When the Sinful and the Rabble Take Knowledge

The people will not cease to be well as long as they take knowledge from their seniors. When they take it from their juniors and their bad people, they will be destroyed.

When Sufy?n [Al-Thawr?] would see these rabble writing knowledge his face would change (in anger). So I asked him, ‘O Ab? ?Abdill?h, we notice that when you see these people writing knowledge, it is hard upon you.’ He replied, ‘Knowledge used to be with the Arabs and with the leaders of the people, but when it left them and went to these types – meaning the rabble of society – the religion was changed.’

1. Some of the Best and Worst People in Society
2. Beware the Sinful Scholar
3. From whom does Knowledge Come?
4. At the Doorstep of Knowledge
5. Two Requirements for Knowledge