5. REAPING THE FRUIT OF KNOWLEDGE AFTER ACTING UPON IT
I have met many Sheikhs of different degrees with varying states of condition and levels of knowledge (muqadir fi’l-‘ilm). The most beneficial of them were those acting upon their knowledge, even if others were more knowledgeable than them.
I have seen many hadith scholars who memorised and knew many narrations. But they used to tolerate backbiting and justify their action in the name of the science of ‘jarh wa tad il’ (discrediting and crediting). They used to get paid for narrating reports and traditions of the Prophet and hasten to answer questions so that their status be maintained in the eyes of people, even if their answers were wrong.
On the other hand, I met ‘Abdu’l-Wahhab Al-Anmatl. He was on the way of the righteous predecessors; no backbiting ever occurred in his gatherings, and he never used to ask money for narrating hadith. Whenever I used to read from the books of heart-softeners to him he used to cry continuously.
At that time I was still a young man and his rolling tears affected me a lot, building in my heart profound foundations. He was just like the scholars who we hear about.
I also met Shaikh Abu Mansur Al-Jawaliqi. He was silent most of the time and extremely cautious about the words coming out of his mouth.
He was one of the masters and a renowned exegete, but if he is ever asked a question, even if it is too simple that even his novice students can answer, he would take his time until he is certain of his answer. He also used to fast a lot and remain silent for long periods.
I have truly benefited from meeting these two people more than anyone else that I have met. This made me realise that leading by example is more eloquent than verbal directions.
On the other hand, I have seen some Sheikhs who spend their private time in joking and laxity; hence the hearts of people became less attached to them and their slackness wasted all the knowledge they had acquired. This made people benefit less from their knowledge film) during their lives, and made them to be forgotten after their death. Hardly does anyone look at their writings.
So act upon what you know for it is the most greatest of all principles. Truly, a poor person is he who wasted his life in knowledge that he did not act upon afterwards; thus he missed out on worldly pleasures (ladhdl) and on the goodness (khaynit) of the Hereafter.
Not only does he stand up broke (muflis) on the Day of Judgement, but the evidence established against him is also too strong.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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