Knowledge
212 sayings · page 5 of 6
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
The scholar is alive even when he is dead, whereas the ignorant man is dead even though he may be alive.
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1124-1125; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 504 link
Verily the scholars are the heirs of the prophets.
al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 32, no. 2; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 504 link
A little knowledge is better than a lot of worship.
al-Mahajjat al-Baydha, v. 1, p. 22; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 504 link
To sleep having knowledge is better than to pray in ignorance.
Munyat al-Murid, p. 104; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 504 link
Verily knowledge is but three things a decisive verse [of the Qur' an], an upright obligatory act, or an established recommended act, and anything else apart from these is a virtue.
al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 32, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 525 link
The most knowledgeable of people is he who adds other people' s knowledge to his own.
Amali al-Saduq, p. 27, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 528 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
The most knowledgeable of people is he who is infatuated with knowledge.
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3079; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 528 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
If you were to acquire knowledge from its source, and drink water at its freshest, and amass good at its origin, and adopt a path at its clearest point, and adopt the path of truth at its most proper, the paths would open themselves to you indeed and the signs would become manifest to you.
al-Kafi, v. 8, p. 32, no. 5; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 529 link
Im?m Muhammad ibn 'Al? al-Baqir (a.s.) said to Salama b. Kuhayl and al-Hakam b. `Autayba, 'Go to the east and go to the west but you will never find true knowledge except for what comes from us, the household of the Prophet.'
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 2, p. 92, no. 20; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 529 link
They (Evil Scholars) cause more harm to the weak ones from among our shi`aa than the army of Yazid did to Husayn b. Ali (AS) and his companions, for they snatched away their lives and their property, whereas these evil scholars enter doubt and obscurity into the weak ones from among our shi`aa and lead them astray.
al-Ihtijaj, v. 2, p. 512, no. 337; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 524 link
Knowledge is not acquired through learning. Rather it is a light that illuminates in the heart of one who wants Allah, Blessed and most High, to guide him. So if you want knowledge, first seek out within yourself true servitude [to Allah], and seek knowledge according to its use, and ask Allah to make you understand, and He will make you understand.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 1, p. 225, no. 17; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 525 link
Imam al-Sadiq (AS) narrated, 'A man once came to the Prophet (SAWA) asking, 'O Prophet of Allah, what is knowledge' to which he replied, 'Paying attention.' The man asked, 'Then what' He replied, 'Listening.' He asked, 'Then what' The Prophet replied, 'Learning.' The man asked, 'Then what' He replied, 'Acting upon it.' He asked, 'Then what O Prophet of Allah' , to which he replied, 'Spreading it.'
al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 48, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 525 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
And know that there is no good in knowledge that is of no use, and that one cannot benefit from knowledge that is not worthy of being learnt.
Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 31; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 526 link
Imam al-Kazim (AS) narrated, 'The Prophet (SAWA) once entered the mosque to find a large group of people gathered around a man, so he asked, 'Who is this' to which they replied, 'A most learned scholar ('allama).' He then asked, 'And what is a most learned scholar' to which they replied, '[He is] the most knowledgeable of all people about Arab ancestry and events, and pre-Islamic history, and Arab poetry.' So the Prophet said, 'That is knowledge which neither harms one who remains ignorant of it nor avails one who knows it.'
Amali al-Saduq, p. 220, no. 13; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 526 link
There are two types of knowledge the knowledge of ideologies, and the knowledge of physical bodies.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 1, p. 220, no. 52; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 526 link
Knowledge is too great to be encompassed, so take the best from each thing.
Kanz al-Fawa' id li al-Karajiki, v. 2, p. 31; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 526 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
There are four categories of sciences juristic science for religions, medicine for physical bodies, grammar for language, and astronomy for knowledge of the ages.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 1, p. 218, no. 42; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 527 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
The best type of knowledge is that which improves you.
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4962; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 527 link
Know that there is no knowledge like the quest for integrity, and there is no integrity better than the integrity of the heart [i.e. the soul].
Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 286; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 527 link
If only there were whips over my companions' heads that they may gain an understanding of the difference between the lawful and the unlawful.
al-Mahasin, v. 1, p. 358, no. 765; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 527 link
He who acts upon what he knows is taught by Allah that which he does not know.
A`alam al-Din, p. 301; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 528 link
A curb of fire will be put on the mouth of whoever conceals his knowledge when asked to offer it.
Nahj al Fasahah; Tradition No. 56; Page No. 16 link
In the sight of God, seeking knowledge is superior to prayer, fasting, pilgrimage to Mecca, and jihad (struggling in the way of God, the Greatest and the most Powerful).
Nahj al Fasahah; Tradition No. 1057; Page No. 149 link
Increase in knowledge with lack of increase in reluctance to the world results in one's further remoteness from God.
Nahj al Fasahah; Tradition No. 1060; Page No. 150 link
Shall I inform you who the absolutely most generous one is Allah is the Absolutely Most Generous One, and I am the most generous of Adam' s offspring, and the most generous from amongst you all after me is the man who has been taught knowledge and subsequently spreads his knowledge to others. He will be raised on the Day of Resurrection as a community in himself, and after him is the man who is generous in giving up his life for Allah, Mighty and Exalted, and is killed for Him.
al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib, v. 1, p. 119, no. 5; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 511 link
For the teacher of good, all the animals on the land and the fish in the sea seek forgiveness on his behalf, as do all creatures great and small in Allah' s earth and sky.
Sawab al-A`amal, p. 159, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 511 link
He who seeks knowledge for Allah, no sooner does he learn even a chapter of it than it increases him in humility within himself, in humbleness in front of people, it increases his fear of Allah and his striving in religion, and that is the one who benefits from the knowledge that he gains. And he who seeks knowledge for this world and for status amongst people and for a favoured position with the ruler, no sooner does he learn even a chapter of it than it only increases his arrogance within himself, his presumptuousness with people, his self-delusion about Allah and his estrangement from religion. That is the one who does not benefit from his knowledge, and must subsequently refrain from it and stop furnishing proof for the case against himself in order not to feel regret and shame on the Day of Resurrection.
Rawdhat al-Wa`aizin, p. 16; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 512 link
He who desires knowledge in order that he may beguile people will never even smell the fragrance of Paradise.
Makarim al- Akhlaq, v. 2, p. 364, no. 2661; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 512 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Take of knowledge whatever seems good to you, but beware of seeking knowledge for four reasons in order that you may contend with the scholars, or in order to wrangle with foolish people, or that you may show off with it in gatherings, or in order that people may look up to you to lead them.
Kitab al-Irshad, v. 1, p. 230; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 512 link
He who gains knowledge for the sake of Allah, acts upon it for the sake of Allah and teaches it for the sake of Allah is called great in the kingdom of the heavens, and it is exclaimed about him 'Indeed he gains knowledge for Allah, acts for Allah and teaches for Allah!
Amali al-Tusi, p. 167, no. 280; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 513 link
Take the truth even if it be from wrongdoers, but do not take falsehood even if it be from the righteous be critics of speech.
al-Mahasin, v. 1, p. 359, no. 769; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 513 link
Knowledge is a part of religion [just as] prayer is a part of religion, so be careful who you take this knowledge from.
Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 513 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Take wisdom from whoever brings it to you, and look at that which is being said and do not look at who is saying it.
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5048; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 513 link
Knowledge can only be gained from a divine scholar, and recognition of that scholar is through the intellect.
Mustadrak al-Wasa`il, v. 11, p. 258, no. 12926; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 513 link
Be gentle towards those whom you teach as well to those whom you learn from.
Munyat al-Murid, p. 193; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 514 link
The right of your subjects through the knowledge you possess is to know that Allah has made you a custodian over them on account of the knowledge He has bestowed on you and the storehouses [of wisdom] which He has opened up for you. If you teach people well, and do not mistreat them, nor treat them harshly, then Allah will increase His grace upon you. But if you withhold your knowledge from people or treat them harshly when they seek knowledge from you, then it will be Allah' s right to deprive you of knowledge and its magnificence, and to make you fall from your place in the people' s hearts
Aaw`ali al-La'ali, v. 4, p. 74, no. 54; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 514 link
Do not turn your cheek disdainfully from the people" 302, said, 'That people should be equal in your eyes when it comes to [sharing] knowledge.
Munyat al-Murid, p. 185; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 514 link
The right of the one who trains you in knowledge is to magnify him, to frequent his sessions, to listen to him attentively, and to attend to him with devotion. You should not raise your voice to him, nor answer a question that someone has asked him about something, so that he may be the one to answer. You should not address anyone else in his session, nor backbite anyone in his presence. You must defend him if anyone ever speaks ill of him in your presence, conceal his faults and publicise his virtues. You should not sit in the company of his enemy, nor be hostile towards his friend. If you fulfil this right, Allah' s angels bear witness that you frequented him and learned from his knowledge for the sake of Allah, exalted be His Name, and not for the sake of people.
al-Khisal, p. 567, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 516 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
When you see a scholar, be a servant to him.
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4044; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 516 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
He who shows reverence to a scholar has revered his Lord.
Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8704; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 516 link
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