‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, “Good is the man learned
in religion who, if people have need of him benefits them, but who, if
they ignore him enriches himself.”* Razin transmitted it.
*i.e. with religious exercises and study.
He also reported in mursal form that God’s messenger was asked
which of two men who had been among the B. Isra’il was superior, one
who was a learned man who observed the prescribed prayers, then sat
and taught men what is good, the other who fasted by day and prayed
during the night. He replied, “The superiority of this learned man who
observed the prescribed prayers, then sat and taught men what is good
over the devout man who fasted by day and prayed during the night is
like my superiority over the most contemptible among you.” Darimi
transmitted it.
Ikrima reported Ibn ‘Abbas as saying, “Talk to the people once
every Friday, but if you object, then twice, and if you want more, then
three times, but do not weary the people with this Qur’an. And do not
let me find you coming to the people when they are talking about their
concerns, interrupting them in their talk by addressing them, and so
wearying them. Keep silent, and when they request you, talk to them
at a time when they want it. Look out for rhymed prose in supplications and avoid it, for I know that God’s messenger and his companions
did not use it.” Bukhari transmitted it.
Al-Hasan reported in mursal form that God’s messenger said, “If
death comes to anyone when he is seeking knowledge with the purpose
of using it to revivify Islam, there will be only one degree between him
and the prophets in paradise.” Darimi transmitted it.
