Chapter: Gaining benefit from knowledge and acting in accordance with it

´It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:` "One of the supplications that the Prophet used to say was: 'Allahumma, inni a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfa'u, wa mindu'a'in la yusma'u, wa min qalbin la yakhsha'u, wa min nafsin la tashba'u [O Allah, I seek refuge with You from knowledge that is of no benefit, from a supplication that is not heard, from a heart that does not fear (You) and from a soul that is not satisfied].'"

´It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:` "The Messenger of Allah used to say: 'Allahummanfa'ni bima 'allamtani, wa 'allimnima yanfa'uni, wa zidni 'ilman. Wal-hamdu Lillahi 'ala kulli hal. [O Allah, benefit me by that which You have taught me, and teach me that which will benefit me, and increase my knowledge. Praise is to Allah in all circumstances].'"

´It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:` "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever acquires knowledge by which the pleasure of Allah is sought, but he only acquires it for the purpose of worldly gain, will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection.'" (Hasan) Another chain with similar wording.

´It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that:` The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever seeks knowledge in order to argue with the foolish, or to show off before the scholars, or to attract people's attention, will be in Hell."

´It was narrated from Jabir bin 'Abdullah that:` The Prophet said: "Do not seek knowledge in order to show off in front of the scholars, or to argue with the foolish, and do not choose the best seat in a gathering, due to it (i.e. the knowledge which you have learned) for whoever does that, the Fire, the Fire (awaits him)."

´It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that:` The Prophet said: "There will be some people among my Ummah (nation) who will gain knowledge of the religion, and they will recite Qur'an, and will say: 'We come to the rulers so that we may have some share of their worldly wealth, and we will make sure that our religious commitment is not affected,' but that will not be the case. Just as nothing can be harvested from the Qatad except thorns, so nothing can be gained from being close to them except (sins).'" (Da'if)(One of the narrators) Muhammed bin As-Sabbah said: "It is as if he meant, 'except sins'."

´It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:` "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Seek refuge with Allah from the pit of grief.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what is the pit of grief?' He said: 'A valley in Hell from which Hell itself seeks refuge four hundred times each day.' It was said: 'O Messenger of Allah, who will enter it?' He said: 'It has been prepared for reciters of the Qur'an who want to show off their deeds. The most hateful of reciters of the Qur'an to Allah are those who visit the rulers.'" (Da'if) Other chains of narrators.

´It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said:` "If the people of knowledge had taken care of it and presented it only to those who cared for it, they would have become the leaders of their age by virtue of that. But they squandered it on the people of wealth and status in this world in order to gain some worldly benefit, so the people of wealth and status began to look down on them. I heard your Prophet say: 'Whoever focuses all his concerns on one issue, the concerns of the Hereafter, Allah will suffice him and spare him the worries of this world. But whoever wanders off in concern over different worldly issues, Allah will not care in which of these valleys he is destroyed.'" (Da'if) Another chain with similar wording.

´It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that:` The Prophet said: "Whoever seeks knowledge for a reason other than the sake of Allah, or intends it for a purpose other than for the sake of Allah, let him take his place in hell."

´It was narrated that Hudhaifah said:` "I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Do not acquire knowledge in order to show off before the scholars, or to argue with the foolish, or to attract people's attention, for whoever does that will be in Hell.'"

´It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:` "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever seeks knowledge in order to argue with the foolish, or to show off before the scholars, or to attract people's attention, Allah will admit him to Hell.'"