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a keen appetite for knowledge and worship. Thus they experience misleading whisperings that others do not experience—whisperings they mistake for guidance and therefore obey. Whoever among them is spared this becomes one of the leaders of the God-fearing, lamps of guidance, and wellsprings of knowledge. As Ibn Masʿūd said to his companions:
“Be wellsprings of knowledge, lamps of wisdom, and lights in the night; keep your hearts fresh, keep to your homes, and wear threadbare clothes. You will be known among the inhabitants of heaven, yet hidden from the people of earth.”
نَهْمَةٌ فِي الْعِلْمِ وَالْعِبَادَةِ؛ فَصَارَ يَعْرِضُ لَهُمْ مِنْ الْوَسَاوِسِ الَّتِي تُضِلُّهُمْ - وَهُمْ يَظُنُّونَهَا هُدًى فَيُطِيعُونَهَا - مَا لَا يَعْرِضُ لِغَيْرِهِمْ وَمَنْ سَلِمَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُمْ كَانَ مِنْ أَئِمَّةِ الْمُتَّقِينَ مَصَابِيحِ الْهُدَى وَيَنَابِيعِ الْعِلْمِ؛
كَمَا قَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ لِأَصْحَابِهِ:
كُونُوا يَنَابِيعَ الْعِلْمِ مَصَابِيحَ الْحِكْمَةِ سُرُجَ اللَّيْلِ؛ جُدُدَ الْقُلُوبِ أَحْلَاسَ الْبُيُوتِ خُلْقَانَ الثِّيَابِ؛ تُعْرَفُونَ فِي أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ وَتُخْفَوْنَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ.