The Wasiyyah of 'Alee lbn Abee
Taalib to Kumail ibn Ziyaad an-Nakha'eel
Kumail ibn Ziyaad said [1] : 'Alee lbn Abee Taalib
took hold of my hand and took me off towards the desert so when we reached it he
sat down, then took a deep breath and then said:
'Oh Kumail ibn Ziyaad - the hearts are receptacles, so
the best of them Is the one which preserves best - memorise what I say
to you: The people are three:
- Aaalim
Rabbaanee[2][3],
- one
learning being upon the path of salvation,
- and the
confused rabble who follows everyone who calls out - bending along with
every wind - they are not enlightened by the light of knowledge, nor do they
lean upon a firm support.
Knowledge is better than
wealth - knowledge Is a protection for
you whereas It Is you that has to protect wealth. Zakaat of knowledge Is action
whereas spending decreases wealth, and love of the
scholar is Deen.Knowledge brings
about obedience for the scholar In his lifetime and good repute after his death
whereas the benefit of wealth ceases when It passes away. The hoarders of wealth
have died while they are alive, whereas the scholars remain for as long as time
remains - their persons are lost but their examples are there In the
hearts.
Here, Indeed here - (and he pointed to his chest) - there
Is Knowledge If only I could find bearers for it[4].
But instead I have found them quick to comprehend but not trustworthy -
they use what pertains to the Deen for worldly ends, they seek to use Allaah's
proofs against His Book blindly following the people of truth but having
no Insight regarding receiving It, doubt pierces his heart when anything
problematic arises - he Is neither this nor that - (He does not know where
the truth lies. If it is said he is mistaken - and if he Is mistaken he
does not know. He Is ardently In love with something the true state of
which he does not know - so he is a trial for others. And Indeed the utmost
good is for the one whom Allaah grants understanding of His Deen. And
it is enough ignorance for a person that he does not know his Deen.)[5] - or one passionately addicted
to pleasures, accustomed to following desires, or one given to amassing wealth
and piling it up - and these are not from the callers to the Deen - they are
most like the grazing cattle. [6]
And thus knowledge passes away with the passing away of
those who carry it.[7] Oh Allaah yes, the earth will not be without one who
stands upright for Allaah, with proof so that Allaah's proofs and clear signs
are not abolished - they are the ones who are few in number but having most
value to Allaah , with them Allaah asserts His proofs amongst their
contemporaries and cultivate them In the hearts of ones similar to them. With
them knowledge assaults and comes upon the true state of affairs - so that which
those accustomed to easy living find difficult therein, they find easy and they
are at home with that which causes consternation to the ignorant ones. They live
In this world with their bodies whereas their souls are attached to higher
things - they are Allaah's ' ambassador's [8] In His land and the callers to His
Deen. Oh how I would like to see them and I seek Allaah's forgiveness for myself
and for you - if you wish then stand. [9]
NOTES
1. He is an-Nakha'ee, he was noble and had authority
amongst his people, reliable, from the Taabi'een. Was captured and killed by
at-Hajjaal ath-Thaqafee in 82H. See al-Ma'warifah wat-Taareekh [2/481] of
al-Fasawee.
2. Al-Khateeb
al-Baghdaadee says in al-faqeeh- wal-Mutafaqqih [1/50-51] . And the Chief of the
Believers 'Alee lbn Abee Taalib's division of the people Is certainly correct
and true since a person having sanity and nothing to prevent him will certainly
fall Into one of the three classes- either being a scholar, a student or one
oblivious to knowledge-being neither a scholar nor a student seeking knowledge.
So the 'Aalim Rabbaanee is the one than whom none Is more excellent and no
mujtahid has a station higher than this. And his description as' Rabbaanee' is
what knowledge demands for Its people... And as for the student on the path of
salvation - then he Is the one who studies so that he does not miss out on
performing anything obligatory upon him - anxious to avoid being neglectful of
them and to avoid sitting with the animals and some of the earlier people would
avoid sitting with the animals and some of the earlier people would avoid except
a person of knowledge. And as for the third class then they are those who
neglect their own souls, those who are pre-occupied with this vile world and
miserable condition which is the lowest pit....
3. He is the
scholar who acts on his knowledge and has insight into the condition of the
people so that he raises them upon the primary matters of knowledge before that
which is more detailed.
The Wasiyyah of 'Alee lbn Abee Taalib to Kumail ibn Ziyaad an-Nakha'eel