No. 24 – Bite size Ramadan 1440-2019
I Seek refuge with You from Knowledge of which there is no Benefit
إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ
Translated by
Abbas Abu Yahya
English Audio:
PDF Download: No. 24 – Bite size Ramadan 1440-2019
From Abdullaah bin Amr who said the Messenger of Allaah – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – used to say:
((اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ، ومِنْ دُعَاءٍ لاَ يُسْمَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ الأَرْبَعِ))
‘O Allaah indeed I seek refuge with You from a heart which does not have humility of You, a supplication which is not responded to, a soul which is not satisfied, knowledge which is not beneficial and I seek refuge with You from all these four things.’
Allaahumma Innee Aoodhu bika min Qalbin laa Yakhshaa’, wa min Duaain Laa Yussmaa’, wa min Naffssin Laa Tasshbaa’, wa min Ilmin Laa Yanfaa’, Aoodhu bika min Hahoolaa al-Arbaa’
[Collected by Tirmidhi & authenticated by Albaani in ‘Saheeh Abi Dawood no. 1384-1385’ & ‘Saheeh al-Jama’no. 1297]
In another wording:
From Zayed bin Arqam who said that the Messenger of Allaah – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – used to say:
اللهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ العَجْزِ وَالكَسَلِ، والبُخْلِ وَالهَرم، وعَذَاب الْقَبْر، اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا، وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا، أَنْتَ ولِيُّهَا وَموْلاَهَا، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلمٍ لا يَنْفَعُ، ومِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشبَعُ، ومِنْ دَعْوةٍ لا يُسْتجابُ لهَا
‘O Allaah indeed I seek refuge with You from weakness and laziness, miserliness and old age, punishment of the grave.
O Allaah give my soul piety, purify it, You are the best to purify my soul, You are its Guardian and its Protector.
O Allaah I seek refuge with You from knowledge which does not benefit, from a heart which does not have humility of You, a soul which is not satisfied, and a supplication which is not responded to.’
[Collected by Muslim]
Al-Hafidh Ibn Rajab said in his introduction to the beneficial book titled ‘The Excellence of the Knowledge of the Salaf over that of the knowledge of the Khalaf’:
‘These are brief statements about the meaning of knowledge and its division into beneficial knowledge and knowledge which does not benefit. It is bringing attention to the excellence of the knowledge of the Salaf over the knowledge of the Khalaf, so we say, seeking aid with Allaah and there is no might or power except with Allaah.
Allaah the Most High mentions knowledge in His Book, sometimes with the status of praise and that is beneficial knowledge, and sometimes with the status of dispraise and that is knowledge which is not beneficial.
As for the first type, that is like the saying of Allaah Ta’ala:
(قُل هَل يَستَوي الَّذينَ يَعلَمونَ وَالَّذينَ لا يَعلَمون)
<< Are those who know equal to those who know not?>> [Zumar : 9]
Allaah said:
(شَهِدَ اللَهُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلّا هُوَ وَالمَلائِكَة وَأُولوا العِلمَ قائِماً بِالقِسط)
<< Allaah bears witness that Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice. >>
[al-Imran: 18]
Allaah said:
(وَقُل رَبِّ زِدني عِلماً)
<< say My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.>> [Ta-ha :114]
Allaah said:
(إِنَّما يَخشى اللَهَ مِن عِبادِهِ العُلَماءُ)
<< It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allaah.>> [Fatir: 28]
Also, from what Allaah Subhanahu narrates of the story of Adam and teaching him the names of everything and presenting it to the Angels and when they said:
(سُبحانَكَ لا عِلمَ لَنا إِلّا ما عَلَّمتَنا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ العَليمُ الحَكيم)
<< They (angels) said: “Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise.” >>
[Baqarah: 32]
Also from what Allaah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala narrates of the story of Musaa -Alayhi as-Salam- and what he said to Khidr:
(هَل أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلى أَن تُعَلِمَني مِمّا عُلِّمتَ رُشدا)
<< Musa said to him (Khidr) “May I follow you so that you teach me something of that knowledge (guidance and true path) which you have been taught (by Allaah)?” >> [Kahf: 66]
This is beneficial knowledge.
Allaah informs us about a people who were given knowledge but their knowledge did not benefit them. This knowledge is beneficial in itself however, its possessor did not benefit from it.
Allaah the most High said:
(مَثَلُ الَّذينَ حُمِّلوا التَوراةَ ثُمَّ لَم يَحمِلوها كَمَثَلِ الحِمارِ يَحمِلُ أَسفارا)
<<The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Torah (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practise its legal laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them). >> [Juma: 5]
Allaah said:
(وَاِتلُ عَلَيهِم نَبَأَ الَّذي آتَيناهُ آياتِنا فَاِنسَلَخَ مِنها فَأَتبَعَهُ الشَيطانُ فَكانَ مِنَ الغاوينَ وَلَو شِئنا لَرَفَعناهُ بِها وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخلَدَ إِلى الأَرضِ وَإِتَّبَعَ هَواهُ)
<< And recite to them the story of him to whom We gave Our Ayaat (proofs, signs), but he threw them away, so Shaytaan followed him up, and he became of those who went astray.
And had We willed, We would surely have elevated him therewith but he clung to the earth and followed his own vain desire. >> [A’raaf: 175-176]
Allaah Ta’ala said:
(فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعدَهُم خَلفَ وَرِثوا الكِتابَ يَأخُذونَ عَرَضَ هذا الأَدنى وَيَقولونَ سَيُغفَرُ لَنا وَإِن يَأتِهِم عَرَضٌ مِثلُهُ يَأخُذوهُ أَلَم يُؤخَذ عَلَيهِم ميثاقُ الكِتابِ أَلّا يَقولوا عَلى اللَهِ إِلّا الحَقَّ وَدَرَسوا ما فيهِ وَالدارُ الآخِرَةُ خَيرٌ لِلَّذينَ يَتَّقون)
<<Then after them succeeded an (evil) generation, which inherited the Book, but they chose (for themselves) the goods of this low life (evil pleasures of this world) saying (as an excuse): “(Everything) will be forgiven to us.” And if (again) the offer of the like (evil pleasures of this world) came their way, they would (again) seize them (would commit those sins). Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not say about Allaah anything but the truth? And they have studied what is in it (the Book). And the home of the Hereafter is better for those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious). >> A’raf: 169
Allaah said:
(وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَهُ عَلى عِلمٍ)
<< and Allaah knowing (him as such)>>
[T.N. – The whole Ayaah is: << Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his ilaah (god), and Allaah knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. Who then will guide him after Allaah? Will you not then remember? >> [Jathiyaa: 23]
This is based upon the interpretation according to the those who interpreted the Ayaah about knowledge of those who were unguided by Allaah.
As for knowledge which Allaah the most-High mentioned as being dispraised is like His saying about magic:
(وَيَتَعَلَّمونَ ما يَضُرُّهُم وَلا يَنفَعُهُم وَلَقَد عَلِموا لَمَنِ اِشتَراهُ مالَهُ في الآخِرَةِ مِن خَلاقٍ)
<< And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. And indeed they knew that the buyers of magic would have no share in the Hereafter. >>
[Baqarah: 102]
Allaah said:
(فَلَمّا جاءَتهُم رُسُلُهُم بِالبَيِّناتِ فَرِحوا بِما عِندَهُم مِنَ العِلمِ وَحاقَ بِهِم ما كانوا بِهِ يَستَهزِئون)
<< Then when their Messengers came to them with clear proofs, they were glad (and proud) with that which they had of the knowledge (of worldly things): And that at which they used to mock, surrounded them (i.e. the punishment).>> [Ghafir: 83]
Allaah the Most High said:
(يَعلَمونَ ظاهِراً مِنَ الحَياةِ الدُنيا وَهُم عَن الآخِرَةِ هُم غافِلون)
<<They know only the outside appearance of the life of the world (i.e. the matters of their livelihood, etc.), and they are heedless of the Hereafter.>> [ar-Rum: 7]
This is why the Sunnah came dividing knowledge into beneficial and unbeneficial, and seeking refuge from knowledge which is not beneficial, and asking for beneficial knowledge.
From Saheeh Muslim from Zayed bin Arqam that the Prophet – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – used to say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلمٍ لا يَنْفَعُ، ومِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشبَعُ، ومِنْ دَعْوةٍ لا يُسْتجابُ لهَا
‘O Allaah I seek refuge with You from knowledge which does not benefit, from a heart which does not have humility of You, a soul which is not satisfied, and a supplication which is not responded to.’
This was collected by the authors of the Sunnan books from a number of different narrations from the Prophet – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam –, in some of the narrations it mentions:
ومِنْ دُعَاءٍ لاَ يُسْمَعُ
‘and a supplication which is not responded to’.
In some narrations:
أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ الأَرْبَع
‘I seek refuge with You from these four matters.’
An-Nisa’ee collected from the hadeeth of Jabir that the Prophet – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – used to say:
(( اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ))
‘O Allaah indeed I ask You for beneficial knowledge, and I seek refuge with You From knowledge which does not benefit.’
Collected by Tirmidhi from the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah that the Prophet – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – used to say:
اللهم انفعني بما علمتني وعلمني ما ينفعني وزدني علماً
‘O Allaah benefit me with what You have taught me, and teach me that which will benefit me and increase me in knowledge.’
Collected by an-Nisa’ee from the Hadeeth of Anas that the Prophet – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – used to make a Dua saying:
اللهم انفعني بما علمتني وعلمني ما ينفعني وارزقني علماً تنفعني به
‘O Allaah benefit me with what You have taught me, and teach me that which will benefit me and provide me knowledge which will benefit me.’[1]
Abu Dawood collected from the Hadeeth of Buraidah from the Prophet – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – who said:
إِنَّ مِنَ الْبَيَانِ سِحْرًا وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ جَهْلًا
‘Indeed a way in which a person speaks and explains there is magic and indeed from knowledge is ignorance.’[2]
Sa’sa’ah bin Sowhaan explained this saying ‘Indeed there is ignorance from knowledge.’
This is when a person burdens a scholar of his knowledge with that which he does not know then he says oh he’s ignorant. It is also explained as knowledge, which harms and does not benefit, is regarded as ignorance. This is because being ignorant of knowledge which does not benefit is better than having knowledge which harms.
Therefore, if ignorance of knowledge which does not benefit is better, then this is eviler than ignorance. This is like magic and other matters of non-beneficial knowledge for the Deen or for the Duniyaa.’
[Fadl Ilm as-Salaf ala Ilm al-Khalf p.1]
رقم 24 – فائدة رمضانية 1440هـ
إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ
((اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ، ومِنْ دُعَاءٍ لاَ يُسْمَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ الأَرْبَعِ))
الترمذي، كتاب الدعوات، باب حدثنا أبو كريب، برقم 3482، وأبو داود، كتاب الوتر، باب في الاستعاذة، برقم 1549، والنسائي، كتاب الاستعاذة، الاستعاذة من الشقاق والنفاق، برقم 5470، وأحمد، 11/ 120، برقم 6561، وابن أبي شيبة، 10/ 192، وعبدالرزاق، 10/ 439، وصححه العلامة الألباني في صحيح سنن أبي داود، برقم 1384 – 1385، وفي صحيح الجامع، برقم 1297.
وَعَنْ زَيْدِ بنِ أَرْقَم t، قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّه ﷺ يقَولُ: اللهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ العَجْزِ وَالكَسَلِ، والبُخْلِ وَالهَرم، وعَذَاب الْقَبْر، اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا، وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا، أَنْتَ ولِيُّهَا وَموْلاَهَا، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلمٍ لا يَنْفَعُ، ومِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشبَعُ، ومِنْ دَعْوةٍ لا يُسْتجابُ لهَا رواهُ مُسْلِمٌ.
ابن رجب رحمه الله بعنوان (فضل علم السلف على علم الخلف)
أما بعد فهذه كلمات مختصرة في معنى العلم وانقسامه إلى علم نافع. وعلم غير نافع. والتنبيه على فضل علم السلف على علم الخلف فنقول وبالله المستعان ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله.
قد ذكر الله تعالى في كتابه العلم تارة في مقام المدح وهو العلم النافع. وتارة في مقام الذم وهو العلم الذي لا ينفع. فأما الأول فمثل قوله تعالى (قُل هَل يَستَوي الَّذينَ يَعلَمونَ وَالَّذينَ لا يَعلَمون) وقوله (شَهِدَ اللَهُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلّا هُوَ وَالمَلائِكَة وَأُولوا العِلمَ قائِماً بِالقِسط) وقوله (وَقُل رَبِّ زِدني عِلماً) وقوله (إِنَّما يَخشى اللَهَ مِن عِبادِهِ العُلَماءُ) وما قص سبحانه من قصة آدم وتعليمه الأسماء. وعرضهم على الملائكة وقولهم (سُبحانَكَ لا عِلمَ لَنا إِلّا ما عَلَّمتَنا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ العَليمُ الحَكيم) . وما قصه سبحانه وتعالى من قصة موسى عليه السلام وقوله للخضر (هَل أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلى أَن تُعَلِمَني مِمّا عُلِّمتَ رُشدا) فهذا هو العلم النافع.
وقد أخبر عن قوم أنهم أوتوا علماً ولم ينفعهم علمهم. فهذا علم نافع في نفسه لكن صاحبه لم ينتفع به. قال تعالى (مَثَلُ الَّذينَ حُمِّلوا التَوراةَ ثُمَّ لَم يَحمِلوها كَمَثَلِ الحِمارِ يَحمِلُ أَسفارا) وقال (وَاِتلُ عَلَيهِم نَبَأَ الَّذي آتَيناهُ آياتِنا فَاِنسَلَخَ مِنها فَأَتبَعَهُ الشَيطانُ فَكانَ مِنَ الغاوينَ وَلَو شِئنا لَرَفَعناهُ بِها وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخلَدَ إِلى الأَرضِ وَإِتَّبَعَ هَواهُ) وقال تعالى (فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعدَهُم خَلفَ وَرِثوا الكِتابَ يَأخُذونَ عَرَضَ هذا الأَدنى وَيَقولونَ سَيُغفَرُ لَنا وَإِن يَأتِهِم عَرَضٌ مِثلُهُ يَأخُذوهُ أَلَم يُؤخَذ عَلَيهِم ميثاقُ الكِتابِ أَلّا يَقولوا عَلى اللَهِ إِلّا الحَقَّ وَدَرَسوا ما فيهِ وَالدارُ الآخِرَةُ خَيرٌ لِلَّذينَ يَتَّقون) الآية وقال (وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَهُ عَلى عِلمٍ) على تأويل من تأول الآية على علم عند من أضله الله.
وأما العلم الذي ذكره الله تعالى على جهة الذم له. فقوله في السحر (وَيَتَعَلَّمونَ ما يَضُرُّهُم وَلا يَنفَعُهُم وَلَقَد عَلِموا لَمَنِ اِشتَراهُ مالَهُ في الآخِرَةِ مِن خَلاقٍ) وقوله (فَلَمّا جاءَتهُم رُسُلُهُم بِالبَيِّناتِ فَرِحوا بِما عِندَهُم مِنَ العِلمِ وَحاقَ بِهِم ما كانوا بِهِ يَستَهزِئون) وقوله تعالى (يَعلَمونَ ظاهِراً مِنَ الحَياةِ الدُنيا وَهُم عَن الآخِرَةِ هُم غافِلون) .
ولذلك جاءت السنة بتقسيم العلم إلى نافع وإلى غير نافع. والاستعاذة من العلم الذي لا ينفع. وسؤال العلم النافع ففي صحيح مسلم عن زيد بن أرقم أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقول) اللهم إني أعوذ بك من علم لا ينفع ومن قلب لا يخشع ومن نفس لا تشبع ومن دعوة لا يستجاب لها (. وخرجه أهل السنن من وجوه متعددة عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم. وفي بعضها ومن دعاء لا يسمع. وفي بعضها أعوذ بك من هؤلاء الأربع وخرج النسائي من حديث جابر أن النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم كان يقول) اللهم إني أسألك علماً نافعاً وأعوذ بك من علم لا ينفع (وخرجه الترمذي من حديث أبي هريرة أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقول) اللهم انفعني بما علمتني وعلمني ما ينفعني وزدني علماً (وخرج النسائي من حديث أنس أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يدعو) اللهم انفعني بما علمتني وعلمني ما ينفعني وارزقني علماً تنفعني به[3] (وخرج أبو نعيم من حديث أنس أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقول) اللهم إنّا نسألك إيماناً دائماً فرب إيمان غير دائم وأسألك علماً نافعاً فرب علم غير نافع (وخرج أبو داود من حديث بُريدة عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال) إنَّ منَ البيان سحراً وإن من العلم جهلاً (وإن صعصعة بن صوحان فسر قوله) إن من العلم جهلاً (أن يتكلف العالم إلى علمه مالا يعلم فيجهله ذلك. ويُفسر أيضا بأن العلم الذي يضر ولا ينفع جهل. لأن الجهل به خير من العلم به. فإذا كان الجهل به خيراً منه
[1] Shaykh Al-Albaani said: ‘Collected by al-Hakim, al-Bayhaqi. Al-Hakim said it was authentic upon the conditions of Muslim and Dhahabi agreed with him and al-Albaani said it is as they said.’ Saheehah no. 3151
[2] From Ikrima from Ibn Abbas that a Bedouin came to the Prophet -SallAllaahu Alayhi wa Sallam- and said something (in a narration by Ahmad: ‘He began praising the Prophet) so the Prophet -SallAllaahu Alayhi wa Sallam- said:
إن من البيان سحرا وإن من الشعر حكما
‘Indeed in speech is magic and indeed there is wisdom in poetry.’ Collected by Bukhari in ‘Adab al-Mufrad’, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, Ahmad & Al-Albaani said ‘This Isnaad is Hasan & it is upon the conditions of Muslim.’
[Saheehah no. 1731]
As for the wording: and indeed from knowledge is ignorance.’ It is declared weak by Albaani in ‘Da’eef Jamia as-Sagheer no. 4804.
[3] – ” إن من البيان سحرا وإن من الشعر حكما “.
أخرجه البخاري في ” الأدب المفرد ” (872) وأبو داود (5011) وابن ماجة
(3756) الشطر الثاني فقط – وابن حبان (2009) وأحمد (1 / 269 و 273
و303 و 309 و 313 و 327 و 332) من طرق عن سماك بن حرب عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس
: ” أن أعرابيا جاء إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فتكلم بكلام بين (وفي رواية
لأحمد: فجعل يثني عليه) ، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: “. فذكره.
قلت: وهذا إسناد حسن، وهو على شرط مسلم
الكتاب: سلسلة الأحاديث الصحيحة وشيء من فقهها وفوائدها1731
4804 -[22] (ضَعِيف)
وَعَنْ صَخْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ عَن أَبِيه عَن جدِّه قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ مِنَ الْبَيَانِ سِحْرًا وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ جَهْلًا وَإِنَّ مِنَ الشِّعْرِ حُكْمًا وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ عِيَالًا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ الكتاب: ضعيف الجامع الصغير وزيادته