In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

The Importance of Knowledge

Abu Ad-Dardaa [radiyallaahu-anhu] said: “’The Scholar and the learner are two partners [i.e. in good], the teacher and the listener are two partners [in good], the one who guides to good and the performer of the good are two partners [in good]”. [Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm: 1/40]

Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) used to say: Had it not been for two Aayaat in Allaah’s Book, I would not have narrated anything to you. Indeed Allaah (The Most High) said: إِنَّ الَّذِ يَكْتُمُونَ مَاأَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَىٰ –- ”Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down….” and that which comes after it; then he (Abu Hurairah) said: Indeed the people say:”Abu Hurairah narrates a lot.” [Source: Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm of Ibn Abdul Barr (rahimahullaah) 1/22]

It was narrated from Hasan Al-Basri (that he said) about the statement of Allaah:[وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً – And of them there are some who say: ”Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good.”[Soorah Al-Baqarah: Ayah:201] The Good in the worldly life are Knowledge and worship and Good in the Afterlife is Jannah. [Source: Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm of Ibn Abdul Barr (rahimahullaah) 1/112]

Ibraaheem Bin Adham [rahimahullaah] said: Whoever sincerely seeks knowledge by way of which he benefits the slaves of Allaah and himself, then being unknown will be more beloved to him than bluffness. This is the one who will increase himself in humility, exertion in acts of worship, fear of Allaah and longing to (obey Allaah, carrying out His commandments, keeping away from what He has forbidden and desiring to meet Him in the afterlife), and he is humble with the people. He does not give much importance to what he goes to bed with or wakes up with (pertaining) to the things of this worldly life. [Source: Shu’ab Al-Eemaan of Imaam Bayhaqqee 2/288]

Humility:

Ash-Shabee [rahimahullaah] said: “Indeed we are not Fuqahaa; rather we listen to hadeeth and transmit it; but the Fuqahaa are those who act when they know”. [ Iqtidaa Al-Ilm Al-Amal: page 79]

Khalaf Bin Tameem [rahimahullaah] said: I saw Ath-Thawree at Makkah and many people came to him; so he said: “To Allaah do we belong! I fear that Allaah has made this Ummah to be lost when the people are in need of the likes of me”. [Siyar 7/275]

Zuhd:

Rabee’ah Ar-Ra’yi [rahimahullaah]: He was from the Fuqahaa [i.e. scholars of piety and precise understanding of the religion] of Al-Madeenah.  [Imaam] Maalik took fiqh from him and he [Rabee’ah] narrated [knowledge and hadeeth] from Anas [radiyallaahu-anhu].  He died in the year 330AH.  It was said to Rabee’ah: What is Zuhd? He said: “It is to earn things from their permissible sources and spend them in their rightful places”. [Source: Seeratus Salaf As-Saaleh by: Imaam Ismaaeel Bin Muhammad Bin Fadl Al-Asbahaanee (535AH: Chapter: A mention of those who followed the companions in righteousness]

Generosity:

Khushaymah [rahimahullaah]: Al-A’mash [rahimahullaah] said: “Khushaymah [rahimahullaah] inherited two hundred thousand dirhams and spent it on the poor people and the jurists.  He used to prepare khabeed [a jellylike sweet] and food, then he would invite us and Ibraaheem An-Nakha-ee, and say, “Eat what you desire; I did not prepare it except for you’’. [Source: Seeratus Salaf As-Saaleh by: Imaam Ismaaeel Bin Muhammad Bin Fadl Al-Asbahaanee (535AH: Chapter: A mention of those who followed the companions in righteousness]

Remembrance of Allaah:

Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Qais [rahimahullaah] said, “Does not one of you feel shy that the beast he rides and the thobe he wears are mentioned more than remembrance of Allaah”?! [Source: Seeratus Salaf As-Saaleh by: Imaam Ismaaeel Bin Muhammad Bin Fadl Al-Asbahaanee (535AH: Chapter: A mention of those who followed the companions in righteousness]

Distancing Oneself From Ahlul Bidah:

Aws Ibn Abdillaah Ar-Raba-iyyi Al-Basri [rahimahullaah] said, “It is more beloved to me that I sit with monkeys and pigs than sit with a man from the people of desires [i.e. the people of bidah]”. [Source: Seeratus Salaf As-Saaleh by: Imaam Ismaaeel Bin Muhammad Bin Fadl Al-Asbahaanee (535AH: Chapter: A mention of those who followed the companions in righteousness]

Some Characteristics of The Truthful:

Yoosuf Bin Asbaat [rahimahullaah] said, “The truthful people are granted three qualities: gracefulness, friendliness and dignity”.

 Abstaining From Desiring Leadership:

Yoosuf Bin Asbaat [rahimahullah] also said: “Abstaining from [desiring] leadership is harder than abstaining from those extra worldly things which one can do without”. [Chapter: A mention of those who followed the followers of the companions: Source: Seeratus Salaf As-Saaleh by: Imaam Ismaaeel Bin Muhammad Bin Fadl Al-Asbahaanee (535AH)]

He [rahimahullaah] also said, “I heard Sufyaan [rahimahullaah] saying: ‘I have not seen lesser abstinence in anything besides [love] of leadership! You see a man abstaining from food, drink, wealth and clothing, but when leadership is presented, he becomes passionate about it and turns towards [it]”. [Siyar: 7/262]

Sincerity:

He [rahimahullaah] also said: “Purifying one’s intention from what corrupts it is harder upon the worshippers than prolonged striving in [worship]”. [Jaami-ul Uloom Wal-Hikam: page:16]

Effect of Knowledge And Contemplation Upon The Afterlife

Haatim Al-Asam [rahimahullaah] said: “The knowledgeable one becomes more fearful of Allaah every day because every hour brings him closer (to death)”. [Source: Seerah As-Salaf As-Saaliheen of Imaam Ismaa’eel Ibn Muhammad Al-Asbahaanee: section: Those who followed the Taabi-een in goodness]

Increase In Knowledge:

Sufyaan Ibn Uyaynah [rahimahullaah] was asked: “Who are the people most in need of seeking knowledge?” He said, “The most knowledgeable of them, because their mistakes are uglier”. [Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm: 1/193]

Some Blessings Related to One’s Religious And Worldly Affairs:

Abu Sulaymaan Ad-Daaraanee [rahimahullaah] said: “There is no richness similar to richness of the soul; there is no relief similar to relief from sins and there is no wellbeing similar to the aid given to a person to reach guidance and acting upon it”. [Chapter: A mention of those who followed the followers of the companions: Source: Seeratus Salaf As-Saaleh by: Imaam Ismaaeel Bin Muhammad Bin Fadl Al-Asbahaanee (535AH)]