Saying ‘I do not know’ is Half of Knowledge

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

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[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)