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Sunan Ibn MajahThe Book of the Sunnah

Sunan Ibn Majah 259

Chapter: Gaining benefit from knowledge and acting in accordance with it

Differing grades 3 scholars’ grades Sunan Ibn Majah 259

Narrator:Hudhayfah

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَاصِمٍ الْعَبَّادَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا بَشِيرُ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَشْعَثَ بْنَ سَوَّارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ ‏

"‏ لاَ تَعَلَّمُوا الْعِلْمَ لِتُبَاهُوا بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ أَوْ لِتُمَارُوا بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ أَوْ لِتَصْرِفُوا وُجُوهَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْكُمْ فَمَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ ‏"

It was narrated that Hudhaifah said:

"I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Do not acquire knowledge in order to show off before the scholars, or to argue with the foolish, or to attract people's attention, for whoever does that will be in Hell.'"

Reported by Ibn Majah (No. 259).

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Classical commentary

Al-Sindi — Hashiyat al-Sindi on Sunan Ibn Majah

قَوْله ( عَنْ حُذَيْفَة قَالَ سَمِعْت رَسُول اللَّه صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُول لَا تَعَلَّمُوا الْعِلْم ) الْحَدِيث وَفِي الزَّوَائِد إِسْنَاده ضَعِيف فِيهِ بِشْر بْن مَيْمُون قَالَ اِبْن مَعِين أَجْمَعُوا عَلَى طَرْح حَدِيثه وَقَالَ الْبُخَارِيّ مُنْكَر الْحَدِيث بَلْ مُتَّهَم بِالْوَضْعِ.…

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Scholars’ grades

The 3 scholars cited do not give the same grade: each one is shown below.

ScholarGradeApplies toWork
Al-Albanid. 1420 AH Good (hasan)Hasan The hadith No. 259
Zubair Ali Zaid. 1435 AH WeakDaif The hadith No. 259
Muhammad Fu'ad Abd al-Baqid. 1388 AH Good (hasan)Hasan The hadith No. 259

Other versions

Also reported by… (1)
  • الفقيه والمتفقه للخطيب (465)لا تَعَلَّمُوا الْعِلْمَ لِتُبَاهُوا بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ ، أَوْ لِتُمَارُوا بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ ، أَوْ لِتَصْرِفُوا بِهِ وُجُوهَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْكُمْ ، فَمَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ ، وَلَكِنْ تَعَلَّمُوهُ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ وَالدَّارِ الآخِرَةِ

On the same subject

Differing grades Sunan Ibn Majah 254

Do not seek knowledge in order to show off in front of the scholars, or to argue with the foolish;

"Do not seek knowledge in order to show off in front of the scholars, or to argue with the foolish; or to get the higher status in gatherings. Whoever does that, the Fire, the Fire."

"‏ لاَ تَعَلَّمُوا الْعِلْمَ لِتُبَاهُوا بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَلاَ لِتُمَارُوا بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ وَلاَ تَخَيَّرُوا بِهِ الْمَجَالِسَ فَمَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَالنَّارُ النَّارُ ‏"

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh Explained

Differing grades Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2654

from his father that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: "Whoever seeks knowledge to contend with the scholars, or to use it to argue with the fools, and to have people's faces turn towards him, then he shall be admitted to the Fire."

"‏ مَنْ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمَ لِيُجَارِيَ بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ أَوْ لِيُمَارِيَ بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ أَوْ يَصْرِفَ بِهِ وُجُوهَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْهِ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ النَّارَ ‏"

Narrated by Ka‘b ibn Mālik + 2 other versions

Differing grades Sunan Ibn Majah 253

The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever seeks knowledge in order to argue with the foolish, or to show off before the scholars, or to attract people's attention, will be in Hell."

"‏ مَنْ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمَ لِيُمَارِيَ بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ أَوْ لِيُبَاهِيَ بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ أَوْ لِيَصْرِفَ وُجُوهَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْهِ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 1 other version

Differing grades Sunan Ibn Majah 260

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever seeks knowledge in order to argue with the foolish, or to show off before the scholars, or to attract people's attention, Allah will admit him to Hell.'"

"‏ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْعِلْمَ لِيُبَاهِيَ بِهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَيُمَارِيَ بِهِ السُّفَهَاءَ وَيَصْرِفَ بِهِ وُجُوهَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْهِ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ جَهَنَّمَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version

English
Thursday, October 15, 2026 4 جمادى الأولى 1448 هـ

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