Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "The death of a scholar is a calamity that cannot be repaired and a breach that cannot be closed. He was a star that has been extinguished. In my view, the death of a whole tribe is easier (that is, a lighter calamity) than the death of one scholar."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir; its chain contains a narrator, Uthman bin Ayman, and I have not seen anyone mention his biography; the same is the case with Isma'il bin Salih.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب العلم / 986
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«أخرجه المعجم الأوسط للطبراني برقم: 6443، وأخرجه المطالب العالية بزوائد المسانيد الثمانية برقم: 3097»