Suhnoon رحمه الله was asked whether it is possible for a scholar to say ‘I do not know’ in response to a matter he knows about? He replied
Tag: ilm
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.
The generous companion
I have not seen a man who was more generous than Ismaa’eel ibn ‘Ayyaash. When we would visit him at the farm, he would suffice only with [slaughtering] a sheep for us and [some] dried fried dates.
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.
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.
The most knowledgeable of them
The most knowledgeable of them [with regard to matters] about the Qur.aan was Mujaahid. And the most knowledgeable of them [with regard to matters] about hajj was ‘Ataa.
The knowledge of ‘Aa.ishah
If [all] the knowledge of ‘Aa.ishah رضي الله عنها was gathered, and [all] the knowledge of all the women was gathered, [then] the knowledge of ‘Aa.ishah would be better.