The Collection of the Explanation of Knowledge and Its Virtue 2/1

Authored by Ibn Abdul Barr Verified by Abu Al-Ashbal Al-Zuhairi (practical) In verifying the book My humble work to serve the text of the book in the following steps: First: I copied the book by hand relying on copy (A), then compared it with copy (B), and also compared it with the remaining printed editions, and mentioned the differences in the footnotes, unless copy (A) contained clear errors, typos, or distortions, in which case I recorded the correct text from (B) or (T) and indicated that in the footnotes. Second: I attributed the Quranic verses to their surahs by their numbers, and made that in the main text of the book without the footnotes. Third: I traced the texts mentioned in the book, whether they are raised, stopped, or cut off, but I paid special attention to tracing and verifying the raised ones. As for the non-raised, I did not exert myself in searching for them as I did with the raised ones. Note: I had papers in which I collected the chains of some hadiths, such as: the hadith "Seeking knowledge is an obligation," and the hadith of concealing "knowledge," and the hadith of Sufyan bin Asal, and the hadith of Abu Darda' regarding the virtue of knowledge. When I encountered these hadiths here, I placed in the footnotes what I had from my papers. Perhaps these papers are inconsistent or unorganized compared to the arrangement of Imam Ibn Abdul Barr for his chains, so let this be an excuse for us before the esteemed reader. Fourth: I discussed some men of the chain, and also translated some persons mentioned in some narrations — without prolonging, for fear of burdening the footnotes without benefit. Fifth: I checked many words and names of notable persons, especially what I anticipated many readers might mistake. Sixth: I assigned sequential numbers to the texts of the raised, stopped, and cut off hadiths, as well as poetry and sayings of scholars alike, to facilitate reading and referencing. Seventh: I explained strange terms relying on books of language and the unfamiliar in hadith. As for the scientific indexes of the book "Jami' Bayan al-Ilm," they were done by my esteemed brother, Sheikh Muhammad Hassan Al-Mu'id, from the College of Dar Al-Uloom, Cairo University — may Allah reward him. When I reviewed them, I found them to be of excellent quality and beauty, and I recognized the effort my brother put into producing them as well as his previous effort in reviewing the book itself. He pointed out some linguistic errors in the book, so I followed what he provided as evidence and thanked him for that. Whoever does not thank people does not thank Allah, as the truthful and trustworthy Prophet (peace be upon him) said. It was our right to attribute this work to him, to uphold the truth and to credit the doer of the work. Because the one who is self-satisfied with what he was not given is like someone wearing two garments — false and deceptive. And from the blessing of knowledge is attributing words to their speakers and work to their doers. We ask Allah the Almighty to grant us beneficial knowledge and sincerity in it. I ask Allah to illuminate my heart with the light of knowledge so I may know the truth and not deviate into the darkness of ignorance, and to inspire me with guidance so I give each person their due, and to honor each person’s status. May Allah have mercy on the person who recognizes his worth and stops at it. I also ask Allah to bless us so that we only speak His words seeking His pleasure and obedience, for the word "There is no god but Allah" is not uttered without Allah’s oversight, and standing before Him is a word worthy of not being spoken. In conclusion, I can only extend my sincere thanks to the noble brothers who helped us in producing this book or offered us advice and counsel. I ask Allah to reward them with the best reward. After this, this is my humble effort in verifying this great work, asking Allah, who blessed us with its publication in this manner, to accept it from us, to correct our intention, and to grant us success in serving His noble Book and the pure Sunnah of His Prophet. May He benefit me through it on the Day of Judgment. He is the Generous, the Merciful. I do not claim it is free of errors — for it is human work — and Allah has refused to correct except His Book. I hope the esteemed reader will forgive me for any mistake caused by forgetfulness, haste, or oversight, and kindly advise me. Indeed, religion is advice. If I have been correct, may Allah grant me a good supplication that benefits me in this world and the Hereafter. All praise is due to Allah first and last. And I completed writing these mental lines in the book of Abu Al-Ashbal Al-Zuhairi.