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Vol 1 · p 5

The Quran on the worth of knowledge, and the first hadith

Book 1 · Knowledge كتاب العلم

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Chapter One proves how valuable knowledge is. On this page Ghazali brings thirteen passages of the Quran, one after another, each linking knowledge with honour, fear of Allah, power or understanding. Then the hadith begin: Allah gives understanding of the religion to those He wants good for, scholars are the heirs of the prophets, and everything in creation prays for them.

پہلا باب یہ ثابت کرتا ہے کہ علم کتنا قیمتی ہے۔ اس صفحے پر غزالی قرآن کے تیرہ مقامات ایک کے بعد ایک لاتے ہیں، ہر ایک میں علم کا تعلق عزت، اللہ کے ڈر، طاقت یا سمجھ سے ہے۔ پھر حدیثیں شروع ہوتی ہیں: اللہ جس کے ساتھ بھلائی چاہے اسے دین کی سمجھ دیتا ہے، علماء انبیاء کے وارث ہیں، اور ساری مخلوق ان کے لیے دعا کرتی ہے۔

Key terms
  • الحكمةal-ḥikmawisdom
  • اليقينal-yaqīncertainty: knowing with no doubt left
  • التقوىal-taqwāpiety: guarding yourself against what displeases Allah
  • الجهادal-jihādstriving in Allah's way
¶ 1 · continued from the previous page

كيف بدأ سبحانه وتعالى بنفسه وثنى بالملائكة وثلث بأهل العلم وناهيك بهذا شرفا وفضلا وجلاء ونبلا

(So look) how He, glorified and exalted is He, began with Himself, made the angels second, and made the people of knowledge third. Let this be enough for you as honour, merit, renown and nobility.

وقال الله تعالى ﴿يرفع الله الذين آمنوا منكم والذين أوتوا العلم درجات﴾ قال ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما للعلماء درجات فوق المؤمنين بسبعمائة درجة ما بين الدرجتين مسيرة خمسمائة عام

And Allah, Exalted is He, said: "Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees" (58:11, Saheeh International). Ibn ʿAbbās (RA) said: The scholars have degrees above the believers, seven hundred degrees; between each two degrees is a journey of five hundred years.

¶ 2

وقال عز وجل ﴿قل هل يستوي الذين يعلمون والذين لا يعلمون﴾ وقال تعالى ﴿إنما يخشى الله من عباده العلماء﴾

And He, Mighty and Majestic, said: Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" (39:9, Saheeh International). And He, Exalted is He, said: "Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge" (35:28, Saheeh International).

وقال تعالى ﴿قل كفى بالله شهيدا بيني وبينكم ومن عنده علم الكتاب﴾ وقال تعالى ﴿قال الذي عنده علم من الكتاب أنا آتيك به﴾ تنبيها على أنه اقتدر بقوة العلم

And He, Exalted is He, said: Say, [O Muhammad], "Sufficient is Allah as Witness between me and you, and [the witness of] whoever has knowledge of the Scripture" (13:43, Saheeh International). And He, Exalted is He, said: Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will bring it to you" (27:40, Saheeh International): drawing attention to the fact that he was able to do it through the power of knowledge.

¶ 3

وقال عز وجل ﴿وقال الذين أوتوا العلم ويلكم ثواب الله خير لمن آمن وعمل صالحا﴾ بين أن عظم قدر الآخرة يعلم بالعلم

And He, Mighty and Majestic, said: But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness" (28:80, Saheeh International). He made clear that the greatness of the Hereafter's worth is known through knowledge.

¶ 4

وقال تعالى ﴿وتلك الأمثال نضربها للناس وما يعقلها إلا العالمون﴾

And He, Exalted is He, said: "And these examples We present to the people, but none will understand them except those of knowledge" (29:43, Saheeh International).

وقال تعالى ﴿ولو ردوه إلى الرسول وإلى أولي الأمر منهم لعلمه الذين يستنبطونه منهم﴾ رد حكمه في الوقائع إلى استنباطهم وألحق رتبتهم برتبة الأنبياء في كشف حكم الله

And He, Exalted is He, said: "But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it" (4:83, Saheeh International). He referred the ruling on events to their drawing out (istinbāṭ), and joined their rank to the rank of the prophets in uncovering the ruling of Allah.

¶ 5

وقيل في قوله تعالى ﴿يا بني آدم قد أنزلنا عليكم لباسا يواري سوءاتكم﴾ يعني العلم ﴿وريشا﴾ يعني اليقين ﴿ولباس التقوى﴾ يعني الحياء

And it has been said about His words, Exalted is He, "O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts" (7:26, Saheeh International): that is, knowledge; "and as adornment": that is, certainty (yaqīn); "But the clothing of righteousness": that is, modesty (ḥayāʾ).

¶ 6

وقال عز وجل ﴿ولقد جئناهم بكتاب فصلناه على علم﴾ وقال تعالى ﴿فلنقصن عليهم بعلم﴾ وقال عز وجل ﴿بل هو آيات بينات في صدور الذين أوتوا العلم﴾

And He, Mighty and Majestic, said: "And We had certainly brought them a Book which We detailed by knowledge" (7:52, Saheeh International). And He, Exalted is He, said: "Then We will surely relate [their deeds] to them with knowledge" (7:7, Saheeh International). And He, Mighty and Majestic, said: "Rather, the Qur'an is distinct verses [preserved] within the breasts of those who have been given knowledge" (29:49, Saheeh International).

وقال تعالى ﴿خلق الإنسان علمه البيان﴾ وإنما ذكر ذلك في معرض الامتنان

And He, Exalted is He, said: "Created man, [And] taught him eloquence" (55:3-4, Saheeh International). And He mentioned that only in the setting of recounting His favours.

¶ 7

وأما الأخبار فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من يرد الله به خيرا يفقهه في الدين ويلهمه رشده 1

As for the reports (akhbār): the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever Allah wants good for, He gives him understanding in the religion and inspires him with his right guidance."1 (The hadith: our translation of Ghazali's wording, here and to the end of the page.)

وقال صلى الله عليه وسلم العلماء ورثة الأنبياء 2 ومعلوم أنه لا رتبة فوق النبوة ولا شرف فوق شرف الوراثة لتلك الرتبة

And he ﷺ said: "The scholars are the heirs of the prophets."2 And it is known that there is no rank above prophethood, and no honour above the honour of inheriting that rank.

¶ 8

وقال صلى الله عليه وسلم يستغفر للعالم ما في السموات والأرض 3 وأي منصب يزيد على منصب من تشتغل ملائكة السموات والأرض بالاستغفار له

And he ﷺ said: "Whatever is in the heavens and the earth asks forgiveness for the scholar."3 And what position could be higher than the position of one for whom the angels of the heavens and the earth busy themselves asking forgiveness?

¶ 9

وقال صلى الله عليه وسلم إن الحكمة تزيد الشريف شرفا وترفع المملوك حتى يدرك مدارك الملوك 4 وقد نبه بهذا على ثمراته في الدنيا ومعلوم أن الآخرة خير وأبقى

And he ﷺ said: "Wisdom (ḥikma) adds honour to the honourable, and raises the slave until he reaches the ranks of kings."4 By this he pointed to its fruits in this world; and it is known that the Hereafter is better and more lasting.

¶ 10

وقال صلى الله عليه وسلم خصلتان لا يكونان في منافق حسن سمت وفقه في الدين 5

And he ﷺ said: "Two qualities are not found in a hypocrite: good bearing (ḥusn samt) and understanding (fiqh) in the religion."5

ولا تشكن في الحديث لنفاق بعض فقهاء الزمان فإنه ما أراد به الفقه الذي ظننته وسيأتي معنى الفقه

And do not doubt the hadith because of the hypocrisy of some jurists (fuqahāʾ) of our time, for he did not mean by it the fiqh you have supposed. The meaning of fiqh will come later.

¶ 11

وأدنى درجات الفقيه أن يعلم أن الآخرة خير من الدنيا وهذه المعرفة إذا صدقت وغلبت عليه برىء بها من النفاق والرياء

The lowest degree of the one who has understanding (faqīh) is that he knows the Hereafter is better than this world. When this knowledge is true and takes hold of him, it frees him from hypocrisy and showing off (riyāʾ).

¶ 12

وقال صلى الله عليه وسلم أفضل الناس المؤمن العالم الذي إن احتيج إليه نفع وإن استغنى عنه أغنى نفسه 6

And he ﷺ said: "The best of people is the believer with knowledge who, if he is needed, is of benefit, and if he is not needed, makes himself free of need."6

وقال صلى الله عليه وسلم الإيمان عريان ولباسه التقوى وزينته الحياء وثمرته العلم 7

And he ﷺ said: "Faith is naked; its clothing is piety (taqwā), its adornment is modesty, and its fruit is knowledge."7

وقال صلى الله عليه وسلم أقرب الناس من درجة النبوة أهل العلم والجهاد أما أهل العلم فدلوا الناس على ما جاءت به الرسل وأما أهل الجهاد فجاهدوا بأسيافهم

And he ﷺ said: "The people nearest to the degree of prophethood are the people of knowledge and of struggle (jihād). As for the people of knowledge, they guided people to what the messengers brought; and as for the people of struggle, they strove with their swords… (The hadith ends at the top of p6.)

Study this page · not Ghazali's text

Quran on this page14 ayat

¶1 ﴿يرفع الله الذين آمنوا منكم والذين أوتوا العلم درجات﴾: Ghazali quotes the middle of the ayah.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْمَجَٰلِسِ فَٱفْسَحُوا۟ يَفْسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُوا۟ فَٱنشُزُوا۟ يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَٰتٍ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

O you who have believed, when you are told, "Space yourselves" in assemblies, then make space; Allah will make space for you. And when you are told, "Arise," then arise; Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.

Surah Al-Mujaadila (58), ayah 11 · Saheeh International

¶2 ﴿قل هل يستوي الذين يعلمون والذين لا يعلمون﴾

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَآئِمًا يَحْذَرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُوا۟ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِۦ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.

Surah Az-Zumar (39), ayah 9 · Saheeh International

¶2 ﴿إنما يخشى الله من عباده العلماء﴾

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱلدَّوَآبِّ وَٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ كَذَٰلِكَ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَٰٓؤُا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ

And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colors similarly. Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.

Surah Faatir (35), ayah 28 · Saheeh International

¶2 ﴿قل كفى بالله شهيدا بيني وبينكم ومن عنده علم الكتاب﴾

وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًا قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًۢا بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ

And those who have disbelieved say, "You are not a messenger." Say, [O Muhammad], "Sufficient is Allah as Witness between me and you, and [the witness of] whoever has knowledge of the Scripture."

Surah Ar-Ra'd (13), ayah 43 · Saheeh International

¶2 ﴿قال الذي عنده علم من الكتاب أنا آتيك به﴾: from the story of Solomon and the queen's throne.

قَالَ ٱلَّذِى عِندَهُۥ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُۥ قَالَ هَٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّى لِيَبْلُوَنِىٓ ءَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِۦ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِىٌّ كَرِيمٌ

Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous."

Surah An-Naml (27), ayah 40 · Saheeh International

¶3 ﴿وقال الذين أوتوا العلم ويلكم ثواب الله خير لمن آمن وعمل صالحا﴾: from the story of Qārūn.

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحًا وَلَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّٰبِرُونَ

But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient."

Surah Al-Qasas (28), ayah 80 · Saheeh International

¶4 ﴿وتلك الأمثال نضربها للناس وما يعقلها إلا العالمون﴾

وَتِلْكَ ٱلْأَمْثَٰلُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَآ إِلَّا ٱلْعَٰلِمُونَ

And these examples We present to the people, but none will understand them except those of knowledge.

Surah Al-Ankaboot (29), ayah 43 · Saheeh International

¶4 ﴿ولو ردوه إلى الرسول وإلى أولي الأمر منهم لعلمه الذين يستنبطونه منهم﴾

وَإِذَا جَآءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْنِ أَوِ ٱلْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰٓ أُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَنۢبِطُونَهُۥ مِنْهُمْ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ لَٱتَّبَعْتُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

And when there comes to them information about [public] security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few.

Surah An-Nisaa (4), ayah 83 · Saheeh International

¶5 ﴿يا بني آدم قد أنزلنا عليكم لباسا يواري سوءاتكم﴾، ﴿وريشا﴾، ﴿ولباس التقوى﴾: quoted in pieces, each followed by an interpretation that Ghazali reports with «قيل», "it has been said". The edition brackets the whole run once; we bracket only the Quran's words (corrections list).

يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ

O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.

Surah Al-A'raaf (7), ayah 26 · Saheeh International

¶6 ﴿ولقد جئناهم بكتاب فصلناه على علم﴾

وَلَقَدْ جِئْنَٰهُم بِكِتَٰبٍ فَصَّلْنَٰهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ هُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

And We had certainly brought them a Book which We detailed by knowledge - as guidance and mercy to a people who believe.

Surah Al-A'raaf (7), ayah 52 · Saheeh International

¶6 ﴿فلنقصن عليهم بعلم﴾

فَلَنَقُصَّنَّ عَلَيْهِم بِعِلْمٍ وَمَا كُنَّا غَآئِبِينَ

Then We will surely relate [their deeds] to them with knowledge, and We were not [at all] absent.

Surah Al-A'raaf (7), ayah 7 · Saheeh International

¶6 ﴿بل هو آيات بينات في صدور الذين أوتوا العلم﴾

بَلْ هُوَ ءَايَٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَٰتٌ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَمَا يَجْحَدُ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِلَّا ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

Rather, the Qur'an is distinct verses [preserved] within the breasts of those who have been given knowledge. And none reject Our verses except the wrongdoers.

Surah Al-Ankaboot (29), ayah 49 · Saheeh International

¶6 ﴿خلق الإنسان علمه البيان﴾: two ayat.

خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ

Created man,

Surah Ar-Rahmaan (55), ayah 3 · Saheeh International

¶9 «خير وأبقى», "better and more lasting": the Quran's words, used without quotation marks.

وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ

While the Hereafter is better and more enduring.

Surah Al-A'laa (87), ayah 17 · Saheeh International

Hadith and al-ʿIrāqī's verdicts7 hadith
  1. 1

    حديث من يرد الله به خيرا يفقهه في الدين ويلهمه رشده متفق عليه من حديث معاوية دون قوله ويلهمه رشده وهذه الزيادة عند الطبراني في الكبير

    Agreed upon (Bukhari and Muslim), from Muʿāwiya (RA), without his words "and inspires him with his right guidance"; that addition is in al-Ṭabarānī's al-Kabīr.

    In the nine books:

    Sahih al-Bukhari 71, 3116 and 7312; Sahih Muslim 1037a, 1037b and 1037d; all from Muʿāwiya. The collection's English (Bukhari 71): "If Allah wants to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend the religion." The words «ويلهمه رشده» are not in the nine books.

  2. 2

    حديث العلماء ورثة الأنبياء أخرجه أبو داود والترمذي وابن ماجه وابن حبان في صحيحه من حديث أبي الدرداء

    Recorded by Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah, and Ibn Ḥibbān in his Ṣaḥīḥ, from Abū al-Dardāʾ (RA). He gives no grade here.

    In the nine books:

    Sunan Abi Dawud 3641, Jami al-Tirmidhi 2682, Sunan Ibn Majah 223 and Sunan al-Darimi: all inside Abū al-Dardāʾ's long hadith about the seeker of knowledge, which goes on (the collection's English, Abu Dawud): "The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an abundant portion."

  3. 3

    حديث يستغفر للعالم ما في السموات والأرض هو بعض حديث أبي الدرداء المتقدم

    Part of Abū al-Dardāʾ's hadith given above (note 2).

    In the nine books:

    In that hadith (note 2 above); and in Sunan Ibn Majah 239, from Abū al-Dardāʾ, in the words «إنه ليستغفر للعالم من في السموات ومن في الأرض حتى الحيتان في البحر».

  4. 4

    حديث الحكمة تزيد الشريف شرفا الحديث أخرجه أبو نعيم في الحلية وابن عبد البر في بيان العلم وعبد الغني الأزدي في آداب المحدث من حديث أنس بإسناد ضعيف

    Recorded by Abū Nuʿaym in al-Ḥilya, Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr in Bayān al-ʿIlm, and ʿAbd al-Ghanī al-Azdī in Ādāb al-Muḥaddith, from Anas (RA), with a weak chain.

    In the nine books:

    not in them; al-ʿIrāqī names where it is recorded (above). We searched by wording and by key words.

  5. 5

    حديث خصلتان لا تجتمعان في منافق الحديث أخرجه الترمذي من حديث أبي هريرة وقال حديث غريب

    Recorded by al-Tirmidhī from Abū Hurayra (RA); he called it gharīb (an unusual hadith, known only through one route).

    In the nine books:

    Jami al-Tirmidhi 2684. The collection's English: "Two things will not be together in a hypocrite: Good manners, and Fiqh in the religion."

  6. 6

    حديث أفضل الناس المؤمن العالم الحديث أخرجه البيهقي في شعب الإيمان موقوفا على أبي الدرداء بإسناد ضعيف ولم أره مرفوعا

    Recorded by al-Bayhaqī in Shuʿab al-Īmān as the words of Abū al-Dardāʾ (RA) himself (mawqūf), with a weak chain; al-ʿIrāqī did not see it from the Prophet ﷺ (marfūʿ).

    In the nine books:

    not in them; al-ʿIrāqī names where it is recorded (above).

  7. 7

    حديث الإيمان عريان الحديث أخرجه الحاكم في تاريخ نيسابور من حديث أبي الدرداء بإسناد ضعيف

    Recorded by al-Ḥākim in Tārīkh Naysābūr from Abū al-Dardāʾ (RA), with a weak chain.

    In the nine books:

    not in them; al-ʿIrāqī names where it is recorded (above).

Words of the day3 words
Sentence breakdown

«العلماء ورثة الأنبياء» (¶7). Vowelled, as we read it: العُلَمَاءُ وَرَثَةُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ. (Our analysis. Forms checked against the Quranic Arabic Corpus, Tanzil and Ibn Fāris.)

Word Root What it does Meaning
العُلَمَاءُ ع ل م (our card) subject the scholars: the plural of عَالِم, on the pattern فُعَلَاء; in the Quran as ٱلْعُلَمَٰٓؤُا۟ (35:28, on this page)
وَرَثَةُ و ر ث: "one word: al-wirth, inheritance" (Ibn Fāris, vol 6 p 104) what is said about the subject, and the first half of an iḍāfa heirs of: the plural of وَارِث (corpus lemma, 7 times), as in وَرَثَةِ (26:85)
الأَنْبِيَاءِ ن ب أ: "coming from one place to another" (Ibn Fāris, vol 5 p 385) second half of the pair: "the heirs of the prophets" the prophets: the plural of نَبِيّ (corpus lemma, 75 times), on the pattern أَفْعِلَاء

How it works. Three words and no verb, like the last two breakdowns: "the scholars: heirs of the prophets". The second and third words make an iḍāfa (you met it on V1 p4): وَرَثَةُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ, "heirs of the prophets". All three are broken plurals: Arabic makes many plurals by changing the inside of the word, not by adding an ending. عَالِم becomes عُلَمَاء, وَارِث becomes وَرَثَة, نَبِيّ becomes أَنْبِيَاء. Urdu borrowed these plurals whole: علماء، انبیاء.

Open questions
  • ¶1b Ibn ʿAbbās's saying on the seven hundred degrees: al-ʿIrāqī adds no note (he traces reports from the Prophet ﷺ), and we have not yet looked for where it is recorded.
  • ¶5 Whose interpretation of 7:26 is "it has been said"? Ghazali does not name its source.
More on the hadith

A Companion's saying, not a note: Ibn ʿAbbās's words on the seven hundred degrees (¶1). Al-ʿIrāqī traces reports from the Prophet ﷺ and adds nothing here. Not yet checked (see Open questions).