Chapter on the reward for the scholars and those who seek knowledge

Muhammad ibn al-Hassan and Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, all from Ja'far ibn Muhammad al- Ash'ari from 'Abdullah ibn Maymun al-Qaddah and Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Hammad ibn 'Isa from al-Qaddah from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

"The holy Prophet has said, 'If one sets out on a journey to seek knowledge Allah will lead him to the way that would take him to paradise.

The angels will stretch their wings for the pleasure of the seeker of knowledge and all that is in the heavens and earth even the whales in the oceans will ask forgiveness for him (from Allah). The excellence of the scholar over other people is like that of the moon over other stars during a full-moon night. The scholars are the heirs of the prophets. 

The prophets did not leave any Dirham or Dinar (wealth) as their legacy but they did leave knowledge as their legacy. Whoever acquires a share from such legacy has gained a very large share.'"

H 58, Ch. 4, h 2

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Salih from Muhammad ibn Muslim from Ja'far (a.s.) who has said the following.

"Those of you who teach will have the same reward as those who learn in addition to his higher position over the student. Learn knowledge from those possess knowledge and teach it to your brethren just as the scholars have taught you."

H 59, Ch. 4, h 3

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ali ibn abu Hamza from abu Basir from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

"Whoever teaches something good he will receive a reward for each time his student would practice such knowledge." Abu Basir has said, "I asked the Imam, 'Would this apply to the student if he would teach other people?'

The Imam (a.s.) replied, "Yes, it will apply to him even if all people would teach it." I then asked, 'Would it apply to him if he would already be dead?' The Imam (a.s.) responded, "Yes, even if he would be dead."'

H 60, Ch. 4, h 4

Through the same chain of narrator it is narrated from Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Hamid from al-'Ala' ibn Razin from abu 'Ubayda al-Hadhdha' from abu Ja'far (a.s.) who has said the following.

"Whoever teaches a subject of guidance he will receive a reward equal to the rewards of those who would practice such guidance without any reduction in the rewards of the later ones.

Whoever would introduce a subject of misguidance he will suffer equal to the suffering due for each time it is practiced without any reduction in the suffering of whoever would practice such misguidance."

H 61, Ch. 4, h 5

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Sa'd in a marfu' manner from abu Hamza from Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) who has said the following.

"If only people knew how much reward there is for seeking knowledge, they would have sought it even if they would have had to shed their blood for it or dive in large waves.

Allah the Blessed and Most High revealed to Daniel saying, 'The most hated among my creatures are the ignorant ones who disrespect the scholars and do not follow them. The Most beloved to Me in My servants are the pious ones who work hard to become entitled for greater rewards, who always stay close to the scholars, follow the fore-bearing people and accept (the advise of) people of wisdom."

H 62, Ch. 4, h 6

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Sulayman ibn Dawud al-Minqari from Hafs ibn Ghiyath who has said that abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) said the following.

"Whoever acquires knowledge and practice what he has learned and teach it to others for the sake of Allah, among the angels of heavens he will be called a great personality. It will be said there: 'He learned for the sake of Allah, practiced for the sake of Allah and taught it for the sake of Allah."