Muʿjam al-Aḥādīth al-Muʿtabara 1, narration 19

Translation

1. [1/18] al-Kafi: Muhammad b. al-Hasan and Ali b. Muhammad from Sahl b. Ziyad; Muhammad b. Yahya from Ahmad b. Muhammad – all together from Ja’far b. Muhammad al-Ash’ari from Abdallah b. Maymun al-Qaddah; and Ali b. Ibrahim from his father from Hammad b. Isa from al-Qaddah from Abi Abdillah (AS) who said: "The Messenger of Allāh (sw) said: whoever treads a path seeking knowledge, Allāh makes him tread a path to heaven. The angels lay down their wings for the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with him. They do seek forgiveness for the seeker of knowledge whatsoever is in heaven and whatsoever is on earth, even the fish in the sea. The excellence of the scholar over the worshipper is like the excellence of the moon over the rest of the stars on a full-moon night. The scholars are the inheritors of the prophets, the prophets do not leave behind silver or gold coins, rather they leave behind knowledge. So, whomsoever partakes of it then he has obtained a fortunate share."

Translation: Ammaar Muslim — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.