Sha’bi on ‘Ilm: Knowing one’s own ignorance is half of knowledge

Mughirah reported: Al-Sha’bi, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “The statement ‘I do not know’ is one half of knowledge.”

Source: Sunan al-Dārimī 186

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Darani

عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ رحمه الله قَالَ لَا أَدْرِي نِصْفُ الْعِلْمِ

186 سنن الدارمي

186 المحدث حسين سليم أسد الداراني خلاصة حكم المحدث إسناده صحيح في سنن الدارمي

Abu Amina Elias

Abu Amina Elias (Justin Parrott) is an academic librarian, researcher, and translator specializing in the Quran, Hadith, and their commentaries. He is a former instructor of Islamic Creed for Mishkah University.

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