The book of knowledge

The Book of Knowledge (An-Nasaa\'ee) 

About the Book: This is the first book in the \"Classical Knowledge Series\" - a collection of selected scholarly works from the past that deal with the subject of religious knowledge. This particular book is a translation of the famous classical work \"Kitaab-ul-\'Ilm\", a collection of narrations about the virtues, merits, manners, and etiquettes of knowledge, written by Imaam Abu Khaithama An-Nasaa\'ee (Died 234H). In this initial installment, the reader will have a glimpse into the statements and actions of our pious predecessors with regard to seeking, spreading and implementing knowledge. There are over 160 narrations in total, including statements of the Prophet, his Companions, the Taabi\'een and the suceeding early generations. In addition to this, the great scholar of Hadeeth of recent times, Imaam Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee, has reviewed the treatise and verified the narrations contained within it, distinguishing the authentic from the weak. So this treatise is of great benefit and deserving of being read and studied by every Muslim, whether in gatherings or individually.

Lastly, due to the nature of verifying narrations, many terms related to the Science of Hadeeth were employed by Imaam Al-Albaanee throughout the footnotes in the treatise. Explanations of these terms and concepts can be found in the Glossary section at the back of the book.

We ask Allaah to make this publication a guiding light to those who read it and an invaluable resource of reference for those who study it and use it for research.

Important Note: This book contains the Arabic text for all of its narrations including the vowelization of all letters so as to make it an easy to study reference-guide. It is the perfect book for people to study in gatherings and circles or for one to just read on his own and encourage himself to seek and spread knowledge. May Allaah accept this effort.

About the Author: He was a great Haafidh (i.e. scholar of Hadeeth), reliable in narration and firm in memory. He narrated hadeeth from many scholars, the likes of Sufyaan bin ‘Uyainah, Hushaym bin Basheer, Yahyaa bin Sa’eed Al-Qattaan, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Mahdee and Wakee’. Similarly, many scholars narrated from him, such as Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, the latter of whom reported so many hadeeth on his authority, that they number past a thousand. The scholars agree unanimously upon his reliability and trustworthiness.

Ibn Hibbaan (rahimahullaah) said of him: “He was precise and accurate in narration. And he was one of the close companions of Ahmad and Yahyaa bin Ma’een.”

Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdaadee (rahimahullaah) said: “He was reliable, trustworthy, a Haafidh (scholar of Hadeeth) and precise (in narration).”

He was born in the year 160H and died in the year 234H, may Allaah have mercy on him.