You will not be a scholar until you possess three characteristics.
Category: Knowledge
Accuracy and precision
That day, Ghundar brought out a sack of books, and said: 'Do your best to find an error in them.' So we [strived hard, and] did not find an error in any of them.
Rectifying the misunderstandings of the people
The people of Egypt would disparage 'Uthmaan ibn 'Affaan, until al-Layth ibn Sa'd emerged from [amongst] them and spoke to them about his virtues, and so they refrained.
The two imaams of Khuraasaan
Abu Zur'ah and Abu Haatim are the two imaams of Khuraasaan.
Not to accept gifts from the students
If I accepted it from you, then I will not relate any [more] hadeeth to you; and if I do not accept it from you, then I will [continue to] relate hadeeth to you.
The error of his teacher
A man will not know the error of his teacher, until he sits with other than him.
Maintaining close attachment to the scholars
[In the pursuit for knowledge], I maintained close attachment to Shu'bah for twenty years.
The most knowledgeable of them
The most knowledgeable of them [with regard to matters] about the Qur.aan was Mujaahid. And the most knowledgeable of them [with regard to matters] about hajj was 'Ataa.
The scholar and the one who learns will be partners in reward
I see that your scholars are passing away, and [yet] the ignorant ones amongst you are not learning! Learn, for indeed the scholar and the one who learns will be partners in reward.
The knowledge of 'Aa.ishah
If [all] the knowledge of 'Aa.ishah رضي الله عنها was gathered, and [all] the knowledge of all the women was gathered, [then] the knowledge of 'Aa.ishah would be better.