Advice for Youth to Avoid Excess and Negligence

Question:
What is the obligation of the Muslim youth in this time to avoid falling into excess or negligence? And what do you advise the youth to read from the books to achieve this?

Answer:
This is undoubtedly an important topic. The youth should first focus on seeking knowledge, dedicating themselves to seeking knowledge, and striving for correct understanding. This is because many people may understand things contrary to the truth due to a lack of care in understanding, and this causes many problems. As the poet said, "How many a scholar with a correct statement, yet you benefited from my understanding, which is defective." So I advise all students to focus on seeking Islamic knowledge, to strive to understand Islamic rulings, and to understand the words of Allah and His Messenger well. They should not be satisfied with the first call or the first impulse, but should study the matter repeatedly, review it with their colleagues and good teachers, until the correct understanding settles in the student's heart, and until he is clear regarding the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and everything he studies. However, the most important thing is the texts; the most important thing is what he learns from the Qur'an and what he learns from the Sunnah. This is the most important thing to focus on, to understand it correctly, and to implement it in action, without being lax in it. Perhaps his foot may slip due to a poor understanding, due to a mistake in the Book of Allah or in the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So it is obligatory to focus on correct understanding, to consult with his colleagues regarding the meaning, to study it together, and to ask the people of knowledge. Then, the other sciences that he is able to learn, so that he benefits his Ummah and benefits the Muslims, there is no harm if that is facilitated for him, whether in medicine or other things that benefit the Muslims. But the most important thing is the pure Islamic sciences, by which he knows Allah, by which he worships Him, by which he knows His rulings, and by which he knows what He calls to and what He forbids, so that he acts upon it and conveys it to people. And whatever other sciences he acquires after this, it is good upon good. I also advise him to focus on the Qur'an. The Book of Allah is the most important thing; the most important thing is the great Qur'an. He should focus on it by memorizing it, reciting it frequently, and reflecting on its meanings. If he does not memorize it, let him recite it frequently. Frequent recitation makes a person remember it often, and he will be like a little of a memorizer. So I advise frequent recitation of the Book of Allah with reflection and comprehension at appropriate times, such as the beginning of the day, during the night, and the end of the night, until he is able to memorize the Qur'an or what is facilitated of it, with attention to the meaning and reading it in tafsir (exegesis) works, such as Ibn Kathir, al-Baghawi, and others from the people of tafsir, so that his information is good and he is clear regarding the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Then the Sunnah. I advise him to memorize what is facilitated from it. *Bulugh al-Maram* is a good, organized, and beneficial book. Also, *'Ilm al-Ahkam* by Shaykh al-Zaghri, from al-Shuray al-Maqdisi, from the two Sahihs, is a good book as well. And *Al-Arba'un al-Nawawiyyah* and *Al-Rajhiyyah*; he should memorize them and focus on them. If he is able to acquire more knowledge and his Ummah and information rise, he should focus on the two Sahihs, look into the two Sahihs, the Sunan, *Mukhtasar Malik*, and *Sunan Ahmad*. This is good, and there is no good after that. After he finishes his study and his information is completed, he should rise to these books and focus on them: the two Sahihs, the four Sunan, *Sunan Ahmad*, *Sunan al-Darimi*, *Mukhtasar Malik*, and similar to this. These are great books that are a great grain in which there is tafsir of the Book of Allah and assistance in understanding the words of Allah and the words of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he should focus on books of language, reading books of tafsir and books of hadith, focusing on language so that he can use it to help understand the Qur'an and Sunnah, and to prefer the stronger opinion and reject the false. From the beneficial and useful books is *Muntakhab al-Akhbar* by Ibn Taymiyyah, for it is a great book in which he gathered much good. Also, *Jami' al-Usul* by Ibn al-Athir. Also, *Zad al-Ma'ad* by Ibn al-Qayyim is a good book. *Zad al-Ma'ad fi Hady Khayr al-'Ibad* is a great book. *Miftah al-Darain* by Ibn al-Qayyim is also a great book. *Miftah al-Sa'adah* by Ibn al-Qayyim is a great book. So we advise reading these books and focusing on them, for they are beneficial books. *Al-Rasul* is not bad, and it has some objectives. A student of knowledge, if he reflects on it, will benefit and know the error. Yes.