12. He said: ’Abu Ghalib Ahmad ibn Muhammad reported to me from Abu Tahir Muhmmmad ibn Sulaiman al-Zurari, who reported from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn, from Muhammad ibn Yahya, from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim, from Kharijah ibn Mas’ab, from Muhammad ibn Abu Umair al-Abdi, who reported that: Amirul Mu’mineen ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, said: "Allah did not take away covenant from the ignorant people for seeking the expoundings of Knowledge, before He had taken a covenant from the learned people to expound unto the ignorant people. That is because knowledge preceded ignorance."