If the learned were to guard learningand entrust it to those who are worthy of it, they would thereby, ruletheir contemporaries. But they have bestowed it on worldly people toget thereby some of their worldly goods, and have been despised bythem. I heard your Prophet say, "If anyone makes the care of hiseternal welfare the sum total of his cares God will protect him fromworldly care, but if he has a variety of cares consisting of matters related to this world God will not be concerned in which of its wadis heperishes.” Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Baihaqi transmitted it inShu'ab al-iman from Ibn ‘Umar beginning with "If anyone makes thecare.”

Al-A‘mash reported God’s messenger as saying, "The calamitywhich affects knowledge is forgetfulness, and wasting it is to convey it tothose who are unworthy of it.” Darimi transmitted it in mursal form.

Sufyan said that ‘Umar b. al-Khattab asked Ka‘b who were the lordsof knowledge, and he replied that they are those who act according towhat they know. He then asked what it is that takes knowledge fromthe hearts of the learned and was told that it is covetousness. Darimitransmitted it.

Al-Ahwas b. Hakim told on his father’s authority that a man askedthe Prophet about evil, and he replied, "Do not ask me about evil, butask me about good,” saying it three times. Then he said, "The worstevil consists in learned men who are evil, and the best good consists inlearned men who are good.” Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Darda’ said that the one who would have the worst position inGod’s sight on the day of resurrection would be a learned man who didnot profit from his learning.” Darimi transmitted it.

Ziyad b. Hudair said that ‘Umar asked him whether he knew whatdemolishes Islam, and that when he replied that he did not, he said,"The slip of a learned man, the disputation of a hypocrite about theBook, and the rule of imams who lead men astray.” Darimi transmittedit.

knowledge in theheart, which is the beneficial type; and knowledge on the tongue, whichis God’s allegation against a human being.” Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said, "I have kept in my memory two large quantities*of learning from God’s messenger, one of which I have disclosed amongyou; but were I to disclose the other, this bul'um, meaning the foodtract, would be cut". Bukhari transmitted it.*Lit. receptacles, or vessels.

If any of you people knows anything he shouldmake it known, but if anyone does not know he should say that Godknows best, for saying this when one does not know is a part of knowledge. God said to His prophet, “Say, I do not ask you for any rewardfor it, and I am not a pretender.”* (Bukhari and Muslim.)*Qur’an, xxxviii, 86.

Ibn Sirin said, “This knowledge is a religion, so consider from whomyou receive your religion.” Muslim transmitted it.

Hudhaifa said, “ If you Qur'an readers follow a straight course youwill have attained great precedence; but if you go right and left you willhave fallen into vast error.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Seek refuge inGod from the pit of sorrow.” On being asked what the pit of sorrow was,he replied, “ It is a wadi in jahannam from which jahannam seeks refuge four hundred times every day.” When God’s messenger was askedwho would enter it, he replied, “The Qur’an readers who are ostentatious in what they do.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah has thesame, adding in it, “Among the Qur’an readers who are most hateful toGod are those who visit princes.” Al-Muharibi said that he meanttyrants.

‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, “ A time is soon coming tomankind when nothing of Islam but its name will remain and only thewritten form of the Qur’an will remain. Their mosques will be in finecondition but will be devoid of guidance, their learned men will be theworst people under heaven, corruption coming forth from them andreturning among them.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

The Prophet mentioned a matter, saying,“That will be at the time when knowledge departs.” I asked, “How canknowledge depart when we recite the Qur’an and teach it to our childrenand they will teach it to their children up till the day of resurrection?”He replied, “ I am astonished at you,* Ziyad. I thought you were themost learned man in Medina. Do not these Jews and Christians read theTorah and the Injil without knowing a thing about their contents?”Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi transmitted somethingsimilar from him, as did Darimi from Abu Umama.

Ibn Mas'ud reported that God's messenger said to him, "Acquireknowledge and teach it to the people, learn the obligatory duties andteach them to the people, learn the Qur’an and teach it to the people;for I am a man who will be taken away, knowledge will be taken away,dissensions will appear, so that two men will disagree about an obligatory duty and find no one to decide between them.” Darimi andDaraqutni transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "Knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure from which nothing is expended in God’s path.” Darimi transmitted it.