Hadith No. 18
The earth is never devoid of a scholar whom people need, but he does not need people.
رَوَى أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ [ت274ه] فِي «الْمَحَاسِنِ»[1]، عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ، عَنْ أَبَانٍ الْأَحْمَرِ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ النَّصْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ -يَعْنِي جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقَ- عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ:
إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَا تُتْرَكُ إِلَّا بِعَالِمٍ يَحْتَاجُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ وَلَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى النَّاسِ، يُعَلِّمُ الْحَلَالَ وَالْحَرَامَ.
Translation:
Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khālid [Died in 274 AH] has narrated in the book of “al-Mahāsin”, from Washshā, from Abān al-Ahmar, from Harith ibn Mughirah al-Nasri that said: I heard Abu Abdullah — meaning Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Sādiq — peace be upon him say:
Indeed, the earth is not left be without a knowledgeable one whom people need and he does not need people and teaches the permitted and the forbidden.
Attestation No. 1
وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ [ت329ه] فِي «الْكَافِي»[2]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ رَبِيعِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُسْلِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ الْعَامِرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: «مَا زَالَتِ الْأَرْضُ إِلَّا وَلِلَّهِ فِيهَا الْحُجَّةُ يَعْرِفُ الْحَلَالَ وَالْحَرَامَ وَيَدْعُو النَّاسَ إِلَى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ».
Translation:
Also, Muhammad ibn Ya’qub al-Kulayni [Died in 329 AH] has narrated in the book “al-Kāfi”, has said: Muhammad ibn Yahyā narrated to me, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Ali ibn Hakam, from Rabi’ ibn Muhammad al-Musallā, from Abdullah ibn Sulaymān al-‘Amiri, from Abu Abdullah (Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Sādiq) peace be upon him that said: There has been always a proof for God on the earth who has known the permitted and the forbidden, and has invited people toward the path of God.
