13. Chapter on Utilization of Knowledge
Back to book1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ أَبِي عَيَّاشٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ الْهِلالِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي كَلامٍ لَهُ الْعُلَمَاءُ رَجُلانِ رَجُلٌ عَالِمٌ آخِذٌ بِعِلْمِهِ فَهَذَا نَاجٍ وَعَالِمٌ تَارِكٌ لِعِلْمِهِ فَهَذَا هَالِكٌ وَإِنَّ أَهْلَ النَّارِ لَيَتَأَذَّوْنَ مِنْ رِيحِ الْعَالِمِ التَّارِكِ لِعِلْمِهِ وَإِنَّ أَشَدَّ أَهْلِ النَّارِ نَدَامَةً وَحَسْرَةً رَجُلٌ دَعَا عَبْداً إِلَى الله فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ وَقَبِلَ مِنْهُ فَأَطَاعَ الله فَأَدْخَلَهُ الله الْجَنَّةَ وَأَدْخَلَ الدَّاعِيَ النَّارَ بِتَرْكِهِ عِلْمَهُ وَاتِّبَاعِهِ الْهَوَى وَطُولِ الامَلِ أَمَّا اتِّبَاعُ الْهَوَى فَيَصُدُّ عَنِ الْحَقِّ وَطُولُ الامَلِ يُنْسِي الاخِرَةَ.
1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Hammed from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhayna from Aban ibn abu ‘Ayyash from Sulaym ibn Qays al-Hilali who has said the following. “I heard Imam Ali (a.s.) narrate from the Holy Prophet (s.a.) who said, ‘The scholars are of two kinds: One kind consists of those who uphold their knowledge and they gain their salvation. The other kind consists of those who disregard their knowledge and they face their destruction. The people of hell will suffer from the bad odor of the scholars who do not act according to their knowledge. Of the people of hell the one who will regret most will be a man who teaches someone and shows him the way of Allah. The student accepts and acts according to such teachings and consequently Allah takes him to paradise but the teacher is sent to hell because of ignoring his knowledge, following his desires and entertaining long hopes. Following ones’ desires bars one from the truth. And cherishing long hopes causes one to forget the next life.’”
Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi: ضعيف على المشهور معتبر عندي - Mir‘at al ‘Uqul Fi Sharh Akhbar Al al Rasul (142/ 1)
2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الْعِلْمُ مَقْرُونٌ إِلَى الْعَمَلِ فَمَنْ عَلِمَ عَمِلَ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ عَلِمَ وَالْعِلْمُ يَهْتِفُ بِالْعَمَلِ فَإِنْ أَجَابَهُ وَإِلا ارْتَحَلَ عَنْهُ.
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Isma’il ibn Jabir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Knowledge and work are closely related. One who has knowledge he works and one who works he learns. Knowledge invites work and if it is not accepted knowledge departs the deeds.”
Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi: ضعيف على المشهور - Mir‘at al ‘Uqul Fi Sharh Akhbar Al al Rasul (1/142)
3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْقَاسَانِيِّ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الْعَالِمَ إِذَا لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِعِلْمِهِ زَلَّتْ مَوْعِظَتُهُ عَنِ الْقُلُوبِ كَمَا يَزِلُّ الْمَطَرُ عَنِ الصَّفَا.
3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani from one he mentioned from ‘Abdallah ibn Qasim al-Ja’fari from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “If a scholar preaches and does not practice his words bounce away from the hearts of the audience like rains that bounce away off the rocks.”
Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi: ضعيف على المشهور - Mir‘at al ‘Uqul Fi Sharh Akhbar Al al Rasul (1/143)
4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ هَاشِمِ بْنِ الْبَرِيدِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ مَسَائِلَ فَأَجَابَ ثُمَّ عَادَ لِيَسْأَلَ عَنْ مِثْلِهَا فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) مَكْتُوبٌ فِي الانْجِيلِ لا تَطْلُبُوا عِلْمَ مَا لا تَعْلَمُونَ وَلَمَّا تَعْمَلُوا بِمَا عَلِمْتُمْ فَإِنَّ الْعِلْمَ إِذَا لَمْ يُعْمَلْ بِهِ لَمْ يَزْدَدْ صَاحِبُهُ إِلا كُفْراً وَلَمْ يَزْدَدْ مِنَ الله إِلا بُعْداً.
4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from al-Minqari from Ali ibn Hashim ibn al-Burayd from his father who has said the following. “A man came to (Imam) Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) and asked him certain questions and the Imam answered his questions. The man then wanted to ask similar questions but the Imam said, “It is written in the Gospel, ‘Do not inquire to know what you do not know until you practice what you know because not practicing what one knows does not increase to one anything but disbelief and nor it increases anything to one’s relation with Allah but alienation.”
Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi: ضعيف - Mir‘at al ‘Uqul Fi Sharh Akhbar Al al Rasul (1/143)
5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ بِمَ يُعْرَفُ النَّاجِي قَالَ مَنْ كَانَ فِعْلُهُ لِقَوْلِهِ مُوَافِقاً فَأَثْبَتَ لَهُ الشَّهَادَةَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِعْلُهُ لِقَوْلِهِ مُوَافِقاً فَإِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ مُسْتَوْدَعٌ.
5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Sinan from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following. “I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘What are the facts that help one know those who have gained their salvation?’ The Imam replied, “One whose words agree with his deeds you must consider his testimony as valid and one whose words do not agree with his deeds (if he may have faith) it is temporarily.’”
Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi: ضعيف على المشهور - Mir‘at al ‘Uqul Fi Sharh Akhbar Al al Rasul (1/144)
6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي كَلامٍ لَهُ خَطَبَ بِهِ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِذَا عَلِمْتُمْ فَاعْمَلُوا بِمَا عَلِمْتُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ إِنَّ الْعَالِمَ الْعَامِلَ بِغَيْرِهِ كَالْجَاهِلِ الْحَائِرِ الَّذِي لا يَسْتَفِيقُ عَنْ جَهْلِهِ بَلْ قَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَنَّ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِ أَعْظَمُ وَالْحَسْرَةُ أَدْوَمُ عَلَى هَذَا الْعَالِمِ الْمُنْسَلِخِ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ مِنْهَا عَلَى هَذَا الْجَاهِلِ الْمُتَحَيِّرِ فِي جَهْلِهِ وَكِلاهُمَا حَائِرٌ بَائِرٌ لا تَرْتَابُوا فَتَشُكُّوا وَلا تَشُكُّوا فَتَكْفُرُوا وَلا تُرَخِّصُوا لانْفُسِكُمْ فَتُدْهِنُوا وَلا تُدْهِنُوا فِي الْحَقِّ فَتَخْسَرُوا وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحَقِّ أَنْ تَفَقَّهُوا وَمِنَ الْفِقْهِ أَنْ لا تَغْتَرُّوا وَإِنَّ أَنْصَحَكُمْ لِنَفْسِهِ أَطْوَعُكُمْ لِرَبِّهِ وَأَغَشَّكُمْ لِنَفْسِهِ أَعْصَاكُمْ لِرَبِّهِ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ الله يَأْمَنْ وَيَسْتَبْشِرْ وَمَنْ يَعْصِ الله يَخِبْ وَيَنْدَمْ.
6. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father in a marfu‘ manner (rafa’ahu) from Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) who has said the following. “Once Imam Ali (a.s.) said in one of his sermons, ‘O people, if you learn and gain knowledge you must act accordingly so that you may have guidance. A learned person who disregards his knowledge is like a lost and ignorant person who never comes to the right path due to his ignorance. In fact, you will find the case against such the learned that disregards his knowledge more sever and his regret more prolonged, compared to the ignorant person who wonders about in it. Both people stray and are devoid of goodness. Do not hesitate lest you will doubt and do not doubt lest you will disbelieve. Do not be lenient to your souls to play lazy. Do not trivialize the truth lest you will lose badly. It is of the truth to learn Fiqh, proper understanding of religion. It is of Fiqh, proper understanding of religion not to suffer deceit. The wisest for ones self among you is the one most obedient to his Lord. The most deceitful to himself among you is the disobedient one to his Lord. One who obeys Allah is safe and glad news awaits him but one who disobeys his Allah he loses and regrets.’”
Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi: مرفوع - Mir‘at al ‘Uqul Fi Sharh Akhbar Al al Rasul (1/144)
7ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ الْعِلْمَ فَاسْتَعْمِلُوهُ وَلْتَتَّسِعْ قُلُوبُكُمْ فَإِنَّ الْعِلْمَ إِذَا كَثُرَ فِي قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ قَدَرَ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا خَاصَمَكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَأَقْبِلُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمَا تَعْرِفُونَ فَإِنَّ كَيْدَ الشَّيْطَانِ كَانَ ضَعِيفاً فَقُلْتُ وَمَا الَّذِي نَعْرِفُهُ قَالَ خَاصِمُوهُ بِمَا ظَهَرَ لَكُمْ مِنْ قُدْرَةِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.
7. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from the one mentioned from Muhammad ibn ’Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Layla from his father who has said the following. “Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, ‘When you hear knowledge you must utilize it and your hearts must become more open. When knowledge increases in one’s heart it becomes harder to bear and Satan may over power him. If Satan would dispute with you move on him with whatever you know. The plots of Satan are weak.” I asked the Imam (a.s.) “What is it that we know?’” The Imam replied, “Fight him with whatever of the power of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, has come to light before you.”
Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi: ضعيف - Mir‘at al ‘Uqul Fi Sharh Akhbar Al al Rasul (146/ 1)