Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah) says:
To attain the immense virtues promised in the Ahadith for seeking sacred knowledge, a student must embody two essential qualities:
a) Sincerity of Intention (Ikhlas).
b) Action (‘Amal).
Without these qualities, one cannot expect to be counted among the true scholars. Indeed the ‘Ulama are in the constant care of Allah and stand in the noble assembly of the Ambiya (‘alayhimus salam).
Reflection
Shaykh (hafizahullah) went on to quote the following verse and Hadith to illustrate the lofty rank of the ‘Ulama:
شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
“Allah testifys that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge – [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”
(Surah: Al ‘Imran, verse: 18)
«لا يزالُ اللهُ يَغْرِسُ في هذا الدِّينِ غَرْسًا يستعْمِلُهُم في طاعَتِه»
“Allah will continue to cultivate new people in this Din for use in His obedience.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 8)
[4-05-1448]