[Explanation]
This hadith is one of the reports on repentance that the author—may Allah have mercy on him—cited to explain when repentance is no longer accepted. Yet it also contains a number of benefits:

One of them is that Zur ibn Hubaysh came to Safwan ibn ʿAssal—may Allah be pleased with him—solely for the sake of knowledge, seeking it. Safwan ibn ʿAssal said to him, “The angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge, pleased with what he is pursuing.”

This is a tremendous benefit, showing the excellence of knowledge and of pursuing it. What is meant here is religious knowledge, namely the knowledge brought by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. As for worldly knowledge, it serves worldly ends; but the pursuit of the knowledge conveyed by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is what earns praise and commendation and is urged in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. It is a form of jihad in the path of Allah, for this religion has been established on two pillars:

It stands on knowledge and clarification, and on weaponry—on the sword and the spear.

Some scholars have even said, “Seeking knowledge is superior to jihad in the path of Allah with weapons,” because preserving the Sharia can only be done through knowledge, while armed jihad in the path of Allah itself rests on knowledge. The combatant does not set out, fight, advance, distribute the spoils, or rule concerning captives except by means of knowledge. Knowledge, therefore, is everything.

For this reason Allah the Exalted says, “Allah will raise in rank those of you who believe and those who have been granted knowledge” (Surah al-Mujadila, 58:11). The angels’ lowering of their wings for the seeker of knowledge is out of satisfaction with what he seeks, respect for him, and veneration of him. Nor can it be countered by someone who says, “I do not