The Book of the Sunnah
كتاب المقدمة
Chapter 42: The reward of the one teaching the people the good
"I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Everyone in the universe, in the heavens and on earth, prays for forgiveness for the scholar, even the fish in the sea."
The Prophet said: "Whoever teaches some knowledge will have the reward of the one who acts upon it, without that detracting from his reward in the slightest."
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'The best things that a man can leave behind are three: A righteous son who will pray for him, ongoing charity whose reward will reach him, and knowledge which is acted upon after his death.'" (Hasan)Another chain with similar wording.
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'The rewards of the good deeds that will reach a believer after his death are: Knowledge which he taught and spread; a righteous son whom he leaves behind; a copy of the Qur'an that he leaves as a legacy; a mosque that he built; a house that he built for wayfarers; a canal that he dug; or charity that he gave during his lifetime when he was in good health. These deeds will reach him after his death.'"
The Prophet said: "The best of charity is when a Muslim man gains knowledge, then he teaches it to his Muslim brother."
Chapter 43: He who dislikes having people walk behind him
"The Messenger of Allah was never seen eating while reclining or making two men walk behind him." (Sahih)Other chains with the same meanings.
"The Prophet walked on a very hot day towards Baqi' Al-Gharqad (graveyard of Al-Madinah), and the people were walking behind him. When he heard the sound of their shoes, it affected his soul so he sat down until he made them go ahead of him, lest that make him feel too proud."
"When the Prophet walked, his Companions would walk in front of him, and he would leave his back for the angels."
Chapter 44: The directive regarding seekers of knowledge
The Messenger of Allah said: "People will come to you seeking knowledge. When you see them say to them, 'Welcome, welcome,' in obedience to the injunctions of the Messenger of Allah and instruct them in knowledge."(One of the narrators said) "I said to Al-Hakam: 'What is 'Iqnuhum?' He said: 'Instruct them.'"
"We entered upon Hasan to inquire after him until we filled the house. He tucked up his legs, the he (hasan) said: 'We entered upon Abu Hurairah to inquire after him until we filled the house. He (Abu Hurairah) tucked up his legs and said: "We entered upon the Messenger of Allah until we filled the house. He was lying on his side, but when he saw us he tucked up his legs then he said: 'After I am gone, there will come to you people seeking knowledge. Welcome them, greet them and teach them.'" (Maudu')A narrator said: By Allah! We came across some people who did not welcome us, greet us, nor teach us unil we used to go to them, then they treated us rudely.
"When we came to Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri, he would say: 'Welcome, in accordance with the injunction of the Messenger of Allah, for the Messenger of Allah said to us: "The people will follow you; they will come to you from all parts of the earth seeking to understand the religion. So when they come to you, take care of them."
Chapter 45: Gaining benefit from knowledge and acting in accordance with it
"One of the supplications that the Prophet used to say was: 'Allahumma, inni a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfa'u, wa mindu'a'in la yusma'u, wa min qalbin la yakhsha'u, wa min nafsin la tashba'u [O Allah, I seek refuge with You from knowledge that is of no benefit, from a supplication that is not heard, from a heart that does not fear (You) and from a soul that is not satisfied].'"
"The Messenger of Allah used to say: 'Allahummanfa'ni bima 'allamtani, wa 'allimnima yanfa'uni, wa zidni 'ilman. Wal-hamdu Lillahi 'ala kulli hal. [O Allah, benefit me by that which You have taught me, and teach me that which will benefit me, and increase my knowledge. Praise is to Allah in all circumstances].'"
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever acquires knowledge by which the pleasure of Allah is sought, but he only acquires it for the purpose of worldly gain, will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection.'" (Hasan)Another chain with similar wording.
The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever seeks knowledge in order to argue with the foolish, or to show off before the scholars, or to attract people's attention, will be in Hell."
The Prophet said: "Do not seek knowledge in order to show off in front of the scholars, or to argue with the foolish, and do not choose the best seat in a gathering, due to it (i.e. the knowledge which you have learned) for whoever does that, the Fire, the Fire (awaits him)."
The Prophet said: "There will be some people among my Ummah (nation) who will gain knowledge of the religion, and they will recite Qur'an, and will say: 'We come to the rulers so that we may have some share of their worldly wealth, and we will make sure that our religious commitment is not affected,' but that will not be the case. Just as nothing can be harvested from the Qatad except thorns, so nothing can be gained from being close to them except (sins).'" (Da'if)(One of the narrators) Muhammed bin As-Sabbah said: "It is as if he meant, 'except sins'."
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Seek refuge with Allah from the pit of grief.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what is the pit of grief?' He said: 'A valley in Hell from which Hell itself seeks refuge four hundred times each day.' It was said: 'O Messenger of Allah, who will enter it?' He said: 'It has been prepared for reciters of the Qur'an who want to show off their deeds. The most hateful of reciters of the Qur'an to Allah are those who visit the rulers.'" (Da'if)Other chains of narrators.
"If the people of knowledge had taken care of it and presented it only to those who cared for it, they would have become the leaders of their age by virtue of that. But they squandered it on the people of wealth and status in this world in order to gain some worldly benefit, so the people of wealth and status began to look down on them. I heard your Prophet say: 'Whoever focuses all his concerns on one issue, the concerns of the Hereafter, Allah will suffice him and spare him the worries of this world. But whoever wanders off in concern over different worldly issues, Allah will not care in which of these valleys he is destroyed.'" (Da'if)Another chain with similar wording.
The Prophet said: "Whoever seeks knowledge for a reason other than the sake of Allah, or intends it for a purpose other than for the sake of Allah, let him take his place in hell."