Children and the Knowledge of Hadeeth

Muhammad ibn al Husayn ibn al Fadl al Qattaan narrated...that Miskeen ibn Bukayr stated: A man passed by al ‘Amash while he was teaching Hadeeth and said: ‘You are teaching these children?!’

Al ‘Amash responded: ‘These children are preserving your religion for you!’

Al Hasan ibn Abi Taalib informed me that…I heard al Musayyib ibn Waadi’ saying: ‘Ibn Mubaarak may Allah have mercy upon him, if he saw the children of the people of Hadeeth with pens in their hands he would draw them close and say: ‘These are the seedlings of the religion, we were told that the Messenger of Allah - صلى الله عليه وسلم – said:

“Allah continues to plant seedlings in this religion that He supports it with, they are youngsters amongst you today, but they may be the Kibaar [major scholars or elders] after you.”

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rizq informed us that…‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Umayr said: ‘Amr ibn al ‘Aas stood at a circle of knowledge amongst Quraysh and said:

“Why have you discarded these children? Do not do so, make space for them in the circle, let them hear Hadeeth and make them understand it. Indeed they are the youngsters amongst you now, and they will soon be the Kibaar of others. You were once the youngsters of a people, and today you are the Kibaar of your people.”

Muhammad ibn al Faraj ibn ‘Alee al Bazaar narrated to us that…Zayd ibn ibn Ahkzam said: ‘I heard ‘Abdullah ibn Dawud saying: ‘It is befitting for a man to force his children to listen to Hadeeth.’ He also used to say: “Religion is not by talk, indeed religion is only the Athaar [narrations].”

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rizq informed us that…an Nadar ibn al Haarith said: I heard Ibraheem ibn Adham saying: ‘My father said to me:

“My son, study Hadeeth, for every time you hear and memorize a Hadeeth I will give you a Dirham.” So I studied Hadeeth upon that.”