A Sunnah from the Salaf- Give Knowledge as a
Gift.
عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ أَبِى لَيْلَى قَالَ لَقِيَنِى كَعْبُ بْنُ عُجْرَةَ فَقَالَ أَلاَ أُهْدِى لَكَ هَدِيَّةً ، إِنَّ النَّبِىَّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ عَلِمْنَا كَيْفَ نُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْكَ ، فَكَيْفَ نُصَلِّى عَلَيْكَ قَالَ « فَقُولُوا اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Abdur Rahman ibn Abee Layla said Ka’b ibn ‘Ujratah meet me and said,” Would you like me to give you a gift? - The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to us and we said you’ve taught us how to send you salam. How do we send you salutations? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied say: Oh Allah send peace and blessings to Muhammad and his family the same way you did to Ibrahim. Verily you are the Most Praiseworthy and Most Glorious. Oh Allah bless Muhammad and his family the same you blessed Ibrahim and his family. Verily You are the Most Praiseworthy and Most Glorious.
Collected by Bukhari 6357 and Muslim (935)
Benefits for this subject:
Abdur Rahman ibn Abee Layla said Ka’b ibn ‘Ujratah meet me and said,” Would you like me to give you a gift?-
Ibn Mulaqqin (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “A gift is given to win someone’s love, friendship or to honor them. Some people even say it’s given in order to earn a reward in the next life and nothing in this life. In most cases a gift is food, drink, or clothing. However this hadeeth shows it permissible to give knowledge as a gift. [‘Ilam bee Faw’idee Umdatil Ahkam page 450 vol 3]
Abdur Rahman As-Sa’dee (may Allah have mercy on him) said,” These words show the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all )and Tabee’oon’s superiority and desire for good and knowledge. So much so, they held knowledge about one issue as the most valuable gift. Reason being, knowledge remains and is well being for this life and the next.” [Sharhu Umdatil Ahkam vol 1 page 366]
Abdullah Al-Bassam (may Allah have mercy on him) said,” The salaf used to exchange knowledge about issues and verdicts as gifts. They considered these affairs as valuable gifts. Knowledge about religious issues and verdicts are the most precious gifts and presents. [ Tayseerul ‘Alaam vol 1 hadeeth number 117]
Shaykh Saleem Al-Hilalee (May Allah bless him) said,” Abdur Rahman ibn Abee Layla met Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him). Ka’b asked Abdur Rahman if he wanted a gift. In those days the best gift one could give was knowledge about a religious issue. The Companions and the Tabe’oon used to consider knowledge as something precious. Therefore when a man taught his brother something, he has given him the best gift man can give.[ Zubdatul Afham vol 1 page 504]