Abī Hātim.

He then said:

Similar statements were also reported from Qatādah, ‘Amr ibn Murrah, and al-Thawrī: “Whether mistakenly or deliberately.”

It was reported that Mujāhid and al-Dahhāk said:

“His ignorance does not consist in his not knowing what is lawful or unlawful; rather, his ignorance lies in his committing the sin.”

‘Ikrimah said:

“The whole of worldly life is ignorance.”

Al-Hasan al-Basrī was asked about it and said:

“They are people who did not know what was in their favor and what counted against them.”

He was asked, “What if they did know?”

He replied, “Then let them abandon it, for it is ignorance.”

I say: Among the things that clarify this are the words of Allah Most High:

“Only those of His servants who have knowledge fear Allah.”

Everyone who fears Him, obeys Him, and refrains from disobeying Him is knowledgeable. As Allah Most High says:

“Is one who is devoutly obedient during the hours of the night, prostrating and standing in prayer, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for his Lord’s mercy [like one who is not]? Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’”

A man addressed al-Sha‘bī, saying, “O scholar!”

He replied, “The truly knowledgeable person is only one who fears Allah.”

The words of Allah Most High, “Only those of His servants who have knowledge fear Allah,” imply that everyone who fears Allah is knowledgeable, for none but a knowledgeable person fears Him.