Side questions for the student of knowledge
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May Allah reward you, O Shaykh! Some students of knowledge ask many questions with the intention of gaining benefit; however, some of them contain religious innovation, and some contain excessive strictness, and likewise, they have no benefit. Is there a principle from which the student of knowledge can proceed in asking questions so that he benefits himself and others?
The student of knowledge should focus his questions on the prescribed curriculum; because he is currently obligated to understand it, so his questions should not go beyond it, and he should limit himself to it.
If there is an issue outside the prescribed curriculum, he should ask about it at another time; because questions going beyond the topic of the lesson, for example, cause the students to become scattered and hinder them from what they should be doing.
This is the criterion.
However, there are questions raised by some students which, although they are within the prescribed curriculum, have no purpose, and it is better to remain silent about them; but the one answering will have wisdom and will clarify that there is no benefit in it, and that it is not appropriate to ask about it, and the intended outcome will be achieved, if Allah wills.
The student of knowledge should focus his questions on the prescribed curriculum; because he is currently obligated to understand it, so his questions should not go beyond it, and he should limit himself to it.
If there is an issue outside the prescribed curriculum, he should ask about it at another time; because questions going beyond the topic of the lesson, for example, cause the students to become scattered and hinder them from what they should be doing.
This is the criterion.
However, there are questions raised by some students which, although they are within the prescribed curriculum, have no purpose, and it is better to remain silent about them; but the one answering will have wisdom and will clarify that there is no benefit in it, and that it is not appropriate to ask about it, and the intended outcome will be achieved, if Allah wills.