In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
“Is he who payeth adoration in the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, bewaring of the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, (to be accounted equal with a disbeliever)? Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only men of understanding will pay heed.” (39:9)
The Splendor of Knowledge and Wisdom.
By Dr. Hamzah Ibn Fayi' Al Fathi.
May Allah preserve him.
The Virtue of Scholarly Silence.
Al-Hafiz Al-Mizzi, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
Who passed away in the year 742 AH.
"If those who do not know would remain silent, they would find rest and give rest to others."
Errors would decrease, and correctness would increase.
His silence signifies his etiquette toward his Lord, the Exalted.
And toward the knowledge he carries and the responsibility of the spoken word.
It means he should say:
"Allah knows best," or "I do not know."
"I will research this."
And similar expressions of apology and scholarly humility.
For knowledge is a vast ocean that cannot be fully encompassed.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
“They are asking thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little.” (17:85)
Imam Al-Mizzi, may Allah have mercy on him, spoke the truth here.
If the ignorant were to remain silent, they would find rest and give rest to others.
They would attain the adornment of etiquette and silence.
And the beauty of dignity.
May Allah have mercy on a person who knows his own limits.
He restrains himself with the bridle of truth.
He speaks only knowledge and manifests only goodness.
Among the benefits of this is:
Acknowledging the vastness of knowledge.
And that no matter how much you read, gather, and acquire,
You remain deficient and small in the face of the sciences and their magnitude.
And the vastness of knowledge.
Rather, you feel a sense of scholarly humility regarding what you study and observe.
And that you have only reached the third span.
Which is the absence of knowledge, out of humility before Allah and reverence, as previously mentioned.
And among its benefits:
Fewer errors and more instances of correctness.
Because the nature of error stems from:
Ignorance or a lack of knowledge.
Or reckless enthusiasm.
Or hasty claims made without proof or evidence.
Thus, errors multiply.
And rebuttals and volumes of refutation intensify.
This is one of the reasons for the proliferation of writings.
And the occurrence of mistakes within them; Allah is the One whose help is sought.
It is famously attributed to Ali, may Allah be pleased with him:
"Knowledge is a single point, which the ignorant have multiplied."
Peace.