Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) once mentioned, “The knowledge of deen is a divine light which Allah Ta‘ala places in the hearts of His selected servants (through which they are able to understand deen correctly). Knowledge of deen is not acquired by merely narrating Ahaadith (without understanding the correct meaning of the Ahaadith).
(Tazyeen-ul-Mamaalik pg. 38)