Ibn Wahb reported: Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Knowledge is a light that Allah places wherever he wills. It does not consist of memorizing many narrations.”
In another narration, Malik said, “Knowledge is not knowing many narrations. Verily, knowledge is only a light that Allah places in the hearts.”
Source: Ḥilyat al-Awliyā’ 8987
عن ابن وهب قَالَ قَالَ مَالِكٌ رحمه الله الْعِلْمُ نُورٌ يَجْعَلُهُ اللَّهُ حَيْثُ يَشَاءُ لَيْسَ بِكَثْرَةِ الرِّوَايَةِ
وفي رواية أخرى قال لَيْسَ الْعِلْمُ بِكَثْرَةِ الرِّوَايَةِ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ نُورٌ يَضَعَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الْقُلُوبِ
8987 حلية الأولياء لأبي نعيم مالك بن أنس