‘Eid Sa’eed 🙂
Taqabbal’Allahu minna wa minkum salih al-a’mal

Sufyan al-Thawri: “The knowledge of Hadith is only sought so that one can fear Allah `azza wa jall by it. For this reason, it has been preferred over the other Sciences, and were it not for this (fear of Allah being attained via the knowledge of Hadith), it would have been the same as all other things.”

Hammad ibn Salamah (one of the muhaddithin) said, “Whoever seeks knowledge of Hadith for other than Allah, it will become a plot against him.”

One of the salaf said, “The example of the one who reminds and advises people but forgets himself is like a lantern which burns itself while giving light to others.”

Masruq: “It is enough of knowledge for a person that he fears Allah, and it is enough of ignorance that he becomes amazed at his knowledge.”

Abu al-Darda’ (ra) said, “There are 3 signs of ignorance:

1 – Self amazement
2 – Talking too much in matters that do not concern a person
3 – And that a person should prohibit something yet approaches it himself

Al-Fadhl said, “There is nobody who loves to attain authority (or leadership) except that he ends up envying others or wronging them, and exposing the faults of others and he’ll dislike mentioning the good in others.”

Abu Nu’aym: “By Allah, none who is ruined has become ruined except due to his desire in leadership, and from the Signs of the Hour is that knowledge is sought from the young ones.” It was said to Ibn al-Mubarak, “Who are the young ones?” He said, “Those who speak with their opinions. As for the young one (in age) who narrates from the elders, then he is not considered young.”

– Taken from ‘al-Atqiya’ al-Akhfiya’ by Shaykh Sa’id ‘Abd al-‘Adhim (page 68)