Advice for Seekers of Knowledge

The advice of Imām Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī

"I implore you, O Student of Knowledge, to have a sincere and pure intention in your pursuit of knowledge and in striving to act upon what knowledge mandates.  This is because knowledge is like a tree and actions are its fruit. A person cannot be considered knowledgeable if they do not act upon what they learn.

It has been said: Knowledge is like a parent and action is its offspring. Knowledge comes with action and transmission comes with understanding. Therefore, do not suffice with action while abandoning knowledge and do not find comfort in knowledge with the absence of action. Rather, combine between both, even if in small amounts. 

Nothing is worse than a scholar whose knowledge people have left because of the corruption of his ways, or an ignorant person whose ignorance the people have accepted because of what they see from his worship.

A little bit of this (knowledge) and a little bit of that (action) is more likely to guarantee salvation for a person if Allah bestows His mercy and completes His favours upon him. As for preferring negligence, love for ease and comfort, and inclining towards leisure and relaxation, then the end result of these are blameworthy, detestable, and disasrous.

Knowledge leads to action, just as action leads to salvation. So if the action falls short from knowledge, the knowledge becomes a burden on the one who possesses it. We ask Allah ﷻ protection from knowledge that becomes a burden, brings humiliation, and becomes a shackle on the one who possesses it.

Knowledge is the servant of action and action is the goal of knowledge. If it wasn't for an intention to act, knowledge wouldn't be sought. If it weren't for knowledge, action wouldn't be implemented. For me (Imām Khatīb) to leave the truth due to being ignorant of it is more beloved to me than leaving it out [whilst being aware of it]. Sahl b. Muzāhim said: 'A scholar is more constrained than a tight fist while the ignorant person can be excused due to their ignorance. The scholar will be more severely punished for leaving what he knew and did not act upon.'

Did our pious predecessors not reach where they reached except through sincerity, righteous actions and an abstinence from worldly things? Did the wise not reach ultimate happiness except through striving, being content with little and giving whatever is beyond their need to those who are in more need? And isn't the one who gathers books of ʿilm like the one who gathers gold and silver? And isn't the one who yearns for them not like the one who yearns for gold and silver? And isn't the one who is in love with them like the one who treasures gold and silver?

Just as wealth is of no use without spending it, knowledge is of no use without acting upon it and fulfilling what it necessitates. A person should, therefore, examine themselves for our stay is short, our departure is close, what lies ahead is fearsome, to be deluded is likely, the danger is great and to Allah ﷻ is our return: {So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it.} [99:7-8]