Ismaa’eel [ibn Zayd al-Jarjaanee] would write 90 pages [of knowledge] every night in small/fine writing.
Category: Knowledge
The importance of taking notes
We used to do the rounds visiting the ‘Ulamaa with az-Zuhree, and with him he had tablets and papers which he used to write upon all he heard [from the ‘Ulamaa].
Out of respect for the knowledge of hadeeth
[al-Imaam] Maalik would not narrate hadeeth unless he was in a state of purity (wudhoo) – out of great respect for the [knowledge of] hadeeth.
Strength of memory
My heart has never stored (memorised) anything and then left me.
Seeking knowledge to act according to it
If a man seeks knowledge to act according to it, his knowledge gratifies him, and if he seeks knowledge for other than acting according to it, then his knowledge [merely] increases him in pride and…
Beautify knowledge
Beautify knowledge [by acting in accordance to it], and do not beautify yourself with it.
Knowledge
Knowledge is that which benefits, not that which is memorised.
In order to compete with the scholars
Do not acquire knowledge in order to compete with the scholars, nor to argue with the ignorant, nor to gain mastery over the gatherings. Since whoever does that, then: The Fire! The Fire!
Nothing more harmful to the branches of knowledge
There is nothing more harmful to the branches of knowledge and its people than those who enter themselves into it and they are not from its people.
A dedicated fanatic
I do not say this as a dedicated fanatic since he (al-Haafidth Abi ‘Ali an-Neesaabooree رحمه الله) was my teacher, but I simply never saw anything comparable to him.