Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, revealed to Danyal: ‘The...

Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, revealed to Danyal: ‘The most hateful servant with Me is the ignorant who disdains the scholars and leaves following them; the most lovable servant with Me is the pious who seeks plentiful reward, clings to the scholars, and follows the wise men.[^3]” Have you seen how the Imam glorified knowledge and urged (the Muslims) to seek it? He, peace be on him, believed that the community would have no life except through spreading knowledge among its members.

His Encouraging Scientific Movements Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin, peace be on him, played an important role in encouraging scientific movements. Though he had majesty and noble self, he attended the class of Zayd b. Aslam, hence Nafi‘ b. Jubayr blamed him for this, saying: “May Allah pardon you. You are the master of the people, why do you come and sit with this slave (i.e. Zayd b.

Aslam)?” “Knowledge is sought everywhere,” replied the Imam.[^4] It is not an act of Islam that false differences withhold men from learning and making use of scholars everywhere. His Honoring the Seekers of Knowledge The Imam, peace be on him, honored the students of knowledge and raised their position.

The historians said: “When a seeker of knowledge came to him, he received him warmly and said to him: ‘Welcome to the one whom the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, has recommended.’” Imam Abu’ Ja‘far, peace be on him, said: “When my father looked at the youths who sought knowledge, he brought them near to him and said to them: ‘You are welcome. knowledge is entrusted to you.

You are the youths of the people, but you are about to be the elders of others.’[^5]” Teachings for Learners The Imam, peace be on him, appointed moral instructions for learners, an example of them is these words of him: “He who laughs one time loses a bit of knowledge.[^6]” Ibn Jama‘a produced this tradition as evidence of that it is impermissible for a learner to laugh before his teacher.[^7] This means that the learner should show politeness and respect toward his teacher.

Rights of Teacher The Imam, peace be on him, legislated rights the like of which no organization of education and teaching has ever done. He, peace be on him, said: “The right of the one who trains you (sa’is) through knowledge is magnifying him, respecting his sessions, listening well to him, and attending to him with devotion. You should not rise your voice before him.