the stations of the righteous and the highest ranks in this world and the Hereafter. Reflecting upon it is equivalent to fasting, and studying it with others is equivalent to keeping vigil in prayer. Through it, ties of kinship are maintained, and what is lawful is distinguished from what is unlawful. Knowledge is the leader of action, and action follows it. The blessed are inspired to seek it, while the wretched are deprived of it.” Ibn Abd al-Barr narrated it in his book Jāmi Bayān al-Ilm wa Fadlih and said: “It is a very fine hadith, but it does not have a strong chain of transmission.”1

Numerous reports have been transmitted from the pious forebears (may Allah have mercy on them) concerning the superiority of knowledge.2 Al-Thawrī (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Nothing done to seek the pleasure of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is better than seeking knowledge, and in no age has seeking knowledge been better than it is today.”

Maymūn ibn Mihrān said: “The scholar in a town is like a spring of fresh water within it.”

Al-Hasan al-Basrī said: “The scholar is better than one who renounces this world and strives in worship. He disseminates Allah’s wisdom: if it is accepted, he praises Allah, and if it is rejected, he praises Allah.”

Imam al-Shāfiī said: “Seeking knowledge is better than voluntary prayer.”

Imam Ahmad was asked: “Which do you prefer: that I perform voluntary prayer at night, or that I sit and copy works of knowledge?” He replied: “If you are copying what you know concerns your religion, then that is dearer to me.” He also said: “Nothing is equal to knowledge.”

Since the people of knowledge occupy such a lofty station and exalted rank, everyone else is duty-bound to respect the rank due to them and recognize their standing,