The student of knowledge who leaves his family in order to seek knowledge: does this increase his nearness to Allah?
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The questioner : May Allah reward the honorableThe Shaykh : The student of knowledge who leaves his family in order to seek knowledge: does this increase his nearness to Allah? And I ask you, O our Shaykh, to mention some of the virtues of seeking knowledge that have come in the Book and the Sunnah, which encourage us and make us strive harder in seeking knowledge?
The Shaykh : Yes. There is no doubt that a student who searches for knowledge, even in other lands, and then migrates for the sake of seeking knowledge, is better than one who seeks knowledge in his own land, provided the type of seeking and the type of working with the knowledge are equal. This is because he has left his homeland, his family, and what is familiar to him in order to acquire knowledge. Thus, this is better. Moreover, it is generally the case that the one who travels to seek knowledge is more free to devote himself to it than the one who seeks knowledge in his own land, because in his own land, his family may occupy him with their needs or other matters, causing him to miss much good. Then, the student of knowledge who travels to seek knowledge meets people he would not find in his own land. It is generally the case that friends from one’s own land distract a person, whereas friends from other lands, as long as they have all come to seek knowledge, will help him in his pursuit of knowledge. Yes. As for your request that I mention the virtues of knowledge, that is found in the books. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes. There is no doubt that a student who searches for knowledge, even in other lands, and then migrates for the sake of seeking knowledge, is better than one who seeks knowledge in his own land, provided the type of seeking and the type of working with the knowledge are equal. This is because he has left his homeland, his family, and what is familiar to him in order to acquire knowledge. Thus, this is better. Moreover, it is generally the case that the one who travels to seek knowledge is more free to devote himself to it than the one who seeks knowledge in his own land, because in his own land, his family may occupy him with their needs or other matters, causing him to miss much good. Then, the student of knowledge who travels to seek knowledge meets people he would not find in his own land. It is generally the case that friends from one’s own land distract a person, whereas friends from other lands, as long as they have all come to seek knowledge, will help him in his pursuit of knowledge. Yes. As for your request that I mention the virtues of knowledge, that is found in the books. Yes.