حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

Advice and guidance for the scholar and the student of knowledge: On the authority of Imam Malik, may God have mercy on him, he said: It is incumbent upon the seeker of knowledge to have dignity, tranquility, and reverence. Knowledge is good for whoever is granted its benefit, and it is a portion from God Almighty. So do not allow people to control you, for it is among the happiness of a person to be guided to good, and it is among the misfortunes of a person to keep making mistakes. [Al-Siyar (its abridgment) 2/735].

Advice and guidance for the scholar and student of knowledge: Yahya bin Muadh, may God have mercy on him, said: Do not seek knowledge for show, nor abandon it out of shyness. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 3/259].

Advice and guidance for the scholar and the student of knowledge: Al-Junayd ibn Muhammad, may God have mercy on him, said: Whenever you want to be honored by knowledge, and be associated with it, and be among its people, before you give knowledge what you owe it, its light will be veiled from you, and only its mark and appearance will remain upon you. That knowledge is against you, not for you, because knowledge points to its application, and if knowledge is not applied in its proper stages, its blessings will depart. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 3/381].

Condemnation of haste in assuming leadership in gatherings and teaching: Ibrahim bin Adham, may God have mercy on him, said: When we saw a young man speaking in a gathering, we despaired of any good from him. [Ibn Abi Al-Dunya Encyclopedia 5/223, Al-Bidaya wa Al-Nihaya 10/208].

Condemnation of haste in assuming leadership in councils and education: Al-Sa`luki, may God have mercy on him, said: Whoever assumes leadership before his time, has exposed himself to humiliation. [Al-Siyar (its abridgment) 3/1337].