10 Beautiful Hadith about Knowledge in Islam
Hadith about Knowledge. Islam is all about learning! The Prophet (peace be upon him) said everyone needs to seek out knowledge. It’s about good stuff, things that make you a better person and help others. But, it’s gotta be for the right reasons. Not to brag, or argue with people, stuff like that. Learning is important, but it’s your heart that matters to Allah.
Hadith About Seeking and Sharing Knowledge In Islam
Narrated Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever goes out seeking knowledge, then he is in Allah’s cause until he returns.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2647
In Arabic
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ مَنْ خَرَجَ فِي طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ فَهُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ ” .
It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim, and he who imparts knowledge to those who do not deserve it is like one who puts a necklace of jewels, pearls, and gold around the neck of swine.”
Sunan Ibn Majah 224
In Arabic
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ” طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ وَوَاضِعُ الْعِلْمِ عِنْدَ غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ كَمُقَلِّدِ الْخَنَازِيرِ الْجَوْهَرَ وَاللُّؤْلُؤَ وَالذَّهَبَ ” .
It was narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah that: The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Do not seek knowledge to show off in front of the scholars, or to argue with the foolish, and do not choose the best seat in a gathering, due to it (i.e. the knowledge which you have learned) for whoever does that, the Fire, the Fire (awaits him).”
Sunan Ibn Majah 254
In Arabic
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ “ لاَ تَعَلَّمُوا الْعِلْمَ لِتُبَاهُوا بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَلاَ لِتُمَارُوا بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ وَلاَ تَخَيَّرُوا بِهِ الْمَجَالِسَ فَمَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَالنَّارُ النَّارُ ” .
Narrated Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
If anyone acquires knowledge that should be sought seeking the Face of Allah, but he acquires it only to get some worldly advantage, he will not experience the arf, i.e. the fragrance, of Paradise.
Sunan Abi Dawud 3664
In Arabic
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ عِلْمًا مِمَّا يُبْتَغَى بِهِ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لاَ يَتَعَلَّمُهُ إِلاَّ لِيُصِيبَ بِهِ عَرَضًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا لَمْ يَجِدْ عَرْفَ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ” .
Sakhbara al-Azdi reported Allah’s messenger as saying,
“If anyone seeks knowledge, it will be an atonement for past sins.”
Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it,
Tirmidhi saying that this is a tradition whose isnad is weak, and that Abu Dawud the transmitter is declared to be weak. Mishkat al-Masabih 221
In Arabic
وَعَن سَخْبَرَة الْأَزْدِيّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مِنْ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمَ كَانَ كَفَّارَةً لِمَا مَضَى» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ ضَعِيفُ الْإِسْنَادِ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ الرَّاوِي يُضَعَّفُ
Hadith About Learning Knowledge (In Arabic And English)
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that: The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever seeks knowledge for a reason other than the sake of Allah, or intends it for a purpose other than for the sake of Allah, let him take his place in hell.”
Sunan Ibn Majah 258
In Arabic
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ “ مَنْ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمَ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ أَوْ أَرَادَ بِهِ غَيْرَ اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ” .
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
‘I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “There is no one who goes out of his house in order to seek knowledge, but the angels lower their wings in approval of his action.'”
Sunan Ibn Majah 226
In Arabic
قَالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ مَا مِنْ خَارِجٍ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ فِي طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ وَضَعَتْ لَهُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا رِضًا بِمَا يَصْنَعُ ” .
Narrated Abu Salih reported a narration from Abu Hurairah:
“It shall soon be that people are beating the livers of camels (meaning that they are hastening and traveling upon them) seeking knowledge. But they will not find anyone more knowledgeable than a scholar of Al-Madinah.
“Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2680
In Arabic
عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، رِوَايَةً “ يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَضْرِبَ النَّاسُ، أَكْبَادَ الإِبِلِ يَطْلُبُونَ الْعِلْمَ فَلاَ يَجِدُونَ أَحَدًا أَعْلَمَ مِنْ عَالِمِ الْمَدِينَةِ ” .
Hadith About Asking Allah For Beneficial Knowledge
It was narrated from Jabir that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Ask Allah for beneficial knowledge and seek refuge with Allah from knowledge that is of no benefit.”
Sunan Ibn Majah 3843
In Arabic
عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ “ سَلُوا اللَّهَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَتَعَوَّذُوا بِاللَّهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ ” .
It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin Amr that:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to seek refuge (with Allah) from four things: From knowledge that is of no benefit, from a heart that does not feel humble, from a supplication that is not heard, and a soul that is never satisfied.
Sunan an-Nasa’i 5442
In Arabic
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَتَعَوَّذُ مِنْ أَرْبَعٍ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ وَدُعَاءٍ لاَ يُسْمَعُ وَنَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ .
Conclusion
In Islam, knowledge is super important – but the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned it’s gotta be for the right reasons. Not to look smart, or win arguments…but to be a good person, and to please Allah. He said to ask Allah for useful knowledge, not stuff that doesn’t matter. Basically, learning’s only good if your heart is in the right place. Also, read hadith about Zina.
