Question

I am searching for a reference for this:
“Knowledge is the lost treasure of the believer. Take it, even from the hands of the disbelievers- ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu)

Answer

Imam Ibn ‘Abdil Barr (rahimahullah) has cited this statement of Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu), without a chain.

Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “Knowledge is the lost property of the believer, so take it even from the polytheists. None should disdain wisdom, no matter who they hear it from.”

(Jami’u Bayanil ‘ilmi wa Fadlih: 621)

See a Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) on this topic here.

Note: This advice of Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) should be understood in its proper context. While a believer should always seek wisdom and make the most of every opportunity to benefit from others, caution must be exercised in matters of our Din. In such cases, one should only refer to reliable and trustworthy scholars. See here

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

__________

التخريج من المصادر العربية

جامع بيان العلم وفضله
(٦٢١) – وروينا عن علي رحمه الله أنه قال في كلام له: العلم ضالة المؤمن فخذوه ولو من أيدي المشركين ولا يأنف أحدكم أن يأخذ الحكمة ممن سمعها منه