[1] What Conduct Is Truly Befitting Among The Carriers of Knowledge and Learners?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Al-Allamah Salih Aala Ash-Shaikh – may Allah preserve him- gave some advice regarding the relationship expected between students of knowledge whilst in pursuit of knowledge

There may be different people in attendance—some of them attend for knowledge, some of them attend as beginners, among them are those who attend to be in a sitting where Allah is remembered and they listen, and among them are those who attend for a benefit and are content with whatever they obtain.

What is befitting, in reality, is that the students of knowledge treat each other well. The student teaches his brother—who is a beginner—the way to learn and gives him advice. This is why we should show mercy to one another in the lessons and in all matters of knowledge, and perhaps it is the reason scholars begin their texts with the advice to the seeker of knowledge to be merciful.

In Hadith Ijaazaat, the first hadith transmitted is: “The merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you.” [Sahih Sunan at-Tirmidhi 1924]

Why do they learn the hadith, “The merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful?” Answer: Know, may Allah have mercy upon you, that it is one of the qualities of a seeker of knowledge—whom Allah blesses and shows mercy—that he is merciful towards those around him, guides them, teaches them, and aids them. If whilst in pursuit of knowledge, you are merciful to the people—to colleagues and friends—and are present in cooperation and goodness, then receive glad tidings of Allah’s Mercy and His true promise, based on the statement of His Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: “The merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful.”

An Excerpt from Al-Waṣāyā al-Jaliyyah lil-Istifādah min ad-Durūs al-ʿIlmiyyah pages 30-32