Weak
graded by Al-Albani
Mishkat al-Masabih 221
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
Sakhbara al-Azdi reported God’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.
Reported by At-Tirmidhi (No. 2648) and Ad-Darimi (No. 560). Cited in Mishkat al-Masabih (No. 221).