Manners of Learning – Imam As-Shafi’ee

Be patient with the bitterness of an aloof teacher
For the embedding of knowledge is when he repels
And whoever never tastes the bitterness of learning
Swallows the humiliation of ignorance as long as he dwells

And whoever misses learning whilst young and in bloom
Then make takbir on him four times due to his demise
For that youth, by Allah! If not for knowledge and piety
There is no regard to of what else his character’s comprised

[Translation by Ammar AlShukry]