حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

Acting upon and conveying knowledge: Al-Sha'bi, may God have mercy on him, said: I wish I had not learned anything of this knowledge. Al-Dhahabi said: Because it is a proof against the scholar, so he should act upon it and warn the ignorant, commanding and forbidding them. And because it is likely that he will not be sincere in it, and that he will boast about it and argue with it, in order to gain leadership and a fleeting world. [Al-Siyar (its abridgment) 2/502].

Acting upon and conveying knowledge: On the authority of Hisham al-Dastawa’i, may God have mercy on him, he said: Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon him, used to say: O assembly of scholars, your example is like that of the oleander (a bitter, green, beautiful tree that grows in valleys). Its flowers please the beholder, but its taste kills the one who eats it. Your words are medicine, but they do not cure the disease, and your actions are a disease that does not accept medicine. Wisdom comes out of your mouths, and there are only four fingers between it and your ears, yet your hearts do not comprehend it! O assembly of scholars, God only spreads the world for you so that you may act, and He did not spread it for you so that you may transgress! O assembly of scholars, how can someone be among the people of knowledge if he seeks to speak of it and does not seek to act upon it? Knowledge is above your heads, and action is beneath your feet, so there are neither free and honorable people, nor pious slaves! [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 2/340].

Acting upon knowledge and conveying it: On the authority of Shu’bah, he said: I do not tell you that anyone sought hadith seeking the face of God Almighty except Hisham al-Dastawa’i, even though he used to say: I wish we could escape from this hadith with just enough, neither for us nor against us. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 2/340].

Acting upon knowledge and conveying it: On the authority of Ibrahim Al-Nakha’i, may God have mercy on him, he said: When they came to a man to learn from him, they looked at his prayer, his conduct, and his demeanor. [Sifat Al-Safwa 2/553].

Acting upon knowledge and conveying it: Abu Qilabah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: When Allah, Mighty and Majestic, grants you new knowledge, undertake new worship for Him. [Sifat al-Safwah 3/186].