Abū Dardā’ on achieving righteousness by acting upon the gained knowledge
قَالَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: لا يكون تقيا حتى يكون عالما، ولن يكون بالعلم جميلا حتى يكون به عاملا
Translation
Abū Dardā’ (may Allāh be pleased with him) said:
“A person does not attain taqwā until he becomes knowledgeable, and he will never be adorned by knowledge until he acts upon it.”
Takhrīj
• Abū Nu’aym al-Aṣbahānī [d. 430H] in Ḥilyatul Awliyā’ (1/213).
It was also mentioned by ibn ‘Abdul-Barr [d. 463H] in Jāmi’ Bayān al-‘Ilm wa-Faḍlihi (1239 (1/698)). And it was also mentioned in a longer version by Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdullāh ad-Dārimī [d. 255H] in Sunan ad-Dārimī (292 (1/62)).
Grade:
• Ṣaḥīḥ by Shaykh Abul-Ashbāl az-Zuhayrī (Jāmi’ Bayān al-‘Ilm wa-Faḍlihi, published by Dar ibn al-Jawzi)
Commentary
Commentary by Shaykh ‘Abdul-Mannān Rāsikh (Sunan ad-Dārimī)
Only a practicing scholar can be considered a true scholar in its terms because when there is no visible practice of the religion, it becomes a curse. Also, it is sinful to acquire knowledge only for the sake of becoming popular. Moreover, the knowledge of the religion should bring a person directed/focused towards Allāh at all times. It is only then that knowledge becomes a source of goodness.
• Reference: [301 (1/224-225), Sunan ad-Dārimī, Ansarus Sunnah Publications (Ur)]
Translated by Umm Rumayṣā’
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