Knowledge isn’t narrating a lot or

Possessing many Books

Taken from the Explanation of Sharh us-Sunnah of Al-Barbahaaree
Vol 2: Page 49-52 (Maktaba ar Rushd) by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al Fawzaan
Translated by Salah al-Iranee

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Masjid Daar us Sunnah | www.DuSunnah.com | London

The author, (Imam al Barbaaharee) may Allah have mercy upon him said,

Number 104: Know! May Allah have mercy upon you, that knowledge is not simply
narrating a great deal and (possessing many) books. Rather, the scholar is the one
who follows the knowledge (he has possessed) and the Sunnah, even if his
knowledge is small and he only possesses a few books. Whoever contradicts the
Book and the Sunnah is an innovator, even if he is very knowledgeable and has
many books.

The Explanation:

His statement: “Know! May Allah have mercy upon you that knowledge is not
simply narrating a great deal and (possessing many) books.” – Knowledge is not
knowing much information, reading a great deal or possessing many books. Rather,
knowledge is with understanding, following and acting (upon that which one has learnt),
even if the person’s knowledge is little. A small amount of knowledge accompanied with
righteous actions and understanding of the religion is considered significant, whereas
possessing much knowledge without acting upon it or following it has not benefit. For
there are scholars and rabbis amongst the Jews, yet regardless of this, their knowledge
does not benefit them and they became of those whom the anger of Allah is upon,
because they disobeyed Allah upon insight.
So the intent is not to possess a large amount of knowledge and to be well read, rather the
intent is action. This is what is intended by knowledge and this is the path of those whom
Allah has bestowed his favour upon.

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 Just as Allah, the Most High said:
“Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom you
have bestowed Your Favour..” 1
and they are the people of knowledge and action.
“Not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the
Jews)..”
and they are the people of knowledge who do not act upon what they know
“nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).”
and they are those who act without knowledge.
Knowledge will not benefit us expect if it is accompanied with actions and actions will
not benefit us expect if it is accompanied with knowledge. Knowledge and actions must
to be combined and this is the way of those whom the favour is bestowed upon.
His statement, “Rather, the scholar is the one who follows the Book and the
Sunnah, even if his knowledge is small and he only possesses a few books...” -
Indeed the scholar is the one who follows the Book (the Quran) and the Sunnah, even if
he has only obtained a small amount of knowledge. Contrary to the one who has obtained
much knowledge or has a variety of books - many in number, however he does not act (to
what he has obtained from these books or knowledge), there is no benefit in this.
Consequently knowledge increases, grows and becomes numerous when accompanied
with righteous actions. As for knowledge that is not accompanied with actions then the
blessing will not remain and will be removed.
The scholars are divided into two categories:
1) The scholars with the tongue only.

2) The scholars with the tongue and heart - they are the people who fear Allah.
He, the Most High said:
“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear
Allâh.”2

So knowledge and the fear of Allah (combined) is correct knowledge. As for knowledge
of the tongue, without the fear of Allah then this is the knowledge of the hypocrites, and
we ask Allaah for security and protection.
His statement, “Whoever contradicts the Book and the Sunnah is an innovator..” –
This is because innovation is that which the worshipper performs in order to draw closer
to Allah, without having a proof (for this act of worship) from the Book or the Sunnah.3

                                                                                                                       
1 Al-Fatihah 1:7
2 Al-Fatir 35:28
3 [TN] Linguistically bid'ah (innovation) means 'a newly invented matter'. The Sharee'ah definition of bid'ah is: "A newly invented way

[beliefs or action] in the religion, in imitation of the Sharee'ah (prescribed Law), by which nearness to Allaah is sought, [but] not being
supported by any authentic proof - neither in its foundations, nor in the manner in which it is performed." Al-I'tisaam of ash-Shaatibee
(1/37). – visit www.spubs.com for more information.
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 The Prophet said, “Whoever introduces into this affair of ours that which is not from it
will have it rejected.”4
Meaning – his actions will be rejected and in another narration “He who act with actions
which our matter is not [in agreement] with will have it rejected.”5
So he who introduces a innovation (into the religion) and acts upon it will have it rejected
because he is performing an action which have not been legislated by Allah or the
Messenger, so Allah will not accept it from him.
The scholars have mentioned that actions will not be accepted except by meeting two
conditions;
1) The action is performed sincerely for Allah and free from shirk

2) Following the Messenger (may the peace and salutations of Allah be upon him)
– and that is by abandoning innovations and newly invented matters.
Every action that is mixed with shirk is invalid, and every action which is based upon
innovations is invalid. Actions will not be correct and accepted unless they are performed
solely for the face of Allah and according to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.
His statement, “even if he is very knowledgeable and has many books.” – As long as
he is an innovator, he will not benefit from his knowledge even if his knowledge was as
vast as the sea. If he does not follow the Messenger, instead acts according the statement
of so and so then there is no benefit in the knowledge that he possesses and he will not
benefit from his books.
Allaah the Most High said regarding the Jews;
“The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of
the) Taurât (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to
practise its legal laws), but who subsequently failed in those
(obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge
burdens of books (but understands nothing from them).”6
So the one who possesses a huge library but abandons acting (upon the knowledge that
he possesses) or is an innovator then he is like a donkey which carries books and does not
benefit from them.

                                                                                                                       
4 Al-Bukhaaree, (no. 2697)
5 Muslim, (no.1718)
6 Al-Jumu'ah 62:5

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