Jami' Bayan al-'Ilm wa-Fadlih (2 vol Dar Jawzi)جامع بيان العلم وفضله

An early work by Yusuf Ibn Abd Allah Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr al-Qurtubi, the famous Maliki judge and scholar in Lisbon. This is a collection of brief statements of science and virtues and what should be essential to know. A book of hadiths, stressing the importance of knowledge.

Part-1: This part includes chapters on
excellence of knowledge, preference of knowledge to a mode of worship;
excellence of the learned;
the art of writing;
correcting a recorded book of knowledge by collation;
correcting pronunciations;
forbearance and perseverance in achieving knowledge undertaking journey, and dissemination of knowledge;
the manner and method of achieving knowledge, and holding discussions and debates;
transmission of knowledge to others;
seeking honour and position by patronising the learned and the students;
propagating Islam and teachings of Qur'an and Sunnah for the sake of Allah and not for any worldly gains and pursuits.

Part-2: This part is devoted to
practising what is learnt and avoiding forbidden acts,
principles of knowledge and its nature, its division and limitations.
The 'People of the Books' and their traditions are briefly discussed.
It is explained what a learned man should do when he is asked about something he does not know.
~afifi/BookReview