Imaam Ibn Qudaamah Al-Maqdisi rahimahullaah said:
Know verily O reader that, knowledge that is sought for worldly gains or to attain reputation within the society is considered as evil knowledge and it will not benefit the seeker on the Day of Resurrection.
On this regards, Ulamaa can be broadly classified into two classes; evil ulamaa and the righteous ulamaa.
Each class has its own different characteristics and these may be outlined as follows:
♦ Evil ulamaa.
These are the type of ulamaa that acquired knowledge not for the sake of Allah but for attaining the miserable goals of this dunya or to seek certain position in this dunya.
It is reported from Abu Hurairah radiyallaahu anhu who said-The messenger salallaahu alayhi wasallam said:
“ Whosoever seeks i’lmu Ash-sharia in order to attain worldly gain in this dunya and not doing that for the sake of Allah alone, will not have the fragrance of Jannah on the Day of Resurrection”
Transmitted and recorded by Imaam Abu Dawud in his ‘sunan’#3664 and Shaykh Al-Albaani declared it as sahih in ‘Sahihu Al-Jaami’#2879.
In another Hadith The Messenger of Allah salallaahu alayhi wasallam said:
” Whosoever seeks knowledge with the sole intention of boasting beside the ulamaa, to dispute with the ordinary people or to gain certain reputation among people, his abode will be Hell.”
Transmitted and recorded by Imaam At-Tirmidhi in his ‘Sunan’#2654 and Shaykh Al-Albaani declared it as sahih in ‘Sahihu Al-Jaami’#6158.
And there are many Ahaadith that condemn seeking knowledge for worldly gains.
One of the predecessors said:
” The most regretful people at the time of death are the irresponsible ulamaa.”
Know verily that, what is obligatory upon an A’lim is for him to abide by the commandments and prohibitions of the sharia, not to abstain completely from the lawful things.
However, he should take little of this dunya and should not be extravagant in worldly pleasures.
Though, this varies with individuals and people differ in what their body may need in terms of nutrients.
For instance, it is reported that Imaam Sufyaan Ath-thawri rahimahullaah used to say:
“If the body is not properly nourished with good foods, it will not be able to carry out its responsibility accordingly”
Thus, Imaam Sufyaan Ath-thawri used to eat delicious foods while Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal rahimahullaah prefers simple way of living and does not eat delicious foods.
Lastly, we will discuss the characteristics of righteous ulamaa inshaaAllah in the next post.
Jazaakumullaahu khayran
Baarakallaahu feekum
