Part 4

"Verily, when the servant seeks knowledge in order to act upon it, his knowledge humbles him. And when he seeks it for a reason other than that, he increases in wickedness or pride."

[32] Abu 'Abdillaah Muhammad bin 'Abdil-Waahid bin Muhammad bin Ja'far informed us: ' Abdul-'Azccz bin Ja'far AI-Khiracjee narrated to us: Ubaydullah bin A'yun narrated to us: Ishaaq bin Abee Israa'eel narrated to us: Ja'far bin Sulaymaan narrated to us, saying: I heard Maalik bin Deenar say:

"Whoever acquires knowledge in order to act on it, his knowledge humbles him, And whoever seeks it for a purpose other than to act on it, it increases him in arrogance."

29 Meaning: Without acting upon it. [Zuhayr]

16 Nusayr AI-Khaldee reported to us, saying: Muhammad bin 'Abdillaah bin Sulaymaan Al-Hadramee narrated to us: Sa'eed bin 'Amr narrated to us, saying: Ja'far bin Sulaymaan narrated to us, saying: I heard Maalik bin Deenaar say:

"When the servant seeks knowledge in order to act on it, it humbles him. And when he seeks it for other than acting on it, it increases him in pride."

[34] Abul-Qasim 'Abdur-Rahmaan bin Muhammad bin 'Abdillaah As-Siraaj informed us in Naisapur, saying: Abul-Hasan Ahmad bin Muhammad bin 'Abdoos AtTaraa'ifee reported to us, saying: 'Uthmaan bin Sa'eed Ad-Daarimee narrated to us: Zakariyaa bin Maafi' Al-Filisteenee narrated to us: 'Ubaad bin 'Ubaad, i.e. AlKhawaas Ar-Ramlec, narrated to us from Ibn Shawdhab that Matar said:

"The best knowledge is that which benefits. And verily, Allaah only benefits with knowledge those who acquire it, then act upon it. And He doesn't benefit with it those who acquire it, then abandon it."

[35] Abu Muhammad Al-Hasan bin 'Alee bin Muhammad Al-Jawharee informed us, saying: Abu 'Umar Muhammad bin Al-'Abbaas Al-Kharraaz narrated to us: Yahya bin Muhammad bin Saa'id narrated to us: Al-Husayn bin Al-Hasan Al-Marwazee narrated to us, saying: Ibn Al-Mubaarak narrated to us, saying: Huraiz bin 'Uthmaan reported to us that Habeeb bin 'Ubayd Ar-Rahbee said:

"Acquire knowledge, comprehend it and use it. And do not acquire it in order to adorn yourselves with it, for indeed, it is imminent - should your life-spans be prolonged for you - that knowledge will be used as a means for adorning oneself, just as a man adorns himself with his garment."

[36] 'Abdul-Kareem bin Hawaazin informed us, saying: I heard Muhammad bin AlHusayn As-Sulamee say: I heard Abu Nasr Al-Asfahaanee say: I heard Muhammad bin 'Eesaa say: Abu Sa'eed Al-Kharraaz said:

"Knowledge is what you implement (in your actions), and certainty (yaqeen) is what you carry (in your heart)."

[37] Muhammad bin 'Ubaydillaah Al-Hannaa'ee informed us, saying: Ja'far bin Muhammad bin Nusayr Al-Khaldee narrated to us: Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Masrooq narrated to us: Muhammad bin Al-Husayn narrated to us: Sa'eed bin 'Aamir narrated to us: Saalih bin Rustum narrated to us, saying: Abu Qulaabah said to me:

"If Allah presents you with knowledge, then present Him with worship, and do not let your only concern be to narrate it to the people."

[38] Muhammad bin Al-Husayn bin Al-Fadl Al-Qattaan informed us, saying 'Abdullaah bin Ja'far bin Durustawaih informed us, saying: Ya'qoob bin Sufyaan narrated to us, saying: Abu Bishr, i.e. Bakr bin Khalf narrated to me: Sa'eed bin 'Aamir narrated to us: Saalih bin Rustum narrated to us, saying Abu Qulaabah said to Ayoob:

"O Ayoob! If Allaah presents you with knowledge, then present Allaah with worship. And do not let your only concern be to narrate it to the people."

17 Ahmad bin Muhammad bin 'Imraan narrated to us: Ahmad bin Al-Qaasim bin Nasr narrated to us: Muhammad bin Sulaymaan bin Habeeb Luwain narrated to us, saying: Abu Muhammad Al-Atraablisee narrated to me from Abu Mu'amar that Al-Hasan (Al-Basree) said:

"The main concern of the scholars is guiding (ri'aayati), while the main concern of the foolish is narrating (riwaayah)."

[40] Abul-Farj 'Abdul-Wahhaab bin 'Abdil-'Azeez bin Al-Haarith bin Asad bin AlLayth bin Sulaymaan bin Al-Aswad bin Sufyaan bin Yazeed bin Akeenah bin 'Abdillaah At-Tameemee informed us from his memory, saying: I heard my father say: I heard my father say: I heard my father say: I heard my father say: I heard my father say: I heard my father say: I heard my father say: I heard my father say: I heard my father say: I heard 'Alee bin Abee Taalib say:

"Knowledge calls upon action. So if it responds, (they join) and if not, it departs." [The number of his forefathers is nine]

[41] The Judge, Abul-Qaasim 'Alee bin Al-Muhsin bin 'Alee bin Muhammad bin Abil-Fahm At-Tanookhee informed us, saying: I found it written in the book of my grandfather: Ahmad bin Abil-'Alaa Al-Makkee narrated to me, saying: Ishaaq bin Muhammad bin Abaan An-Nakha'ee narrated to us, saying: An-Nawfilee narrated to me that Al-Haarifh bin 'Ubaydillaah said: I heard Ibn Abee Dhi'b narrate from Ibn AlMunkadir that he said:

"Knowledge calls upon action. If it responds, (they join), and if not, it departs."

[42] Abul-Husayn Muhammad bin Ahmadain Hasnoon An-Nursee informed us, saying: Muhammad bin 'Abdillaah bin Al-Husayn Ad-Daqaaq informed us, saying: 'Abdullaah bin Muhammad bin 'Abdil-'Azeez informed us, saying: Muhammad bin Ziyaad bin Farwah Al-Baladee and Abu Shihaab narrated to us from Talhah, i.e. Ibn Zayd, from Safwaan bin 'Amr that Raashid bin Sa'ad said: Abud-Dardaa said:

"Allaah does not bestow a servant with knowledge except that He makes him responsible on the Day of Judgement for paying it back with (good) deeds." 30

[43] Abul-Farj Al-Husayn bin 'Alee bin 'Ubaydillaah At-Tanaajeeree informed me, saying: Ahmad bin 'Alee bin Hishaam At-Taymilee narrated to us in Koofah: 'Abdullaah bin Zeedaan narrated to us: Muhammad bin 'Abdir-Rahmaan Al-Muhrizee narrated to us, saying: Ayoob bin Yahyaa said: Fudayl bin 'Iyaad said:

"A person with knowledge will not cease to be ignorant of what he knows until he acts upon it. So when he acts upon it, then he becomes a person with knowledge."

[44] Abul-Hasan 'Alee bin Al-Qaasim bin Al-Hasan informed us in Basrah: AbulHasan 'Alee bin Ishaaq Al-Maadiraa'ee narrated to us: Al-Mufdil bin Muhammad narrated to us: Ishaaq bin Ibraaheem At-Tabaree narrated to us, saying: Fudayl said:

30 This is a fabricated narration in spite of it being mawquf (i.e. cut to a saying of a Companion). Talhah bin Zayd is rejected (munkar). Ahmad, 'Alee (Ibn Al-Madeenee) and Abu Dawood said: "He would fabricate hadith."

18 'action.' And knowledge indicates action."

"It is upon the people to acquire knowledge. So when they attain knowledge, it is upon them to act (on it)."

[46] Abul-Fat'h Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Abil-Fawaaris informed us, saying: 'Ale bin 'Abdillaah bin Al-Mugheerah narrated to us: Ahmad bin Sa'eed Ad-Dimashqee narrated to us, saying: 'Abdullaah bin Al-Mu'taz said:

"Knowledge without action is like a tree without fruit."

"The knowledge of a hypocrite is in his speech, while the knowledge of a believer is in his actions."

[48] Muhammad bin Abee 'Alee Al-Asbahaanee recited to some of them:

"Act upon your knowledge and you will profit, O man Knowledge doesn't benefit so long as one doesn't perfect his actions Knowledge is beauty and taqwa (Fear) of Allaah is its decoration Those with taqwa are always preoccupied with their knowledge The proof of Allaah, O possessor of knowledge, is immense Neither plotting nor scheming concerning it is of any use Acquire knowledge and perform deeds as much as you can And do not let vain pastimes and argumentation distract you Team the people and always make it your goal to benefit them And beware, beware of fatigue and weariness overtaking you Admonish your brother with gentleness when he makes a mistake For knowledge is affectionate with those who are overcome by errors And if you are amidst a people that have no religious morals Then command them to do good when they act ignorantly (i.e. sin) And if they disobey you, then remind them without getting annoyed And be patient, strive in patience and do not let their actions worry you For every goat is attached to its two feet Have patience whether they are oppressive or fair."

[49] Abul-Hasan Muhammad bin 'Ubaydillaah bin Muhammad Al-Hannaa'ee informed us, saying: 'Abdullaah bin Ahmad bin As-Sideeq Al-Marwazee narrated to us: Abu Lubaabah Muhammad bin Al-Mahdee narrated to us: Ahmad bin 'Abdillaah bin Hakeem narrated to us: Abu Bakr Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Ja'far Al-Yazdee reported to us in Asbahaan: Abu Bakr 'Abdullaah bin Muhammad bin 'Ataa Al-Qubaab narrated to us: Abu Taalib 'Abdullaah bin Ahmad bin Sawaadah AlBaghdaadee narrated to us through dictation: Al-Hasan bin Far'ah narrated to us that Al-Fudayl bin 'Iyyaad narrated to us from...

Al-Hassan bin Abee Bakr informed us, saying: Abu Muhammad Ad-Di'laj bin Ahmad bin Di'laj Al-Mu'adal reported to us, saying: Muhammad bin 'Alee bin Zayd As-

19 narrated to us from...

Yahyaa bin 'Ubaydillaah reported from his father from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allaah said:

"O nation (of Muslims)! Indeed I don't fear for you concerning that which you don't know. But rather look at how you act upon what you know." 31

[50] Abu 'Alee Al-Hasan bin Al-Husayn bin A1-'Abbaas An-Na'aalee informed us, saying: Muhammad bin 'Abdillaah bin Ibraaheem Al-Marwazee narrated to us, saying: Abu 'Abdir-Rahmaan 'Abdullaah bin Mahmood narrated to us: Yahyaa bin Aktham narrated to us: 'Abdul-A'laa bin Mash'har Al-Ghasaanee narrated to us, saying: I heard Khaalid bin Yazeed bin As-Subh say: I heard Yoonus bin Maysarah bin Halbas Al-Jeelaane say:

"Wisdom says: 'You seek after me O son of Aadam, but you can find me in two phrases: 'Act on the good of what you know' and 'Leave off the evil of what you know.'"

[51] Al-Hasan bin Abee Bakr informed us, saying: Abu Sahl Ahmad bin Muhammad bin 'Abdillaah bin Ziyaad Al-Qattaan informed us: 'Abdul-Kareem bin Al-Haytham narrated to us, saying: Abul-Yamaan narrated to us: Huraiz narrated to us from Ibn Abee 'Awf that Abud-Dardaa said:

"Indeed the servant will be asked on the Day of Judgement: 'What did you do based on what you knew?"'

[52] Abul-Fat'h Hilaal bin Muhammad bin Ja'far Al-Hafaar informed Ismaa'eel bin Muhammad As-Safaar reported to us: Muhammad bin 'Abdil-Malik Ad-Daqeeqee informed us: Yazeed bin Haaroon narrated to us: Waraqaa' reported to us from Yahyaa bin 'Ubaydillaah from his father that Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allaah said:

"Indeed, I do not fear for you concerning that which you don't know. But rather, look at how you act concerning what you do know." 32

[53] Abul-Fat'h Hilaal bin Muhammad bin Ja'far Al-Hafaar informed us, saying: Abu 'Alee Ismaa'eel bin Muhammad bin Ismaa'eel As-Safaar informed us: 'AbdurRahmaan bin Muhammad bin Mansoor Al-Haarithee narrated to us: Yazeed bin Haaroon narrated to us, saying: Huraiz bin 'Uthmaan reported to us from 'AbdurRahmaan bin Abee 'Awf that Abud-Dardaa said:

"Indeed, I only fear that the first thing my Lord will ask me about will be Him saying: 'You had gained knowledge. So what deeds did you do based on your knowledge?'" 33

31 Very Weak: Yahyaa bin 'Ubaydillaah is At-Tameemee Al-Madanee. Al-Haafidh said about him: "He is rejected." Al-Haakim was even more explicit, by accusing him of fabricating narrations. 32 Very Weak: Refer to the footnote for Narration [49] 33 Its chain of narration is sound in mawquf form. There was some slight talk about Al-Haarithee. However, this narration is strengthened by the chain that comes after it.

20 saying: Muhammad bin 'Alee bin Zayd reported to us: Sa'eed bin Mansoor narrated to us: Al-Haarith bin 'Ubayd Al-Iyaadee narrated to us: Maalik bin Deenaar narrated to us that Abud-Dardaa said:

"Verily, the most dreaded thing that I fear for myself is that it be said to me: 'O 'Uwaymir, did you have knowledge?' And so I will respond: 'Yes.' Then it will be said to me: 'So what deeds did you do based on your knowledge?'"

[55] Abu Sa'eed Al-Hasan bin Muhammad bin 'Abdillaah bin Hasanwaih AlAsbahaanee informed us, saying: Abu Ja'far Ahmad bin Ibraaheem At-Tameemee narrated to us, saying: 'Imraan bin 'Abdir-Raheem narrated to us: Al-Hasan bin Hafs narrated to us, saying: I heard Sufyaan say: Abud-Dardaa said: