Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates: I heard Sayyiduna Abu al-Qasim, peace and blessings be upon him, saying: "The best among you are those whose character is the best, while they also acquire understanding of the religion."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this statement of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "People are like mines of gold and silver (i.e., sources of good or evil). Those who were the best among them in the pre-Islamic era are also the best in Islam, provided they gain understanding of the religion."

Ubaidullah bin Abu Qatadah narrates from his father: I heard the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) say: "Among the things a man leaves behind after him, three things are the best: a righteous child who prays for him, a continuous charity whose reward reaches him, and knowledge through which benefit is obtained even after that person (has died)." Imam Ibn Hibban (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "There remain one hundred hadiths of this type, which we have mentioned in various types (i.e., chapters) of this book, because they are more appropriate to the subject matter of those chapters."

Sayyida Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Overlook the shortcomings of the righteous people."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Whoever conceals knowledge, a bridle made of fire will be placed on him on the Day of Resurrection."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Whoever conceals knowledge, Allah Almighty will bridle him with a bridle of fire on the Day of Resurrection."

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: "Once, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting in a garden in Madinah, leaning against a branch (trunk). Some Jews came to him. They asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) about the soul. Then this verse was revealed: 'They ask you concerning the soul. Say: The soul is from the command of my Lord, and you have been given only a little knowledge.'"

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Once I was passing through a field in Madinah Munawwarah with the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was walking, leaning on a branch of a date palm. Some Jews passed by, and one of them said to the other: If you ask him a question (it would be appropriate). The other said: Do not ask him, for he may give you an answer that you would not like. Then they said: O Abu al-Qasim (peace and blessings be upon him)! Tell us about the soul. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood for a while, waiting for revelation. I realized that revelation was being sent down upon him, so I moved back from him. When the revelation was completed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: "They ask you concerning the soul. Say: The soul is from the command of my Lord, and you have been given only a little knowledge."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Quraysh said to the Jews: Tell us about something so that we may ask that person (i.e., the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) about it. So they said: Ask him about the soul (ruh). The Quraysh asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), so this verse was revealed: "They ask you about the soul. Say: The soul is from the command of my Lord, and you have been given little knowledge." So they said: Have we been given little knowledge, while we have been given the Torah? And whoever has been given the Torah has been given much good. So regarding this, this verse was revealed: "Say: If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord..."

Sayyidah Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) says: "Are you not amazed at Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him)? He comes and sits on one side of my chamber and starts narrating the Ahadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He narrates these things to me while I am engaged in offering voluntary prayers, and before I complete my prayers, he finishes narrating the Ahadith and leaves. If I had met him, I would have stopped him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not converse in such haste as you people do."

(Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) Sayyidah Aisha's (may Allah be pleased with her) statement, "I would have stopped him," means she would have stopped him from narrating so quickly, not from narrating altogether.