Chapter Three
Education
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The Value of Seeking Knowledge at a Young Age
203. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Learning at a young age is like engraving on a stone; and the parable of he who learns in his adult age is like one who writes on water.”1
204. Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “Order your children to seek knowledge.”2
205. Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “He who asks [questions] while at a young age, will answer [questions] when he is old.”3
206. Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “He who does not learn in his young age, will not advance in his adult age.”4
207. Sunan al--Dārami, narrating from Shurhabil ibn Sa‘d who said: “Once Hasan gathered his children and his brother’s children and said: “O my children and my brother’s children! You are the little young people of this generation and there is a hope that you will be the great ones of another generation. Therefore, learn knowledge, and he who cannot learn it by heart should write it down and keep it in his home.”5
1.. Kanz al-‘Ummāl, vol. ۱۰, p. ۲۴۹, h. ۲۹۳۳۶, narrating from al-Tabarāni. al-Firdaws, vol. ۴, p. ۱۳۵, h. ۶۴۲۰, with ‘is like a drawing on a rock’ instead of ‘is like engraving on a stone’ Both narrating from Abu al-Dardā'.
2.. Kanz al-‘Ummāl, vol. ۱۶, p. ۵۸۴, h. ۴۵۹۵۳, narrating from Juz' ibn ‘Amshaliq.
3.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۸۲۷۳. ‘Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā‘iz, p. ۴۴۷, h. ۷۸۷۹.
4.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۸۹۳۷. ‘Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā‘iz, p. ۴۶۳, h. ۸۴۲۴.
5.. Sunan al-Dārami, vol. ۱, p. ۱۳۷, h. ۵۱۷. Munyah al-Murid, p. ۳۴۰.
