Hadith on Knowledge - Abu Dawood 3660 - Memorising and conveying Knowledge
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، - مِنْ وَلَدِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ - عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبَانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ نَضَّرَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً سَمِعَ مِنَّا حَدِيثًا فَحَفِظَهُ حَتَّى يُبَلِّغَهُ فَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ وَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ لَيْسَ بِفَقِيهٍ
Narrated Zayd ibn Thabit رضى الله تعالى عنه I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “May Allah brighten a man who hears a tradition from us, memorises it by heart and passes it on to others [1] . Many times a bearer of knowledge conveys it to one who is more versed than he is; and in other times a bearer of knowledge is not well-versed in it [than the recipient] [2].”
[1] Hearing, memorising and propagating are the three stages of knowledge. When one hears it, he also must understand its context, theme, aim and reason. Thereafter, one must memorise this understanding and the actual text which will need to be related or implemented later on for the benefit of Muslims. Such a person will be qualified for the supplication of the Prophet ﷺ indicated in the words of the Hadith – that is, his face and his heart will become illuminated with the light of guidance.
[2] It is not necessary that the teacher of knowledge be more qualified than the learner and vice versa. It is not the position of a person that allows him to be more distinct than others – rather it is solely the blessings from Allah Ta’ala.
[ Translator ]
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References
Sunan Abu Dawood 3660
Kitaab Al-Ilm 3660