge and its people: Abu Ishaq al-Harbi said: Hushaym ibn Bashir was a man whose father dealt in sahnah (a condiment made from small fish) and kawamikh (a kind of condiment). His son Hushaym pursued hadith and desired it, but his father prevented him. He wrote down hadith until he came to sit with Abu Shaybah the judge, may Allah have mercy on him, and debated jurisprudence with him. Hushaym fell ill, and Abu Shaybah asked: What has happened to that young man who used to come to us? They replied: He is ill. He said: Let us get up and visit him. Everyone in the gathering got up to visit him, until they reached Bashir's house and entered upon Hushaym. A man came to Bashir while Bashir's hand was in the sahnah and said: Go to your son; the judge has come to visit him. Bashir came while the judge was in his house. When the judge left, he said to his son: My son, I used to prevent you from seeking hadith, but from today I will not. The judge now comes to my door! When could I ever have hoped for this? [al-Muntazam 9/89, 90].

Defining knowledge, how to acquire it, and explaining its virtue: On the authority of Kumayl ibn Ziyad, who said: Ali ibn Abi Talib, may God be pleased with him, took my hand and led me to the area of the cemetery. When we reached an open space, he sat down, sighed, and said: “O Kumayl ibn Ziyad, hearts are vessels, and the best of them are the most capacious. Remember what I tell you: People are of three kinds: a learned scholar devoted to God; a student on the path to salvation; and the ignorant masses who follow every loud voice, swayed by every wind, who have not been enlightened by the light of knowledge, nor have they sought refuge in a firm foundation. Knowledge is better than wealth. Knowledge protects you, while you protect wealth. Knowledge increases with practice, while wealth decreases with spending. Love for the scholar is a religious duty. Knowledge earns the scholar obedience in his life and a good reputation after his death, while the fruits of wealth vanish with its loss. The hoarders of wealth die while still alive, while scholars remain as long as time endures. Their physical forms are gone, but their examples remain in the hearts of people.” [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 1/86]

Defining knowledge, how to acquire it, and explaining its virtue: Abdullah bin Masoud, may God be pleased with him, said: Knowledge is not about narrating many hadiths, but rather knowledge is about fearing God. (Narrated by Al-Tabarani). [Sifat Al-Safwa 1/190].