قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ أَلَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ بُغَاةَ الْعِلْمِ[1].
"Seeking knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim. Let it be known that Allah loves those who seek knowledge."
طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ.
“Seeking knowledge is obligatory.”
سُئِلَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع هَلْ يَسَعُ النَّاسَ تَرْكُ الْمَسْأَلَةِ عَمَّا يَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَا.
"Is it permissible for people not to seek what (religious knowledge) they need?”. He replied, “No [it's not permissible]."
سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَقُولُ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ كَمَالَ الدِّينِ طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ وَ الْعَمَلُ بِهِ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمِ أَوْجَبُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ طَلَبِ الْمَالِ إِنَّ الْمَالَ مَقْسُومٌ مَضْمُونٌ لَكُمْ قَدْ قَسَمَهُ عَادِلٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ ضَمِنَهُ وَ سَيَفِي لَكُمْ وَ الْعِلْمُ مَخْزُونٌ عِنْدَ أَهْلِهِ وَ قَدْ أُمِرْتُمْ بِطَلَبِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ[2] فَاطْلُبُوهُ.
"O people! Know that the perfection of religion is seeking knowledge and acting by it. Surely seeking knowledge is more pertinent to you than seeking wealth. Wealth is apportioned and ensured to you. A just allocator divided it amongst you, has ensured it and will be faithful to that apportionment. [Whereas] knowledge
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ وَ فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ بُغَاةَ الْعِلْمِ.
5. A number of our people has narrated has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from Abu ‘Abdillah, one of our people narrated in a marfu‘ manner from Abu ‘Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as) that Rasulullah (sw) said: “Seeking knowledge is obligatory.” In another hadith, Abu 'Abdillah (as) narrated tha
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ تَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ لَمْ يَتَفَقَّهْ مِنْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ فَهُوَ أَعْرَابِيٌ[1] إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ- لِيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ وَ لِيُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ[2].
Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn Abi Hamza that he heard Abu ‘Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as) say, "Acquire good understanding in religion because those of you who do not have good understanding in religion are like the Bedouins. Allah has said i
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالتَّفَقُّهِ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا تَكُونُوا أَعْرَاباً[3] فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ لَمْ يَتَفَقَّهْ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ لَمْ يَنْظُرِ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ[4] وَ لَمْ يُزَكِّ لَهُ عَمَلًا.
"It is necessary for you to have a good understanding of the religion of Allah. Do not be like the Bedouins, because those who do not gain a good understanding of the religion, Allah will not look at them on the Day of Judgement, and none of their deeds will be cleansed."
لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ أَصْحَابِي ضُرِبَتْ رُءُوسُهُمْ بِالسِّيَاطِ[5] حَتَّى يَتَفَقَّهُوا.
"I would have even liked that my companions' heads are lashed with whips for them to gain a comphrensive understanding [of the religion].
قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رَجُلٌ عَرَفَ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ لَزِمَ بَيْتَهُ وَ لَمْ يَتَعَرَّفْ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ إِخْوَانِهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ يَتَفَقَّهُ هَذَا فِي دِينِهِ.
there is a man who believes in this issue (i.e. the imamah of Ahlul-bayt), but locks himself at home and does not acquaint himself with his community.” So he said, “How will he achieve a good understanding of his religion [without talking to the knowledgable people of his community]?".