Seeking Knowledge
Total Hadiths 54
Seeking Knowledge in Islam: The Ultimate Path to Divine Goodness
Seeking knowledge holds a profoundly elevated status in Islam, as illustrated by these authentic prophetic traditions. When Allah desires true goodness for a believer, He blesses them with a deep comprehension of the religion. This sacred wisdom is so valuable that it stands as one of the very few blessings a person should rightfully aspire to emulate, provided they act upon it and selflessly teach it to others. The pursuit of understanding requires immense humility, a lesson vividly demonstrated when the Prophet Moses traveled extensively across the sea just to learn from Al-Khadir after learning someone possessed greater knowledge than himself. Furthermore, the Prophet personally emphasized this blessing by embracing his young companion Ibn Abbas and praying specifically for Allah to grant him deep understanding of the Holy Book. According to Islamic scholars, these narrations collectively teach us that seeking, practicing, and sharing religious insight is a lifelong journey blessed directly by the Creator.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْوَزِيرِ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، قَالَ لَقِيتُ شَبِيبَ بْنَ شَيْبَةَ فَحَدَّثَنِي بِهِ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي سَوْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، - يَعْنِي عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم - بِمَعْنَاهُ .
The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Abu al-Darda through a different chain of narrators to the same effect from the Holy Prophet (ﷺ)
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 3642In-book reference : Book 26, Hadith 2English translation : Book 25, Hadith 3635
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ الْبَزَّارُ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى الأَنْصَارِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، رِوَايَةً " يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَضْرِبَ النَّاسُ، أَكْبَادَ الإِبِلِ يَطْلُبُونَ الْعِلْمَ فَلاَ يَجِدُونَ أَحَدًا أَعْلَمَ مِنْ عَالِمِ الْمَدِينَةِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ وَهُوَ حَدِيثُ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ . وَقَدْ رُوِيَ عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي هَذَا سُئِلَ مَنْ عَالِمُ الْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ . وَقَالَ إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُيَيْنَةَ يَقُولُ هُوَ الْعُمَرِيُّ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزَ الزَّاهِدُ . وَسَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بْنَ مُوسَى يَقُولُ قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ هُوَ مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ . وَالْعُمَرِيُّ هُوَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ مِنْ وَلَدِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ .
Narrated Abu Salih reported a narration from Abu Hurairah: "It Shall Soon Be That People Are Beating The Livers Of Camels (Meaning That They Are Hastening And Traveling Upon Them) Seeking Knowledge. But They Will Not Find Anyone More Knowledgeable Than A Scholar Of Al-Madinah."
[1] Meaning that they are hastening and traveling upon them.[2] Hāfiẓ Ibn Hajar considered it incorrect that it refers to 'Abdul-'Azīz, saving in the biography of 'Abdullāh the son of this 'Abdul-'Azīz, that he - 'Abdullāh is this Al-'Umarī Az-Zāhid. See At-Taqrīb and At-Tahdhīb , and the narration from Ishāq bin Mūsā from Ibn 'Uyainah; its chain is Ṣaḥīḥ So take note, and the same is the case of what he narrated from 'Abdur-Razzāq.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2680In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 36English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 2680
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا خَلَفُ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ الْعَامِرِيُّ، عَنْ عَوْفٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خَصْلَتَانِ لاَ تَجْتَمِعَانِ فِي مُنَافِقٍ حُسْنُ سَمْتٍ وَلاَ فِقْهٌ فِي الدِّينِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ . وَلاَ نَعْرِفُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ مِنْ حَدِيثِ عَوْفٍ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ هَذَا الشَّيْخِ خَلَفِ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ الْعَامِرِيِّ وَلَمْ أَرَ أَحَدًا يَرْوِي عَنْهُ غَيْرَ أَبِي كُرَيْبٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْعَلاَءِ وَلاَ أَدْرِي كَيْفَ هُوَ
Narrated Abu Hurairah: That The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Two Things Will Not Be Together In A Hypocrite: Good Manners, And Fiqh In The Religion."
[1] See Aṣ-Ṣahīhah no. 278 where it was graded Ṣahīh .Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2684In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 40English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 2684
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ أَكْثَرَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، وَلَوْلاَ آيَتَانِ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ مَا حَدَّثْتُ حَدِيثًا، ثُمَّ يَتْلُو {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {الرَّحِيمُ} إِنَّ إِخْوَانَنَا مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ كَانَ يَشْغَلُهُمُ الصَّفْقُ بِالأَسْوَاقِ، وِإِنَّ إِخْوَانَنَا مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ كَانَ يَشْغَلُهُمُ الْعَمَلُ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ، وَإِنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ كَانَ يَلْزَمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِشِبَعِ بَطْنِهِ وَيَحْضُرُ مَا لاَ يَحْضُرُونَ، وَيَحْفَظُ مَا لاَ يَحْفَظُونَ.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
People say that I have narrated many Hadiths (The Prophet's narration). Had it not been for two verses in the Qur'an, I would not have narrated a single Hadith, and the verses are:"Verily those who conceal the clear sign and the guidance which We have sent down . . . (up to) Most Merciful." (2:159-160).And no doubt our Muhajir (emigrant) brothers used to be busy in the market with their business (bargains) and our Ansari brothers used to be busy with their property (agriculture). But I (Abu Huraira) used to stick to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) contented with what will fill my stomach and I used to attend that which they used not to attend and I used to memorize that which they used not to memorize.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 118In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 60USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 3, Hadith 118
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ أَبُو مُصْعَبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنِّي أَسْمَعُ مِنْكَ حَدِيثًا كَثِيرًا أَنْسَاهُ. قَالَ " ابْسُطْ رِدَاءَكَ " فَبَسَطْتُهُ. قَالَ فَغَرَفَ بِيَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " ضُمُّهُ " فَضَمَمْتُهُ فَمَا نَسِيتُ شَيْئًا بَعْدَهُ. حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي فُدَيْكٍ بِهَذَا أَوْ قَالَ غَرَفَ بِيَدِهِ فِيهِ.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
I said to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) "I hear many narrations (Hadiths) from you but I forget them." Allah's Apostle said, "Spread your Rida' (garment)." I did accordingly and then he moved his hands as if filling them with something (and emptied them in my Rida') and then said, "Take and wrap this sheet over your body." I did it and after that I never forgot any thing. Narrated Ibrahim bin Al-Mundhir: Ibn Abi Fudaik narrated the same as above (Hadith...119) but added that the Prophet (ﷺ) had moved his hands as if filling them with something and then he emptied them in the Rida' of Abu Huraira.
[1] Ridā' : A piece of cloth (sheet etc.) worn around the upper part of the body.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 119In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 61USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 3, Hadith 119
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَخِي، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ حَفِظْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وِعَاءَيْنِ، فَأَمَّا أَحَدُهُمَا فَبَثَثْتُهُ، وَأَمَّا الآخَرُ فَلَوْ بَثَثْتُهُ قُطِعَ هَذَا الْبُلْعُومُ.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
I have memorized two kinds of knowledge from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). I have propagated one of them to you and if I propagated the second, then my pharynx (throat) would be cut (i.e. killed).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 120In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 62USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 3, Hadith 121
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زَائِدَةُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ يَسْلُكُ طَرِيقًا يَطْلُبُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا إِلاَّ سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهِ طَرِيقَ الْجَنَّةِ وَمَنْ أَبْطَأَ بِهِ عَمَلُهُ لَمْ يُسْرِعْ بِهِ نَسَبُهُ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Hurairah reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone pursues a path in search of knowledge, Allah will thereby make easy for him a path to paradise; and he who is made slow by his actions will not be speeded by his genealogy.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 3643In-book reference : Book 26, Hadith 3English translation : Book 25, Hadith 3636
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Whoever Takes A Path Upon Which To Obtain Knowledge, Allah Makes The Path To Paradise Easy For Him."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2646In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 2English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 2646
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ بُدَيْلِ بْنِ قُرَيْشٍ الْيَامِيُّ الْكُوفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ زَاذَانَ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ سُئِلَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ عَلِمَهُ ثُمَّ كَتَمَهُ أُلْجِمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَارٍ " . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Whoever Is Asked About Some Knowledge That He Knows, Then He Conceals It, He Will Be Bridled With Bridle Of Fire."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2649In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 5English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 2649
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ الْكِنْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْكَلِمَةُ الْحِكْمَةُ ضَالَّةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَحَيْثُ وَجَدَهَا فَهُوَ أَحَقُّ بِهَا " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ . وَإِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ الْمَدَنِيُّ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ يُضَعَّفُ فِي الْحَدِيثِ مِنْ قِبَلِ حِفْظِهِ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "The Wise Statement Is The Lost Property Of The Believer, So Wherever He Finds It, Then He Is More Worthy Of It."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2687In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 43English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 2687
