Al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī, Abū Bakr Aḥmad ibn ʿAlī (d. 463 AH/1071 CE) ؒ, recorded the following statements:
Shuʿayb ibn Ḥarb (d. 197 AH/812 CE) ؒ said:
كنا نطلب الحديث أربعة آلاف فما أنجب منا إلا أربعة.
“There were four thousand of us studying ḥadīth, but only four of us became proficient.” (Al-Jāmiʿ li-Akhlāq ar-Rāwī wa-Ādāb as-Sāmiʿ, report no. 92.)
Abū Dāwūd Sulaymān ibn Dāwūd aṭ-Ṭayālisī (d. 204 AH/819 CE) ؒ said:
كنت يوما بباب شعبة وكان المسجد ملآن، قال فخرج شعبة فاتكأ علي وقال: يا سليمان ترى هؤلاء كلهم يخرجون محدثين؟ قلت: لا. قال: صدقت، ولا خمسة. قلت: خمسة؟ قال: نعم، يكتب أحدهم في صغره ثم إذا كبر تركه، ويكتب أحدهم في صغره ثم إذا كبر يشتغل بالفساد. قال: فجعل يردد علي. قال أبو داود: ثم نظرت بعد فما خرج منهم خمسة.
“I was once at the door of Shuʿbah, and the mosque was full. Shuʿbah came out, leaned on me and said: ‘Sulaymān, do you think all these people will become scholars of ḥadīth?’ I replied: ‘No.’ He said: ‘You are right. Not even five.’ I said: ‘Five?’ He replied: ‘Yes. One of them records ḥadīth in his youth, then abandons it when he grows older. Another records it in his youth, then becomes occupied with corruption when he grows older.’ He kept repeating this to me. Abū Dāwūd said: ‘I later looked into it, and not even five of them became scholars.’” (Al-Jāmiʿ li-Akhlāq ar-Rāwī wa-Ādāb as-Sāmiʿ, report no. 93.)
Muḥammad ibn Yūsuf al-Firyābī (d. 212 AH/827 CE) ؒ related the following from Sufyān ath-Thawrī (d. 161 AH/778 CE):
قال لي سفيان الثوري يوما وقد اجتمع الناس عليه فقال لي: يا محمد ترى هؤلاء ما أكثرهم؟ ثلث يموتون وثلث يتركون هذا الذي تسمعونه، ومن الثلث الآخر ما أقل من ينجب.
“Sufyān ath-Thawrī once said to me while people were gathered around him: ‘Muḥammad, do you see how numerous these people are? A third will die, a third will abandon what you are hearing, and how few of the remaining third will become proficient!’” (Al-Jāmiʿ li-Akhlāq ar-Rāwī wa-Ādāb as-Sāmiʿ, report no. 94.)
Isrāʾīl ibn Yūnus (d. 160 AH/777 CE) ؒ related the following about Sulaymān ibn Mihrān al-Aʿmash (d. 148 AH/765 CE):
كثر من يطلب الحديث في زمن الأعمش فقيل له: يا أبا محمد ما ترى ما أكثرهم؟ قال: لا تنظروا إلى كثرتهم، ثلثهم يموتون وثلثهم يلحقون بالأعمال، وثلثهم من كل مائة يفلح واحد.
“Students of ḥadīth became numerous in the time of al-Aʿmash. He was asked: ‘Abū Muḥammad, do you not see how numerous they are?’ He replied: ‘Do not look at their numbers. A third will die, a third will become occupied with work, and of the remaining third, one in every hundred will succeed.’” (Al-Jāmiʿ li-Akhlāq ar-Rāwī wa-Ādāb as-Sāmiʿ, report no. 95.)
Translator’s Commentary
These narrations from the early scholars of Islam illustrate a profound reality regarding the path of sacred knowledge. Although large numbers may begin the journey of seeking ḥadīth and religious learning, only a small minority persevere with sincerity, discipline, and righteousness until they attain true proficiency. Their statements demonstrate that mere attendance, memorisation, or enthusiasm in youth does not guarantee lasting success. Many abandon knowledge due to worldly preoccupations, personal desires, or spiritual weakness. Others are diverted by sin, heedlessness, or lack of perseverance. Only those who combine sincerity (ikhlāṣ), patience (ṣabr), righteous conduct, and consistent effort are granted lasting benefit. These reports also serve as a warning against being deceived by large numbers and outward appearances. True success in knowledge is not measured by crowds, certificates, or popularity, but by steadfastness upon the truth and sincere adherence to the Sunnah.
For the student of knowledge, these accounts encourage humility, self-accountability, and renewed intention. They remind him that the path is long, demanding, and selective, and that only those who remain sincere to Allah and committed to righteous action will be granted excellence and acceptance.
References
Al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī, Abū Bakr Aḥmad ibn ʿAlī (d. 463 AH/1071 CE). Al-Jāmiʿ li-Akhlāq ar-Rāwī wa-Ādāb as-Sāmiʿ, Riyadh, 1433 AH, p. 72
