Manners of Scholars and Learners
22 hadiths
Direct me to a deed that will make me enter Paradise if I do it. He said: "Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, establish the prescribed prayer, pay the obligatory Zakah, and fast Ramadān
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A Bedouin came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: Direct me to a deed that will make me enter Paradise if I do it. He said: "Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, establish the prescribed prayer, pay the obligatory Zakah, and fast Ramadān." He said: By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, I will not do more than this. When he left, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever is pleased to look at a man from the dwellers of Paradise, let him look at this."
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us, and we said: O Messenger of Allah, we have learned how to greet you, but how should we invoke the blessings of Allah upon you?
‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi Layla reported: I came across Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah who said: Shall I offer you a present? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us, and we said: O Messenger of Allah, we have learned how to greet you, but how should we invoke the blessings of Allah upon you? He said: "Say: Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik' ala Muhammad wa' ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta' ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd (O Allah, bestow Your grace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You bestowed Your grace upon the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You blessed the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious)."
He who is asked something he knows and conceals it will have a bridle of fire put on him on the Day of Resurrection
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He who is asked something he knows and conceals it will have a bridle of fire put on him on the Day of Resurrection."
قام فينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مقامًا، ما ترك شيئًا يكون في مقامه ذلك إلى قيام الساعة، إلا حدث به
عن حذيفة قال: قام فينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مقامًا، ما ترك شيئًا يكون في مقامه ذلك إلى قيام الساعة، إلا حدث به، حفظه من حفظه ونسيه من نسيه، قد علمه أصحابي هؤلاء، وإنه ليكون منه الشيء قد نسيته فأراه فأذكره، كما يذكر الرجل وجه الرجل إذا غاب عنه، ثم إذا رآه عرفه.
إذا وسد الأمر إلى غير أهله فانتظر الساعة
بَيْنَمَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي مَجْلِسٍ يُحَدِّثُ القَوْمَ جَاءَهُ أَعْرَابِيٌّ، فَقَالَ: مَتَى السَّاعَةُ؟ فَمَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُحَدِّثُ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُ القَوْمِ: سَمِعَ مَا قَالَ فَكَرِهَ مَا قَالَ. وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: بَلْ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ. حَتَّى إِذَا قَضَى حَدِيثَهُ قَالَ: «أَيْنَ -أُرَاهُ- السَّائِلُ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ؟» قَالَ: هَا أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. قَالَ: «فَإِذَا ضُيِّعَتِ الأَمَانَةُ فَانْتَظِرِ السَّاعَةَ»، قَالَ: كَيْفَ إِضَاعَتُهَا؟ قَالَ: @«إِذَا وُسِّدَ الأَمْرُ إِلَى غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ فَانْتَظِرِ السَّاعَةَ».
Shall I not inform you about these three persons? One of them sought refuge with Allah, so Allah gave him refuge. The second one felt shy, so Allah was shy towards him. And the last one turned away, so Allah turned away from him.
Abu Wāqid al-Hārith ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting in the mosque with some people when three men came over. Two of them stepped toward the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and one left. The two stood nearby the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). One of them saw an empty place in the circle, and he sat in it. The other one sat behind them. The third one, however, left. When the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) finished, he said: "Shall I not inform you about these three persons? One of them sought refuge with Allah, so Allah gave him refuge. The second one felt shy, so Allah was shy towards him. And the last one turned away, so Allah turned away from him."
I was a boy during the time of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and I used to memorize some of what he said. Nothing prevented me from narrating (what I learned) except that there were men here who were older than me
Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was a boy during the time of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and I used to memorize some of what he said. Nothing prevented me from narrating (what I learned) except that there were men here who were older than me.
I came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) while he was giving a sermon
Abu Rifā‘ah Tamīm ibn Usayd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) while he was giving a sermon, and I said: "O Messenger of Allah, a stranger (meaning himself) has come to inquire about his religion. He is quite ignorant about his religion." So the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) interrupted his sermon and came to me. A chair was brought for him and he sat on it and started teaching me of what Allah has taught him. Then he resumed his sermon and completed it.
Whoever acquires knowledge that should be pursued for the sake of Allah Almighty for the sole purpose of securing worldly gains shall not smell the ‘Arf of Paradise on the Day of Judgment
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever acquires knowledge that should be pursued for the sake of Allah Almighty for the sole purpose of securing worldly gains shall not smell the ‘Arf of Paradise on the Day of Judgment." i.e., its fragrance.
O people, he who knows about something, let him say it. And he who does not know should say: Allah knows best. It is part and parcel of knowledge that a man who does not know something should say: Allah knows best
Masrūq reported: We visited ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) and he said to us: 'O people, he who knows about something, let him say it. And he who does not know should say: 'Allah knows best.' It is part and parcel of knowledge that a man who does not know something should say: 'Allah knows best.' Allah said to His Prophet: {Say: 'I do not ask you for it any payment, and I am not of the pretentious.'} [Sūrat Sād: 86]"
Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people; rather, He takes away knowledge with the death of the scholars
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people; rather, He takes away knowledge with the death of the scholars until, when He leaves no scholar behind, the people turn to the ignorant as their leaders. They are asked, so they give religious judgments without knowledge; thus they are led astray and lead others astray.”
Offer this prayer at this time and that prayer at that time. When the time for a prayer is due, let one of you call the Adhān, and let the one who knows the Qur’an most lead the prayer
Ayyūb reported from Abu Qilābah from ‘Amr ibn Salamah: Abu Qilābah said to me: "Will you not meet and ask him (‘Amr ibn Salamah)" I said: "I met him and asked him, so he said: ‘We were at a water place that was a thoroughfare for people. Riders would pass by us, and we would ask them: 'What are people up to? What are people up to? Who is that man?' They would say: 'He claims that Allah has sent him and revealed to him. Or Allah has revealed such and such.'' So I used to memorize that speech, as if it was instilled in my heart. Meanwhile, the Arabs (Bedouin tribes) delayed their conversion to Islam until the Conquest. So they would say: 'Leave him and his people, for indeed if he prevails over them, he is a true Prophet.' When the incident of the people of Conquest took place, every tribe rushed to embrace Islam, and my father hurried to embrace Islam before (the rest of) my tribe. When he came back, he said: 'By Allah, I have come to you from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) for sure! He said: 'Offer this prayer at this time and that prayer at that time. When the time for a prayer is due, let one of you call the Adhān, and let the one who knows the Qur’an most lead the prayer.'' They checked and found none with more Qur’an than me, for I used to meet the riders. Therefore, they made me to lead them, when I was only six or seven years old. I had on me a garment, which would recede when I would prostrate. A lady from the tribe thus said: 'Will you not cover the bottom of your reader from us?' So they bought (a piece of cloth) and cut me an apparel. I had never been so happy with anything as I was with that apparel."
منهومان لا يشبعان
عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: "مَنْهُومَانِ لَا يَشْبَعَانِ: مَنْهُومٌ فِي عِلْمٍ لَا يَشْبَعُ، وَمَنْهُومٌ فِي دُنْيَا لَا يَشْبَعُ".
نضر الله امرأ سمع منا حديثا فحفظه حتى يبلغه
عن زيد بن ثابت قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "نضر الله امرأ سمع منا حديثا فحفظه حتى يبلغه، فرب حامل فقه إلى من هو أفقه منه، ورب حامل فقه ليس بفقيه".
إن من الشجر شجرة لا يسقط ورقها
عن عبد الله بن عمر أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «إن من الشجر شجرة لا يسقط ورقها، وهي مثل المسلم، حدثوني ما هي؟» فوقع الناس في شجر البادية، ووقع في نفسي أنها النخلة، قال عبد الله: فاستحييت، فقالوا: يا رسول الله، أخبرنا بها؟ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «هي النخلة» قال عبد الله: فحدثت أبي بما وقع في نفسي، فقال: «لأن تكون قلتها أحب إلي من أن يكون لي كذا وكذا».
إن الناس يقولون أكثر أبو هريرة
عن أبي هريرة قال: "إن الناس يقولون أكثر أبو هريرة، ولولا آيتان في كتاب الله ما حدَّثتُ حديثًا، ثم يتلو {إن الذين يكتمون ما أنزلنا من البينات والهدى} إلى قوله {الرحيم} [البقرة:159-160]، إن إخواننا من المهاجرين كان يشغلهم الصفق بالأسواق، وإن إخواننا من الأنصار كان يشغلهم العمل في أموالهم، وإن أبا هريرة كان يلزم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بشبع بطنه، ويحضر ما لا يحضرون، ويحفظ ما لا يحفظون".
من أفتي بغير علم كان إثمه على من أفتاه
عن أبي هريرة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "من أفتي بغير علم كان إثمه على من أفتاه، ومن أشار على أخيه بأمر يعلم أن الرشد في غيره فقد خانه".
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed us of what was and of what is to come. The most knowledgeable among us is the one who memorized it best
Abu Zayd ‘Amr ibn Akhtab al-Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) led us in the dawn prayer, then ascended the pulpit and addressed us until the time for the noon prayer arrived. He then came down, prayed, then ascended the pulpit and addressed us until the time for the afternoon prayer arrived. He then came down, prayed, then ascended the pulpit and addressed us until sunset. He informed us of what was and of what is to come. The most knowledgeable among us is the one who memorized it best.
سلوني عما شئتم
عن أبي موسى، قال: سئل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عن أشياء كرهها، فلما أكثر عليه غضب، ثم قال للناس: «سلوني عما شئتم» قال رجل: من أبي؟ قال: «أبوك حذافة» فقام آخر فقال: من أبي يا رسول الله؟ فقال: «أبوك سالم مولى شيبة» فلما رأى عمر ما في وجهه قال: يا رسول الله، إنا نتوب إلى الله عز وجل.
لا يقص على الناس إلا أمير أو مأمور أو مراء
عن عبد الله بن عمرو أن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال: "لا يقص على الناس إلا أمير أو مأمور أو مراء".
لا يقص إلا أمير أو مأمور أو مختال
عن عوف بن مالك الأشجعي قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "لا يقص إلا أمير أو مأمور أو مختال".
May Allah brighten the person who hears something from us and conveys it as he heard it, for perhaps the one to whom it is conveyed is more mindful than the hearer
‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "May Allah brighten the person who hears something from us and conveys it as he heard it, for perhaps the one to whom it is conveyed is more mindful than the hearer."