Imaam al-Aajurree (d.360H) [5] - rahimahullaah – said, “The seeker of knowledge should know that - the Mighty and Majestic - has made the worship of obligatory upon Him; and that this worship is not possible except with knowledge, the seeking has also been made obligatory upon him. He should also realise that ignorance is not befitting for a Believer. He should seek knowledge in order to dispel ignorance from himself, and to worship - the Mighty and Majestic - as Allaah has commanded; not as he desires to worship Him. So the seeker of knowledge should strive hard in this quest, be sincere in this striving and should not become amazed with himself. Rather, he should that this is a favour from Allaah upon him, since it was Allaah who gave him the ability to acquire such knowledge, by which he is able to fulfil his obligations and keep away from that which is forbidden.” [Akhlaaqul-'Ulamaa‘ (p. 43) of Imaam al-Aajurree]
Ibn Mas'ood - radiyallaahu 'anhu – said,“Learn, learn! So when you learn, then act.” [Iqtidaa‘ul-'Ilmil-'Aml (no.10) ]
Said al-Hasan al-Basree - rahimahullaah – said, “ Eemaan (faith) is not outer decoration, nor mere hope. Rather it is what settles in the heart and what is affirmed by actions. Whoever spoke good, but did not act righteously, then Allaah throws it back upon his saying. Whoever spoke good and acted righteously, Allaah raises up the actions. This is because Allaah - the Most High – says,
“To
Him ascend all goodly words, and righteous actions raise it.”
”
[Iqtidaa‘ul-'Ilmil-'Aml
(no.56)]
Ibn Mas`ood, radhiallaahu `anhu, said: "True knowledge is not measured in relationship to how much you memorize and then narrate, but rather, true knowledge is an expression of piety [protecting oneself from what Allaah prohibited and acting upon what He mandated]." [Related by Abu Na`eem]
