People are only ever equal when they are all as ignorant as each other or as bad as each other.
Knowledge transforms the student
Al-Hasan Al-Basrī – Allah have mercy on him – said:
When a man sought knowledge, it would not be long before it could be seen in his humbleness, his sight, upon his tongue and his hands, in his prayer, in his speech and in his disinterest (zuhd) in worldly allurements. And a man would acquire a portion of knowledge and put it into practice, and it would be better for him than the world and all it contains – if he owned it he would give it in exchange for the hereafter. Ibn Al-Mubārak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqā`iq Vol.1 p.156.
Ibn Al-Mubārak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqā`iq Vol.1 p.156.
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Related sayings.
It is reported that Ibrāhīm Al-Taymī – Allāh have mercy on him – said: What a great difference there is between you and those people [of the past, the Salaf]! Worldly wealth came to them but they fled from it, whereas the world turns its back on you and you go after it. Ibn Al-Mubārak, […]
It is reported that Al-Ḥasan Al-Baṣrī – Allāh have mercy on him – said: The intelligent person’s tongue is behind his heart: when he wants to speak, he first thinks. If [his words] will be in his favor, he says them, and if they will be against him, he does not speak. And the ignorant […]