The Criterion for Calling to Knowledge for the Student of Knowledge, and Prioritizing Knowledge over Action
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
Peace be upon you. Now, Shaykh, a student of knowledge is seeking knowledge. Does he seek knowledge until he reaches a certain stage and then calls to this knowledge, or does he call to it while he is still seeking it? I mean, how does he envision it, or how does he position himself, or how does he know that he has reached the stage where he calls to this knowledge? Is it by age? I am confused, I mean, what is the criterion?
The Shaykh:
First, he should devote himself to seeking knowledge. There is no objection to his calling to it while he is in the process of seeking knowledge, within the limits of what he knows. He should refrain from what he does not know. When he reaches a final stage and becomes qualified, he calls to Allah the Exalted. It is possible to combine being a student of knowledge with da'wah, but only within the limits of what he knows. As for when he becomes qualified and finishes, he calls to Allah absolutely.
The questioner:
And work, Shaykh, does it take precedence over the side of seeking knowledge, or does work take precedence?
The Shaykh:
The side of seeking knowledge does not take precedence.[Muhammad 47:19] Knowledge is given precedence over work, because work is not valid except with knowledge. Knowledge is a condition for work, so he must learn.
The presenter:
And may Allah reward you, and thank you.
Peace be upon you. Now, Shaykh, a student of knowledge is seeking knowledge. Does he seek knowledge until he reaches a certain stage and then calls to this knowledge, or does he call to it while he is still seeking it? I mean, how does he envision it, or how does he position himself, or how does he know that he has reached the stage where he calls to this knowledge? Is it by age? I am confused, I mean, what is the criterion?
The Shaykh:
First, he should devote himself to seeking knowledge. There is no objection to his calling to it while he is in the process of seeking knowledge, within the limits of what he knows. He should refrain from what he does not know. When he reaches a final stage and becomes qualified, he calls to Allah the Exalted. It is possible to combine being a student of knowledge with da'wah, but only within the limits of what he knows. As for when he becomes qualified and finishes, he calls to Allah absolutely.
The questioner:
And work, Shaykh, does it take precedence over the side of seeking knowledge, or does work take precedence?
The Shaykh:
The side of seeking knowledge does not take precedence.
So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin
فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَThe presenter:
And may Allah reward you, and thank you.
Source
نصيحة الشيخ لطلاب العلم — alfawzan.live (22:26)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.