41/6. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2654 — Wrong Intention in Knowledge
About One Who Seeks The World With His Knowledge
Hadith About Seeking Knowledge for the Wrong Reason
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2654
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2654
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَشْعَثِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْمِقْدَامِ الْعِجْلِيُّ الْبَصْرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا أُمَيَّةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ طَلْحَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمَ لِيُجَارِيَ بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ أَوْ لِيُمَارِيَ بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ أَوْ يَصْرِفَ بِهِ وُجُوهَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْهِ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ النَّارَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ . وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ طَلْحَةَ لَيْسَ بِذَاكَ الْقَوِيِّ عِنْدَهُمْ تُكُلِّمَ فِيهِ مِنْ قِبَلِ حِفْظِهِ .
Ibn Ka'b b. Malik Narrated from:
Narrated Ibn Ka'b bin Malik: From His Father That He Heard The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Saying: "Whoever Seeks Knowledge To Contend With The Scholars, Or To Use It To Argue With The Fools, And To Have People'S Faces Turn Towards Him, Then He Shall Be Admitted To The Fire."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2654In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 10English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 2654
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2654
This hadith about seeking knowledge for the wrong reason gives a sharp warning. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whoever seeks knowledge to compete with scholars, argue with fools, or make people's faces turn toward him, then he shall be admitted to the Fire. The focus is intention. Knowledge is not meant to become a tool for pride, public attention, or pointless argument. The hadith does not condemn learning itself. It warns against using sacred knowledge for selfish aims. A student should ask: why am I learning? Is it to know the truth and act on it, or to look important in front of people?
What we learn from this hadith
- Seeking knowledge for pride and attention is warned against.
- Arguing with fools is not a good aim for learning.
- Knowledge should not be used to compete for status.
- A learner should keep checking the intention behind study.
