Welcoming the New Year with the Pursuit of Knowledge
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We must welcome this new year with striving in righteous deeds that bring us closer to Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He), with sincerity to Allah and following His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). This is especially true regarding the pursuit of knowledge, for seeking knowledge is a type of jihad in the path of Allah; indeed, it is jihad in the path of Allah; indeed, it is better than jihad in the path of Allah according to many scholars. This is because people need knowledge more than they need jihad, since jihad deals with reforming others, while seeking knowledge involves reforming the self and reforming others.
Therefore, jihad in the path of Allah needs knowledge, but knowledge does not need jihad in the path of Allah. For this reason, many reliable scholars preferred seeking knowledge over jihad in the path of Allah. However, the stronger opinion in my view is that there is a distinction regarding specific individuals: some people are such that we say jihad is better for them,And some people are such that we say: while for others, seeking knowledge is better. If we find a man who is prepared for knowledge in terms of memorization, understanding, perseverance, and following through, but is less so in jihad in the path of Allah,We say to him: then knowledge is better for you. And if another person is brave, bold, active, and strong, but not so in memorization and understanding, we tell him: jihad is better for you. The preference in acts of worship is a principle that a student of knowledge should observe: preference in acts of worship in their general nature, and preference in acts of worship regarding the specific individuals who perform them. One must know the difference between these.And we say: The absolute preference is that knowledge is undoubtedly better.Meaning: Seeking knowledge is better than jihad in the path of Allah, but regarding specific individuals, there is the distinction I mentioned to you.We tell this person: It is better for one to remain in the pursuit of knowledge, and for the other to go forth in jihad in the path of Allah.
Therefore, jihad in the path of Allah needs knowledge, but knowledge does not need jihad in the path of Allah. For this reason, many reliable scholars preferred seeking knowledge over jihad in the path of Allah. However, the stronger opinion in my view is that there is a distinction regarding specific individuals: some people are such that we say jihad is better for them,And some people are such that we say: while for others, seeking knowledge is better. If we find a man who is prepared for knowledge in terms of memorization, understanding, perseverance, and following through, but is less so in jihad in the path of Allah,We say to him: then knowledge is better for you. And if another person is brave, bold, active, and strong, but not so in memorization and understanding, we tell him: jihad is better for you. The preference in acts of worship is a principle that a student of knowledge should observe: preference in acts of worship in their general nature, and preference in acts of worship regarding the specific individuals who perform them. One must know the difference between these.And we say: The absolute preference is that knowledge is undoubtedly better.Meaning: Seeking knowledge is better than jihad in the path of Allah, but regarding specific individuals, there is the distinction I mentioned to you.We tell this person: It is better for one to remain in the pursuit of knowledge, and for the other to go forth in jihad in the path of Allah.