Aslam

(6) SIXTH SIGN. Another sign of the learned man of the hereafter is that he does not give Fatwa or legal decision in a hurry but tarries to be relieved of it. When he is asked about a matter known to him from the Quran, Hadis, Ijma and Qiyas, he gives his opinion, When he has doubt, he says : I don't know.
When he is asked about a matter about which he has formed an opinion through Ijtihad, independent interpretation and speculation, he is careful not to commit himself but refer the matte to someone else who is more capable than himself.
According to one tradition : There are three roots of learning, the express word of the Quran, the lasting usage of the Prophet (and another root is unknown to me-reporter). The sage Shubi said : "I don't know" is half of learning. He who remains silent for God owing to his ignorance gets reward not less than that of the man who does not remain silent, because to confess one's ignorance is the most difficult thing. Such was the condition of companions of the Prophet and the earlier sages. When Ibn Omar was asked any question, he would say : Go to the ruler, because he has taken the affairs of men. Hazrat Ibn Mas'ud said : He who gives opinion as soon as a question is put to him is mad. He also said : I don't know is the shield of a learned man. T^ he commits mistakes; it would amount to murder.

Ibrahim-b-Adam said: There is nothing more formidable to the devil than a learned man who manifests his knowledge both openly and salinity. The devil says : Look to this man. His silence is severer to me than his speech.

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