Chapter on Those who use their Knowledge to Fill their Stomach and are Boastful for it

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."