Jundub reported God’s messenger as saying, “ If anyone interprets the Qur’an in the light of his own opinion and is right, he has erred.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Disputation about the Qur’an is infidelity.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

they set parts of God’s Book against others, whereas God's Book was sent down only to be consistent; so do not use parts to falsify others. Speak about as much of it as you know, but where you are ignorant entrust it to him who knows.” Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God's messenger as saying, “The Qur'an was sent down in seven modes. Every verse in it has an external and an internal meaning, and every interdiction has a source of reference.” Baghawi transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna.

a precise verse, or an established sunna, or a firm obligatory duty. Anything else is an extra.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Auf b. Malik al-Ashja‘i reported God’s messenger as saying, "Only a ruler, or one put in charge, or one who is presumptuous gives instruction."* Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it from ' Amr b. Shu'aib from his father from his grandfather. A version has, "Or a hypocrite” instead of "one who is presumptuous”. *The word used here is yaqussu, which may be translated as given above, but which may also be translated as “inflicts punishment.”

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone is given a legal decision ignorantly, the sin rests on the one who gave it; and if anyone advises his brother, knowing that right guidance lies in another direction, he has deceived him.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mu'awiya said that the Prophet forbade the discussion of thorny questions. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "Learn the things which are made obligatory and the Qur’an, and teach them to people, for I shall die.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Darda’ told how God’s messenger, on an occasion when they were with him, turned his eyes to the sky and said, "This is a time when knowledge will be snatched away from men, so that they will be unable to acquire any.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira transmitted [from the Prophet], "The time is approaching when men will urge on their camels in search of knowledge, but will find no one more learned than the learned man of Medina.” Tirmidhi transmitted it. and in his Jami' he quotes Ibn ‘Uyaina as saying that Malik b. Anas was meant, and the same view is expressed by ‘Abd ar-Razzaq. Ishab b. Musa said he heard Ibn ‘Uyaina say that he was al-‘Umari the ascetic, whose name was ‘Abd al-‘Aziz b. ‘Abdallah.

He also reported among the material he knew to come from God’s messenger that he said, "At the beginning of every century God will send one who will renew its religion for this people.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

We shall mention Jabir’s tradition, “The only cure for perplexity is to ask”* in the chapter on performing ablution with sand, if God will. *Book 111. Chap. xi, section ii.

Al-Hasan reported in mursal form that God’s messenger said, “If death comes to anyone when he is seeking knowledge with the purpose of using it to revivify Islam, there will be only one degree between him and the prophets in paradise.” Darimi transmitted it.

He also reported in mursal form that God’s messenger was asked which of two men who had been among the B. Isra’il was superior, one who was a learned man who observed the prescribed prayers, then sat and taught men what is good, the other who fasted by day and prayed during the night. He replied, “The superiority of this learned man who observed the prescribed prayers, then sat and taught men what is good over the devout man who fasted by day and prayed during the night is like my superiority over the most contemptible among you.” Darimi transmitted it.

‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, “Good is the man learned in religion who, if people have need of him benefits them, but who, if they ignore him enriches himself.”* Razin transmitted it. *i.e. with religious exercises and study.

Ikrima reported Ibn ‘Abbas as saying, “Talk to the people once every Friday, but if you object, then twice, and if you want more, then three times, but do not weary the people with this Qur’an. And do not let me find you coming to the people when they are talking about their concerns, interrupting them in their talk by addressing them, and so wearying them. Keep silent, and when they request you, talk to them at a time when they want it. Look out for rhymed prose in supplications and avoid it, for I know that God’s messenger and his companions did not use it.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Wathila b. al-Asqa‘ reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who seeks knowledge and attains it will have a double portion of reward, but if he does not attain it he will have a single portion of reward." Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Among the actions and good deeds for which a believer will continue to receive reward after his death are knowledge which he taught and spread, a good son whom he left behind, or a copy of the Qur'an which he left as a legacy, or a mosque which he built, or a house which he built for the traveller, or a stream which he caused to flow, or a sadaqa which he gave from his property when he was alive and well, for which he will continue to receive reward after his death.” Ibn Majah transmitted it, and also Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-iman.

‘Aisha said she heard God’s messenger say that God revealed to him, “ If anyone follows a path in search of knowledge, I shall make easy for him the road to paradise; and if I deprive anyone of his eyes, I shall guarantee paradise to him in return for them. Superiority in knowledge is better than superiority in worship, and the basis of the religion is abstinence.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Studying together for an hour during the night is better than spending the whole night in devotions.” Darimi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr told of God’s messenger coming upon two groups in his mosque and saying, “They are both engaged in what is good, but one of them is superior to the other. These ones are praying and supplicating God who, if He wills, may answer their prayers but, if He wills, may refuse them. Those ones are learning knowledge* and teaching the ignorant, so they are superior. I was sent only as a teacher.” He then sat down among them. Darimi transmitted it. *The text has al-fiqh au al-'ilm, fiqh and ‘ilm having the same meaning, but the transmitter of the tradition was not sure which word was used by the Prophet on this occasion.

Abu Darda’ told how God’s messenger, when asked how much a man had to learn to become a faqih, replied, “ If anyone preserves for my people forty traditions concerning their religion, God will raise him up in the next world as a faqih, and I shall be an intercessor and witness for him on the day of resurrection.”

Anas b. Malik said that God’s messenger asked, “Do you know who is most generous?" On receiving the reply that God and His messenger knew best, he said, “God is the most generous, then I am the most generous of mankind, and the most generous of them after me will be a man who acquires knowledge and spreads it. On the day of resurrection he will come as a prince alone.” Or he said, “As one people."

he who is greedy for knowledge can never get enough of it, and he who is greedy for worldly goods can never get enough of them." Baihaqi transmitted the three traditions in Shu'ab al-iman, and quoted the imam Ahmad as saying about Abu Darda''s tradition, “This is a well-known text among the people, but it does not have a sound isnad."

‘Aun reported Ibn Mas'ud as saying, “Two greedy ones never attain satisfaction, the learned man and the worldly man, but they are not equal. The learned man becomes more pleasing to the Compassionate One, but the worldly man perseveres in transgression." Then ‘Abdallah [ibn Mas'ud] recited, “Nay, but man transgresses in considering that he is self-sufficient. "* He added, “The other is preferable, for ‘only those of His servants who are learned fear God.’ " [Ibid, xxxv, 28.] Darimi transmitted it. *Qur’an, xcvi, 6 f.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Some among my people will become learned in religion, will recite the Qur’an, and say that they will go to princes and get some of their worldly goods, but withdraw from them with their religion. That cannot be; for, as what is gathered from tragacanth trees consists only of thorns, so what is gathered from drawing near to them consists only of . . . ” Muhammad b. as-Sabbah said that he obviously meant “sins." Ibn Majah transmitted it.

If the learned were to guard learning and entrust it to those who are worthy of it, they would thereby, rule their contemporaries. But they have bestowed it on worldly people to get thereby some of their worldly goods, and have been despised by them. I heard your Prophet say, "If anyone makes the care of his eternal welfare the sum total of his cares God will protect him from worldly care, but if he has a variety of cares consisting of matters related to this world God will not be concerned in which of its wadis he perishes.” Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman from Ibn ‘Umar beginning with "If anyone makes the care.”

Al-A‘mash reported God’s messenger as saying, "The calamity which affects knowledge is forgetfulness, and wasting it is to convey it to those who are unworthy of it.” Darimi transmitted it in mursal form.

Sufyan said that ‘Umar b. al-Khattab asked Ka‘b who were the lords of knowledge, and he replied that they are those who act according to what they know. He then asked what it is that takes knowledge from the hearts of the learned and was told that it is covetousness. Darimi transmitted it.

Al-Ahwas b. Hakim told on his father’s authority that a man asked the Prophet about evil, and he replied, "Do not ask me about evil, but ask me about good,” saying it three times. Then he said, "The worst evil consists in learned men who are evil, and the best good consists in learned men who are good.” Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Darda’ said that the one who would have the worst position in God’s sight on the day of resurrection would be a learned man who did not profit from his learning.” Darimi transmitted it.

Ziyad b. Hudair said that ‘Umar asked him whether he knew what demolishes Islam, and that when he replied that he did not, he said, "The slip of a learned man, the disputation of a hypocrite about the Book, and the rule of imams who lead men astray.” Darimi transmitted it.

knowledge in the heart, which is the beneficial type; and knowledge on the tongue, which is God’s allegation against a human being.” Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said, "I have kept in my memory two large quantities* of learning from God’s messenger, one of which I have disclosed among you; but were I to disclose the other, this bul'um, meaning the food tract, would be cut". Bukhari transmitted it. *Lit. receptacles, or vessels.

If any of you people knows anything he should make it known, but if anyone does not know he should say that God knows best, for saying this when one does not know is a part of knowledge. God said to His prophet, “Say, I do not ask you for any reward for it, and I am not a pretender.”* (Bukhari and Muslim.) *Qur’an, xxxviii, 86.

Ibn Sirin said, “This knowledge is a religion, so consider from whom you receive your religion.” Muslim transmitted it.

Hudhaifa said, “ If you Qur'an readers follow a straight course you will have attained great precedence; but if you go right and left you will have fallen into vast error.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Seek refuge in God from the pit of sorrow.” On being asked what the pit of sorrow was, he replied, “ It is a wadi in jahannam from which jahannam seeks refuge four hundred times every day.” When God’s messenger was asked who would enter it, he replied, “The Qur’an readers who are ostentatious in what they do.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah has the same, adding in it, “Among the Qur’an readers who are most hateful to God are those who visit princes.” Al-Muharibi said that he meant tyrants.

‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, “ A time is soon coming to mankind when nothing of Islam but its name will remain and only the written form of the Qur’an will remain. Their mosques will be in fine condition but will be devoid of guidance, their learned men will be the worst people under heaven, corruption coming forth from them and returning among them.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

The Prophet mentioned a matter, saying, “That will be at the time when knowledge departs.” I asked, “How can knowledge depart when we recite the Qur’an and teach it to our children and they will teach it to their children up till the day of resurrection?” He replied, “ I am astonished at you,* Ziyad. I thought you were the most learned man in Medina. Do not these Jews and Christians read the Torah and the Injil without knowing a thing about their contents?” Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi transmitted something similar from him, as did Darimi from Abu Umama.

Ibn Mas'ud reported that God's messenger said to him, "Acquire knowledge and teach it to the people, learn the obligatory duties and teach them to the people, learn the Qur’an and teach it to the people; for I am a man who will be taken away, knowledge will be taken away, dissensions will appear, so that two men will disagree about an obligatory duty and find no one to decide between them.” Darimi and Daraqutni transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "Knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure from which nothing is expended in God’s path.” Darimi transmitted it.

One day when we were with God's messenger, a man with very white clothing and very black hair came up to us. No mark of travel was visible on him, and none of us recognised him. Sitting down beside the Prophet, leaning his knees against his, and placing his hands on his thighs, he said, “Tell me, Muhammad, about Islam." He replied, “Islam means that you should testify that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is God’s messenger, that you should observe the prayer, pay the zakat, fast during Ramadan, and make the pilgrimage to the House if you have the means to go." He said, “You have spoken the truth." We were surprised at his questioning him and then declaring that he spoke the truth. He said, “Now tell me about faith.” He replied, “It means that you should believe in God, His angels, His books, His apostles, and the last day, and that you should believe in the decreeing both of good and evil." Remarking that he had spoken the truth, he then said, “Now tell me about doing good." He replied, “It means that you should worship God as though you saw Him, for He sees you though you do not see Him." He said, “Now tell me about the Hour." He replied, “The one who is asked about it is no better informed than the one who is asking." He said, “Then tell me about its signs." He replied, “That a maid-servant should beget her mistress, and that you should see barefooted, naked, poor men and shepherds exalting themselves in buildings." [‘Umar] said: He then went away, and after I had waited for a long time [the Prophet] said to me, “Do you know who the questioner was, ‘Umar?" I replied, “God and His messenger know best." He said, “He was Gabriel who came to you to teach you your religion." Muslim transmitted it.

When you see the barefooted, the naked, the deaf, the dumb as kings of the earth, as -well as five things which no one but God knows. Then he recited, ‘‘God has knowledge of the Hour, and He sends down the rain…” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

the testimony that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the observance of the prayer, the payment of zakat, the Pilgrimage, and the fast during Ramadan.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Faith has over seventy branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but God, and the humblest of which is the removal of what is injurious from the road. And modesty is a branch of faith.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

A man asked the Prophet, “Which of the Muslims is best?” He replied, “He from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.”.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “None of you believes till I am dearer to him than his father, his child, and all mankind.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

he to whom God and His messenger are dearer than all else; he who loves a human being for God’s sake alone; and he who has as great an abhorrence of returning to unbelief after God has rescued him from it as he has of being cast into hell.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)