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

Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “High aspiration is that a person preserves his time, knows how to utilize it and does not waste time instead of utilizing it in something beneficial. And when (another) person comes to him and he sees that sitting with such person will distract (or divert him from what is beneficial, befitting etc), he knows how to act (behave or react). As for pride (or having an excessive sense of one’s own importance), it is the behaviour of that one who belittles others and does not consider people to be anything else other than frogs. It may be that he would turn his face away whilst speaking to the people, just as the author said that there is a difference between the two affairs similar to (the difference) between the sky having rain clouds which gives rain, again and again and the earth which splits with the growth of trees and plants”. (1)

Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Mad’khali [may Allaah preserve him] said, “If the (desire for pride or haughtiness) comes to him, whilst he in the path of (seeking knowledge or engaged in an affair related) to knowledge, then it is obligated on him to place his Nafs under the feet (i.e. humble himself). It is obligatory to humble this arrogant haughty Nafs whilst one is in the path of seeking knowledge. Allaah hates the haughty people. [ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ – Truly, He (Allaah) likes not the proud] [Surah An-Nahl. Verse 23] (2)

[تِلۡكَ ٱلدَّارُ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ نَجۡعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّ۬ا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فَسَادً۬ا‌ۚ وَٱلۡعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ – That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqoon [pious]. [Surah Al-Qasas. Verse 83]

The home of the Hereafter is prepared for those who are humble for the sake of Allaah, and whoever humbles himself for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will raise him. (As for the haughty people), Allaah hates them and their destination is the fire – and Allaah’s Refuge is sought. Major Kufr and Bidah stops a person from (receiving) the delight (found in the) truth, the guidance brought by the Prophets and that which purifies the souls [i.e. makes the souls upright]. How many people have been deprived of seeking knowledge due to haughtiness– this extremely despicable traite! (He says), “How can I seek knowledge from such and such person and he is not a scholar, and he is a Jaahil?” “Scholars are ignoramuses” and he thinks that he is a scholar, even though he is an ignoramus, because indeed whoever considers himself a scholar is an ignoramus, just as Ibn Mas’ood said, “Whoever considers himself a scholar is an ignoramus”. (3)

It is necessary that the seekers of Hadeeth should have the most perfect (behaviour, manners, etiquettes etc) amongst the people, be the most humble amongst the people, the greatest in their impartiality and adherence to the religion; the least in (deviating from good conduct) and (being overcome with) anger, because they constantly listen to the narrations that gathers the excellent manners and etiquettes of Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], the lives of the virtuous pious predecessors, the path of the scholars of Hadeeth and the virtues of the (pious ones and scholars) who have passed away; so they adhere to the purest and excellent (aspects of those traits, etiquettes, manners etc) and turn away from the most despised and lowly (traits, behaviour, manners, etiquettes etc). (4)

[Ref 1: An Excerpt from ‘Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm’. page 163]

[Ref 2: An Excerpt from ‘Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm’ page 219. Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref3: An Excerpt from ‘Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm’ page 220. Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 4: An Excerpt from ‘Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm 1/78. By Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdaadi (rahimahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]