Hadith 1.3
Knowledge
Al-Ahwas b. Hakim told on his father’s authority that a man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about evil, and he replied, "Do not ask me about evil, but ask me about good,” saying it three times. Then he said, "The worst evil consists in learned men who are evil, and the best good consists in learned men who are good.” Darimi transmitted it.
وَعَن الْأَحْوَص بن حَكِيم عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ سلم عَنِ الشَّرِّ فَقَالَ: «لَا تَسْأَلُونِي عَنِ الشَّرِّ وَسَلُونِي عَنِ الْخَيْرِ» يَقُولُهَا ثَلَاثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ: «أَلَا إِنَّ شَرَّ الشَّرِّ شِرَارُ الْعُلَمَاءِ وَإِنَّ خير الْخَيْر خِيَار الْعلمَاء» . رَوَاهُ الدَّارمِيّ
Hadith gradings, numbering and translations can differ between editions. For legal rulings or detailed interpretation, consult qualified scholarship and the referenced edition.