let him take his seat in the Fire.” Reported by al-Bukhari.

Explanation
Imam al-Nawawi, in his book Riyad al-Salihin, compiled several narrations that point to the excellence of knowledge. Among them is the hadith of Sahl ibn Saʿd (may Allah be pleased with him): when the Prophet ﷺ handed the banner to ʿAli ibn Abi Talib on the day of Khaybar, he said, “Advance calmly, then invite them to Islam and inform them of the rights of Allah that are due from them. By Allah, if Allah guides a single man through you, that is better for you than red camels.”

The Prophet ﷺ swore that if Allah were to guide even one person through ʿAli, it would be better for him than possessing red camels. The word ḥumr (with a silent mīm) is the plural of ḥamrāʾ, whereas ḥumur (with a ḍamma on the mīm) is the plural of ḥimār, meaning “donkey.” Some students err and say, “better for you than ḥumur,” but that is incorrect, for ḥumur denotes “donkeys,” as in Allah’s saying, “as though they were terrified donkeys” (Quran 74:50). By contrast, ḥumr—with a sukun on the mīm—is the plural of ḥamrāʾ, the red she-camel, which at that time was the most prized and beloved form of wealth among the Arabs. Thus, if Allah guides even one person through you, it is better for you than an abundance of red camels.

This narration therefore encourages the acquisition of knowledge, its teaching, and calling people to Allah, for no one can summon others to Allah without knowledge. When a person learns part of Allah’s law and calls others to it, this stands as clear evidence of the virtue of knowledge.

He then cited the hadith of ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (may Allah be pleased with him), related from his father, that