Reference: Ad-Durrar as-Saniyyah Vol 1. Page 405.
Imām ‘AbdurRaḥmān Ibn Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad Ibn AbdulWahhāb [1] said:
“I have been informed that you have differed with each other in issues which has led to disputes, conflict and argumentation. This is not the status of those who desire the [reward of the] ākhirah (Hereafter).
So fear Allāh and assume the manners of knowledge.
Seek the reward of Allāh in learning and teaching; and implement knowledge through actions. The fruits for doing this and the cause for seeking it is what has been mentioned in the narration:
Whoever acts by what he learnt, Allāh will give him knowledge which he did not know
You should cooperate and help each other upon righteousness and Taqwa.
From the indicators of the sincerity of a student of knowledge is that he maintains complete silence in matters which do not concern him; he is submissive in front of His Lord and humble in front of His servants; being devout, pious and maintaining good manners; not caring whether the truth is manifested upon his tongue or upon the tongue of other than him.
He does not seek revenge [for himself], nor is he taken with pride, he does not become envious; he is not swayed by his desires nor does lean towards the adornment of the worldly life.”
Footnotes
[1] This advice is from al-Imām ‘AbdurRaḥmān Ibn Ḥasan, the grandson of al-Imām Muḥammad Ibn AbdulWahhāb, to a group of scholars and students of knowledge who differed with each other and their differing became known to others.
The advice is part of a larger letter which he sent to one of the scholars of his era who questioned him about certain issues relating to Fiqh.
The Imaam was born in 1193h, sought knowledge from his grandfather, father and many great scholars of his time; he faced many difficulties at the hand of Ottoman forces who captured him and banished him to Egypt.
Despite this he authored many works, amongst the Fatḥ al-Majīd Sharh Kitāb at-Tawḥīd. He died in 1285h. May Allāh shower him with His mercy.
Note: The original letter, in volume one of ad-Durrar is not entitled with any particular title, so a title has been chosen reflective of the contents and general message.
نصيحة لطلبة العلم قد اختلفوا وتنازعوا
المرجع: الدررالسنية 1/405
قد بلغني أنكم اختلفتم في مسائل اختلافا أدى إلى النزاع والجدال وليس هذا شأن طلاب الآخرة فاتقوا الله وتأدبوا بآداب العلم واطلبوا ثواب الله في تعلمه وتعليمه وأتبعوا العلم بالعمل فإن ثمرته والسبب في حصوله كما في الأثر: “من عمل بما علم أورثه الله علم مالم يعلم”
وكونوا متعاونين على البر والتقوى ومن علامات إخلاص طالب العلم أن يكون صموتا عما لا يعنيه متذللا لربه متواضعا لعباده متورعا متأدبا لا يبالي ظهر الحق على لسانه أو علي لسان غيره لا ينتصر ولا يفتخر ولا يحقد ولا يحسد ولا يميل به الهوى ولا يركن إلى زينة الدنيا.
