"Knowledge is the goal of the believer"

Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: 'Abd-ur-Rahmaan Ibn Mahdee reported to us from 'Abdul-' Azeez Ibn Abee Rawwaad on the authority of 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Ubaid that he said:

"Knowledge is the goal of the believer. Every time he attains some aspect from it, he embraces and takes hold of it, and (then) seeks after another goal."


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Muhammad Ibn Khaazim reported to us, saying: Al- A'amash reported to us from Shaqeeq from ‘Abdullaah [Ibn Mas'ood] (radyAllaahu ‘anhu), that he said:

“By Allaah, any individual that issues a ruling (fatwa) to the people for every matter they ask him of, is truly insane.” Al-A'amash (one of the narrators) said: “Al-Hakam said to me: ‘Had I heard this hadeeth from you yesterday, I would not have issued fataawaa (on that day) for much of the instances in which I did issue fataawaa.’”


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Muhammad Ibn Khaazim reported to us, saying: Al-
A'amash reported to us from Rajaa Al-Ansaaree from 'Abd-ur-Rahmaan Ibn Bishr Al-Azraq that he said:

"Two men entered from the gates of Kinda while Abu Mas'ood Al-Ansaaree was sitting in a gathering. One of the two men said: 'Is there any man here that can judge between us?' A man from the gathering said: 'I can.' So Abu Mas'ood grabbed a handful of pebbles and struck him with it. Then he said to him: 'Indeed, it used to be hated that one would rush to give a ruling.'"


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: 'Abd-ur-Rahmaan Ibn Mahdee reported to us, saying: Sufyaan reported to us from Al-A'amash from 'Abdullaah Ibn Murrah from Masrooq that he said:

“It is sufficient knowledge for an individual that he fear Allaah. And it is sufficient ignorance for an individual that he be amazed by his (own) knowledge.”


'Abdullaah narrated to us, saying: Abu Khaithama reported to us, saying: Sufyaan Ibn 'Uyainah reported to us from Yoonus from Al-Hasan (Al-Basree), that he said:

“If a man sits amongst people, and they perceive him to be ignorant, while in fact he is not ignorant, then this is truly the Muslim who possesses understanding (of the Religion).”


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Muhammad Ibn 'Ubaid reported to us from Al-A'amash from Muslim from Masrooq that he said: 'Abdullaah [Ibn Mas'ood] (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) said:

"Indeed, it is from knowledge for one who does not know, to say: 'Allaah knows best.'"


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Mu'awiyah Ibn 'Amr reported to us, saying: Zaa'idah
reported to us from Al-A'amash from Muslim on the authority of Masrooq that he said:

"I accompanied the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger and they were like the pool of water, which quenches the thirst of the traveler, and like the pool of water that quenches the thirst of two travelers, and the pool of water that quenches the thirst of ten people and the pool of water which if all the inhabitants of the world were to settle by it (to drink from it) it would produce enough (water) for all of them. And verily 'Abdullaah [Ibn Mas’ood] (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) was from among this pool of water."


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Jareer reported to us from Al-A'amash from Ibraaheem (An- Nakha’ee) that he said: 'Abdullaah [Ibn Mas’ood] (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) said:

"Indeed, I truly believe that 'Umar (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) took nine-tenths (i.e. ninety percent) of the knowledge with him (when he died)."


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Muhammad Ibn Fudayl reported to us from Al-A'amash from Isma'eel Ibn Rajaa that he said:

"We used to gather the children together (in one place) and narrate hadeeth to them."


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: 'Abd-ur-Rahmaan reported to us, saying: Sufyaan reported to us from Zubaid that he said:

"I never asked Ibraaheem (An-Nakha'ee) about anything, except that I saw signs of dislike in him."


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Sufyaan Ibn 'Uyainah reported to us from Zayd Ibn Aslam from 'Ataa Ibn Yasaar that he said:

"No thing is placed into another thing more beautiful than when gentleness is placed into
knowledge."


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Al-Fadl Ibn Dukain reported to us, saying: Sufyaan informed us from Yahyaa Ibn Sa'eed that he said: I heard Al-Qaasim Ibn Muhammad say:

"That a man spend his entire life in ignorance is better for him than to issue rulings (fataawaa) without knowledge."


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Wakee' reported to us from Sufyaan from Abu Haseen from Abu ‘Abd-ir-Rahmaan that he said:

“Once ‘Alee passed by a man who was narrating hadeeth, so he said to him: ‘Do you know that which abrogates from that which is abrogated?’ The man said: ‘No.’ So he said: ‘You are ruined and ruining others.’”


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Mu'aadh reported to us, saying: Ash’ath reported to us from Al-Hasan that he said: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“It is from truthfulness that a man acquire knowledge, then act upon it, then teach it.” Al- Ash’ath said: “Do you not see that he (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has begun with knowledge before action?”


Abu Khaithama narrated to us, saying: Jareer reported to us from Laith from Yahyaa that ‘Alee (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) said:

“Shall I not inform you of the true faqeeh (one with understanding of the Religion)? (He is) the one who doesn’t cause the people to despair from the mercy of Allaah nor does he allow an individual to commit disobedience to Allaah nor does he leave off the Qur’aan, turning toward something other than it. Indeed, there is no good in any act of worship that has no knowledge in it. Nor is there any good in knowledge that does not have understanding to it. Nor is there any good in reciting the Qur’aan if there is no tadabbur (reflecting on its meaning) to go along with it.”