Can examples be given of scholars who began seeking knowledge after the age of thirty and excelled in it, along with recommendations for books that address this topic?
Many scholars did not begin their pursuit of knowledge until later in life, among them Al-Fudayl ibn Iyad, who repented after hearing a Quranic verse; Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi, who started after an experience in the mosque revealed his ignorance of Fiqh; Al-Izz ibn Abd al-Salam, who turned to knowledge after an incident in the Damascus Mosque; Imam Al-Qaffal, who abandoned his craft at the age of thirty; Imam Al-Kisa'i, who learned grammar after being reproached for his grammatical errors; Al-Hafiz Isa ibn Musa; and the Chief Justice of Egypt, Al-Harith ibn Miskin; as well as a number of companions who embraced Islam in their later years and then gained deep understanding of the religion.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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