Seeking Knowledge

قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ يَا بُنَيَّ اخْتَرِ الْمَجَالِسَ عَلَى عَيْنِكَ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ قَوْماً يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ فَاجْلِسْ مَعَهُمْ فَإِنْ تَكُنْ عَالِماً نَفَعَكَ عِلْمُكَ وَ إِنْ تَكُنْ جَاهِلًا عَلَّمُوكَ وَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُظِلَّهُمْ بِرَحْمَتِهِ فَيَعُمَّكَ مَعَهُمْ وَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ قَوْماً لَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ فَلَا تَجْلِسْ مَعَهُمْ فَإِنْ تَكُنْ عَالِماً لَمْ يَنْفَعْكَ عِلْمُكَ

Luqman (the wise) said to his son, “O my son, choose your gatherings wisely. If you see a group remembering Allah (swt), then sit with them. If you are knowledgeable, your knowledge will benefit you, and if you are ignorant, they will teach you. Perhaps Allah, by His mercy, will envelop them, and you will be included w

مُحَادَثَةُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْمَزَابِلِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُحَادَثَةِ الْجَاهِلِ عَلَى الزَّرَابِيِ‌[1].

“Speaking to a scholar even at a dump-site is better than speaking to an ignorant person at a best furnished palace.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ قَالَتِ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ لِعِيسَى يَا رُوحَ اللَّهِ مَنْ نُجَالِسُ قَالَ مَنْ يُذَكِّرُكُمُ اللَّهَ رُؤْيَتُهُ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي عِلْمِكُمْ مَنْطِقُهُ وَ يُرَغِّبُكُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَمَلُهُ.

“The Holy Prophet said, ‘The disciples asked Jesus, ‘O the spirit of Allah who should we associate with?’ Jesus replied, “Associate with those whose visitation would remind you of Allah, whose speech and logic increase your knowledge and whose deeds would attract you to the next life.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مُجَالَسَةُ أَهْلِ الدِّينِ شَرَفُ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.

The Messenger of Allah (sw) said, "Association with religious people is an honour in this life as well as in the next life."

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَمَجْلِسٌ أَجْلِسُهُ إِلَى مَنْ أَثِقُ بِهِ أَوْثَقُ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ عَمَلِ سَنَةٍ.

‘The place where I may sit with one who I trust is more comforting to my soul than working for one whole year.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ مَجْدُورٍ أَصَابَتْهُ جَنَابَةٌ فَغَسَّلُوهُ فَمَاتَ قَالَ قَتَلُوهُ أَلَّا سَأَلُوا فَإِنَّ دَوَاءَ الْعِيِّ السُّؤَالُ‌[1].

"They have killed him. So, ask, for indeed, the remedy for ignorance is asking."

أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِحُمْرَانَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ‌[3] فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ سَأَلَهُ إِنَّمَا يَهْلِكُ النَّاسُ لِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْأَلُونَ.

‘People are destroyed only because they do not ask (what they do not know).’”

قَالَ: إِنَّ هَذَا الْعِلْمَ عَلَيْهِ قُفْلٌ وَ مِفْتَاحُهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ. - عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ.

“This knowledge (the knowledge of the holy Prophet and Ahlul Bayt(a.s.)) is under a lock and the key to it is asking” Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father from al-Nawfali, from al-Sakuni from Imam abu ‘Abdallah has narrated the same Hadith.

لَا يَسَعُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَسْأَلُوا وَ يَتَفَقَّهُوا وَ يَعْرِفُوا إِمَامَهُمْ وَ يَسَعُهُمْ أَنْ يَأْخُذُوا بِمَا يَقُولُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ تَقِيَّةً.

“People can do nothing until they ask, acquire a proper understanding of religion, know their Imam and follow what he says, even if he said it under taqqiyah."

أُفٍّ لِرَجُلٍ لَا يُفَرِّغُ نَفْسَهُ فِي كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ لِأَمْرِ دِينِهِ فَيَتَعَاهَدُهُ وَ يَسْأَلُ عَنْ دِينِهِ‌ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى‌ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ.

“The holy Prophet has said, ‘Woe is to a man who does not save a time every Friday for learning about his religion and make a habit to ask about his religion.” In another Hadith it says, “woe is to every such Muslim.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ تَذَاكُرُ الْعِلْمِ بَيْنَ عِبَادِي مِمَّا تَحْيَا عَلَيْهِ الْقُلُوبُ الْمَيْتَةُ إِذَا هُمُ انْتَهَوْا فِيهِ إِلَى أَمْرِي

“The Holy Prophet said, ‘Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious says, ‘The discussions of the scholars among My servants are of the matters that bring the dead hearts to life if they come to and end up to My commandments.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عَبْداً أَحْيَا الْعِلْمَ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا إِحْيَاؤُهُ قَالَ أَنْ يُذَاكِرَ بِهِ أَهْلَ الدِّينِ وَ أَهْلَ الْوَرَعِ.

“May Allah grant forgiveness to a man who revives knowledge.” Abu al-Jarud has said, “I asked the Imam, ‘What is reviving knowledge?’” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is his discussing knowledge among the religious people and the people of piety.”

تَذَاكَرُوا وَ تَلَاقَوْا وَ تَحَدَّثُوا فَإِنَّ الْحَدِيثَ جِلَاءٌ لِلْقُلُوبِ إِنَّ الْقُلُوبَ لَتَرِينُ‌[2] كَمَا يَرِينُ السَّيْفُ جِلَاؤُهَا الْحَدِيثُ‌[3].

He said addressing the people said, “Discuss facts, meet each other and speak to each other because speaking is brightness for the hearts. Hearts become stained just as the swords become stained and speaking cleanses it up.” In some scripts it is ‘Iron’ instead of ‘speaking’ at the end of the sentence.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ تَذَاكُرُ الْعِلْمِ دِرَاسَةٌ وَ الدِّرَاسَةُ صَلَاةٌ حَسَنَةٌ.

“Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, ‘Discussing knowledge is study and study is a good prayer.’”

قَرَأْتُ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَأْخُذْ عَلَى الْجُهَّالِ عَهْداً بِطَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ حَتَّى أَخَذَ عَلَى الْعُلَمَاءِ عَهْداً بِبَذْلِ الْعِلْمِ لِلْجُهَّالِ لِأَنَّ الْعِلْمَ كَانَ قَبْلَ الْجَهْلِ.

“I read in the book of Imam Ali (a.s.) that Allah had no commitment from and covenant with the ignorant people to seek knowledge before having a commitment from and covenant with the scholars to give knowledge as charity to the ignorant ones because knowledge existed before ignorance.”

لِيَكُنِ النَّاسُ عِنْدَكَ فِي الْعِلْمِ سَوَاءً.

about this verse. “Do not scornfully turn your face away from people. .” (31:18) ‘so that people would all be equal in matters of knowledge.’”

زَكَاةُ الْعِلْمِ أَنْ تُعَلِّمَهُ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ.

“Zakat, the tax, on knowledge is teaching it to the servants of Allah.”

قَامَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ ع خَطِيباً فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَقَالَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَا تُحَدِّثُوا الْجُهَّالَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ فَتَظْلِمُوهَا وَ لَا تَمْنَعُوهَا أَهْلَهَا فَتَظْلِمُوهُمْ.

“Jesus, son of Mary (a.s.) once stood up to speak to the Israelites saying, ‘O Israelites, do not speak the words of wisdom to the ignorant people because you will be doing injustice to them (words of wisdom). Do not keep them (words of wisdom) from those who deserve lest you will do injustice to them (deserving people

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَنْهَاكَ عَنْ خَصْلَتَيْنِ فِيهِمَا هَلَاكُ الرِّجَالِ أَنْهَاكَ أَنْ تَدِينَ اللَّهَ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَ تُفْتِيَ النَّاسَ بِمَا لَا تَعْلَمُ.

"I would like to warn you about two forms of behavior that lead a man to destruction. I prohibit you from dealing with Allah on the basis of falsehood and from giving fatwa to people without knowledge.”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِيَّاكَ وَ خَصْلَتَيْنِ فَفِيهِمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُفْتِيَ النَّاسَ بِرَأْيِكَ أَوْ تَدِينَ بِمَا لَا تَعْلَمُ.

‘Beware of two forms of behavior. It is such behaviors that have lead many people to their destruction. Beware of giving fatwa to people on the basis of your own opinion and to follow a religion without knowledge.’”

مَنْ أَفْتَى النَّاسَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَ لَا هُدًى لَعَنَتْهُ مَلَائِكَةُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ مَلَائِكَةُ الْعَذَابِ وَ لَحِقَهُ وِزْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِفُتْيَاهُ.

“Whoever gives a fatwa (a religious verdict) to people without knowledge and guidance, the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment curse him. The burden of those who act upon his fatwa will fall upon him."

مَا عَلِمْتُمْ فَقُولُوا وَ مَا لَمْ تَعْلَمُوا فَقُولُوا اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَنْتَزِعُ الْآيَةَ[2] مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ يَخِرُّ فِيهَا أَبْعَدَ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ.

“What you know you may speak it up but what you do not know say, ‘Allah knows best’. A man refers to a verse in the holy Quran and gives it a meaning that is farther from the truth than the heavens are from earth.”

لِلْعَالِمِ إِذَا سُئِلَ عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ هُوَ لَا يَعْلَمُهُ أَنْ يَقُولَ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ وَ لَيْسَ لِغَيْرِ الْعَالِمِ أَنْ يَقُولَ ذَلِكَ.

“It is very proper for a scholar to say, ‘Allah knows best’ if he does not know. This is not for a none scholar.”

إِذَا سُئِلَ الرَّجُلُ‌ مِنْكُمْ عَمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُ فَلْيَقُلْ لَا أَدْرِي وَ لَا يَقُلْ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ فَيُوقِعَ فِي قَلْبِ صَاحِبِهِ شَكّاً وَ إِذَا قَالَ الْمَسْئُولُ لَا أَدْرِي فَلَا يَتَّهِمُهُ السَّائِلُ.

“If one of you would be asked of what he does not know he must say, ‘I have no knowledge and he must not say, “Allah knows best” because it may create doubts in the hearts of his audience. If the person questioned would say, “I do not know his audience will not accuse him of anything.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع مَا حَقُّ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ قَالَ أَنْ يَقُولُوا مَا يَعْلَمُونَ وَ يَقِفُوا عِنْدَ مَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ.

“I asked Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) this, ‘What are the rights of Allah on people?’” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “They must say what they know and abstain from saying anything that they have no knowledge of.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَصَّ عِبَادَهُ بِآيَتَيْنِ مِنْ كِتَابِهِ أَنْ لَا يَقُولُوا حَتَّى يَعْلَمُوا وَ لَا يَرُدُّوا مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمُوا وَ قَالَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ أَ لَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِمْ‌ مِيثاقُ الْكِتابِ‌ أَنْ لا يَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَ‌[1] وَ قَالَ‌ بَلْ كَذَّبُوا بِما لَمْ يُحِيطُوا بِعِلْمِهِ وَ لَمَّا يَأْتِهِمْ تَأْوِيلُهُ‌[2].

“Allah has addressed His servants in two verses of the holy Quran very particularly: Did they not make a covenant (with God) in the Book not to speak any thing other than the Truth about God and to study its contents well? They call a lie something that is beyond the limit of their knowledge and whose interpretation ha

مَا ذَكَرْتُ حَدِيثاً سَمِعْتُهُ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع إِلَّا كَادَ أَنْ يَتَصَدَّعَ قَلْبِي قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ جَدِّي عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ ابْنُ شُبْرُمَةَ وَ أُقْسِمُ بِاللَّهِ مَا كَذَبَ أَبُوهُ عَلَى جَدِّهِ وَ لَا جَدُّهُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ عَمِلَ بِالْمَقَايِيسِ فَقَدْ هَلَكَ وَ أَهْلَكَ وَ مَنْ أَفْتَى النَّاسَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَ هُوَ لَا يَعْلَ

"I have never mentioned a hadith that I heard from Ja'far ibn Muhammad (as) except that my heart almost trembles." He said, “My father narrated from my grandfather that Rasulullah (sw) said, ‘Those who act on the basis of analogy (qiyas), will face their destruction and lead others to their destruction. Those who give

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الْعَامِلُ عَلَى غَيْرِ بَصِيرَةٍ كَالسَّائِرِ عَلَى غَيْرِ الطَّرِيقِ لَا يَزِيدُهُ سُرْعَةُ السَّيْرِ إِلَّا بُعْداً.

“(Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘Working without understanding and insight is like travelling in the wrong direction that only takes one farther away from the destination.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ عَمَلًا إِلَّا بِمَعْرِفَةٍ وَ لَا مَعْرِفَةَ إِلَّا بِعَمَلٍ فَمَنْ عَرَفَ دَلَّتْهُ الْمَعْرِفَةُ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ فَلَا مَعْرِفَةَ لَهُ أَلَا إِنَّ الْإِيمَانَ بَعْضُهُ مِنْ بَعْضٍ.

“Allah does not accept a deed without good understanding and proper understanding does not come into being without work. One who achieves proper understanding it will guide him to good deeds and one who does not work will not have any understanding. Is it not a fact that parts of faith comes from other parts?”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ عَمِلَ عَلَى غَيْرِ عِلْمٍ كَانَ مَا يُفْسِدُ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُصْلِحُ.

“Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said that the Holy Prophet said, ‘Those who work without knowledge they destroy more than what they gain.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي كَلَامٍ لَهُ‌ الْعُلَمَاءُ رَجُلَانِ رَجُلٌ عَالِمٌ آخِذٌ بِعِلْمِهِ فَهَذَا نَاجٍ وَ عَالِمٌ تَارِكٌ لِعِلْمِهِ فَهَذَا هَالِكٌ وَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ النَّارِ لَيَتَأَذَّوْنَ مِنْ رِيحِ الْعَالِمِ التَّارِكِ لِعِلْمِهِ وَ إِنَّ أَشَدَّ أَهْلِ النَّارِ نَدَامَةً وَ حَسْرَةً رَجُلٌ دَعَا عَبْداً إِلَى اللَّهِ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ وَ قَبِلَ مِنْهُ ف

The scholars are of two kinds: One kind consists of those who uphold their knowledge and they gain their salvation. The other kind consists of those who disregard their knowledge and they face their destruction. The people of hell will suffer from the bad odor of the scholars who do not act according to their knowledge

الْعِلْمُ مَقْرُونٌ إِلَى الْعَمَلِ فَمَنْ عَلِمَ عَمِلَ وَ مَنْ عَمِلَ عَلِمَ وَ الْعِلْمُ يَهْتِفُ بِالْعَمَلِ فَإِنْ أَجَابَهُ وَ إِلَّا ارْتَحَلَ عَنْهُ.

“Knowledge and work are closely related. One who has knowledge he works and one who works he learns. Knowledge invites work and if it is not accepted knowledge departs the deeds.”

إِنَّ الْعَالِمَ إِذَا لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِعِلْمِهِ زَلَّتْ مَوْعِظَتُهُ عَنِ الْقُلُوبِ كَمَا يَزِلُّ الْمَطَرُ عَنِ الصَّفَا.

“If a scholar preaches and does not practice his words bounce away from the hearts of the audience like rains that bounce away off the rocks.”

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ مَسَائِلَ فَأَجَابَ ثُمَّ عَادَ لِيَسْأَلَ عَنْ مِثْلِهَا فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع مَكْتُوبٌ فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ لَا تَطْلُبُوا عِلْمَ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ وَ لَمَّا تَعْمَلُوا بِمَا عَلِمْتُمْ فَإِنَّ الْعِلْمَ إِذَا لَمْ يُعْمَلْ بِهِ لَمْ يَزْدَدْ صَاحِبُهُ إِلَّا كُفْراً وَ لَمْ يَزْدَدْ مِنَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا بُعْداً.

“A man came to (Imam) Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) and asked him certain questions and the Imam answered his questions. The man then wanted to ask similar questions but the Imam said, “It is written in the Gospel, ‘Do not inquire to know what you do not know until you practice what you know because not practicing what one

قُلْتُ لَهُ بِمَ يُعْرَفُ النَّاجِي قَالَ مَنْ كَانَ فِعْلُهُ لِقَوْلِهِ مُوَافِقاً فَأَثْبَتَ‌[1] لَهُ الشَّهَادَةَ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِعْلُهُ لِقَوْلِهِ مُوَافِقاً فَإِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ مُسْتَوْدَعٌ‌[2].

The Imam replied, “One whose words agree with his deeds you must consider his testimony as valid and one whose words do not agree with his deeds (if he may have faith) it is temporarily.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي كَلَامٍ لَهُ خَطَبَ بِهِ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِذَا عَلِمْتُمْ فَاعْمَلُوا بِمَا عَلِمْتُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ إِنَّ الْعَالِمَ الْعَامِلَ بِغَيْرِهِ كَالْجَاهِلِ الْحَائِرِ الَّذِي لَا يَسْتَفِيقُ‌[3] عَنْ جَهْلِهِ بَلْ قَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَنَّ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِ أَعْظَمُ وَ الْحَسْرَةَ أَدْوَمُ عَلَى هَذَا الْعَالِمِ الْمُنْسَلِخِ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ مِنْهَا عَلَى هَذَا

“Once Imam Ali (a.s.) said in one of his sermons, ‘O people, if you learn and gain knowledge you must act accordingly so that you may have guidance. A learned person who disregards his knowledge is like a lost and ignorant person who never comes to the right path due to his ignorance. In fact, you will find the case ag

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ الْعِلْمَ فَاسْتَعْمِلُوهُ وَ لْتَتَّسِعْ قُلُوبُكُمْ فَإِنَّ الْعِلْمَ إِذَا كَثُرَ فِي قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ لَا يَحْتَمِلُهُ قَدَرَ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا خَاصَمَكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَأَقْبِلُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمَا تَعْرِفُونَ فَ إِنَّ كَيْدَ الشَّيْطانِ كانَ ضَعِيفاً فَقُلْتُ وَ مَا الَّذِي نَعْرِفُهُ قَالَ خَاصِمُوهُ بِمَا ظَهَرَ لَكُمْ مِنْ قُدْرَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ ج

“Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, ‘When you hear knowledge you must utilize it and your hearts must become more open. When knowledge increases in one’s heart it becomes harder to bear and Satan may over power him. If Satan would dispute with you move on him with whatever you know. The plots of Satan are weak.” I asked

سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْهُومَانِ لَا يَشْبَعَانِ‌[1] طَالِبُ دُنْيَا وَ طَالِبُ عِلْمٍ فَمَنِ اقْتَصَرَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ سَلِمَ وَ مَنْ تَنَاوَلَهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ حِلِّهَا هَلَكَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَتُوبَ أَوْ يُرَاجِعَ وَ مَنْ أَخَذَ الْعِلْمَ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَ عَمِلَ بِعِلْمِهِ نَجَا وَ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِهِ الدُّنْيَا فَهِيَ حَظُّهُ.

‘Two kinds of people with great appetites do not become satisfied. A person of great appetite for the worldly gains and a person with great appetite for knowledge. In the matters of the worldly gains if one would limit himself to what Allah has made lawful form him he is saved and if one would accumulate such gains in

مَنْ أَرَادَ الْحَدِيثَ لِمَنْفَعَةِ الدُّنْيَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ نَصِيبٌ وَ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِهِ خَيْرَ الْآخِرَةِ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ خَيْرَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.

“If someone wants hadith for the worldly benefits he will have no share for it in the next life, but if one wants hadith for the good of the next life, Allah will give him the good of both this and the next life.”

مَنْ أَرَادَ الْحَدِيثَ لِمَنْفَعَةِ الدُّنْيَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ نَصِيبٌ.

“Whoever would want al-Hadith for the worldly gains he will have no share for it in the next life.”

إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْعَالِمَ مُحِبّاً لِدُنْيَاهُ فَاتَّهِمُوهُ عَلَى دِينِكُمْ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مُحِبٍّ لِشَيْ‌ءٍ يَحُوطُ مَا أَحَبَ‌[2] وَ قَالَ ص أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى دَاوُدَ ع لَا تَجْعَلْ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ عَالِماً مَفْتُوناً بِالدُّنْيَا فَيَصُدَّكَ عَنْ طَرِيقِ مَحَبَّتِي فَإِنَّ أُولَئِكَ قُطَّاعُ طَرِيقِ عِبَادِيَ الْمُرِيدِينَ إِنَّ أَدْنَى مَا أَنَا صَانِعٌ بِهِمْ أَنْ أَنْزِعَ حَلَاوَةَ مُنَاجَاتِي عَنْ قُ

“If you would find a learned person who loves the worldly gains you must not trust him in the matters of your religion because whoever would love something it will encompass and entangle him. The holy Prophet has said, ‘Allah sent wahy, revelation to David (a.s.) and told him, “Do not set between Me and yourself a lear

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْفُقَهَاءُ أُمَنَاءُ الرُّسُلِ مَا لَمْ يَدْخُلُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ مَا دُخُولُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا قَالَ اتِّبَاعُ السُّلْطَانِ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ عَلَى دِينِكُمْ.

'The jurists are the trustees of the Messengers as long as they do not indulge in worldly matters.' It was asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, what does it mean for them to indulge in worldly matters?' He replied, 'Following the Sultan. When they do that, beware of them for your religion.'

مَنْ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمَ لِيُبَاهِيَ بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ أَوْ يُمَارِيَ بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ أَوْ يَصْرِفَ بِهِ وُجُوهَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ إِنَّ الرِّئَاسَةَ لَا تَصْلُحُ إِلَّا لِأَهْلِهَا.

"He who seeks knowledge to boast among scholars, engage in disputes with the foolish, or attract people's attention to himself, then let him prepare a seat for himself in the Hellfire. Indeed, leadership is not suitable except for those who deserve it."

قَالَ: يَا حَفْصُ يُغْفَرُ لِلْجَاهِلِ سَبْعُونَ ذَنْباً قَبْلَ أَنْ يُغْفَرَ لِلْعَالِمِ ذَنْبٌ وَاحِدٌ.

“O Hafs, seventy sins of an ignorant person may be forgiven before only one sin of a learned person is forgiven.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَ آلِهِ وَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَيْلٌ لِلْعُلَمَاءِ السَّوْءِ كَيْفَ تَلَظَّى عَلَيْهِمُ النَّارُ.

“Jesus son of Mary (a.s.) said, ‘Woe to bad scholars! If only they knew how raging fire will engulf them.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ النَّفْسُ هَاهُنَا وَ أَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى حَلْقِهِ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْعَالِمِ تَوْبَةٌ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ إِنَّمَا التَّوْبَةُ عَلَى‌ اللَّهِ‌ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السُّوءَ بِجَهالَةٍ[1].

“When the soul reaches here, pointing to his throat, there will be no chance for learned persons to repent. He recited this verse; “God will only accept the repentance of those who commit evil in ignorance, if they repent immediately. God is All-knowing and All-wise (4:17)”

هُمْ قَوْمٌ وَصَفُوا عَدْلًا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ‌[3] ثُمَّ خَالَفُوهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ.

“Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said about the words of Allah in the holy Quran, ‘The idol worshippers, the idols, the rebellious ones, (26:94) and the army of Satan will all be thrown headlong into hell. (26:95)’ They are the people who speak about justice a great deal but in their own practice they would disregard it alt

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ رَوِّحُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ بِبَدِيعِ الْحِكْمَةِ فَإِنَّهَا تَكِلُّ كَمَا تَكِلُّ الْأَبْدَانُ.

“Relax your souls with new sparks of wisdom, because souls also tire as bodies do.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ يَا طَالِبَ الْعِلْمِ إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ ذُو فَضَائِلَ كَثِيرَةٍ فَرَأْسُهُ التَّوَاضُعُ وَ عَيْنُهُ الْبَرَاءَةُ مِنَ الْحَسَدِ وَ أُذُنُهُ الْفَهْمُ وَ لِسَانُهُ الصِّدْقُ وَ حِفْظُهُ الْفَحْصُ وَ قَلْبُهُ حُسْنُ النِّيَّةِ وَ عَقْلُهُ مَعْرِفَةُ الْأَشْيَاءِ وَ الْأُمُورِ وَ يَدُهُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَ رِجْلُهُ زِيَارَةُ الْعُلَمَاءِ وَ هِمَّتُ

2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Nuh ibn Shu‘ayb al-Naysaburi from ‘Ubaydallah ibn ‘Abdallah al-Dihqan from Durust ibn abu Mansur from ’Urwa cousin of Shu‘ayb al-’Aqarqi from Shu‘ayb from abu Basir who has said the following. “(Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said that Imam Ali (a.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ نِعْمَ وَزِيرُ الْإِيمَانِ الْعِلْمُ وَ نِعْمَ وَزِيرُ الْعِلْمِ الْحِلْمُ وَ نِعْمَ وَزِيرُ الْحِلْمِ الرِّفْقُ وَ نِعْمَ وَزِيرُ الرِّفْقِ الصَّبْرُ[4].

“The holy Prophet has said, ‘The best minister for faith is knowledge, the best minister for knowledge is forbearance, the best minister for forbearance is amicable dealings and the best minister for amicable dealings is patience.’”