How authentic is the Hadith: "Seeking knowledge for an hour is better than performing Qiyam Al-Layl (night prayer)," narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbas in Sahih Al-Tirmidhi?

"Sunan al-Tirmidhi" or "Jami' al-Tirmidhi" is not referred to as "Sahih al-Tirmidhi" because it encompasses all categories of hadith. As for "Sahih al-Tirmidhi," it is a book authored by al-Albani, in which he selected only the sound (sahih) and good (hasan) hadiths.

The mentioned hadith: "Seeking knowledge for an hour is better than standing (in prayer) for a night, and seeking knowledge for a day is better than fasting for three months" was not narrated by al-Tirmidhi. Rather, it was narrated by al-Daylami with a chain of narration that includes a liar, namely "Nahshal bin Sa'eed." Al-Albani judged this hadith to be "fabricated" (mawdu').

As for the narration by al-Darimi: "Studying knowledge for an hour at night is better than spending the whole night in worship," it is an utterance attributed to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) (mawquf), and its chain of narration is weak because Ibn Jurayj narrated it from an unknown person, and he used to practice tadlis (concealing defects in narrators) and omit discredited narrators.

There are many authentic hadiths concerning the فضil (virtue) of seeking knowledge that suffice, rendering weak and fabricated hadiths unnecessary. Among them are:

- From Abu Darda, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: "Indeed, the angels lower their wings, being pleased with the seeker of knowledge." Authenticated by al-Albani. - From Abu Hurairah, from the Prophet (peace be upon him), who said: "Whoever travels a path seeking knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him thereby a path to Paradise." Narrated by Muslim.

A Muslim should be keen on seeking knowledge and verifying what he transmits and mentions.