Question
Kindly provide the Arabic text and full translation of the hadith:
The scholar is not he who knows good from evil, but the scholar is he who knows good and follows it and knows evil and avoids it
Answer
This narration is recorded in Kitabuz Zuhd of Imam Ahmad and Hilyatul Awliya of Imam Abu Nu’aym (rahimahumallah) as the statement of Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah).
Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah) said: “The Scholar is not one who merely knows what is good and what is evil. Rather, the [true] Scholar is one who knows what is good and follows it and knows evil and abstains from it.”
(Kitabuz Zuhd of Imam Ahmad: 936, Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 7 pg. 274)
Arabic text
عن سفيان بن عيينة قال: ليس العالم الذي يعرف الخير من الشر، إنما العالم الذي يعرف الخير، فيتبعه ويعرف الشر فيجتنبه
Note: Imam Abu Nu’aym (rahimahullah) has recorded a similar statement of Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah). This version states ‘An intelligent person’ instead of ‘A Scholar.’ See here
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar