The superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like my superiority over the lowest among you
عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ البَاهِلِيِّ رَضيَ اللهُ عنه قَالَ: ذُكِرَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلاَنِ أَحَدُهُمَا عَابِدٌ وَالآخَرُ عَالِمٌ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «فَضْلُ العَالِمِ عَلَى العَابِدِ كَفَضْلِي عَلَى أَدْنَاكُمْ»، ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ وَأَهْلَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرَضِينَ حَتَّى النَّمْلَةَ فِي جُحْرِهَا وَحَتَّى الحُوتَ لَيُصَلُّونَ عَلَى مُعَلِّمِ النَّاسِ الخَيْرَ».
Explanation
Two men were mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): one of them a devout worshipper and the other a scholar, and he was asked which of them is better?
He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: The superiority of the scholar who possesses religious knowledge, acts upon it, and teaches it, over the devout worshipper who is devoted to worship while only knowing what is obligatory for him of knowledge, is like his superiority and honor (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) over the least of his Companions.
Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) explained the reason for this superiority: that Allah Almighty, those who bear the Throne from His angels, the inhabitants of the heavens from among all the angels, and the inhabitants of the earth from among humans, jinn, and all animals, even the ant in its hole deep in the earth, and the fish in the sea—thus including the creatures of both land and sea—all of them supplicate for good for the one who teaches people the religious knowledge that leads to their salvation and success.
Source
Join 50,000+ Muslims
Download for free and never miss a prayer again