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].
Category: Sincerity
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.
He refused to take it
A man came to Ahmad ibn Hanbal with 10,000 [deenaars] of profit from his trade, and he refused [to take] it.
Three essential characteristics
You will not be a scholar until you possess three characteristics.
Not to accept gifts from the students
If I accepted it from you, then I will not relate any [more] hadeeth to you; and if I do not accept it from you, then I will [continue to] relate hadeeth to you.
Maintaining cautious ties with the rulers
[The ruler] al-Ma.moon gifted my father 30,000 [deenaars], 10 horses and a slave girl - and he did not accept them.
Thirsty and feared for themselves
Ayyoob as-Sikhtiyaanee was on his way to Makkah, and the people became so thirsty that they feared [for themselves].
Genuine brotherhood in Islaam
We visited al-Hasan al-Basree, and [found him] asleep. By his head was a basket, and we foraged inside and found bread and fruit, so we began to eat.
In the footsteps of the Prophet ﷺ
[In a dream] I saw the Prophet ﷺ [and it was] as if he was walking, and Muhammad ibn Ismaa'eel [al-Bukhaaree] رحمه الله was walking behind him.