From The Signs of Beneficial Knowledge - Imām Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī

Imām Ibn Rajab – رحمه الله – mentioned;

From the signs of beneficial knowledge:

(Is) that its possessor does not attribute knowledge to himself, and he does not boast of (having it) to anyone. And he doesn’t attribute ignorance to other than him, except for those who oppose the Sunnah and its people; for he only speaks about him (the opposer of the Sunnah) out of anger for Allāh's sake, not for himself, and not intending (in reality) to raise himself above anyone.

As for the one whose knowledge is not beneficial, he has no work except to arrogantly boast of his knowledge to the people, and to show (off) the "virtue of his knowledge" over them and attributing ignorance to them (i.e. to others besides himself) and to belittle them in order to raise himself above them by way of that, and this is from the most despised of qualities and the lowest of them.

And perhaps he attributes ignorance, heedlessness and forgetfulness to those who preceded him from the scholars, causing him to love himself and loves to make himself apparent (in a blameworthy fashion, seeking fame). He thinks well of himself, and thinks ill of those who preceded (him).¹

─────────

¹ - Majmūʿ al-Rasā'il (3/ 31-32)

Translation: MiU Editorial • 26-Dhū Al-Ḥijjah-1446.h /22-June-2025.m

---

:-قال الإمام ابن رجب -رحمه الله

:ومن علامات العلم النافع»

أن صاحبه لا يدعي العلم ولا يفخر به على أحد، ولا ينسب غيره إلى الجهل إلا من خالف السنة وأهلها ! فإنه يتكلم فيه غضبا

.لله لا غضباً لنفسه ولا قصداً لرفعتها على أحد

وأما من علمه غير نافع فليس له شغل سوى التكبر بعلمه على الناس وإظهار فضل علمه عليهم ونسبتهم إلى الجهل، وتنقصهم ليرتفع بذلك عليهم ،وهذا من أقبح الخصال وأردئها ، وربما نسب من كان قبله من العلماء إلى الجهل والغفلة والسهو، فيوجب له حب نفسه وحب ظهورها، وإحسان ظنه بها وإساءة ظنه بمن سلف

مجموع الرسائل (ج٣ ص ٣٢/٣١)