The Excellence of Pursuing Knowledge over Worship, al-Majmu' Sharh al-Muhadhab (Arabic).

Abu Darda' said: ''a moment of revising knowledge is better than standing in prayer all night.''

Ibn Umar narrated from the Prophet (May Allah shower peace & blessings on him) who said: ''sitting in a gathering of understanding the deen (fiqh) is better than six years of worship.''

Anas relates that the Prophet (May Allah shower peace & blessings on him) said: ''a single person who understands the relegion has more virtue in Allah's court than a thousand worshippers.''

Ibn Umar narrates from the Prophet (May Allah shower peace & blessings on him) who said: ''the best of worship is understanding the deen (fiqh).''

Abu Dharr & Abu Hurayrah said: ''Learning a chapter of knowledge is better than a thousand rakah's of nafl prayer, and pursuing a chapter of knowledge whether it be put into practice or not, is better than a hundred nafl rakahs.''

The above two narrate from the Prophet (May Allah shower peace & blessings on him) who said: ''If death comes to a student of knowledge whislt in that state, he dies as a martyr.''

It is reported that Al-Hassan al-Basri said: ''I desire learning a chapter of knowledge and then teaching it to a Muslim over giving the entire world as charity in the way of Allah.''

Sayyiduna Ali said: ''an alim has more reward than the one who fasts, stands all night in prayer and returns from the battlefield of Jihad with victory.''

Munawwar Ateeq Rizvi