“…Straighten your rows and do not differ, lest your hearts differ. Let those among you who are mature and possess sound judgment stand closest to me, then those after them, then those after them.” Narrated by Muslim.

His words, peace and blessings be upon him, “liyalini” are recited with a light nūn and no yāʾ before it; another narration has a doubled nūn preceded by a yāʾ. “Al-nuhā” means intellects, while “ulū al-aḥlām” refers to those who have reached puberty; it is also said to mean people of forbearance and virtue.

[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “Chapter on showing reverence to scholars and people of merit, giving them precedence over others, honoring their seats, and making their rank manifest,” that is, and everything connected with these noble meanings.

By “scholars” the author intends the scholars of the sharīʿah, who are the heirs of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Scholars are the heirs of the prophets, for the prophets did not bequeath a dirham or a dinar. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, passed away he left his daughter Fāṭimah and his uncle al-ʿAbbās, yet they inherited nothing, because prophets do not transmit material wealth; rather, they left knowledge.

Knowledge is the religion of Allah. Whoever acquires knowledge has taken a bountiful share of the inheritance of the prophets.

Since the prophets are entitled to veneration, exaltation, and honor, those who inherit from them likewise deserve a portion of that right: that they be revered, exalted, and honored. For this reason the author—may Allah have mercy on him—devoted a chapter to this great and important matter.