By Allāh, he who gives people verdicts (fatwā) for every question they ask him is crazy (majnūn).

Ibn Battah Al-’Ukbarī, Ibtāl Al-Hiyal article 81, et al.

Imām Ibn Battah (d. 304H) laments:

So here is Ibn Mas’ūd, swearing by Allāh that a person who gives people verdicts for every question they ask him is mad. And [now] if a person swore, he would not be breaking his oath, and if a person said, he would be speaking the truth: that most of the muftis of our time are mad. For you will hardly find a man who is asked about an issue pausing to consider carefully before answering, nor fearing Allāh and bringing to mind that Allāh is watching him, and fearing that He will say to him: What is the basis of your answer? Rather, most of them worry that it will be said: so-and-so was asked a question and he had no answer…

More:

1. Some of the Best and Worst People in Society
2. Who can give a Fatwa?
3. Worse than not knowing
4. Beautiful Cursed Women
5. You haven’t prayed for 40 years!

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

It is only the storyteller-preachers (al-qusās) who have killed knowledge. A man listens to a storyteller for a year without really learning anything that will last, whereas a man who sits with a scholar for an hour  learns what will last  and benefit him before he even gets up.

Abō Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliyā` 2:287.

More:

1. Troubled Times [corrupt scholars]
2. Food for Thought, not for Stomachs
3. The Disease of this Ummah and its Doctor
4. Asking for less refutation [signs of Ahl Al-Bidah]
5. Don’t be the Fifth

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

Al-Shâfi’î saw me sitting in his circle, and there was some ink on my shirt I was trying to hide. He said, “Young man, why are you hiding it? Having ink on ones clothes is a sign of lofty conduct: to the sight it is black, but to the insight it is white (with the light of knowledge).”

It is reported that ‘Abdullâh b. Al-Mubârak – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

Ink on the clothes is the perfume of the scholars.

- Some put this in verse (from Arabic):

The ink-pot’s ink is the perfume of men
As saffron is the perfume of women
So the former befits the garments of those men
As the latter the garments of wives

It is reported that Imâm Ahmad said, seeing the students of hadîth approaching with their ink-pots:

These are the lanterns of Islâm.

Al-Khatîb Al-Baghdâdî, Al-Jâmi’ li-Akhlâq Al-Râwî, articles 508, 509, 512 .

More:

1. The Recommendation for Men to Smell Pleasant [wearing perfume]
2. The hard life now for the good life later
3. The Companions’ Sincerity in Knowledge
4. Actions speak louder
5. Hot Fashion

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

I love you for Allâh.

Ibn ‘Umar replied:

Then bear witness that I hate you for Allâh!

The man asked, “Why?”

He replied, “Because you sing in your adhân (call to prayer), and you take a wage [for calling it]!”

Al-Tabarânî, Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabîr, article 13059; from Shaykh Al-Albânî, Al-Sahîhah 1:104, where he grades it authentic.

More:

1. The Call of Bilâl and the Tears of Al-Shâm
2. The Assassination of ‘Umar – Part 2
3. Umar’s Instructions on the First Night of Ramadan
4. You haven’t prayed for 40 years!
5. The Assassination of ‘Umar – Part 1

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

I once said to Ahmad, “This shaykh – referring to an older man who was with us – is my neighbor. I told him not to keep the company of a certain person, and he would like to hear what you have to say about him: I am referring to Hârith Al-Qasîr (Al-Hârith Al-Muhâsibî). Many years ago, you saw me with him and told me not to sit with him nor speak with him. I have not spoken to him since that time. This shaykh, however, does sit with him. So what do you say?”

I saw Ahmad go red with anger, his eyes bulging; I had never before seen him like this. He started to say, “Him! May Allâh do such-and-such to him! Only those well-informed of him know what he really is, only those who really know him know what he is. Al-Mughâzilî, Ya’qûb and so-and-so sat with him, and he caused them to adopt the views of Jahm (Ibn Safwân, leader of the Jahmites). They were destroyed because of him.”

The old man said, “But Abû ‘Abdillâh, he reports hadîth, and he is mild and humble; he has done such-and-such [good works].” Abû ‘Abdillâh (Imâm Ahmad) became angry and began repeating, “Let not his humility and softness deceive you”. He also said, “Do not be fooled by his bowed head, he is an evil man; only those well-informed of him through experience know him. Do not speak to him – with all disrespect to him. Are you going to sit with everyone who narrates from Allâh’s Messenger – may the praise and peace of Allâh be upon him – though he be a heretic (mubtadi’)? No, with all disrespect.”

Tabaqât Al-Hanâbilah, article 325.

More:

1. Characterless
2. Risking your religion through Argumentation
3. Heresy and Hypocrisy [the company you keep]
4. Isn’t this that time?
5. Falsehood that leads to Falsehood [Al-Kalam, dialectical, speculative theology]

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi