Part 8

[105] Abul-Qaasim 'Alee bin Muhammad bin 'Alee Al-Iyaadee informed us: Abu Bakr Muhammad bin 'Abdillaah bin Saalih Al-Abharee narrated to us: 'Uthmaan bin 'Alee narrated to us: 'Abdur-Rahmaan bin Muhammad Ash-Shaamee narrated to us: Ishaaq bin Moosaa Al-Ansaaree narrated to us, saying: I heard Ibn 'Uyainah say: 'Eesaa (bin Maryam), peace be on him, said:

"O Scholars of evil! You have put the worldly life at the top of your heads and the Hereafter below your feet. Your speech is a cure, but your actions are a disease. Your example is like that of a Diflee53 (i.e. Oleander tree) - it pleases the one who looks at it but kills the one who eats from it."

[106] Al-Hasan bin 'Alee Al-Jawharee informed us, saying: Muhammad bin 'Imraan bin Moosaa Al-Marzabaanee reported to us: Ahmad bin Muhammad bin 'Eesaa AlMakkee narrated to us: Muhammad bin Al-Qaasim bin Khalaad narrated to us: 'Abdul-Ghafoor bin 'Abdil-'Azeez narrated to us from his father from Wahb bin Munabbih that 'Eesaa bin Maryam, peace be on him, said:

"Woe to you, O worshippers of the worldly life! To what avail is the vastness of the sun's light to a blind man if he is not able to see it? Likewise, it is of no avail to a scholar to have much knowledge if he does not act upon it. How numerous are the

53 The Diflee is a green tree that has a beautiful appearance, with many flowers. They are found abundantly in valleys. [Zuhayr] Translator's Note: The Diflee tree is known in English as the Nerium Oleander, which can either be a small shrub or tree. Its 1eaves contain toxins that can be deadly to humans as well as horses that may eat its leaves due to their sweet taste.

33 scholars yet not all of you implements what he knows.

So guard yourselves from the deceitful scholars - those who wear garments of wool and have their heads bowed down to the floor, squinting from under their veils, just as the flies gaze. Their statements are in opposition to their actions. Who can produce harvest from thorny grapes and from colcynth dates? Likewise, the statement of the dishonest scholar produces nothing but falsehood. Verily, when the camel is not fastened to the earth by its owner, it will take off to its homeland and place of origin. And verily when knowledge is not practiced by its possessor, it leaves from his heart, frees itself from him and neglects him. And indeed crops are no good unless it has water and soil. Such is the case with Eemaan - it is no good unless it is accompanied by knowledge and action.

Woe to you, O worshippers of the worldly life! Indeed, everything has a sign by which it is recognized and which serves as a witness for it or against it. And indeed the Religion has three signs by which it is recognized, and they are: Faith, Knowledge and Action."

34 Recite the Qur'aan to Gain Repute and Fame and Not in Order to Act on it and Gain Reward

[107] Abul-Hasan 'Alee bin Ahmad bin 'Umar Al-Muqree informed us: Muhammad bin Al-'Abbaas bin Al-Fadl, the food owner, reported to us in Mawsil: Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Abil-Mathnaa narrated to us: Ja'far bin 'Awn and 'Abdul-Wahhaab, i.e. Ibn 'Ataa, both said: 'Abdul-Malik bin 'Abdil-'Azeez bin Juraij reported to us, saying: Yoonus bin Yoosuf informed me that Sulaymaan bin Yasaar said:

"The people once parted from the company of Abu Hurairah, so Naatil,54 one of the people of Shaam, (stayed behind and) said to him: 'O Abu Hurairah! Narrate to us a hadith that you heard from the Messenger of Allaah. So he said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah say: 'The first of mankind to be judged on the Day of Judgement will be a man whom Allaah will bring forward, and whom He will remind of the favours He bestowed on him until he acknowledges them. Then He will say: 'What did you do for it?' The man will say: I fought (in battle) in Your Cause until I was martyred so Allaah will say: 'You have lied! You only wanted that it be said (about you): He is a brave man, and such was said (about you).' Then He will put someone in charge of him and he will be dragged on his face until he is thrown into the Hellfire.

Then a man who used to acquire knowledge and learn the Qur'aan will be brought forward by Allaah and He will remind him of the favours He bestowed on him until he acknowledges them. Then He will say: 'What did you do for it?' He will say: T acquired knowledge and read the Qur'aan and taught it to others for Your sake.' So He will say: 'You have lied! You only wanted that it be said (about you): He is knowledgeable and a good reciter.' Then He will put someone in charge of him and he will be dragged on his face until he is thrown into the Hellfire.

And then Allaah will bring forward a man who was given large portions of wealth, and He will remind him of the favours He bestowed on him until he acknowledges them. So He will then say: 'What did you do for it?' The man will say: I did not leave any avenue You would love that charity be given in, except that I gave money in it for Your sake.' So He will say: 'You have lied! You only wanted that it be said (about you): He is a generous man, and such was said (about you). Then He will put someone in charge of him and he will be dragged on his face until he is thrown into the Hellfire.'" 55

[108] Abul-Husayn 'Alee bin Muhammad bin 'Abdillaah bin Bishraan Al-Mu'adal informed us, saying: Ismaa'eel bin Muhammad bin Ismaa'eel As-Safaar reported to us: Muhammad bin 'Ubaydillaah bin Al-Manaadee narrated to us: Abu Badr narrated to us: 'Amr bin Qays narrated to us that Al-Hasan said:

54 He is Naatil bin Qays bin Zayd Ash-Shaamee Al-Filisteenee, one of the rulers appointed by Mu'aawiyah and his son. He was killed in 66H. He was mentioned in this hadith in Muslim also (3/1513) 55 Authentic hadith: It was reported by Muslim from other paths of narration from Ibn Juraij.

35 from its front side, nor do they have knowledge of the interpretation of its meanings. Allaah, the Most High, says: 'This is a Book (which) We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its verses.' [Surah Saad: 29] What does pondering over its verses mean? It means following it through actions. And verily, the people with the most right to this Qur'aan are those who follow it even if they don't recite it. One of them says: 'O so and so, come here, I will teach you how to recite! When did the reciters ever do this? They are not the reciters, nor are they the forbearing, nor the wise. May Allaah not increase their likes amongst the people!"

[109] Muhammad bin Al-Husayn Al-Qattaan informed us: Di'laj bin Ahmad informed us: Muhammad bin 'Alee bin Zayd As-Saa'igh narrated to us that Sa'eed bin Mansoor narrated to them: Hudaij, i.e. Ibn Mu'aawiyah, narrated to us that Abu Ishaaq said: 'Umar bin Al-Khattaab said:

"Do not be fooled by the one who recites the Qur'aan for that is only words that we utter. Rather, look at the one who acts upon it."

[110] Abul-Qaasim 'Ubaydullaah bin Muhammad bin 'Ubaydillaah An-Najjaar informed us, saying: Abul-Husayn Muhammad bin Al-Mudhfar bin Moosaa, the Haafidh, reported to us: Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Al-Haytham narrated to us: Maalik bin 'Abdillaah bin Sayf narrated to us: 'Alee bin Al-Husayn narrated to us: 'Umar bin As-Subh narrated to us from Yoonus bin 'Ubayd from Al-Hasan that Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allaah said:

"The Qur'aan should never be recited by one who doesn't act on it." 56

[111] Abul-Qaasim 'Abdul-'Azeez bin Muhammad bin Ja'far Al-'Attaar and Al-Hasan bin Abee Bakr bin Shaadhaan both narrated to us: 'Abdul-'Azeez said: Al-Hasan said: 'Uthmaan bin Ahmad bin 'Abdillaah Ad-Daqaaq informed us: Muhammad bin Ghaalib bin Harb Zaad 'Abdul-'Azeez Ad-Dubbee narrated to us, saying: Muslim bin Ibraaheem narrated to us: Sadaqah bin Moosaa and Al-Hasan bin Abee Ja'far both said: Maalik bin Deenaar narrated to us from Thamaamah bin 'Abdillaah that Anas bin Maalik said: The Messenger of Allaah said:

"On the night that I was ascended up to the heavens, I came upon a people whose lips were being cut off by pliers made from Fire. Every time their lips were severed, they would be brought back and formed again. So I said: 'O Jibreel, who are these people?' He said: 'They are speakers from your nation, who say words but do not do deeds, and who read the Book of Allaah yet do not act (on it)." 57

[112] Al-Hasan bin Abee Bakr informed us, saying: Ahmad bin Ishaaq bin Minjaab At-Teebee reported to us: Muhammad bin Ayoob Al-Bajlee narrated to us, saying: Abu Bakr, i.e. Ibn Abee Shaybah, reported to us: 'Abdullaah bin Numair narrated to us: Muhammad bin Ishaaq narrated to us from 'Amr bin Shu'ayb from his father from his grandfather, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah say:

"On the Day of Judgement, the Qur'aan will take the form of a man. So a man who used to carry it yet oppose its commandments will be brought forward. So it will prepare to debate him, and say: 'My Lord, You have made him carry me, so what an evil carrier he was! He transgressed my limits, neglected my obligations, committed the acts of disobedience (mentioned) in me and abandoned the acts of obedience (mentioned) in me.' He will then continue to accuse him with proofs until it is said: 'So do as you like (with him).' Then it will take him by the hand and it will not let go of him until it throws him down on his nose into the Hellfire.

Then a righteous man will be brought forward, who used to carry it while preserving its commandments. So it will prepare to debate apart from him, and say: 'My Lord, You have made him carry me, so he observed my limits,

56 Its chain of narration is very weak. Its defect is in 'Umar bin As-Subh. Al-Haafidh (Ibn Hajr) said in at-Taqreeb: "He is rejected. Ibn Raahawaih declared him a liar." 57 Its chain of narration is sound (hasan). Al-Mundhiree attributed it to Ibn Abee Ad-Dunyaa, Ibn Hibbaan and Al-Bayhaqee.

37 and abided by the acts of obedience (mentioned) in me.' He will then continue to accuse him with proofs until it is said: 'Do as you like (with him).' So it will take him by the hand and not let go of him until it dresses him in a silk brocade, places upon him a king's crown, and gives him a cup of wine to drink." 58

[113] Abul-Hasan Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Rizq AlBazaaz and Abul-Husayn 'Alee bin Muhammad bin 'Abdillaah Al-Mu'adal both informed us, saying: Abu 'Alee Ismaa'eel bin Muhammad bin Ismaa'eel As-Safaar reported to us: Abu Yahyaa Zakariyaa bin Yahyaa bin Asad Al-Marwazee narrated to us that...

The Judge, Abu Bakr Ahmad bin Al-Hasan bin Ahmad Al-Hirshee reported to us: Abul-'Abbaas Muhammad bin Ya'qoob Al-Asam narrated to us: Zakariyaa bin Yahyaa Al-Marwazee narrated to us that... 59

Ma'roof Al-Kurkhee said: Bakr bin Khunais said:

"Verily, in the Hellfire there is a valley, which the Hellfire seeks refuge from seven times every day. And verily, in this valley there is a pit, which the valley and the Hellfire seek refuge from seven times every day. And verily, in this pit there is a snake, which the pit, the valley and the Hellfire seek refuge from seven times every day. It will begin first with the wicked bearers of the Qur'aan. So they will say: 'O Lord! Will you start with (punishing) us before the idol worshippers? It will be said to them: 'The one who knows is not like the one who doesn't know.'"