Warathat al-Anbiya Sharh Hadith Abi al-Darda
- Author died
- 795 AH
- Editions
- al-Fārūq al-Ḥadīthah lil-Ṭibā‘ah wal-Nashr
Warathat al-Anbiya Sharh Hadith Abi al-Darda (The Heirs of the Prophets: Commentary on the Hadith of Abu al-Darda) is a specialized hadith treatise authored by the Hanbali scholar Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (736–795 AH / 1335–1393 CE), dedicated to the detailed exposition of the prophetic tradition concerning the virtues of seeking religious knowledge and the status of scholars .
Background and Context
The treatise is structured as an analytical commentary on the narrative transmitted in the collections of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah, wherein an unnamed man traveled from Medina to Damascus solely to hear a single tradition directly from the Companion Abu al-Darda . In response, Abu al-Darda relayed that the Prophet ﷺ said:
من سلك طريقا يبتغي فيه علما سلك الله به طريقا إلى الجنة، وإن الملائكة لتضع أجنحتها رضى لطالب العلم، وإن العالم ليستغفر له من في السماوات ومن في الأرض حتى الحيتان في الماء، وفضل العالم على العابد كفضل القمر على سائر الكواكب، وإن العلماء ورثة الأنبياء، وإن الأنبياء لم يورثوا دينارا ولا درهما إنما ورثوا العلم، فمن أخذ به أخذ بحظ وافر "Whoever traverses a path seeking knowledge, God puts him upon a path to Paradise; the angels lower their wings in pleasure with the seeker of knowledge; forgiveness is sought for the scholar by those in the heavens and on earth, even the fish in the water; the superiority of the scholar over the devout worshipper is like the superiority of the moon over all other celestial bodies; the scholars are the heirs of the prophets; and the prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham as inheritance, but leave only knowledge, so whoever takes hold of it has seized an abundant share."
Ibn Rajab introduces the work by highlighting the practice of the early generations (al-salaf) who undertook arduous journeys to acquire single narrations, drawing parallels to the travels of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari to Egypt, Jabir ibn Abd Allah, and the Quranic account of Moses journeying to meet al-Khidr .
Themes and Method
The work exemplifies Ibn Rajab's method in his single-hadith monographs (ajza'), where he examines each clause of the text by synthesizing Quranic verses, related prophetic traditions, and the sayings of early authorities (athar) . Key topics addressed across the treatise include:
- Traversing paths of knowledge: Ibn Rajab explains that seeking knowledge encompasses both physical movement—such as walking to study circles—and immaterial means, such as memorizing, revising, reflecting upon, and comprehending religious texts .
- Divine facilitation to Paradise: He elucidates multiple dimensions of how God facilitates the seeker's path, including easing the acquisition of knowledge itself, granting divine assistance (tawfiq) to act upon what is learned, bestowing further knowledge as a reward for practice, and making the crossing over the bridge (al-Sirat) easier on the Day of Judgment .
- The stature and legacy of scholars: He discusses the lowering of angels' wings as an expression of humility and reverence for sacred knowledge, the intercession and prayers of creatures for scholars, and the distinction between theoretical knowledge and practical devotion . He details how scholars inherit the prophetic mission of guidance rather than worldly goods .
- Etiquette of learning and gatherings: He notes the obligation of teachers to welcome students warmly, referencing reports from al-Hasan al-Basri and Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak, and underscores the merit of gatherings of jurisprudence (halaqat al-fiqh) through statements from Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud, Ata al-Khurasani, and Yahya ibn Abi Kathir .
Manuscripts and Publication
Manuscript copies of the treatise are preserved in several collections, including a 30-folio large-format copy at the Saudi Library in Riyadh (MS 1637/5, as well as MS 686/86), holdings at King Saud University, the Islamic University of Madinah, the Ali al-Shibl collection, and the General Awqaf Library in Iraq (MS 14/4767) .
The work was printed in Mecca in 1397 AH, published in Cairo edited by Ashraf ibn Abd al-Maqsud in 1987, and issued by Maktabat al-Turath al-Islami, as well as being included within modern compilations of Ibn Rajab's collected treatises (Majmu' Rasa'il Ibn Rajab) .
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