[2] An Old Misconception: Those delivering many lessons, teaching, and finishing many books outperform their peers
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: It is befitting for a novice seeking understanding (in the religion) to ensure that he is well-grounded in what he acquires and should not take too much. He should take bit by bit, taking into account what he can memorise and understand, as indeed Allah, The Most High, says:
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَوۡلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ جُمۡلَةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ۚ ڪَذَٲلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَۖ وَرَتَّلۡنَـٰهُ تَرۡتِيلاً۬
And those who disbelieve say: “Why is not the Qur’an revealed to him all at once?” Thus (it is sent down in parts), that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages] [25: 32] [1]
Imam Al-Barbahaaree, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “And know, may Allah have mercy upon you that knowledge is not in being able to narrate much and in having many books, rather the scholar is the one who follows the knowledge and the Sunnah, even if his knowledge and his books are limited, and whoever opposes the Book and the Sunnah, he is a proponent of Bidah, even if he narrates much and has many books”.
Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Haadi al-Madkhali, may Allah preserve him, stated:
He [Al-Barbahaaree] sees that the abundance of books and knowledge is not a criterion for the required knowledge of Shariah. Knowledge is what benefits; even if this scholar has little knowledge and few books, he will benefit from his knowledge and it is benefited from in belief, methodology, and application. This is the knowledge that counts in the Sight of Allah- the knowledge He loves, loves, and praises its possessors. Allah said:
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَٰٓؤُا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ
It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. [35:28]
Hence they [the scholars] said, “Knowledge is to fear Allah”. If one with a lot of knowledge does not fear Allah, he is not a scholar and his knowledge has no value because it is a source of evil to him. The Qur’an is proof for or against you, so evil is the state of that scholar- I seek refuge in Allah – who is under the threat of punishment. The Quran is proof against you, the Sunnah is proof against you and knowledge is proof against you, and Allah’s refuge is sought. He may have many books, but he is misguided. He may have a lot of knowledge of the Arabic language, Tafseer, Hadith, and so on, but he is misguided. This is the knowledge that harms and does not benefit, and it is from this that we seek Allah’s protection, and Allah’s Messenger taught us to seek (Allah’s) protection against it. However, knowledge (in and of itself) is beneficial, so if there is a lot of knowledge and books, it is very good, and there are Imams who have abundant knowledge and many books. If the two are combined: a lot of knowledge and many books, it is desirable; and if devoid of benefitting from this knowledge (i.e. due to misguidance or not acting upon it), then neither an abundance of books or knowledge is beneficial, for it is a source of evil on the person. This is why (Allah stated that) some Prophets say:
وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنْهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ
I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you. [11:88]
Allah says:
أَتَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason? [2:44]
Allah says:
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ
ڪَبُرَ مَقۡتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُواْ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ
O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do. [As-Saff. 2-3]
Some people are merely speakers and they do not act, therefore, a Muslim must combine statements and deeds so that his actions confirm his statements. He calls to belief and believes, and calls to action and acts. This is beneficial knowledge, calling to the Sunnah and adhering to it, fighting Bidah and being serious about fighting it, and being one of the people who are most distant from it. [2]
Imam Adh-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
The focus of the Muhadditheen at present is on the six (major) collections of hadith- the “Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal” and “Sunan al-Bayhaqi”, precise memorisation of its texts and chains of transmission. However, one cannot (truly) benefit from this unless he fears his Lord and adheres to (the teachings) of the hadith. So, for the knowledge of Hadith and its scholars let one weep if he is to weep because Islam has returned to being strange as it was at its inception. Therefore, every person should save himself from the fire of Hell, and there is no power or strength except through Allah. knowledge is not (merely) an abundance of narrations; rather, it is a light that Allah places in Allah upon the heart, and its prerequisite (for seeking after it) is to adhere to it, fleeing from (vain) desires and innovation in religious matters. May Allah grant us and you success in His obedience. [3]
Al-Hafidh Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
It must be recognised (based on conviction) that not everyone who is verbose in their discourse and speech regarding knowledge is (necessarily) more knowledgeable than those who are not. We have been afflicted with the ignorance of people who believe that some people who are expansive in their speech possess greater knowledge than their predecessors. [4]
Imam Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
Many of those who came (after the early generation) have been captivated (or put to trial) by this, (mistakenly) believing that the one whose speech, debate, and contention is much more in the issues of religion possess greater knowledge than those who do not. This is sheer ignorance. Consider the seniors and scholars of the Sahabah, such as Abu Bakr, Umar, Ali, Muadh, Ibn Mas’ud, and Zayd Ibn Thabit; what was their affair? Their speech is lesser than that of Ibn Abbas despite being more knowledgeable than him. Similarly, the statements of the Tabi’in are more than those of the Sahabah although the Sahabah possess more knowledge. Similarly, the speech of followers of the Tabi’in are more than those of the Tabi’in, while the Tabi’in are more knowledgeable than them. Knowledge is not (measured) through the abundance of narration or speech; rather, it is a light that Allāh places in the heart through which a servant (of Allah) comprehends the truth and distinguishes it from falsehood, and expresses concise statements – through it – that leads to the intended goals. [5]
Question: Who narrated more hadith – Abu Bakr or Abu Hurairah?
Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, responded: Indeed, Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated more Hadith than Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, but that does not mean that Abu Hurairah heard more Hadith than Abu Bakr?! Abu Bakr was a companion of Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in the summers, winters, nights, days, (during) journeys, and whilst at home, thus he heard (more) and had more knowledge regarding the circumstances of Allah’s Messenger. However, he did not spend a lot of time sitting and narrating to the people what was heard from the Prophet. [6]
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Had it not been for two Ayaat in the Book of Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, I would not have narrated anything to you. Allah says:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَىٰ مِن بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ
Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, and the guidance, which We have sent down after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers [2:159] and the Ayah after it. Then he said: “(However), the people say, ”Indeed Abu Hurayrah (narrates) a lot.” [7]
The questioner asked Shaikh Salih Aala Ash-Shaikh, may Allah preserve him, “I have been seeking knowledge for some years, but despite this, neither have I consolidated the knowledge-based information nor am I aware of the benefit (acquired from that). What do you advise me? May Allah reward you”.
Response: Do not say that you are not aware of a benefit because a student of knowledge is (considered to be engaged) in worship. The aim behind seeking knowledge is that the person receives Allah’s Pleasure. You all know about the man who went away to repent, so the angel of death came to him (i.e. took his soul); then the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment disputed his affair. The angels of mercy said, “He came along being repentant and remorseful in his heart in the presence of Allah” but the angels of punishment said, “He has done no good at all”. Then another angel came in the form of a human being to decide between them and said, “Measure between the two lands” (i.e. to find out which of them he was closer to). They measured it and found him nearer to the land where he intended to go (i.e. the land of the pious people), so the angels of mercy took him. This repentant man was forgiven because his steps (towards repentance) were recorded for him; therefore the steps of a student of knowledge towards knowledge are an act of worship similar to the steps of the repentant migrator towards the land of goodness. Seeking knowledge is better for you than supererogatory prayer or some of the supererogatory acts of worship. Therefore, there has to be a truthful intention (behind it), and then the benefit will (be acquired) bit by bit. The aim is not to become a scholar or a student of knowledge initially; rather the aim behind your seeking knowledge is to remove ignorance from yourself-worshiping Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, with correct acts of worship and that your Aqeedah is sound, become submissive to Allah, safeguarded from doubtful matters that are made to resemble the truth and from seeking fame. Allah (The Most High) says:
يَوۡمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ۬ وَلَا بَنُونَ
إِلَّا مَنۡ أَتَى ٱللَّهَ بِقَلۡبٍ۬ سَلِيمٍ۬
The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail; except him who brings to Allah a clean heart [clean from Shirk (polytheism) and Nifaq (hypocrisy)].
Allah, The Mighty and Exalted, says: [إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ مَنۡ أَحۡسَنَ عَمَلاً – Verily! As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, certainly! We shall not suffer to be lost the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner].
If you never benefited except yourself and your family, then there is great good in this. [8] [End of quotes]
This suffices as an admonition to those short-sighted people in our era who think that an individual adorned with numerous lessons, a plethora of completed books, or an abundance of certificates would possess more knowledge. Indeed, some hasty youth, inexperienced and gullible early and middle-aged people think that such a person stands on equal footing, or is more adept, in the realm of Dawah than the elder Salafi scholars. We beseech Allah to shield us from such impulsive judgments, superficial reasoning, and folly. We ask Allah for insight into these important affairs and protect us from the views and illusions of fools, fame seekers and the hasty ones Amin.
[1] Al-Faqee Wal-Mutafaqqih 2/100
[2] Awnul Baaree Bi-bayaan Maa Tadammanahu Sharh As-Sunnah Lil-Imaam Al-Barbahaaree 2/688-689.
[3] Siyar A’laam An-Nubulaa 13/313
[4] Bayan Fadl Ilm As-Salaf page 40
[5] Bayan Fadl Ilm As-Salah 57-58
[6] Sharh Hilyati Talib Al-Ilm. page 49. 1st Edition. Rabi’ul Awwal 1434AH
[7] Jami Bayan Al-Ilm 1/22
[8] Source: الوصايا الجليّة للاستفادة من الدروس العلميّة للشيخ العلامة صالح آل الشيخ- Question 3. Page 24. May Allah bless our Salafi brother and Ustaadh – Abu Abdir Rahmaan Mehdi Rayyan Al-Maghribi- for sharing the Arabic text of this statement many years ago at Salafi school. May Allah grant him and his family success in all their pursuits.