108—Kūhī ibn al-Hasan informed us; Ahmad ibn al-Qasim informed us; al-Hasan ibn Hammad Sajjadah narrated to us; Isma'il ibn Ibrahim narrated to us; Ayyub narrated to us, from Abu Qilabah, from Ibn Masud, who said:

“Acquire knowledge before it is taken away; and its being taken away means that its people”—or, he said, “its bearers”—“will pass away.”

He also said: “Acquire knowledge, for none of you knows when he will need it, or when others will need what he possesses. You will indeed find people who claim to call you to the Book of Allah, even though they have cast it behind their backs. So hold fast to knowledge. Beware of religious innovation; beware of excessiveness; beware of delving too deeply; and adhere to the ancient way.”