حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

Advice and guidance for the scholar and student of knowledge: On the authority of Rabi’ah, he said: Ibn Khaldah al-Zarqi, may God have mercy on him, said to me: I see that people have entrusted their affairs to you, so if you are asked about a matter, seek a way out of it for yourself, and then for the one who asked you. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 1/534].

Advice and guidance for the scholar and student of knowledge: Abu Asim, may God have mercy on him, said: Whoever seeks Hadith has sought the highest of matters, so he must be among the best of people. [Al-Siyar (its abridgment) 2/850].

Advice and guidance for the scholar and student of knowledge: On the authority of Habib bin Abi Thabit, may God have mercy on him, he said: It is from the Sunnah that when a man speaks to a group of people, he should address them all, and not single out one person over another. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 2/142].

Advice and guidance for the scholar and student of knowledge: Sufyan al-Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Learn knowledge, and when you teach it, maintain restraint over it. Do not mix it with laughter or play, lest hearts reject it. [Hilyah (abridged edition) 2/364].

Advice and guidance for the scholar and student of knowledge: Abd al-Rahman ibn Mahdi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: It used to be said: When a man meets someone above him in knowledge, it is a day of gain. When he meets someone like himself, he studies with him and learns from him. When he meets someone below him, he is humble toward him and teaches him. One who narrates everything he hears cannot be a leader in knowledge; one who narrates from everyone cannot be a leader in knowledge; and one who narrates anomalous knowledge cannot be a leader in knowledge. Retention means mastery. [Hilyah (abridged edition) 3/111].