Hadith 250
وَعَنْهُ مُرْسَلًا قَالَ: سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ رَجُلَيْنِ كَانَا فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَحَدُهُمَا كَانَ عَالِمًا يُصَلِّي الْمَكْتُوبَةَ ثُمَّ يَجْلِسُ فَيُعَلِّمُ النَّاسَ الْخَيْرَ وَالْآخِرُ يَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَيَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ أَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «فَضْلُ هَذَا الْعَالِمِ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي الْمَكْتُوبَةَ ثُمَّ يَجْلِسُ فَيُعَلِّمُ النَّاسَ الْخَيْرَ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ الَّذِي يَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَيَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ كَفَضْلِي عَلَى أَدْنَاكُمْ» . رَوَاهُ الدَّارِمِيُّ
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.
Hadith 251
وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ -[84]- الْفَقِيهُ فِي الدِّينِ إِنِ احْتِيجَ إِلَيْهِ نَفَعَ وَإِنِ اسْتُغْنِيَ عَنْهُ أَغْنَى نَفْسَهُ» . رَوَاهُ رزين
‘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.