Safwan ibn ‘Assal al-Muradi (radhiallahu `anhu) said:

‘I came to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! I came to seek knowledge.’

So he (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Welcome O’ seeker of knowledge! Indeed the Angels come to the seeker of knowledge and lower their wings for him. Then they climb each on top of the other until they reach the lower heaven, out of love for that which he seeks.’

– Hadith Hasan, reported by al-Hakim, al-Tabarani and Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr in his Jami’

Point of benefit: We should always welcome those who come to us for help, advice or general companionship. Never turn away those in need, lest you be turned away at the time of your need. When someone comes to you seeking something, realise that they’re in fact honouring you by placing you as their advisor, as a person of goodness who can help them, guide them and assist them.

Notice how the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) greeted this student of knowledge and notice how he welcomed him. He addressed him with a noble title (Talib al-‘ilm) and then gave him tremendous encouragement by listing the virtues of seeking knowledge. He said the right thing, to the right person at the right time – and this is what it means to have wisdom and be a leader for others.

The first thing he mentioned was how the angels are the companions of the seeker of knowledge, because the reality is: this is a path of difficulty, requiring firm aspirations and determination – and hence true companions become a rarity.

So the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) with his insight and foresight not only said words of encouragement but in effect gave advice to this companion, this seeker of knowledge.