The Men of Knowledge

Al Baaji (رحمه الله) reported that Imam Malik (رحمه الله) said:
Indeed the people are four types in terms of their knowledge

A man who learnt knowledge, so he acted by it and taught it. His similitude in the Book of Allaah, the Most High is: إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّـهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ –
“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allaah.” 35:28

A man who learnt knowledge, so he acted by it but did not teach it. His similitude in the Book of Allaah, the Most High is:إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَىٰ مِن بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ ۙ أُولَـٰئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّـهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ –
“Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allaah and cursed by the cursers.

”A man who learnt knowledge, taught it and commanded it, but did not act by it. His similitude is the Book of Allaah, the Most High is: أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ –
“Enjoin you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience to Allah) on the people and you forget (to practise it) yourselves, while you recite the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah)]! Have you then no sense?” 2:44

A man, who neither learnt knowledge, nor acted by it. His similitude in the Book of Allaah, the Most High is: إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَالْأَنْعَامِ ۖبَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا -”They are only like cattle; nay, they are even farther astray from the Path. (i.e. even worst than cattle).” 25:44

Quoted in Sunan Al-Saliheen wa Sunan Al-’Abideen