Saying ‘I do
not know’ does not reduce the worth of a scholar at all; rather it is part of
his piety and his religion [that he should say such]. This is because over every possessor of knowledge is one more knowing. Hence, the one who takes this stand should
remember that this saying is part of the perfection of his religion because the
angels who are brought near to Allaah did not feel shy from this clear truth
when the Lord of existence said to them: “…Inform
Me of the names of these, if you are truthful. They said, “Exalted
are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You
who is the Knowing, the Wise.” [Soorah al-Baqarah 2: 31-32]
Ash-Sha’bee
(may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about something and he said, “I do not
know.” Then it was said to him, “Are you not shy to say I do not know and you
are the scholar of the people of ‘Iraaq?’ He responded: ‘But the Angels did not
feel shy when they said: ‘Exalted are You; we
have no knowledge except what You have taught us.’”[1]
‘Abdullaah
Ibn Mas‘ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said, “Whoever has knowledge should speak, and whoever
does not possess knowledge should say, ‘Allaah knows best,’ for Allaah said to
His Prophet (alayhis-salaam): “Say, [O Muhammad], ‘I do not ask you for
the Qur'an any payment, and I am not of the pretentious.”[2]
Aboo
Bakr as-Siddeeq (may Allaah be pleased with him) was asked about an aayah from
the Book of Allaah and he said: “Which earth will support me? Which sky will
shade me? Where will I go? What will I be able to do? If I say about an aayah
from the Book of Allaah other than what Allaah Glorified and Exalted be He
intended.”[3]
The
above statement has been reported from ‘Alee Ibn Abee Taalib (may Allaah be
pleased with him). It is also reported from him that he was asked about a
matter so he said, “I have no knowledge about it.” Then he said, “How pleasing
this is for the liver, three times.” So the people said, “O Leader of the
believers! What is that thing?” He said, “That thing is that a man is asked
about something which he does not know, and he says, Allaah knows best.”[4]
Ibn
‘Umar was asked a question, “Does the paternal aunt inherit?” He replied, “I do
not know.” So the questioner said, ‘You do not know and we do not know?!’ Then
he said, “Yes. go to the scholars in al-Madeenah and ask them.” When the man
left, Ibn ‘Umar kissed his own hands and said, “How excellent Aboo
Abdur-Rahmaan has spoken. He was asked about something which he did not know,
and he said, ‘I do not know’”[5]
Source:
Hilyatul-‘Aalim al-Mu’allim wa Bulghatut-Taalib al-Muta’allim min Hadeeth
Jibreel alayhis-salaam, p. 58-61 by
Shaykh Saleem bin Eed al-Hilaalee
[1] Recorded by Ibn
Abdul-Barr in Jaami’ Bayaanil-Ilm wa Fadlihi (2/51), al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee
in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/174)
[2] Recorded by
ad-Daarimee (1/62), Ibn Abdul-Barr in Jaami’ Bayaanil-Ilm (2/51), al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee
in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/171) and al-Bayhaqee in al-Madkhal ilas-Sunan
(n. 797) from different chains on the authority of al-A’mash from Abee ad-Duhaa
from Masrooq with it. I say: it is saheeh
[3] Recorded by Ibn
Abdul-Barr in Jaami’ Bayaanil-Ilm wa Fadlihi (2/52) and al-Bayhaqee in
al-Madkhal ilas-Sunan (n. 792) from numerous chains of narration from him
[4] Recorded by
ad-Daarimee (1/62 and 63), al-Khateeb in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/171) and
al-Bayhaqee in al-Madkhal ilas-Sunan (n. 794)
[5] Recorded by
ad-Daarimee (1/63), Ibn Abdul-Barr in Jaami’ Bayaanil-Ilm wa Fadlihi (2/52),
al-Khateeb in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/171-172) and al-Bayhaqee in
al-Madkhal ilas-Sunan (n. 796)
