2. Knowledge

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " خَصْلَتَانِ لَا تَجْتَمِعَانِ فِي مُنَافِقٍ: حُسْنُ سَمْتٍ وَلَا فِقْهٌ فِي الدّين ". رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

good behaviour and knowledge of religion.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ خَرَجَ فِي طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يرجع» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ والدارمي

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who goes out in search of knowledge is in God’s path till he returns.” Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

وَعَن سَخْبَرَة الْأَزْدِيّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مِنْ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمَ كَانَ كَفَّارَةً لِمَا مَضَى» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ ضَعِيفُ الْإِسْنَادِ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ الرَّاوِي يُضَعَّفُ

Sakhbara al-Azdi reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone seeks knowledge, it will be an atonement for past sins.” Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a tradition whose isnad is weak, and that Abu Dawud the transmitter is declared to be weak.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَنْ يَشْبَعَ الْمُؤْمِنُ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَسْمَعُهُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ مُنْتَهَاهُ الْجنَّة» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s messenger as saying, “A believer will never be satisfied with the good he hears till he reaches paradise.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «من سُئِلَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ عَلِمَهُ ثُمَّ كَتَمَهُ أُلْجِمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَارٍ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ وَرَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه عَن أنس

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who is asked about something he knows and conceals it will have a bridle of fire put on him on the day of resurrection.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Anas.

وَعَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمَ لِيُجَارِيَ بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ أَوْ لِيُمَارِيَ بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ أَوْ يصرف بِهِ وُجُوه النَّاس إِلَيْهِ أَدخل الله النَّار» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَرَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه عَن ابْن عمر

Ka'b b. Malik reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone seeks knowledge to use it in vying with the learned, or disputing with the foolish, or to attract men’s attention to himself, God will bring him into hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ibn ‘Umar.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ عِلْمًا مِمَّا يُبْتَغَى بِهِ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ لَا يَتَعَلَّمُهُ إِلَّا لِيُصِيبَ بِهِ عَرَضًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا لَمْ يَجِدْ عَرْفَ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ» . يَعْنِي رِيحَهَا. رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْن مَاجَه

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone acquires knowledge of things by which God’s good pleasure is sought, but acquires it only to get some worldly advantage, he will not experience the ‘arf, i.e. the odour, of paradise on the day of resurrection.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا سَمِعَ مَقَالَتِي فَحَفِظَهَا وَوَعَاهَا وَأَدَّاهَا فَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ غَيْرِ فَقِيهٍ وَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ. ثَلَاثٌ لَا يَغِلُّ عَلَيْهِنَّ قَلْبُ مُسْلِمٍ إِخْلَاصُ الْعَمَلِ لِلَّهِ وَالنَّصِيحَةُ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَلُزُومُ جَمَاعَتِهِمْ فَإِنَّ دَعْوَتَهُمْ تُحِيطُ مِنْ ورائهم» . رَوَاهُ الشَّافِعِي وَالْبَيْهَقِيّ فِي الْمدْخل وَرَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ. إِلَّا أَنَّ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبا دواد لَمْ يَذْكُرَا: «ثَلَاثٌ لَا يَغِلُّ عَلَيْهِنَّ» . إِلَى آخِره

sincere action for God’s sake, good counsel to Muslims, and hold- ing fast to their community, for their invitation includes those who are beyond them.” Shafi‘i transmitted it, also Baihaqi in al-Madkhal. Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it from Zaid b. Thabit, but Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud did not mention, “There are three things on account of which no rancour enters..." to the end.

وَعَن ابْن مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً سَمِعَ مِنَّا شَيْئًا فَبَلَّغَهُ كَمَا سَمِعَهُ فَرُبَّ مُبَلَّغٍ أَوْعَى لَهُ مِنْ سَامِعٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَرَوَاهُ الدَّارمِيّ عَن أبي الدَّرْدَاء

Ibn Mas'ud said that he heard God’s messenger saying, “God brighten a man who hears something from us and conveys it to others as he heard it, for many a one to whom it is brought retains it better than the one who heard it.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it from Abu Darda'.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «اتَّقُوا الْحَدِيثَ عَنِّي إِلَّا مَا عَلِمْتُمْ فَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَيَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَرَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَجَابِرٍ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ: «اتَّقُوا الْحَدِيثَ عَنِّي إِلَّا مَا علمْتُم»

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Be on your guard about tradition from me, except what you know; for he who lies about me deliberately will certainly come to his abode in hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ibn Mas'ud and Jabir, but did not mention, “ Be on your guard about tradition from me, except what you know.”

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ قَالَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ بِرَأْيِهِ فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ» . وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «مَنْ قَالَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ فَليَتَبَوَّأ مَقْعَده من النَّار» رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Let him who interprets the Qur’an in the light of his opinion come to his abode in hell.” A version has, “Let him who interprets the Qur’an without knowledge come to his abode in hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جُنْدُبٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ قَالَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ بِرَأْيِهِ فَأَصَابَ فقد أَخطَأ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

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.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْمِرَاءُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ كُفْرٌ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

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

وَعَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ: سَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قوما يتدارؤون فِي الْقُرْآنِ فَقَالَ: " إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِهَذَا: ضَرَبُوا كِتَابَ اللَّهِ بَعْضَهُ بِبَعْضٍ وَإِنَّمَا نَزَلَ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ يُصَدِّقُ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضًا فَلَا تُكَذِّبُوا بَعْضَهُ بِبَعْضٍ فَمَا عَلِمْتُمْ مِنْهُ فَقُولُوا وَمَا جَهِلْتُمْ فَكِلُوهُ إِلَى عَالِمِهِ ". رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَابْن مَاجَه

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.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ لِكُلِّ آيَةٍ مِنْهَا ظَهْرٌ وَبَطْنٌ وَلِكُلِّ حَدٍّ مَطْلَعٌ» رَوَاهُ فِي شَرْحِ السُّنَّةِ

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.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " الْعِلْمُ ثَلَاثَةٌ: آيَةٌ مُحْكَمَةٌ أَوْ سُنَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ أَوْ فَرِيضَةٌ عَادِلَةٌ وَمَا كَانَ سِوَى ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ فضل ". رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَابْن مَاجَه

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

وَعَن عَوْف بن مَالك الْأَشْجَعِيّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَقُصُّ إِلَّا أَمِيرٌ أَوْ مَأْمُورٌ أَو مختال» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَرَوَاهُ الدَّارِمِيُّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ وَفِي رِوَايَته بدل «أَو مختال»

‘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.”

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ أَفْتَى بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ كَانَ إِثْمُهُ عَلَى مَنْ أَفْتَاهُ وَمَنْ أَشَارَ عَلَى أَخِيهِ بِأَمْرٍ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ الرُّشْدَ فِي غَيْرِهِ فَقَدْ خانه» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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.

وَعَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ: إِنَّ النَّبِيَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى عَنِ الْأُغْلُوطَاتِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «تَعَلَّمُوا الْفَرَائِضَ وَالْقُرْآنَ وَعَلِّمُوا النَّاسَ فَإِنِّي مَقْبُوضٌ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

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.