The Shaykh’s Interaction with His Students and the Conditions of the Students

Question:
And this person says: Since you are one of the Shaykh’s students (may Allah have mercy on him), we ask you to clarify for us an aspect of the Shaykh’s interaction with his students, especially since at that time resources were scarce, and the eagerness to seek knowledge was great, unlike the present time?

Answer:
As I mentioned to you, he (may Allah have mercy on him) felt compassion for the students and was kind to them. Assistance for students of knowledge would come to him from King Abdulaziz (may Allah have mercy on him), so he would arrange assistance for the students of knowledge to help them in their pursuit of knowledge, to help them in their pursuit of knowledge, each according to his rank in the pursuit of knowledge. The beginner, the intermediate, and the advanced; each was given assistance according to his rank from King Abdulaziz (may Allah have mercy on him).
And the students of knowledge would come from various countries without their families, as strangers. So they would reside in designated houses called the Brothers’ Houses. Some were endowments from princes and princesses, and some were old endowments. They would live in them; ten or fifteen would live in one room due to the narrowness of the space, and they would be patient with this, along with the assistance that reached them, with which they bought their necessary needs, such as food, clothing, and other things.
And they were patient; in fact, some of them would work at night and seek knowledge by day. Some of them would work at night for people for a wage and seek knowledge by day. This was their condition during the Shaykh’s lifetime. Perhaps this was for the wisdom of Allah, that this is more conducive to seeking knowledge, clearer for the mind, more free for study, and more desirable for seeking knowledge. Yes.