Mishkat al-Masabih #251
Knowledge
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
وَعَن الْأَحْوَص بن حَكِيم عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ سلم عَنِ الشَّرِّ فَقَالَ: «لَا تَسْأَلُونِي عَنِ الشَّرِّ وَسَلُونِي عَنِ الْخَيْرِ» يَقُولُهَا ثَلَاثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ: «أَلَا إِنَّ شَرَّ الشَّرِّ شِرَارُ الْعُلَمَاءِ وَإِنَّ خير الْخَيْر خِيَار الْعلمَاء» . رَوَاهُ الدَّارمِيّ
Al-Ahwas b. Hakim told on his father’s authority that a man asked
the Prophet about evil, and he replied, "Do not ask me about evil, but
ask me about good,” saying it three times. Then he said, "The worst
evil consists in learned men who are evil, and the best good consists in
learned men who are good.” Darimi transmitted it.
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About Mishkat al-Masabih
This hadith is #251 from Mishkat al-Masabih, in the Book of Knowledge.