Be with the Carriers of Books

It is reported that Imâm ‘Abd Al-Rahmân b. Mahdî – Allâh have mercy on him – said, following a mention of the Sȗfîah (Sufis):

Do not sit with them, nor with the followers of Kalâm.(1) Be with the carriers of books,(2) for they are like mines, like those who descend: one brings up a gem and another a nugget of gold.

Ibn Battah, Al-Ibânah Al-Kubrâ article 483.

(1) Speculative theology, drawn from foreign philosophy and logic, as practiced by sects such as the Jahmia and Mutazila.

(2) Arabic al-qamâtir: covers or folders used to keep written material. ‘Carriers of books’ refers to the scholars and students who occupied themselves with Islamic knowledge and hadîth.

More:

  1. Characterless
  2. The Heretic Miracle Worker
  3. Guilty by Association
  4. Heresy and Hypocrisy [the company you keep]
  5. Opinionated Enemies of the Sunnah
  6. Fathers for the Ummah
  7. Isn’t this that time?

June 29, 2010

Topics: 'Aqîdah, Bid'ah, hadîth, knowledge

Names:

5 Responses to “Be with the Carriers of Books”

  1. mohammad on June 29, 2010 17:22

    salaamualaykum,
    brother may Allah reward you for this site, I have a suggestion though, can you start putting the arabic text up as well, jazakum Allahu khairun

  2. Owais Al-Hashimi on June 29, 2010 16:15

    Wa alaykumus-salam,
    Barakallahu feekum.
    The idea is good, it has been suggested a number of times. Please refer to responses about this in previous comments.

  3. Abdul Lateef on July 2, 2010 20:42

    As-Salamu Alaykum,
    I sincerely appreciate this site. Jazakum Khairan. I suggest there should be both English and Arabic uploads. May Almighty Allah have mercy on us all.

  4. Owais Al-Hashimi on July 2, 2010 20:18

    Wa alaykumus-salam,
    Barakallahi feekum. Your comments are also appreciated. Please search for comments on why only English is currently posted on this site.
    If there are requests for the Arabic text of a specific quote, I will try to help in sha Allâh.

  5. ABDUL on August 18, 2010 04:28

    Who was Imâm ‘Abd Al-Rahmân b. Mahdî – Allâh have mercy on him?
    Could you please provide breif description of the personalities other than Companions below eac post so the novice readers like me can correlate with the later days self styled scholars and imams so lay people can have sound understanding of the religion as practiced by salaf, and distinguish with what has been concocted in the religion by contemporary ignoramuses.

  6. Owais Al-Hashimi on August 19, 2010 16:10

    There is some brief information on some of the names quoted on this site. It appears when you hover over their names in the list. However, this is sparse and incomplete. I do intend to provide more information on each personality. This is one of the plans for the next stage of this site in sha Allah.