The narration:

الدنيا كلها ظلمة إلا مجالس العلماء

“All of the world is darkness except the sittings of the Scholars”.

It is not a Hadith, but a saying of Hasan al-Basri rahimahullah. It is reported by Ibn Abdul-Barr in Jami’ Bayaan al-‘Ilm (no. 264) and it was declared Daif by the Muhaqiq az-Zuhairi due to two defects:

  • it is a suspended narration
  • it was narrated by Salih al-Murri who is weak.

[See: Jami’ Bayan al-‘Ilm (1/236)]

Answered by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan