Abu Hanifa (r) on Knowledge

From: Izzu’d-Din

Know that action follows knowledge

as the limbs follow the eyes.

A little action with knowledge

is far more beneficial

than a lot of action

with ignorance.

In the desert

a little provision

with guidance

is more useful

than a lot of provision

without it.

That is like what

Allah Almighty says,

‘Say: “Are they the same-those who know and do not
know?” It is only people of intelligence who pay
heed.’
(39:9)

[From the works of Sh. Abu Zahra al-Maliki,
p,224,’The Four Imams’ trans. ‘A’isha Bewley]

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(Mutarrif ibn Abdullah ):Peoples intellects are according to their time.

(Muwarriq ibn al-Mushmarij al-‘Ijili): I do not find any more apt metaphor for the believer in this world except that of a man clinging to a piece of wood in the sea saying, ‘O Lord! O Lord!’ Perhaps Allah will rescue him.

[Imam Muhammad ibn Sa’d, ‘The Men of Madina’].