The Holy Prophet, about the superiority of scholars, has said:
فَضْلُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى سَائِرِ النَّاسِ كَفَضْلِي عَلَى أدْنَاهُمْ.
The superiority of men of knowledge to others is like my superiority to the humblest of them.[1]
فَضْلُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْلِ الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَوَاكِبِ.
The superiority of a scholar to a worshipper (with no knowledge) is like the superiority of the full moon to other stars.[2]
ثَلأثَةٌ يَشْفَعُونَ إلَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَيُشَفَّعُونَ: الأنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ العُلَمَاءُ ثُمَّ الشُّهَدَاءُ.
On the Judgment Day, three groups intercede with Allah and their intercession is accepted: the Prophets, the scholars (ulama) and the martyrs.[3]
Imam al-B¡qir (a.s) has said:
عَالِمٌ يُنْتَفَعُ بِعِلْمِهِ أفْضَلُ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ ألْفَ عَابِدٍ.
A scholar (`¡lim) who benefits from his knowledge is better than seventy thousand worshippers (with no knowledge).[4]
[1] Tafs¢r al-¯¡f¢, 675/2.
[2] `Aw¡l¢ al-La’¡l¢: 357/1.
[3] Tafs¢r al-¯¡f¢: 676/2.
[4] Al-K¡f¢, ° 8.
source : AHL AL-BAYT THE CELESTIAL BEINGS ON THE EARTH Author: Allama Hussein Ansariyan Translator: Dr. Ali Akbar Aghili Ashtiani
