35. Imam
Musa al-Kazim (p): While the Prophet Muhammad (p) was entering a
mosque, he saw a person surrounded by a huge crowd.
Prophet Muhammad (p): Who is this person?
The Prophet (p) was told: This person is an ‘Allamah’
(a scholar).
The Prophet (p): Who is an Allamah?
The Prophet (p) was told: Allamah is a person who is most learned
among all people about the lineage (family tree) of the Arabs and
the historical events of the pre-Islamic era and an erudite Arabic
poet.
The Prophet (p): Ignorance of this kind of knowledge will not discredit
anyone and will not be profitable to anyone who possesses it. True
knowledge is of three kinds:
a. Knowledge of the fundamental verses (of the Noble Quran, 3:7),
b. Knowledge of the requirements of equity and moderation, and
c. Knowledge of the Islamic code (as-Sunnah). The rest is additional
excellence.(B2, C2, T1)
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37. Imam
Jafar as-Sadiq (p): When God wants to favour any of His servants;
He bestows upon him the knowledge of religious jurisprudence.(B2,
C2, T3)
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38. Imam
Muhammad al-Baqir (p): Excellence, nay super-excellence, lies in
the knowledge of religious jurisprudence, patience in adversity
and regulation of expenses.(B2, C2, T4)
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39. Imam
Jafar as-Sadiq (p): Learned men are the custodians (of religious
knowledge), the pious ones are the fortresses (who safeguard against
invasions) and the vicegerents (of the prophets) are the leaders
(of the believers).
According to another tradition,
The Imam (p) said: The scholars are beacons of light, the pious
are fortresses and the vicegerents are leaders.(B2, C2, T5)
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40. Imam
Jafar as-Sadiq (p) addressing Basheer, a believer: O Basheer, remember
that those of our community who do not attain the knowledge of religious
jurisprudence will not gain any merit. Because, the one who has
no knowledge of religious jurisprudence will have to depend on others
(in this field) and the one who depends on others will be led by
them through the gates of ignorance and the members of our community
will remain unaware of this misguidance.(B2, C2, T6)
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41. Prophet
Muhammad (p): There is no good in life except for two categories
of people; the scholar who is obeyed and the listener who listens
attentively.(B2, C2, T7)
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42. Imam
Muhammad al-Baqir (p): A learned person who avails himself of his
knowledge is far better than seventy thousand worshippers of God.(B2,
C2, T8)
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43. Imam
Jafar as-Sadiq (p) was asked to describe a person who had made it
a habit to quote the traditions, exhortations and sayings of the Imams
(p) to people and instill in their hearts and the hearts of the followers
of the Imams (p) (the Shias), and other devoted worshippers of God
who not follow this example.
The Imam (p): The narrator who makes an impact on the people is better
than a thousand devotees.(B2, C2, T9)
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