Saeed bin Jubair, may Allah have mercy on him, said about «كونوا ربانيين» (Become all of you for the Lord) that by «ربانيين» is meant the scholars and jurists.

Ubaidullah bin Saeed said: I heard Sufyan bin Uyaynah say: Knowledge means memorization, practice, listening, silence, and conveying.

Sufyan bin ‘Uyaynah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The most ignorant among the people is the one who abandons knowledge despite having it (i.e., neither acts upon it nor conveys it), and the greatest scholar is the one who acts according to his knowledge, and the best among the people is the one who has the most fear of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.

Imam Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Two types of greedy people are never satisfied: one who is greedy for knowledge, who is never satiated with knowledge, and the other who desires the world, who is never satiated with worldly things. So, whoever’s concern, intention, preoccupation, desire, and remembrance is all for the Hereafter, Allah will suffice him in all his affairs and work, and will place richness in his heart. And whoever’s concern, desire, and love is for the world, Allah will scatter his affairs, and will write poverty and need between his two eyes, so that he will be poor in the morning and poor in the evening.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Two greedy men are never satisfied: one who possesses knowledge and the other who seeks the world, and both can never be equal. The possessor of knowledge increases in Allah’s pleasure, while the seeker of the world wanders about in rebellion and transgression. Then Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) recited this verse: «‏‏‏‏﴿كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَيَطْغَى ٭ أَنْ رَآهُ اسْتَغْنَى﴾» ‏‏‏‏ [العلق: 6/96، 7] “Indeed, man surely transgresses, because he sees himself self-sufficient (or wealthy).”Sayyiduna Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Someone else said: «﴿إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ ...﴾» [فاطر: 28/35] “Indeed, only Allah’s knowledgeable servants fear Him.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them): «﴿إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ﴾» [فاطر: 28/35] Whoever fears Allah is a scholar. Two greedy people are never satisfied: the seeker of knowledge and the seeker of the world.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: Two eager (greedy) persons are never satisfied: the seeker of knowledge and the seeker of the world.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Wathilah bin Asqa’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Whoever sought knowledge and also acquired it, for him is a double reward, and if he could not acquire knowledge, then even so, for him is a single portion of reward.”

Abbas Al-‘Ami said: It has reached me that Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him) used to say in his supplication: O Allah! You are free from all defects, You are my Lord, You are manifest above the Throne, and You have placed Your fear in those who are in the heavens and the earth. So, among Your creation, the one closest to You in rank and status is the one who fears You the most, and what kind of knowledge is it that does not fear You, and what kind of wisdom is it that does not follow Your command?

It is narrated from Dhahhak (may Allah have mercy on him) that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Either become a scholar or a learner, and there is no good in anyone other than these two.