Hawzah News Agency - Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Hammed from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhayna from Aban ibn Abi ‘Ayyash from Sulaym ibn Qays al-Hilali who has said the following: “I heard Imam Ali narrate from the Holy Prophet ﷺ who said:

الْعُلَمَاءُ رَجُلانِ رَجُلٌ عَالِمٌ آخِذٌ بِعِلْمِهِ فَهَذَا نَاجٍ وَعَالِمٌ تَارِكٌ لِعِلْمِهِ فَهَذَا هَالِكٌ وَإِنَّ أَهْلَ النَّارِ لَيَتَأَذَّوْنَ مِنْ رِيحِ الْعَالِمِ التَّارِكِ لِعِلْمِهِ وَإِنَّ أَشَدَّ أَهْلِ النَّارِ نَدَامَةً وَحَسْرَةً رَجُلٌ دَعَا عَبْداً إِلَى الله فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ وَقَبِلَ مِنْهُ فَأَطَاعَ الله فَأَدْخَلَهُ الله الْجَنَّةَ وَأَدْخَلَ الدَّاعِيَ النَّارَ بِتَرْكِهِ عِلْمَهُ وَاتِّبَاعِهِ الْهَوَى وَطُولِ الامَلِ أَمَّا اتِّبَاعُ الْهَوَى فَيَصُدُّ عَنِ الْحَقِّ وَطُولُ الامَلِ يُنْسِي الاخِرَةَ.

‘The scholars are of two kinds: One kind consists of those who uphold their knowledge, and they gain their salvation. The other kind consists of those who disregard their knowledge and face their destruction. The people of hell will suffer from the bad odor of the scholars who do not act according to their knowledge. Of the people of hell, the one who will regret most will be a man who teaches someone and shows him the way of Allah. The student accepts and acts according to such teachings and consequently Allah takes him to paradise. Still, the teacher is sent to hell because of ignoring his knowledge, following his desires and entertaining long hopes. Following one’s desires bars one from the truth. And cherishing long hopes causes one to forget the next life.’”

Al-Kāfi, v.1, Book 2, Chapter 13