Is reading books sufficient for seeking knowledge, or should one attend circles of knowledge under the shaykhs?
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Question : Is reading books and references sufficient for seeking knowledge, or should a student of knowledge attend circles of knowledge and sit with the shaykhs?
Answer : A student of knowledge should receive knowledge from the people of knowledge and make use of what the predecessors and successors have written in their books. This is because relying solely on reading and perusal requires a long time, unlike sitting with a scholar who explains to you, clarifies for you, and illuminates the path for you. I am not saying that one cannot attain knowledge except by receiving it from shaykhs; a person may attain it through perusal and review. However, the general rule is that if one does not devote oneself completely, day and night, and is not granted understanding, he may err greatly. For this reason, it is said that the one whose evidence is his book has more errors than correct statements. But this is not absolute in reality. The best path is to receive knowledge from shaykhs. I also advise the student of knowledge not to pick up knowledge from every shaykh in a single discipline. For example, in fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), do not go to this one and that one and another, because scholars differ in their methods of deriving evidence from the Book and the Sunnah, and they also differ in their opinions. So, for instance, choose a teacher or scholar from whom you receive knowledge in fiqh, another in 'aqidah (creed), another in grammar, and another in rhetoric, and so on.
Or commit to one shaykh if he possesses all the information you need. Because if you receive knowledge of fiqh from this one and that one, and their opinions differ, what will be your position as a student?
It will be a state of bewilderment; you do not know what to do. But commit to a scholar in a specific discipline and follow his opinion until you grow and mature and have the ability to weigh opinions. After that, you may remain in agreement with the scholar from whom you received knowledge, or you may differ from him.
Answer : A student of knowledge should receive knowledge from the people of knowledge and make use of what the predecessors and successors have written in their books. This is because relying solely on reading and perusal requires a long time, unlike sitting with a scholar who explains to you, clarifies for you, and illuminates the path for you. I am not saying that one cannot attain knowledge except by receiving it from shaykhs; a person may attain it through perusal and review. However, the general rule is that if one does not devote oneself completely, day and night, and is not granted understanding, he may err greatly. For this reason, it is said that the one whose evidence is his book has more errors than correct statements. But this is not absolute in reality. The best path is to receive knowledge from shaykhs. I also advise the student of knowledge not to pick up knowledge from every shaykh in a single discipline. For example, in fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), do not go to this one and that one and another, because scholars differ in their methods of deriving evidence from the Book and the Sunnah, and they also differ in their opinions. So, for instance, choose a teacher or scholar from whom you receive knowledge in fiqh, another in 'aqidah (creed), another in grammar, and another in rhetoric, and so on.
Or commit to one shaykh if he possesses all the information you need. Because if you receive knowledge of fiqh from this one and that one, and their opinions differ, what will be your position as a student?
It will be a state of bewilderment; you do not know what to do. But commit to a scholar in a specific discipline and follow his opinion until you grow and mature and have the ability to weigh opinions. After that, you may remain in agreement with the scholar from whom you received knowledge, or you may differ from him.
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 32 - 81 هل يكفي لطلب العلم القراءة بالكتب أم ينبغي حضور حلقات العلم على أيدي المشايخ؟ - ابن عثيمين — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.