The Status of the Aalim and the Muta’allim

عن أبي أمامة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم عليكم بهذا العلم قبل أن يقبض وقبضه أن يرفع وجمع بين إصبعيه الوسطى والتي تلي الإبهام هكذا ثم قال العالم والمتعلم شريكان في الخير ولا خير في سائر الناس رواه ابن ماجه من طريق علي بن يزيد عن القاسم عنه (الترغيب والترهيب 1/129)

Hadhrat Abu Umaamah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Hold firm onto this knowledge (of Deen) before it is taken away (from the world), and the manner in which it will be taken away is that it will be raised (from the world through the passing away of the people of knowledge).” He then joined his middle finger with his index finger and thereafter said: “The Aalim (one who imparts the knowledge of Deen) and the muta’allim (the one who learns Deen) are partners in good in this way (as my both fingers are joined together), and (apart from these two classes of people whose endeavour is aimed towards preserving Deen) there is no good in the rest of the people (whose focus is directed towards the Dunya).”