The Superiority of Knowledge

Knowledge or scholarship is one of the felicitous excellences. Over all the beings, the humans have ascendance because of their superiority in knowledge. Therefore, the Prophet (S), who is credited with the title of the City of Knowledge (Madinat-ul-Ilm), says: “It is mandatory on every Muslim, man and woman, to acquire knowledge because Allah considers such people His friends.”
Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) says: “Acquiring knowledge and putting it to good use is essential.”
Knowledge is better than all the riches because it guards itself. To the contrary riches have to be guarded against burglars and brigands. There is another reason for search of knowledge that knowledge takes care of itself and its possessor and riches are kept in Allah’s Care. Allah has promised provision of means of sustenance to every living creature, but acquiring knowledge is absolutely one’s own prerogative. Allah has not promised endowing knowledge to every human being. It is therefore necessary that people seek knowledge from the possessors of knowledge.
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) says, “One who seeks knowledge from the learned in Religion, will get reward equivalent to that of seventy thousand persons of piety!”
Lady Fatima (as) says, “My father told me that Allah will provide the raiment from the Heaven to the Shi’a scholars on the Day of Resurrection as a reward for imparting knowledge to the orphans, acting as their guardians and guides in the absence (Ghaiba) of the Imam (a.j.) of the time. These scholars take care of the children because they are aware that the Imam (as) would bestow more attention to the young seekers of knowledge than their own parents would.
The Prophet of Islam (S) has said, “Knowledge is a virtue. Acquiring knowledge is devotion. Spreading knowledge through word of mouth has reward equivalent to recitation of Tasbeeh (saying Subhan Allah on the beads of a rosary). Knowledge is a friend at the times of trouble, is a companion while one is away from home. Knowledge is a guide to a person during times good and bad. It is the source of strength during old age and bestows elevated status to the person in the world and the Hereafter!”
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) says, “When Allah draws a balance sheet of deeds, then a drop of the scholars’ quill’s ink will be weightier and more valuable than the blood of the martyrs.”

The Scholars and the Superiority of Learning
Mu’awiah bin Ammar narrates that he asked Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as), “Who is the better of two persons, one who disseminates your traditions and exhortations or the one who keeps himself busy in prayer day and night?” The Imam (as) replied, “The one who disseminates our traditions is the better of the two. He is better than a thousand pious persons.” Then the Imam (as) added, “Live in the world like a Scholar of the Faith and as a seeker of knowledge (Talib al-Ilm) or as a friend of the possessors of knowledge.”
It is narrated that the Prophet of Islam (S) has said, “One who stirs out of his home in search of knowledge, Allah opens the doors of the Heaven for him and the angels spread their wings in his path and pray for his deliverance! Not only the angels, but also all the creatures, including the schools of fishes in the oceans, pray for him. The status of (Aalim) in comparison with the pious (Abid) is like the moon amongst the stars. The scholars are the inheritors of the prophets (as). The inheritance of the prophets (as) is not wealth and riches. Their inheritance is knowledge and erudition. One who acquires these is the true inheritor (Warith) of the prophets (as).”
Imam Hasan Al-’Askari (as) says, “The most pitiable condition amongst our people is that of the orphans who are away from their Imam (as) and in confusion about the matters of religious jurisprudence (Masail-eSharaiah). The responsibility of their guidance is on our Shi’a scholars. If they impart knowledge on the matters of religion to the people then, on the Day of Judgment, they will be in the company of the Prophet and his Vicegerents (as).
The Imam (as) added, “My ancestor has narrated that the Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) said, ‘Those amongst our Shi’as who are scholars and spread their learning to others and dispel their ignorance, shall have crowns of light on their heads and wear the raiment from Heaven on the Day of Judgment. The value of these will be much greater than all the riches of the world. A herald would say at that time,’ O people! This is one of the scholars from the disciples of the Scion of Muhammad (S)! The learning has given the august status to him. The light of knowledge qualifies him to enter the Heaven!’”

Rewards for the Seeker of Knowledge
Imam Hasan Al-’Askari (as) said, “The Shi’a scholar who endeavors to impart knowledge to the uninformed, it will be like feeding the hungry and the thirsty! In fact it has more rewards than for one who feeds and clothes the orphans.” Then the Imam (as) said, “Whoever propagates the tenets of Islam in our absence, Allah says about him, ‘O My creature! You have educated the people about My True Faith! I am more Generous and Munificent than you! Therefore, the number of alphabets you have used in imparting education to people, I shall reward to you a thousand palaces for each alphabet and every palace shall have thousands of bounties for you!’”
Imam Zain-ul-’Abidin (as) says, “Allah has revealed to Prophet Musa (as), ‘Teach My creatures to be My friends!’ He asked, ‘O Allah! How can I do it?’ Allah said,’ Remind them of Our Bounties! Even if one of the misguided comes to the Right Path, you will get Reward equal to the prayers offered during the period of one hundred years when you had fasted during the days and stood praying the whole nights!’ Prophet Musa (as) asked,’ Who are your misguided creatures who have to be brought to the right path?’ Allah replied,’ the people who are ignorant of My Jurisprudence and the method of offering prayers.’”
Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) said, “Our Shi’a scholars will get great rewards and Deliverance on the Day of Judgment.”
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) said, “the learned person amongst the ignorant is like a light in the darkness that shows the way to the way- farers that they keep praying and receive guidance from the light. The scholar guides the ignorant and releases him from the hell of ignorance. For this act the scholar gets the reward equivalent to a thousand prayers (rakaa).”
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) said, “Our scholars are the keepers of the borders towards which are located the Satan and his troops. This means that the scholars protect the believers from the attack of the Satan.” Then the Imam (as) said, “those of our Shi’a who are following the profession of scholarship are a thousand times better than those who did Jihad in Turkey and Rome. The reason for this is that the learned protect the Shi’as.”
Imam Musa al-Kadhim (as) said, “The person who saves the ignorant Shi’as is the scholar of Jurisprudence. The scholar is more dominant on the Satan than a thousand persons of piety. Because a pious person tries only for his own deliverance while a scholar guides lots of people against the machinations of the Satan. On the Day of Judgment a herald would cry, ’O guide of the orphans! You were taking responsibility of giving guidance to them in the absence of the Imam (as)! Intercede on behalf of those who took guidance from you! Then he will accordingly intercede. On his recommendation hundreds of thousands of his disciples and the disciples of his disciples will receive Deliverance.”
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) said, during the absence of the Last Imam (as), the scholars will have the responsibility of explaining about the Imamah and protecting the Shi’as from the treachery of the Satans amongst the men. If these scholars were not there, the Shi’as could have gone astray. The nose string of the Shi’as is in the hands of the scholars, as the sailor would hold the sail of a craft. Therefore the status of the scholars in the eyes of Allah is very superior.
The Prophet of Islam (S) has said, “Religious discourse is like the lamp under a rosary. It is a friend in the loneliness of the grave. The religious scholar is like a sharp sword against the enemies. The Angels are the friends of the scholars and they keep praising them in their prayers.