This is a strange hadith, and we do not know it except through this chain, from the narration of al-Walid ibn Muslim.

2877 — Mahmud ibn Khidash al-Baghdadi narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn Yazid al-Wasiti narrated to us, saying: 'Asim ibn Raja' ibn Haywah narrated to us, from Qays ibn Kathir, who said: A man came from Madinah to Abu al-Darda' while he was in Damascus, and he said: "What has brought you here, my brother?" He said: "A hadith that has reached me that you narrate from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him." He said: "Have you come for some need?" He said: "No." He said: "Have you come for trade?" He said: "No." He said: "You have come only in pursuit of this hadith?" He said: "Indeed, I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: 'Whoever travels a path seeking knowledge therein, Allah will cause him to travel a path to Paradise. And indeed the angels lower their wings in approval of the seeker of knowledge. And indeed the scholar is sought forgiveness for by whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, even the fish in the water. And the superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like the superiority of the moon over the rest of the stars. Indeed, the scholars are the heirs of the prophets. The prophets did not leave behind a dinar or a dirham; rather, they left behind knowledge. So whoever takes hold of it has taken hold of an abundant share.'"

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(1) Hasan due to other witnesses, and this chain is weak. Qays ibn Kathir — and it is said: Kathir ibn Qays, which is the view of the majority — is weak. Furthermore, 'Asim ibn Raja' did not hear it from Qays, so it is disconnected; between them is Dawud ibn Jamil, as will follow.

It was also recorded by Abu Dawud (3642) via the route of al-Walid, who said: I met Shabib ibn Shaybah, and he narrated to me from 'Uthman ibn Abi Sawdah, from Abu al-Darda'. And he mentioned it. See also "al-Musnad" (21715).

It was also recorded by Abu Dawud (3641) and Ibn Majah (223) via the route of 'Asim ibn Raja' ibn Haywah, from Dawud ibn Jamil, from Kathir ibn Qays, with it. And it is in "al-Musnad" (21716), =