44. 1. Imam Ali (p): After the demise of Prophet Muhammad (p) people chose three types of persons as their religious leaders and guides. Firstly, the scholars on the right path guided by God and to whom God has imparted so much knowledge that he is totally independent of other scholars. Secondly, the ignorant one who pretends to be a scholar and has no knowledge at all and (in spite of it) he boasts of his knowledge. (third category) The world attains knowledge from a learned scholar who is on the right path guided by God. He will attain Salvation and (apart from these three categories) the pretender is doomed to perish and the one who spreads falsehood regarding religious matters will be absolutely disappointed.(B2, C3, T1)

45. 2. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p): There are three kinds of people: the Scholars, the Seekers of Knowledge and the Scum of Humanity.(B2, C3, T2)

46. 3. Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p): Be either a learned person or a student or be in affinity with the learned people and never join any fourth category, otherwise you will perish.(B2, C3, T3)

47.4 Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (p): People consist of three categories: the learned scholars, the students and the rubbish. We are the learned scholars, our Shias are students (the seekers of knowledge) and the rest are rubbish (a liability to humanity).(B2, C3, T4)