Chapter: Knowledge and zikr ( العلم و الذكر)

The dignity of an aleem over a worshipper

وَعَن أبي أُمَامَة الْبَاهِلِيّ قَالَ: " ذُكِرَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلَانِ أَحَدُهُمَا عَابِدٌ وَالْآخَرُ عَالِمٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «فَضْلُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْلِي عَلَى أَدْنَاكُمْ» ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ وَأَهْلَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ حَتَّى النَّمْلَةَ فِي جُحْرِهَا وَحَتَّى الْحُوتَ لَيُصَلُّونَ عَلَى معلم النَّاس الْخَيْر» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَقَالَ حسن غَرِيب

وَرَوَاهُ الدَّارِمِيُّ عَنْ مَكْحُولٍ مُرْسَلًا وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ: رَجُلَانِ وَقَالَ: فَضْلُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْلِي عَلَى أَدْنَاكُمْ ثُمَّ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ: (إِنَّمَا يخْشَى الله من عباده الْعلمَاء) حسن, حسن (الألباني) حكم :

Abu Umama al-Bahili said that:
Two men, one learned and the other devout, were mentioned to the messenger of Allah ( صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ), who then said, “The superiority of the learned man over the devout man is like mine over the lowest one among you,”
Adding, “Allah, His angels, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, even the ant in its hole and even the fish seek blessings for him who teaches men what is good.”
Tirmidhi transmitted it. Darimi transmitted it from Makhul in mursal form, but did not mention the two men. He said, “The superiority of the learned man over the devout man is like mine over the most contemptible among you.” Then he recited this verse, “Only those of His servants who are learned fear God," (35:28) 1 then went on with the tradition to the end.
Reference : Mishkat al-Masabih 213, 214 In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 16
Annotation:
Aleem is an Arabic word. It refers to an Islamic Scholar. Abed also is an Arabic word. It indiacates the person who performs the worship of Allahu tawala and he does not possesses deep islamic knowledge about islamic religion.