I have not seen a man more knowledgeable about [matters of] halaal and haraam than Sufyaan ath-Thowree.
Category: Religion
I do not know
Suhnoon was asked whether it is possible for a scholar to say ‘I do not know’ in response to a matter he knows about?
I do not know
[To say] ‘I do not know’ is half of [all] knowledge.
I do not know
It is befitting for the scholar to bequeath his companions the term ‘I do not know’, so it becomes a principle to which they seek refuge [from the danger of speaking without knowledge].
Humility of the scholar
I have never seen a scholar say “I do not know” more than Taawoos [ibn Keesaan].
I do not know
[To say] “I do not know” is half of [all] knowledge.
Three essential characteristics
You will not be a scholar until you possess three characteristics.
Rectifying the misunderstandings of the people
The people of Egypt would disparage ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan, until al-Layth ibn Sa’d emerged from [amongst] them and spoke to them about his virtues, and so they refrained.
The two imaams of Khuraasaan
Their presence entails the wellbeing of the Muslims.
Be careful from whom you take your religion
Indeed, this knowledge is the religion, so look (be careful) from whom you take your religion.