Imaam Ibnu Rajab (rahimahullah) said:

“Beneficial knowledge is the precise text of the Book and the Sunnah and an understanding of their meanings. Attached to this are the narrations of the meanings of the Qur’aan and the Hadeeth from the Sahaabah, the Taabi’een and their followers, and statements narrated from them in the affairs of Halaal, Haraam, Zuhd, Raqaa-iq, information on affairs of knowledge and other than that. Firstly one should strive to distinguish between its authentic and unauthentic. Secondly, he then strives to restrict him/herself to its meanings and gain understanding if it. And in this there is sufficiency for the one who understands and a preoccupation for the one who has a concern for beneficial knowledge and being preoccupied with it. [Paraphrased: Quoted by Shaikh Raslaan in Fadlul Ilm. The original source is in ‘’Fadl Ilmus Salaf Alal khalaf page: 45]