Al-Kāfi 1, narration 131

Translation

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim in a marfu’ manner has narrated from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “The seekers of knowledge are of three kinds. The more noticeable of them in person or character are: (a) the group who seeks knowledge for ignorance and quarrel. (b) The group who seeks knowledge to dominate and cheat others. (c) The group who seeks knowledge for proper understanding, Fiqh, and power of intelligence. The group whose purpose of seeking knowledge is ignorance and quarrel is a harmful and quarrelsome group. This group interrupts conversations in the gatherings of the people to speak about knowledge and the description of forbearance. Such people appear in the garb of the gentle and humble ones but, in fact, are devoid of all the qualities of the pious people. Allah has humiliated and has condemned this group. The group that seeks domination and cheating is a deceitful and flattering group. Such people try to dominate people of their kind and flatter the wealthy ones who know less than they do. Such people consume the sweetmeat of the rich people and destroy their own religion. May Allah banish the news of such people and cut off their traces from the history of the scholars. “The group that seeks knowledge for the sake of Fiqh, proper understanding, and to gain the power of intelligence consists of people who are deeply concerned and stay awake very often. They pull their robe on their heads and standup for prayer in the darkness of nights. They work hard anxiously and fearfully and pray with deep worries. They are very attentive of their affairs, knowledgeable of the people of their time and fearful even of their own trusted brothers. May Allah strengthen the corners of such people and grant them salvation on the Day of Judgment.” Narrated to me the above hadith Muhammad ibn Mahmud abu ‘Abdallah al-Qazwini from a number of our people of whom is Ja‘far in Muhammad al-Sayqal of Qazwin from Ahmad ibn ‘Isa al-‘Alawi from ‘Abbad ibn Suhayb al-Basri from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.).

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.